The Minnesota Vikings were one of the more active teams in the NFL ahead of the 2023 NFL Trade Deadline. They made two separate deals, acquiring quarterback Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals and trading offensive lineman Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Dobbs deal was one that many analysts liked for the Vikings. After being replaced by Clayton Tune as the Cardinals’ starter heading into their Week 9 game, he finds a home with the chance to be a starter once again.
Acclimating himself quickly to a playbook is exactly what he did when he got to Arizona from the Cleveland Browns following training camp. More than likely, he will be taking over the injured Kirk Cousins sooner than later.
While that deal was praised, their trade of Cleveland was panned. Brad Spielberger of PFF gave the Vikings a below-average grade for sending the versatile offensive lineman to Jacksonville for a sixth-round pick.
“Cleveland was replaced in the starting lineup by veteran Dalton Risner, who is not quite as good of a run-blocker in space but is a far superior pass-blocker who also brings a nastiness and edge to his game.
Nonetheless, a sixth-round pick and nothing else from a legitimate Super Bowl contender for a starting-caliber guard, even in a contract year, is a fairly underwhelming return for Minnesota.”
Offensive linemen are at a premium around the league. Trading a 2020 second-round pick in Cleveland, who is in the midst of the best season of his career, was head-scratching enough. Only getting back a late-round pick cemented this as one of the worst-looking trades of the year.
Contenders in the AFC have to be disappointed to see the Vikings aid the Jaguars in making such a sizable upgrade at a position of weakness for relatively nothing. Cleveland has a 73.8 overall grade this season, which is a career-high. It is the first time he has recorded run-blocking and pass-blocking grades of at least 72.0 in the same season.
Despite being on an expiring contract, it is surprising that the Vikings couldn’t get more out of a deal centered around Cleveland. Risner is productive in his own right, but Minnesota may have been better off holding onto Cleveland as an experienced depth piece if they want to continue pushing for a playoff spot.
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