Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

Offseason In Review: Minnesota Vikings

July 5th, 2024 at 10:39pm CST by Sam Robinson

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had gone two seasons with the quarterback his predecessor signed, but after Kirk Cousins‘ fourth set of Vikings extension talks did not produce a deal in 2023, the current Minnesota GM finally cut the cord. Cousins’ departure headlined an eventful Vikings offseason, one that later included a market-setting wide receiver contract.

As the Vikings transition at quarterback, they will use some of the money freed up by Cousins’ departure — following a not insignificant dead money total stemming from void years — on one of their Rick Spielman-era acquisitions. While Minnesota’s offseason featured notable moves at several positions, the decisions made at quarterback and wideout defined it.

Extensions and restructures:

Gave WR Justin Jefferson four-year, $140MM extension ($88.7MM guaranteed)
Reworked S Harrison Smith‘s deal, settling on one-year, $9MM agreement ($7MM guaranteed)

Negotiations between the Vikings and Jefferson ran up to Week 1 last year. At that point, no team in the fifth-year option era (2011-present) had extended a first-round wide receiver with two years of rookie-deal control remaining. Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb were in that boat last year, and while extension rumors surfaced, no deals came to pass. The Vikings submitted an offer worth more than $28MM per year before the 2023 season started. With that proposal not topping Tyreek Hill‘s position-record AAV number, Jefferson predictably declined to set the stage for a 2024 reconvening. The superstar wideout was proven right by waiting.

Even though Jefferson sustained a hamstring injury that sidelined him for seven games, he still managed a 1,000-yard season. Jefferson, 25, had already shattered Randy Moss‘ NFL record for receiving yardage through three seasons, accumulating 4,825. Jefferson’s age, his monster production, the Vikings moving off a proven QB’s contract and the receiver market shifting — following a record cap spike — beyond the $30MM place worked in the fifth-year pass catcher’s favor. Jefferson secured whopping terms and returned to work to begin establishing a rapport with Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy.

Skipping the start of Vikings OTAs in an effort to become the NFL’s highest-paid non-quarterback, Jefferson succeeded by passing Nick Bosa‘s $34MM-per-year contract. Also possessing leverage stemming from the Vikings’ natural interest in having their top player at workouts to begin training alongside its new QBs, the LSU alum pounced. Jefferson secured record-smashing guarantee figures, prevented the Vikings from backloading his deal the way Hill and Davante Adams‘ contracts are structured and managed this on a four-year agreement — one shorter than the Vikes initially sought.

The fifth wide receiver chosen in a memorable 2020 first round, Jefferson has set guarantee bars that are complicating the Cowboys and 49ers’ negotiations with their 2020 first-round wideouts. His total guarantees ($110MM) checked in $26MM north of A.J. Brown‘s new mark at the position. More importantly, the full guarantees ($88.7MM) are $36MM higher than the next-closest wideout. The WR investment business is booming, and the guarantees the Vikings authorized may give teams pause.

Rumblings about teams considering two-first-rounder trade offers for Jefferson emerged, with the Vikings loosely linked to a trade-up for LSU’s Malik Nabers. Little in terms of concrete info — unlike the Vikes and Giants’ Drake Maye trade-up offers — came out, however. No wide receiver has fetched two first-round picks in a trade since the 2000 offseason saw it happen twice — for Joey Galloway (Seahawks to Cowboys) and Keyshawn Johnson (Jets to Buccaneers) — but after Hill and Adams fetched first- and second-round picks in 2022 swaps, Jefferson’s age and the exploding WR market would have made him a clear candidate to end this drought.

The Vikings have a history of extending receivers and then trading them, having taken this route with Moss (2005) and Stefon Diggs (2020). Minnesota also unloaded Percy Harvin (2013) rather than extend him, but the Adofo-Mensah regime finished the Jefferson process with a commitment.

As it stands, the Vikings will pair Jefferson’s megadeal with McCarthy and Jordan Addison‘s rookie contracts. Although Minnesota now has the NFL’s highest-paid wide receiver and tight end (T.J. Hockenson), getting off Cousins’ contract will help the club afford the market-setting accords.

