The Minnesota Vikings and New York Jets have officially completed a deal just ahead of the 2025 season, involving not only a key player but multiple draft picks.
Ahead of their preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans on Friday, the Vikings have traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips to the Jets, according to multiple sources, including NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. In return, Minnesota will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick and a “swap of picks in 2027,” though the specifics of that swap remain unclear.
Phillips originally joined the Vikings as a free agent before the 2022 season after starting his career with the Buffalo Bills. He signed a three-year contract upon arrival and later extended it with a two-year deal last September, which would have kept him under contract through the 2026 season.
This offseason, Minnesota bolstered its defensive line by signing Jon Allen and Javon Hargrave, and Phillips was expected to serve as the third cornerstone of the defensive front. However, the Vikings appear confident in the development of their younger players—most notably Jalen Redmond, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and undrafted free agent Elijah Williams—which likely contributed to their willingness to part with Phillips.
On the field, Phillips has been a strong contributor over his three seasons in Minnesota. Off the field, he’s made a notable impact on the Twin Cities community, expanding his “Harrison’s Playmakers” charity, which already has branches in Omaha, Nebraska, and Buffalo, to include Minneapolis.
While the Vikings may not have received a huge return for a player of Phillips’ quality, the trade does free up significant salary cap space—about $8 million this season and $7.5 million in 2026. Time will tell if the Vikings’ younger defensive linemen can fill the gap left by his departure.
