By Alec Lewis, Zack Rosenblatt and Dianna Russini
The Minnesota Vikings are trading defensive tackle Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets, according to multiple team sources. The move allows Minnesota to save cap space for 2025, while providing the Jets with another stout run-stopping defender.
The teams swapped picks in the deal. The Vikings parted with their 2027 seventh-rounder. The Jets completed the agreement with 2026 and 2027 sixth-rounders. Minnesota agreed to take on $3.7 million of Phillips’ salary as part of the compensation. Still, the Vikings retain more money, which will offer them flexibility as they scour the wide receiver market.
What the deal means for Minnesota
In Minnesota, this move was made possible by the development of multiple interior defenders. The team signed experienced starters Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen this offseason. Backups Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Elijah Williams and Taki Taimani all have played well enough through training camp to earn 53-man roster spots. By sending Phillips to New York, the team can keep all of its young players.
Phillips, 29, started 51 games the last three seasons. He became a central component in Brian Flores’ defense, which begins with its ability to stifle the run. The team sought more interior pressure, which is what led it this offseason to Hargrave and Allen.
The Vikings also need receiver depth. It’s not just that Jordan Addison is suspended for the first three games of the season; No. 3 receiver Jalen Nailor injured his left hand last week. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has hinted that Nailor won’t be sidelined long-term, but the Vikings will be in the market for insurance. — Alec Lewis, Vikings staff writer
How Phillips could fit in New York
The Jets made a couple of moves to bolster their defensive line on Wednesday, trading for Phillips and Cleveland Browns defensive tackle Jowon Briggs in separate deals.
The bigger one is the Phillips deal, of course. The 29-year-old will presumably step in right away as the starter next to Quinnen Williams at defensive tackle, a spot that looked weak on an otherwise strong defensive front.
Veteran Byron Cowart appeared the likely starter next to Williams throughout camp. He looked good throughout the spring, but has been dealing with injuries in training camp and missed the last couple of weeks. Cowart also doesn’t have much history as a full-time starting defensive tackle in the NFL.
The other options at the position for these deals today included veteran Jay Tufele (0.5 career sacks in 34 games) and Derrick Nnadi, a longtime Kansas City Chiefs veteran who seems unlikely to make the 53-man roster after these moves.
Briggs is less notable than Phillips as an addition, but he flashed some real potential at the end of last season as a seventh-round rookie for the Browns. Per PFF, he graded as the 20th-best defensive tackle to play at least 30 snaps over the last five weeks of the season and graded well as a run stopper, which is an area the Jets struggled in last season. Phillips has historically graded out well as a run stopper, too. — Zack Rosenblatt, Jets senior writer
(Photo: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)
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