Harrison Phillips Trade Receives Official ESPN Verdict
It sent shockwaves through the Minnesota Vikings fanbase when the purple franchise sent starting defensive tackle and team captain Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets. ESPN has now revealed its grades for the move.
ESPN’s Grade for the Harrison Phillips Trade Is Live
Seth Walder, a man who didn’t like Donovan Jackson’s selection in April, to put it lightly, graded the trade.
He explained, “Meanwhile, Minnesota had a defensive tackle surplus. They brought in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave this offseason, and they have young depth, as well. That combination — along with the Vikings being an NFL-high $66 million over the cap in 2026, per OverTheCap.com — perhaps made Phillips a luxury the Vikings felt they could part with for a little draft capital and a few million in savings. Considering their position, it’s understandable.”
It was, indeed, those two reasons why GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah accepted the deal. The Vikings are way over next year’s salary cap, and getting rid of Phillips’ 2026 salary as well as some of this year’s money makes sense.
Walder added, “The Vikings are paying half of his $7.4 million salary, which matters. It’s a short-term move for the Jets but not necessarily a one-year deal. Phillips is under contract for $7.5 million in 2026 that could be worth it depending on how he plays this season.”
Furthermore, the Vikings signed Hargrave and Allen in free agency to put more heat on opposing passers, while still having exciting depth players waiting for their chance. That includes Jalen Redmond, a 2024 breakout player who has reportedly been excellent in training camp, as well as athletic rookie Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, sophomores Taki Taimani and Levi Drake Rodriguez, and undrafted rookie Elijah Williams.
Not only can those guys see the field now, but the Vikings have made room on the roster to keep them around.
According to Walder, the deal was a wash, as he graded the deal from the Jets’ perspective with a B, too.
“The Jets brought in not one but two defensive tackles on Wednesday, trying to shore up a weak spot that has become even thinner with Byron Cowart’s ankle injury. The big name is Phillips, a veteran run stuffer who will presumably start alongside Quinnen Williams.”
Injuries turned the position into a need, not unlike Minnesota’s current need for a receiver.
“Phillips, 29, has been primarily a nose tackle in his career, though he has played his fair share of 3-technique too. He has been a top run defender at times; he ranked in the top 10 in run stop win rate among interior defenders in both 2021 and 2023, with respective rates of 41% and 42% in those seasons. He dropped off in that category in 2024, posting an average 32% RSWR. He doesn’t give a ton as a pass rusher, though that’s Williams’ job on the Jets.”
Ultimately, the Vikings will miss Phillips primarily in the locker room and as a leader. On the field, if just one of the younger players can step up and Allen and Hargrave are as advertised, Brian Flores’ unit should be fine.
Of course, Adofo-Mensah might just turn around and use the cap savings and the new sixth-rounders in another trade to fill the WR void.
The Vikings are not scheduled to meet Phillips in the 2025 campaign, barring a surprise Super Bowl matchup.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.