The Minnesota Vikings have been busy leading up to the 2023 trade deadline. 

This afternoon, it was announced that the team added quarterback Joshua Dobbs from the Arizona Cardinals. Shortly after, it was announced that the team traded guard Ezra Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars for a 6th-round pick. 

The Dobbs trade makes sense, but the Cleveland trade has us scratching our heads. 

Compensation: #Vikings are getting a 6th for sending guard Ezra Cleveland to the #Jaguars, per source.

— JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) October 31, 2023

Getting just a 6th-round pick for Cleveland seems like a massive loss for the Vikes. Cleveland was a 2nd-round pick in his own right and has been an above-average guard for the Vikings. This season, Cleveland has a stellar 73.8 PFF grade, even while being banged up. 

While it's true that Cleveland is set to enter free agency this offseason, it still doesn't explain why the Vikings were only able to garner a late-round selection. Letting Cleveland walk in free agency would've likely netted more than a 6th-round pick, so this trade is quite confusing. 

An additional item to consider is the future of the position. The Vikes do have Ed Ingram under contract at one spot, but the guard has been up and down and is the most inconsistent lineman on the team. 

At the other guard spot, Dalton Risner is a capable starter but is slated to enter free agency this offseason. Cleveland will assuredly be more expensive than Risner, but he's also younger and slightly better. Essentially, the Vikings gave away a guy who could've been a key cog for years for nothing more than a late-round selection. 

The deadline has not passed at the time of this writing, so more moves could be coming. This one is a headscratcher. 

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