Vikings Trade CB to Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys

MIke ZImmer
Oct 6, 2019; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Giants head coach Pat Shurmur (left) and Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer (right) meet before a game at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s first draft class has been on the receiving end of scrutiny for quite some time. It was evident early that the group needed some massive development to generate a positive return on investment for the former Wall Street Trader. Neither Lewis Cine nor Andrew Booth Jr. have come close to reaching their potential.

Vikings Trade CB to Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys

Cine can technically still make the 53-man roster, but it would be a minor sensation as he is the sixth safety on the team, and veteran Bobby McCain is challenging him for that spot, too.

Vikings Trade CB to Mike Zimmer's Cowboys
Aug 10, 2023; Seattle, Washington, USA; Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jake Bobo (19) runs the ball in for a touchdown past Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) during the second half at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Steven Bisig-USA TODAY Sports

Meanwhile, Booth is out of Minnesota, as Adofo-Mensah shut that experiment down on Friday by sending him to the Dallas Cowboys in exchange for 2021 third-rounder selection Nahshon Wright.

The Vikings announced the move on their website: “Howdy, trade pardner. The Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys on Friday reached a deal to swap cornerbacks. Minnesota agreed to send 2022 second-round draft pick Andrew Booth, Jr., to Dallas in exchange for Nahshon Wright, who was selected out of Oregon State in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Cowboys.”

The two franchises just swapped reclamation projects. Two defenders who cost significant draft capital will get a second chance after a change of scenery. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert summed up the deal on X: “Vikings and Cowboys exchange CBs that likely weren’t going to make their respective teams.”

Aug 14, 2022; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports.

Booth’s journey in Minnesota began rocky as he was recovering from groin surgery when his stint with the team started. He missed all offseason workouts, putting him behind the eight-ball. He then suffered a hamstring injury during training camp, forcing him to miss more valuable preparation time, and after playing a couple of special teams snaps in Week 1, he had to sit out the next four games.

After returning from his absence, Booth contributed on special teams for three contests before finally seeing some defensive snaps. A slew of injuries led to him playing 37 defensive reps versus the Buffalo Bills, and he started the following week, playing 94% of the snaps in the disastrous game against the Cowboys.

His season ended on that day, as a knee injury knocked him out for the remainder of the campaign. He struggled to stay healthy in college, and that problem continued at the next level.

2022 Vikings Draft Class
Nov 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) straight arms Minnesota Vikings cornerback Andrew Booth Jr. (23) after making a catch during the second half at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports

With the firing of defensive coordinator Ed Donatell, the scheme changed. Brian Flores arrived and started Byron Murphy and fellow 2022 draftee Akayleb Evans. Booth stayed healthy all year but couldn’t overcome a rotational depth role.

Through two seasons, Booth played in 23 games with two starts and 256 defensive plays, which can undoubtedly be classified as a disastrous tenure. He now joins a defense coordinated by former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer.

Zimmer was appointed earlier in the offseason after Dan Quinn was poached to serve as Washington’s head coach. It’s his first job in the NFL since the Vikings filed the divorce papers in January of 2022 after eight seasons. He finished with a 74-59-1 record.

NFL: Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings
Jan 9, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer waves to the crowd after the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Zimmer was the DC in Dallas between 2000 and 2006. Known to be a defensive mastermind, Zimmer created some of the elite units in the 2010s, leading his team to the NFC Championship Game in 2017.

Later, his defense fell apart, partly due to the exit (and aging) of various staples while he and Rick Spielman failed to replace those players properly.

Known as a defensive backs guru, Zimmer couldn’t work his magic with first-rounder Mike Hughes. Trae Waynes’ development was a mixed bag. He will now get the chance to work with Booth, a once-promising, highly-touted prospect coming out of Clemson.

Booth joins linebackers Nick Vigil and Eric Kendricks in Dallas.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference helped with this article.


Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt