How the Vikings Became Part of the Deshaun Watson Trade
The Minnesota Vikings have long been the undisputed record-holder for the worst trade in NFL history. They traded numerous draft picks for aging star running back Herschel Walker to strengthen their Super Bowl case. That plan failed, and the lack of draft picks hurt the franchise in the following years, while the Cowboys used them to build their mini-dynasty.
How the Vikings Became Part of the Deshaun Watson Trade
In the 2022 offseason, however, the Cleveland Browns wanted to upgrade their QB spot by acquiring Houston’s Deshaun Watson and are now competing with the Vikings for the trophy of having made the worst exchange ever.
In addition to legal troubles, the Browns also traded for a player who didn’t play football in the 2021 season. Not only has Watson been unable to replicate his prior success, but he also hasn’t come even remotely close.
A suspension cost him the majority of the 2022 season, and a shoulder injury and a torn Achilles limited his playing time in 2023 and 2024. Watson has played in 19 games since the trade, throwing for 19 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.
The Browns gave up three first-round picks, a third-rounder, and a pair of fourth-rounders for Watson and a 2024 sixth-rounder. In addition to that absurd price, they also handed Watson a five-year contract extension for $230 million. All of that is fully guaranteed. They also disgruntled Baker Mayfield, who has been outstanding for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Cleveland’s signal-caller has re-torn his Achilles tendon, and his 2025 season is in jeopardy. That prompted folks to revisit the trade and the contract, and, well, the Vikings ended up with the one pick the Brown received from the Texans.
That 2024 sixth-rounder ultimately became selection 203. When the Vikings traded up from the 11th overall pick to the 10th to choose new franchise quarterback J.J. McCarthy, they received pick 203 in return.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah used that pick to select kicker Will Reichard, so the placekicker out of Alabama unintentionally became part of the Watson sweepstakes.
Those who think Reichard might be cursed because of that connection surely are concerned now, as Reichard has not been reliable since his return from the IR stint due to his quad injury.
Until the contest against the Colts in which he sustained the injury, Reichard had been perfect, hitting all 14 field goals and 20 extra points.
Since then, however, his six misses have been upsetting, although he is still perfect from extra-point range, hitting all 38 extra points.
The dream of having one of the elite kickers has slowly disappeared in the last month, but the Vikings need him to be reliable in the postseason.
A couple of weeks ago, after a game with two misses, head coach Kevin O’Connell said about his rookie: “I just told him, ‘Hey, the next one is going to be the best one.’ My confidence in Will is sky-high; he had an unbelievable session on Thursday when he was kicking. If we think we’re anywhere near the range, I’m going to give him a swing. He is a phenomenal, phenomenal kid, great makeup. The next kick is going to be his best kick, is how I look at it, and our team does as well.”
His next chance to overcome the Watson curse will come on Monday when the Vikings face the Los Angeles Rams in Glendale, Arizona.
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