Nobody loves making trades like former Wall Street Trader Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Minnesota’s top executive has already made two trades this year, shipping Ed Ingram to the Texans and using the compensation as the major part of the Jordan Mason sweepstakes.
Last year, he made the Cam Akers trade for the second straight season and, of course, found left tackle Cam Robinson at the trade deadline.
A forgotten trade was that of 2022 second-rounder Andrew Booth Jr. to Mike Zimmer’s Cowboys in exchange for fellow cornerback Nahshon Wright. Player-for-player trades are rare in the NFL, but the two franchises attempted to get something out of players they had no use for.
On Monday, the Vikings announced the release of the fifth-year defender in a straightforward post on social media, “The #Vikings have released CB Nahshon Wright.”
It’s quite the strange timing for a move like that, two-and-a-half weeks ahead of the draft and four weeks after the beginning of free agency. He had signed a futures deal for the 2025 season in January but is now looking for a new job.
Wright was Dallas’ 99th overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Oregon State. He started his college career at Laney College. In two seasons at Oregon State (one was shortened due to COVID-19), Wright played in 18 contests and registered 64 tackles and five interceptions.
The draft pick was widely considered a reach by the NFL world, and those who doubted the Cowboys ended up being right. In his three seasons with the Cowboys, Wright played in 32 games with three starts and most of his snaps came on special teams.
The defender spent close to his entire campaign with the Vikings on the practice squad. He appeared in one game (the close triumph over the Cardinals) and tabulated 15 special teams snaps.
His tenure in purple is over, but he should find a new home at some point between now and training camp. Every team is looking for special teamers and depth players.
Well, every team besides the Vikings, who have ten cornerbacks under contract.
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Jeff Okudah
- Tavierre Thomas
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Ambry Thomas
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
Pro Bowler Byron Murphy Jr. and newcomer Isaiah Rodgers are expected to form the CB duo. Mekhi Blackmon returns from his torn ACL and should be in the mix for a role. Jeff Okudah signed a cheap but fully guaranteed deal, meaning he will likely be a top reserve. Tavierre Thomas has a special teams background, just like NaJee Thompson.
Dwight McGlothern was last year’s preseason standout and could be a sneaky surprise candidate in training camp. Ambry Thomas played meaningful snaps deep into the playoffs with the 49ers, but an injury slowed him down in 2024. Reddy Steward is another former preseason star with the Bears. Kahlef Hailassie played some games with the Browns in 2023 and is only 24 years old.
Apparently, the Vikings liked those depth guys better than Wright. More competition could arrive via the draft or in free agency. Shavon Revel Jr. is about to visit the Twin Cities, and he could be a first-round player.
