Looking Back at the 4 Trades Made by the Vikings During Training Camp in 2022
Josh Frey
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During Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first year-plus as the Vikings general manager, he has not been afraid to wheel-and-deal in the trade market.
Within the training camp period last year, Adofo-Mensah made a total of four trades over the course of a bit over a week. With training camp about to get back into full-swing once again, let’s take a look back at those 4 trades.
Acquiring QB Nick Mullens
When training camp began in 2022, the Vikings had a battle for the backup QB spot on their hands between Sean Mannion and Kellen Mond. However, it became apparent that the duo was underperforming in that battle, and Adofo-Mensah quickly fixed that by acquiring Nick Mullens from the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a seventh-round pick in the 2024 Draft.
Mullens appeared in a total of four games, seeing most of his production come in Weeks 17 and 18. He finished the season completing 21-of-25 passes for 224 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. He looks to be the favorite to be the backup again ahead of rookie Jaren Hall.
Acquiring DT Ross Blacklock
In the aftermath of Minnesota opting to release DT Armon Watts, the Vikings made another move to add more veteran depth to their defensive tackle spot. That move came in the form of a trade to acquire Ross Blacklock from the Houston Texans.
Blacklock and a 2023 seventh-round pick (that was eventually traded again) went to the Vikings while Houston received a 2023 sixth-round pick that turned into C Jarrett Patterson. Blacklock played 11 games for Minnesota, recording a pair of tackles and a sack.
Trading Away G Jesse Davis
The Vikings went into the 2022 training camp period with quite a battle unfolding at the right guard position. The three main competitors for the spot were second-round pick Ed Ingram, Chris Reed, and Jesse Davis. However, Ingram quickly moved to the front of the line, especially with Reed beginning to take snaps as a backup center, so Minnesota opted to deal Davis to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This move was a very inconsequential one for Pittsburgh, needing to send only a conditional 2025 seventh-round pick to Minnesota in order to acquire the veteran guard. Davis played just 58 special teams snaps with the Steelers during the 2022 season.
Acquiring WR Jalen Reagor
The punt return battle was another area that hadn’t showcased a clear leader well into camp, so the Vikings made yet another move to bring in a speedy receiver to take over the job. That ended up being former first-round pick Jalen Reagor, who infamously was taken a single pick ahead of Justin Jefferson by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Minnesota traded a 2023 seventh-round pick (later moved again by Philadelphia) as well as a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection that could also be a fifth-round pick. In his first season with the Vikings, Reagor was indeed the main man at the punt returner position, but it was an underwhelming performance there, returning 26 punts for just 164 yards. He also caught 8 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.