Adding two high-profile defensive linemen (Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen) this offseason, the Vikings will ship out an incumbent starter. Harrison Phillips is heading back to New York. 
The Jets are acquiring the veteran interior D-lineman, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The Jets will land Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for 2026 and 2027 sixth-rounders. This deal comes less than a year after Minnesota extended Phillips, who is signed through the 2026 season. This marks the Jets’ second DT trade today; they acquired Jowon Briggs from the Browns earlier.
A former Bills third-round pick, Phillips signed with the Vikings in 2022 and has been a starter for the past three seasons. The Vikes extended Phillips on a two-year, $15MM pact in September 2024. Phillips, 29, has been a reliable player in the Twin Cities; he has not missed a game while with the Vikes.
Tied to a guaranteed $7MM 2025 base salary and $400K in per-game roster bonuses, Phillips will receive payments from multiple teams this year. The Vikings are picking up half that tab, according to The Athletic’s Dianna Russini. The 307-pound defender is due a nonguaranteed $6.89MM salary in 2026. Phillips will give the Jets a starter-level talent in a D-tackle corps that appeared to be lacking one alongside Quinnen Williams.
The arrivals of Phillips and Briggs will complicate the previous Williams sidekick bunch’s paths to the 53-man roster. Second-year defender Leonard Taylor may struggle to stick on the final roster after doing so as an undrafted rookie out of Miami (FL) last year. Former second-round pick Phidarian Mathis could be in danger, too, after fizzling out of Washington midseason.
The battle for the starting job next to Williams before today’s transaction looked to be between Byron Cowart and Derrick Nnadi. Cowart, a former five-star recruit who transferred and was drafted in the fifth round in 2019, had a decent season in Chicago last year after a rough start to his career, while Nnadi had enjoyed double-digit starts in every year of his career up until last year, when he was demoted to a rotation role. Both will remain in the rotation, but the starting responsibilities may be beyond their reach with Phillips in the building.
Ultimately, both sides achieved what they needed to in this deal. The Jets bolstered a weak spot on the defense with a veteran starter who should help Williams’ star shine. On the other side, Minnesota will move forward with an incredibly capable defensive line while picking up some decent cap savings over the next two years.
Ely Allen contributed to this post.
I know iDL was badly needed, but it would be nice if we stopped trading away picks willy nilly when we have no chance at a Super Bowl.
Fair points, but on the other hand, this definitely upgrades the defensive line. I suppose Glenn really wasn’t comfortable with what he got out of the line to build his foundation with. I suppose the best outcome here is that he can build that foundation to carry over long term.
I’d like the picks, but two sixths isn’t bad for a solid starter up front.
These are the smallest amounts of draft capital possible. For how big a need this was to field a competent defense, I’m OK with it.
Yeah, seems fair. I do get the hesitation, given that this came on the heels on another trade for a similar positional need. I think that for the price, it’s a good deal, though. Upvote for that part.
Briggs is about to turn 24 and has played 163 snaps in the NFL. Harrison Phillips is Harrison Phillips and has no guaranteed money after this year. Seems like different timelines.
I’m not saying that both are the same, so don’t get distracted by that part. I’m saying that I understand the apprehension with trading picks (as low as they are) for similar holes back-to-back. I like what the Philips trade does for the Jets, especially for a defensive coach, but I do get why myaccount2 said what he said.
The Briggs trade was a 6th for 7th pick swap, so it’s not even like they’re short a pick from that one.
I’m not saying that it was bad, I just get the fans’ apprehension. Right or wrong, fans don’t like seeing picks travel. Not a bad thing, always.After all, the Jets not investing any selections in the draft along the line was one thing, especially after picking up low cost additions throughout the offseason. You’d think that if they wanted to add that many players, they’d have went ahead and picked up at least one guy in the draft. It’s not bad, it’s just interesting that they didn’t add at a position that they obviously weren’t comfortable at.
Yeah, I found that a little weird too, especially in a draft with so many DTs and with them taking Arian Smith in the 4th, who pretty much everyone thinks would have been around a round later, if not two. But the Briggs trade is for the smallest return possible and I like Phillips as a cheap pickup. Maybe they can pick a tiny amount of draft capital back up by sending Allen Lazard where he belongs (wherever Rodgers is).
Can’t argue with that.
Hargrave good luck lol hope he can stay healthy
I’m so sorry Big H. You are a good guy. Sad to see your career end so abruptly.
Great team leader and locker room/community guy. He will be missed. Vikes have a good young core coming up behind Hargrave and Allen. They were going to have to shave off some talent if they didn’t trade Phillips and still might have to.