The Minnesota Vikings’ trade for Cam Robinson is looking even smarter after the former Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle signed with the Houston Texans in free agency. When Christian Darrisaw suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 8, the Vikings acted quickly, trading a conditional 2026 fourth-round pick and a seventh-round pick for Robinson.
Robinson stepped in as the starting left tackle for the final 10 games of the season, helping the Vikings recover from a 6-2 start and finish 14-3, although their playoff run ended in a first-round exit. This trade was already a solid move for Minnesota, but Robinson’s departure to the Texans has made the deal even more beneficial.
Robinson agreed to a one-year, $14.5 million contract with the Houston Texans on March 19, 2025, and this move further tilted the 2026 compensatory pick formula in the Vikings’ favor. As free agency winds down, Minnesota stands to gain a third-round compensatory pick for the loss of Sam Darnold and a potential fourth- or fifth-round pick, depending on Daniel Jones’ playing time with the Indianapolis Colts. Robinson’s departure marked the fifth qualifying free agent to leave the Vikings, offsetting the signing of Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly from the Colts.
- Cam Robinson
If the Vikings don’t sign any more qualifying free agents in the near future, they effectively got a starting left tackle for 10 games and will recoup the draft capital they spent. Under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the team has been very strategic with the compensatory pick formula, and it’s clearly paying off.
Despite concerns about their unproven defense and Sam Darnold’s reputation, the Vikings surpassed expectations in their 14-win season. With J.J. McCarthy now expected to be the face of the franchise, accumulating additional draft capital will help the Vikings remain competitive throughout McCarthy’s rookie contract. Darrisaw is expected to be fully recovered by the start of the 2025 season, but in the meantime, the Vikings have signed veteran swing tackle Justin Skule as insurance in case he’s not ready.
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