Vikings trade for Ross Blacklock, cut Armon Watts
A big surprise Tuesday came when the Minnesota Vikings cut defensive tackle Armon Watts and then made a trade with the Houston Texas for defensive tackle Ross Blacklock.
Blacklock, 24, was the 40th overall pick (second round) in the 2020 NFL Draft. Watts, a sixth-round pick by the Vikings in 2020. In exchange, the Vikings are giving Houston a sixth- and a seventh-round pick.
According to Pro Football Focus, Watts graded 74th of 224 interior defensive linemen last season, while Blacklock ranked 147th. Watts also rated higher than Blacklock in both pass-rush and run-stuffing grades.
- Blackock: 62nd pass-rush, 199th run defense
- Watts: 36th pass-rush, 170th run defense
So why the trade? Money could have something to do with it, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press reports that cutting Watts and trading for Blacklock saves the team a $2.54 million cap hit.
