The initial reaction to Wednesday’s news that the Vikings traded popular veteran defensive line starter Harrison Phillips to the Jets for two future late-round picks was a near-universal “What?” As in,

Per numerous sources, led by Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network, the Vikings have traded defensive lineman Harrison Phillips to the New York Jets. In return, the Vikings will receive a 2026 sixth-round pick and a “swap of picks in 2027,” though I’m not 100% sure what that means at this point.

Trying to bolster one of their weakest positions, the New York Jets acquired defensive tackles Harrison Phillips and Jowon Briggs in separate trades Wednesday. The Jets traded two sixth-round picks (2026 and 2027) to the Minnesota Vikings for Phillips and a 2027 seventh-round pick,