Jaelan Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
Getty
Jaelan Phillips #15 of the Miami Dolphins celebrates a sack against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The Minnesota Vikings got after Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams on “Monday Night Football” in Week 1, and they could add to their defense with a trade for a player defensive coordinator Brian Flores knows well in Jaelan Phillips of the Miami Dolphins.
Flores was the Dolphins’ head coach in 2021, when Miami selected Phillips with the No. 18 overall pick of the draft.
Four years later, both teams could be ripe for the coach and player to reunite.
Vikings Trade Idea Capitalizes on Dolphins’ Situation
Jaelan Phillips, Minnesota Vikings
GettyJaelan Phillips #15 of the Miami Dolphins speaks with the media following practice.
Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggested the Vikings as a potential landing spot for Phillips, and projected the edge rusher’s trade value at a “Conditional 2026 4th-Round Pick.”
The Vikings do not have a fourth-round pick in the 2026 draft. They traded theirs to the Jacksonville Jaguars for left tackle Cam Robinson last season. This Heavy Sports Vikings trade pitch tweaks Knox’s suggestion, substituting two fifth-round picks, to reunite Phillips and Flores:
Vikings get:
Jaelan Phillips
Dolphins get:
2026 fifth-round draft pick (via ATL, PHI, or SF)
2027 fifth-round pick
“Playoff hopefuls are often in the market for edge-rushers, and the Miami Dolphins might have one to spare between now and the trade deadline,” Knox wrote on September 10. “They have stockpiled an intriguing collection of pass-rushers that includes Bradley Chubb, Matthew Judon, Chop Robinson and Jaelan Phillips. If the Dolphins’ woeful opener is an accurate indication, though, this rotation could go to waste in Miami.
“Moving Phillips would be logical if the Dolphins don’t turn things around quickly. Though season-ending injuries have impacted each of the last two seasons, the 26-year-old had 22 sacks over the first three years of his career. Finally healthy again, he could likely net Miami a high Day 3 pick at a minimum.”
Jaelen Phillips Could Be Another Chess Piece for Vikings DC Brian Flores
Brian Flores, Minnesota Vikings
GettyMinnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores reacts against the Chicago Bears.
After logging 20 starts and playing in all 34 regular-season games over his first two seasons, Phillips has played in 13 games across the past three seasons, starting nine of them. A change of scenery, perhaps via trade to the Dolphins, could be the fresh start Phillips needs.
He would not need to start, with Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard occupying the edges for the Vikings.
Phillips could form a dynamic backup duo with 2024 first-round pick Dallas Turner.
According to Pro Football Focus, the 6-foot-5, 260-plus-pound Phillips logged 22 snaps at defensive tackle and even had a couple of reps at the nose under Flores during his rookie season in 2021.
Vikings Draft Capital, Financial Outlook Loom Large
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Minnesota Vikings
GettyMinnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah addresses the media at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
The complications the Vikings could face in cobbling together an appropriate package of draft picks to acquire Phillips in a trade with the Dolphins are only part of the problem. Phillips is playing on the fifth-year option of a four-year, $14 million rookie scale deal.
Per Over The Cap, the Vikings have $17.2 million in cap space entering September 13.
It's been lost in this offseason, but Jaelan Phillips could be one of the most impactful Dolphins in 2022. Had a productive rookie season, but is literally just scratching the surface of what he can be. pic.twitter.com/ON21yYXFKm
— George Forder (@GeorgeForder3) May 5, 2022
However, the Vikings are also projected to $53.7 million over the threshold in 2026, which could lead to some difficult decisions.
Perhaps Phillips is not the answer, but the Vikings must pursue any outside help judiciously if they choose to make any trades or signings. Their draft capital situation is also convoluted from a public information standpoint.