In August 2024, the Dallas Cowboys and Minnesota Vikings agreed to swap cornerbacks who did not pan out as anticipated on their respective teams.
The Cowboys traded away Nahshon Wright, a third-round pick in 2021, to the Vikings in exchange for Andrew Booth Jr., a second rounder from 2022.
In the time since, both of their careers have still not lived up to expectations ... but Minnesota has now ripped off the bandaid first.
The Vikings have released Wright after he spent all of last season on Minnesota's practice squad. He had signed a reserve/future contract in January, which secured him to their roster for the upcoming season if they chose to re-sign him.
Wright's cut does not affect Minnesota's financials because of the top-51 rule. Since Wright's contract was not priced in the top 51 of the Vikings' current roster, his release does not count against this offseason's cap.
Wright, 26, comes with great size for a corner at 6-4 and 200 - his dimensions drove Wright to compare himself favorably with All-Pro Richard Sherman - but did not tap into his full potential with the initial change of scenery away from Dallas.
Over his first three seasons in the NFL, he registered just 37 tackles.
Booth, in his first season with the Cowboys after the trade, finished 2024 with 15 tackles in just seven games played. He is only 24 years old, but struggled to see the field as he was up and down from Dallas' practice squad.
He was ranked near the bottom of all cornerbacks in the NFL last season with a 35.6 PFF grade (153rd out of 156 who played 100+ snaps).
Neither prospect has turned into much of anything ... but now the Cowboys could gamble on Wright with not much risk involved.
Scooping Wright off the market would be extremely affordable and would add to a cornerback room in need of more depth.
Trevon Diggs' return from injury will likely stretch until the midway point of the season. The team is still searching for a reliable outside corner opposite of DaRon Bland for next season. Booth remains on the roster at the moment, and is set to become a free agent in 2026.
Dallas still has north of $30 million to spend this offseason.
With Wright available and the Las Vegas Raiders cutting Jack Jones, the Cowboys now have two new options to choose from if they elect to find another cornerback via free agency.
