Pro Football Focus will be providing analysis for every major NFL signing and trade during the 2015 free-agency period, accounting primarily for the quality of the player and his fit with his new team, and focusing less on the financial terms of the deal.
Here is a grade for the trade between the Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins
Grade articles on every major deal
Vikings get: WR Mike Wallace, seventh-round pick
Dolphins get: Fifth-round pick
Minnesota Vikings: B
Most will treat Wallace's time in Miami as a failure, but he was still an effective receiver in 2014 -- just not as effective as his time in Pittsburgh.
In 2014 he posted a yards per route run figure of 1.72 (35th of 90 qualifying receivers), which was the same as new teammate Charles Johnson who led the Vikings in that department. Wallace is known as a deep threat receiver, and in each of his first three years he was among the top 10 receivers in deep receiving yards (receptions over 20-plus yards). Last season, though, he hauled in only six deep catches for 199 yards, but that was still more deep receiving yards than anyone currently on the Vikings roster.
If his problem was he didn't fit in Miami, and he can return to being the impact player he was in Pittsburgh, then this trade will be a big steal for the Vikings. It could be that Wallace peaked earlier than most receivers, and we see the same player we saw in Miami. If that's the case, then Minnesota will be overpaying for a player that would still make the team better in 2015.
Miami Dolphins: B-
Typically when a player is widely rumored to be on the trade block or rumored to be released, it's hard to get anything out of a trade. At least the Dolphins were able to move up a little, but not enough to say they got the better end of the deal.