The Vikings have signed Shane Zylstra, according to his agent, Jaymeson Moten (via Twitter). Zylstra, who starred as a wide receiver at Minnesota State, will convert to tight end, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets.
If the last name sounds familiar, it’s because Zylstra’s older brother, Brandon Zylstra, signed with the Vikings in 2018 after a terrific couple of years in the Canadian Football League. He has been with the Panthers in each of the past two seasons, and while the CFL’s 2017 receiving yards leader has just 12 catches in his NFL career, he has served as a significant special teams contributor for both Minnesota and Carolina.
The younger Zylstra set Minnesota State records with 81 receptions for 1,676 yards and 18 touchdowns in 2019 — he was basically the D-II version of Ja’Marr Chase — but went undrafted last year. He will hope to follow in the footsteps of fellow Minnesota State alumnus and new teammate Adam Thielen.
Zylstra has put on 15 pounds of muscle for his position switch and is now up to 230 pounds, per Tomasson (Twitter link). The Vikings’ TE depth chart is currently topped by Irv Smith Jr., but beyond that, the club is rostering unproven talents Tyler Conklin, Brandon Dillon, and fifth-round rookie Zach Davidson. So Zylstra has a shot to make the team with a strong summer.
Tomasson notes that Zylstra also attracted interest from the Colts and 49ers (Twitter link).
It does make me wonder why teams think that they can just switch players to TE and they’ll be able to work it out. If the guy is a receiver, have him at receiver. If he’s a QB, play him at QB. TEs have their own skills and experience, and someone just starting a career there likely does not compare as well to players who have been there for years. Zylstra is probably better as a receiver, and changing his body might not let him play the way he wants to.
Teams move players because they don’t think the player will make it at their current position. Zylstra isn’t fast enough to beat NFL corners so if he can develop into a reliable pass catcher at tight end, he might have a future.
Darren Waller was a college receiver, I’m sure the Raiders are glad he was moved to TE.
Zylstra is most likely going to be a practice squad or cut type guy in his first season, but worth a flier for the Vikings with their current TE depth.
TE basically is just a bigger slower WR now a days. Vikings don’t have much behind Smith. And he’s been wildly productive in college. In my opinion he should of been drafted late. That’s a sneaky good pick up for the Vikes
Logan Thomas.