Vikings fans' reaction proves Jets won Harrison Phillips trade

Here's a good rule of thumb to follow whenever your favorite NFL team makes a trade. If your team acquires a player, and fans of his old team are extremely upset by the move, your squad may have made a solid move. The New York Jets found that out when they acquired run-stuffing DT Harrison Phillips from the Minnesota Vikings.

It could have been reasonably argued that the No. 2 defensive tackle role was the biggest remaining hole on the Jets' roster. As a result, Jets GM Darren Mougey decided to trade two future sixth-round picks to the Vikings in exchange for the former Stanford star.

After investing heavily in the defensive line by signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in free agency, Minnesota didn't have a spot for Phillips. That reality upset a good chunk of Vikings fans, who had multiple reasons to be living with this trade.

While some fans on social media were upset with what they felt was a paltry return and even more wondered about the validity of breaking up one of the best defensive lines in the league, one common thread through all of these posts was the fact that Phillips is a tremendous leader and community ambassador that Minnesota will miss.

Vikings fans are upset after Jets acquire DT Harrison Phillips

After an up-and-down, injury-plagued career with the Buffalo Bills, Phillips hasn't missed a start in the last three seasons with the Vikings. Under Brian Flores' watchful eye, Phillips helped the Vikings develop into one of the best run-stuffing teams in the entire NFL.

Not only is Phillips the immediate leader in the clubhouse to start as the second defensive tackle next to Quinnen Williams, but he is also under contract for the 2027 season. The Jets may have plugged one of their biggest holes with a reliable starter who is a solid gold leader in the locker room for an affordable price.

Phillips is the second space-eating defensive tackle the Jets traded for on Wednesday, as they also acquired Jowon Briggs from the Cleveland Browns. Apparently unsatisfied with the three-way mid-off between UDFA Leonard Taylor III, journeyman Jay Tufele, and struggling free agent Derrick Nnadi, the Jets made this move proactively.

Vikings fans have nothing but good things to say about Phillips and his ability to be a productive role player in a stout defense, which should be a welcome relief for a Jets team that has spent years trying to acquire this exact type of player.

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