Tight end Chris Herndon traded to Minnesota Vikings

In the midst of cutdown day, the Minnesota Vikings solved their tight end issue, trading for tight end Chris Herndon from the New York Jets.

Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network detailed the compensation for the trade.

“Trade details: The #Vikings are trading a 2022 fourth-round pick to the #Jets for TE Chris Herndon and a 2022 sixth-round pick, per source. It wasn’t on the transaction wire today, but the deal is done.”

Pelissero added additional financial details

“To facilitate the Chris Herndon trade, the #Jets paid him a roughly $1.4 million signing bonus, while the #Vikings will pay only the $920,000 minimum salary.” Pelissero said. “So in essence, New York trades Herndon, a 6th-round pick and a little cash for a 4th, and Minnesota gets TE help cheap.”

Chris Herndon is expected to fill in the role left open by Irv Smith Jr. Smith will miss time as he goes to surgery this week for a meniscus injury he suffered in the Vikings’ preseason finale against Kansas City. Smith’s timeline for recovery is unknown as a trim of the meniscus could see him return within the season, while a full repair likely ends his season.

The Vikings now have four tight ends on the roster in Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon, Herndon and Smith. Conklin entered the league in 2018. Dillon signed with the Vikings as an undrafted free agent in 2019 and has bounced between the active roster and the practice squad over the last two seasons.

Herndon is entering his fourth season in the league after being drafted in the fourth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season, Herndon recorded 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns. Herndon’s best season came as a rookie, recording 502 yards and four touchdowns.

Herndon missed much of the 2019 season. Herndon was suspended the first four games of the 2019 season for violating the NFL’s policy and program on substances of abuse. In November, Herndon was placed on injured reserve after a season ending injury. Herndon appeared in just one game in 2019.

Prior to his time in the NFL, Chris Herndon recorded 86 receptions for 1,048 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns in his time at Miami. Herndon received second-team All-ACC honors in 2017.

Coming out of high school, Herndon was a three-star prospect from Norcross. As a senior, Herndon recorded 33 catches for 543 yards with six touchdowns.