For a second straight year, the Vikings gave Smith a pay cut. The safety market’s inconsistency over the past two offseasons has impacted accomplished veterans. Smith signed two extensions that placed him atop the position’s market — in 2016 and 2021 — but Adofo-Mensah has led the way in back-to-back contract reworkings.

Smith, 35, is the Vikings’ longest-tenured player by a wide margin. He had agreed to a four-year, $64MM extension in August 2021, but after a 2022 restructure, the veteran Pro Bowler agreed to a $7MM pay cut in 2023 and again reduced his deal in March. Smith’s 2021 extension ran through 2025; it now expires a year early, via void years which have become a thorny subject during the Adofo-Mensah regime. Smith reduced a $15.3MM base salary to $9MM, with a $7MM signing bonus representing a solid guarantee for a 13th-year veteran at an unstable position.

Pro Football Focus ranked Smith, whose 176 career games are tied for fifth among defenders in Vikings history, 34th among safeties last season. If Smith is not re-signed before the 2025 league year, the Vikings will be tagged with $9.5MM in dead money. This would remind of Dalvin Tomlinson‘s 2023 exit.

Free agency additions:

Jonathan Greenard, OLB. Four years, $76MM ($38MM guaranteed)
Andrew Van Ginkel, LB. Two years, $20MM ($10MM guaranteed)
Blake Cashman, ILB. Three years, $22.5MM ($9.48MM guaranteed)
Sam Darnold, QB. One year, $10MM ($8.75MM guaranteed)
Aaron Jones, RB. One year, $7MM ($7MM guaranteed)
Shaquill Griffin, CB. One year, $4.55MM ($3.99MM guaranteed)
Jerry Tillery, DL. One year, $2.75MM ($1.47MM guaranteed)
Dan Feeney, OL. One year, $1.8MM ($1.38MM guaranteed)
Trent Sherfield, WR. One year, $1.79MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Jihad Ward, DL. One year, $1.79MM ($1MM guaranteed)
Jonah Williams, DL. One year, $1.5MM ($350K guaranteed)
Robert Tonyan, TE. One year, $1.13MM ($150K guaranteed)
Kamu Grugier-Hill, LB. One year, $1.38MM ($143K guaranteed)

Not traded for one another, Greenard and Danielle Hunter — PFR’s Nos. 5 and 6 free agents this year — will nevertheless move into each other’s 2023 roles. The Vikings added Greenard early in free agency, doing so before Hunter committed to the Texans. Minnesota showed interest in Bryce Huff but paid more for Greenard. The new Vikings edge rusher’s age (27) works in his favor; he is three years younger than Hunter. The latter has delivered better work, but the Vikings are betting on Greenard’s best NFL stretch being ahead.

Drafted in Round 3 before Nick Caserio took over as GM, Greenard excelled under both Lovie Smith and then DeMeco Ryans. Greenard had tallied an eight-sack season (in 2021) before an injury-plagued 2022 stalled his early-career momentum. Last season brought new production territory. Ranking 20th with 33 quarterback pressures, Greenard led the Texans in sacks (12.5) despite Will Anderson Jr. winning Defensive Rookie of the Year acclaim and smashed his career-high with 22 QB hits. Greenard ranked sixth among edge rushers in ESPN’s pass rush win rate metric in 2023.

Starting over at OLB, the Vikings need this pace to continue. They still managed to land a 27-year-old edge defender at an upper-mid-market rate. Greenard’s $19MM AAV ranks 15th among edges, though his $38MM guarantee at signing sits eighth. He could certainly reward the Vikings on this deal, especially as the pass rush market — likely via Micah Parsons and a third Myles Garrett contract — moves toward $40MM per year.

A year after moving off the Dalvin Cook contract, the Vikings made a short-term bet on another 2017 RB draftee. Jones does not have the rushing numbers Cook compiled in Minneapolis, but the seven-year Packer is a slightly better receiving option who certainly showed more gas in the tank last season. The Vikings are quite familiar with the versatile back, who closed last season with five straight 100-yard rushing games to propel the Pack to the divisional round, and their interest emerged soon after Green Bay cut bait.

