Jets acquire Harrison Phillips in trade that reshapes defense

A close look at how Harrison Phillips’ move from Minnesota to New York changes rosters and salary outlooks.

Jets acquire Harrison Phillips in trade that reshapes defense

The Jets have acquired defensive tackle Harrison Phillips from the Vikings in a deal that includes a 2026 sixth-round pick and a 2027 draft pick swap plus a 2027 seventh-rounder. New York lands the veteran interior lineman as part of a broader push to bolster the defensive front alongside recent acquisitions. Phillips, 29, signed a two-year extension with Minnesota in 2024 and has started for three seasons. He carries a guaranteed $7 million base for 2025 with $400,000 in per-game roster bonuses and a nonguaranteed $6.89 million salary in 2026. The Vikings shed his cap hit and will absorb some of the remaining guarantees, a move that helps balance their numbers over the next two seasons.

For the Jets, Phillips adds a reliable starter to pair with Quinnen Williams and improves the interior rotation after adding other linemen this off-season. The deal also signals a plan to win the trench game by stacking run-stuffing and pass-rush capability inside. On Minnesota’s side, the move frees cap space and preserves flexibility as the team reshapes its front with new players already in the rotation and young talents developing. The roster implications run through the depth chart, with Leonard Taylor, Phidarian Mathis, Byron Cowart and Derrick Nnadi contending for spots. In short, this is not just a swap of bodies; it is a rebalancing act that reflects how both teams are thinking about this season and the near future.

Highlights

Rosters are living plans that keep shifting as the season approaches.