Minnesota Vikings Add An Offensive Tackle

Yesterday, I worked through the various options that the Minnesota Vikings had to replace irreplaceable left tackle Christian Darrisaw. In last Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams, Darrisaw was lost for the season to a knee injury. His play in six-plus games had him on a trajectory that would’ve brought him Pro Bowl and All-Pro honors at the end of the season. Instead, Darrisaw’s season ended with a torn ACL and MCL. At 5-2 and the playoffs firmly in mind, the Vikings had to do something. My favored options had them choosing between one of two possible internal moves. Not being limited by my thoughts on the matter, the Vikings made an external move. 

Last night, the Vikings sent a conditional 2026 fifth-round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars for left tackle Cam Robinson and a conditional 2026 seventh-round pick. The conditions of the trade are related to Robinson’s playing time. The fifth-round pick going to the Jaguars could become a fourth-round pick. The seventh-round pick going to the Vikings could be dropped from the deal. If Robinson hits the playing time thresholds, I’m guessing that the picks involved will be the fourth going to the Jaguars and the seventh coming back to the Vikings. Minnesota has a depleted number of picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s a good thing that this trade didn’t deplete the number of picks any further. Trading conditional mid 2026 picks is an inexpensive way to add a solid, starting left tackle in the middle of the season. Losing Christian Darrisaw is a huge loss. A loss that can’t be filled until he returns to the lineup. Until then, the Vikings probably couldn’t have done better than bringing in Cam Robinson. 

Cam Robinson was drafted by the Jaguars in the second round of the 2017 NFL Draft (34th overall) out of Alabama. In his final college season, he won the Outland Trophy as the nation’s best offensive lineman. Over his seven-plus seasons with the Jaguars, he started all 91 of the games in which he has played. Injuries have peppered his career as he missed nearly all of the 2018 season and about half of last season. Robinson’s play for the Jaguars was high enough that the team franchise-tagged him in 2021and 2022, eventually agreeing to a three-year, $54 million extension. This is the final year of that extension. An agreement of the trade has the Jaguars paying a portion of what’s still owed this season. 

It remains to be seen if Cam Robinson will be ready to step in at left tackle for the Vikings in Sunday night’s game against the Indianapolis Colts. If he doesn’t play in that game, Robinson should make his Vikings debut in Week 10 at Jacksonville against the Jaguars. 

The Minnesota Vikings offensive line moving forward:

LT  Cam Robinson

LG Blake Brandel 

 C  Garrett Bradbury

RG Ed Ingram

RT  Brian O’Neill

When Dalton Risner is activated from injured reserve, he will challenge Ed Ingram at right guard. 

Welcome to Minnesota, Cam Robinson.