The Packers added a younger back (Josh Jacobs) but one that has not shown what Jones has as an outlet option. After reducing Jones’ pay in 2023, the Packers aimed to cut his wages once again. The sides could not agree on common ground, and the team dropped Jones shortly after the Jacobs deal was finalized. Jones’ Vikings guarantee surpasses Alexander Mattison‘s 2023 number, though not by too much, as the Vikes have one of this era’s best RBs at a midlevel rate.

The team will bet on the aging (by RB standards) talent having juice left. The 1-A back in timeshares with Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon in his career, Jones has logged 1,449 career touches. That ranks ninth among active RBs, though the number is close to where Cook’s count stood (1,503) when the Vikings dropped him.

Jones rounds out an impressive skill-position cadre that includes Jefferson, Addison and Hockenson. This array of weaponry will be available to McCarthy in the long term, but it also could represent (by far) the best options Darnold has worked with as a pro. Brock Purdy enjoyed the 49ers’ unmatched arsenal during Darnold’s San Francisco year; his Jets and Panthers arrays, with Christian McCaffrey largely injured, do not rival what the Vikings possess. Although Darnold has been given plenty of time (56 starts) to show he is a mediocre quarterback, the former No. 3 overall pick chose an interesting opportunity in Minnesota.

Also tied to the Broncos and Commanders, Darnold chose the Vikings. Denver did not make a firm offer, and it is unknown where Washington went. Regardless, Darnold is poised to enter training camp as Minnesota’s starter. Darnold has flashed at points, but for the most part, the USC alum has struggled as a pro. The 27-year-old QB has never ranked higher than 25th in QBR, but he did not have enough snaps to qualify during an intriguing 2022 season in which he helped lead the Panthers back into the playoff race. Granted, this was due to a terrible NFC South, but Darnold averaged 8.2 yards per attempt with a limited Carolina skill corps that season.

It would not surprise to see the Vikings slow-play McCarthy’s climb; this would give Darnold a window to show better form and create a potential starter market for himself in 2025.

In addition to rebooting on the edge, the Vikes spent midlevel cash to add linebacking help. Van Ginkel can be classified as a hybrid player, having experience on the edge and off the ball. He helped the Dolphins as a rotational rusher and emergency OLB starter last season, compiling six sacks and 19 QB hits.

The Dolphins drafted Van Ginkel during Brian Flores‘ time in Miami, and he reached 20 QB hits in the current Vikings DC’s South Florida finale (2021). This made the Vikings’ interest unsurprising, and the team’s Cashman move points Van Ginkel to the edge. A rumored Flores-Christian Wilkins reunion did not happen, but the Vikes did not leave free agency without adding one of their DC’s ex-charges.

Cashman will join emerging UDFA Ivan Pace in the Twin Cities, and this payday marks the culmination of a journey that had the ex-Jet as a special-teamer not long ago. Strictly a special-teamer from 2020-21, Cashman still only played 14% of the Texans’ defensive snaps in 2022. But Ryans gave him steady work last year, using him at a 71% snap rate. Cashman notched 106 tackles to eclipse his career-best number by a cool 66, adding nine tackles for loss en route to PFF ranking him as a top-10 ILB regular. The Vikings are giving the Minnesota alum a chance to come home as well, as Cashman grew up in nearby Eden Prairie.

Mentioned as one of the many suitors for franchise-tagged Chiefs cornerback L’Jarius Sneed, the Vikings only exited free agency with Griffin. While Griffin has 79 starts on his resume, two teams — the Jaguars and Texans — cut the soon-to-be 29-year-old CB in 2023. PFF still rated Griffin as a top-50 corner last season, but the former Seahawks mainstay qualifies as more stopgap than difference-maker. As it stands, Griffin has a path to a starting role. The Vikings, as should be expected, are still being tied to seeking CB help.

