The Minnesota Vikings’ move to trade for veteran left tackle looks even more strategic now that he has departed in free agency. After Pro Bowler Christian Darrisaw went down with a season-ending knee injury in Week 8, the Vikings dealt conditional 2026 fourth- and seventh-round picks to land top star from the Jacksonville Jaguars. he proved to be a key addition, starting the final 10 games and helping Minnesota turn a 6-2 start into a 14-3 finish, despite an early playoff exit. While the trade paid off for Minnesota in the short term, Robinson is now heading to a rival contender, signing a one-year, $14.5 million deal with the Houston Texans, per Fox Sports’ Jordan Schultz.
As the peak of free agency winds down, his exit has further boosted the Vikings’ position in the 2026 compensatory pick formula. Minnesota is now projected to receive a third-round compensatory pick for losing Sam Darnold, along with a fourth- or fifth-rounder depending on how much playing time Daniel Jones gets with the Indianapolis Colts.
Robinson became the fifth qualifying free agent to depart from the Vikings, effectively offsetting the addition of Colts Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly. As long as Minnesota avoids signing another qualifying free agent this offseason, they will have essentially “rented” Robinson for 10 games while recouping the draft picks they used to acquire him. Under general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Vikings have been more strategic with their transactions, carefully navigating the compensatory pick formula — a strategy that is clearly paying off.
The Vikings’ 14-win season was considered ahead of schedule, given their untested defense and Sam Darnold’s inconsistent track record. However, after surpassing expectations, Minnesota is now in a strong position to compete throughout J.J. McCarthy’s rookie contract window. Adding extra draft picks will further strengthen their ability to build out the roster and stay competitive over the coming years. Christian Darrisaw is optimistic about being fully healthy by the start of next season, but if he’s not ready, the Vikings brought in veteran swing tackle Justin Skule as a short-term solution.