Unpacking the Plentiful Vikings and Texans Connections from the 2024 Offseason
K. Joudry
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Truth be told, the Vikings and Texans connections go beyond just the recent free agency and trade hubbub.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used to be employed by the San Francisco 49ers. While there, Adofo-Mensah was a co-worker with DeMeco Ryans, Houston’s head coach. In fact, the Vikings’ GM has good things to say about Ryans. Take a look at the word from the 2023 NFL Scouting Combine: “DeMeco is a special human […] I’ll never forget the first time I got to really hear him lead in front of a room.” Not too long afterwards, Adofo-Mensah says that watching Ryans allowed him to “see what leadership looks like” before going on to note that he has had “a lot of conversations” with the coach.
So, there’s no shortage of respect for Ryans in Eagan.
And while the recent deal to pry away No. 23 from the Texans gets a lot of the headlines, the Vikings have done business with the AFC team previously. In 2022, Adofo-Mensah brought Ross Blacklock over in an attempt to give the DT spot a bit of a boost (an attempt that ended up going poorly).
More recently, things have picked up between the teams, so I sent out a bit of a snarky comment on social media: “At this point, the #Vikings and #Texans should just meet in the Super Bowl.” And while the thought was delivered in a tongue-in-cheek manner, there is truth lying underneath the sentiment about the franchises being connected.
Unpacking the Vikings and Texans Connections
Begin with the free agency decisions.
Pass rusher Jonathan Greenard is taking over the EDGE1 role. He was a 3rd-round selection by Houston back in 2020 (Justin Jefferson’s draft). The 4-year, $76 million commitment from Minnesota speaks to how highly they think of the long and strong defender.
And who will be replacing Greenard in Houston? Well, none other than Danielle Hunter. He, too, was a 3rd-round selection, but his draft arrived in 2015.
But then one thinks of the additions of linebacker Blake Cashman and corner Shaquill Griffin. Neither was originally a Texans draft pick (the former a Jets choice, the latter a Seahawks choice). The end result of these signings is Minnesota welcoming a 2023 Texan at every level of their defense for the 2024 season.
A couple weeks ago, the Vikings pulled off a slobberknocker of a trade. In exchange for a pair of 2nd-round picks (2024 & 2025) alongside a late-round pick shuffle, the Vikings pried away the Texans’ No. 23 pick. Minnesota thus moves through April with a pair of opening-round selections holstered.
Even more wild is that the Texans went on to use one of those Vikings picks to pull off yesterday’s trade for receiver Stefon Diggs (a Vikings draft pick back in the wildly impressive 2015 draft). Adam Schefter had the word: “Compensation updates, per sources: Bills receive 2025 second-round pick via Minnesota. Texans receive Stefon Diggs and a 2024 sixth-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick.”
Josh Frey explains the couple of levels: “The Texans used a second that belonged to the Vikings a few weeks ago in order to acquire Minnesota’s former star receiver.”
Dig down a bit deeper by looking at each roster. Backup offensive tackle David Quessenberry got his career started in Houston after being scooped up 176th in the 2013 NFL Draft. Former Vikings quarterback Case Keenum is employed by the Texans. Corner Kris Boyd, a stud on special teams, is similarly on the Texans’ roster. Jarrett Patterson, an offensive lineman with the Texans, was chosen 201st in 2023 with the draft pick that was sent over for Blacklock.
Finally, there’s what’s to come. The Vikings and Texans will play each other in 2024. Later on in the offseason, we’ll learn about the precise ordering of the schedule. All we know so far is that Minnesota will welcome Houston to U.S. Bank Stadium. Presumably, there will be a tribute to Hunter.
Oh, and about that Super Bowl possibility. Technically, there is a chance it can happen since they play in opposite conferences. But while the Texans are full-steam ahead on the optimism train, the Vikings are still working through no shortage of QB uncertainty. As a result, a Super Bowl season for the Vikings is very unlikely.
After everything that’s been happening, though, it would be a fitting conclusion.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.