Re-signings:

Blake Brandel, G. Three years, $9.5MM ($3.1MM guaranteed)
David Quessenberry, T. One year, $1.8MM ($1.38MM guaranteed)
Dalton Risner, G. One year, $2.41MM ($1.1MM guaranteed)
Jonathan Bullard, DL. One year, $2.25MM ($750K guaranteed)
Johnny Mundt, TE. One year, $2MM ($750K guaranteed)
Brandon Powell, WR. One year, $2MM ($625K guaranteed)

Even as the guard market produced five eight-figure-per-year UFA agreements this offseason, Risner is having a tough time convincing teams he is near that level. A Broncos starter for four seasons, the former second-round pick had not exactly received poor marks from the advanced metrics providers. But Risner has now struck out twice in free agency, waiting into the 2023 season before landing a gig and sitting on this year’s open market until May. Now heading into his age-29 season, the veteran guard is running out of time to cash in. He is sitting on 73 career starts, 11 coming with the Vikings last year.

Risner made his way into Minnesota’s starting lineup in October 2023, eventually replacing the traded Ezra Cleveland. PFF assigned Risner a mid-pack rating (46th), though ESPN’s pass block win rate metric slotted him ninth among all interior linemen. He will battle Brandel for the Vikes’ left guard gig. Despite having just five starts and just 503 offensive snaps on his NFL resume, Brandel commanded more money than Risner this offseason.

Notable losses:

Cam Akers, RB
Anthony Barr, LB
Kirk Cousins, QB
Marcus Davenport, OLB
Josh Dobbs, QB
Troy Dye, LB
Jordan Hicks, ILB
Danielle Hunter, OLB
Greg Joseph, K
Dean Lowry, DL (released)
James Lynch, DL
Alexander Mattison, RB (released)
K.J. Osborn, WR
Chris Reed, G
Austin Schlottmann, OL
Khyiris Tonga, DL
Oli Udoh, OL
Nick Vigil, ILB
D.J. Wonnum, OLB

The contracts Cousins and Hunter played out made the Vikings a historical outlier regarding an ability to retain top talent. Minnesota could not use its franchise tag on Hunter due to the parties’ August 2023 reworking, and Washington having tagged Cousins twice made a third tag — which no team has applied since the 2006 CBA made doing so prohibitive — a non-starter. This led to a nine-year Vikings sack ace and the team’s six-year quarterback heading south.

Adofo-Mensah made it work with Cousins in 2022 and ’23, an arrangement that generated a surprise 13-4 season. Cousins sought guarantees into Year 3 during the sides’ 2023 extension talks; the Vikings did not budge. Guarantees remained an issue this year. The fully guaranteed contract Cousins signed in 2018 armed him with leverage in each of his extension talks with the Vikes, leading to guarantee-heavy extensions in 2020 and 2022.

No deal in 2023 pointed Cousins toward the market, and although he expressed interest in staying in Minneapolis on several occasions, the financially savvy QB became a hotshot free agent once again. Cousins doing so ahead of his age-36 season and despite his Achilles tear illustrates the value above-average passers bring when free to negotiate with multiple teams.

The Vikings did make Cousins an offer and upped the guarantees before free agency; it just did not rival where the Falcons went. Ex-Kevin O’Connell Rams coworkers Raheem Morris and Zac Robinson are running the show in Atlanta, and it made sense for the team to chase a stable QB — given the trouble the NFC South club has encountered post-Matt Ryan — with experience in the system Robinson is implementing. The Falcons gave Cousins a $100MM practical guarantee on a four-year, $180MM deal, with locked-in money stretching into 2026 (this agreement produced a tampering penalty). Although Cousins may have reconsidered his path had he known the Falcons would turn around and draft Michael Penix Jr., another $100MM — which will push his career earnings past $330MM — would have been difficult to turn down under any circumstances.

Excluding alternate nods, Cousins has all of one Pro Bowl on his resume. That came under O’Connell in 2022. The Vikings jumping off this ride makes sense, even though it runs the risk of hurting their aerial capabilities this season. But Cousins logged five healthy seasons in Minnesota; the Vikes made the playoffs in two of them. The Vikings won one postseason contest with their affable passer, and while Cousins became the third-longest-tenured QB1 in Vikings history, he offered next to no mobility and has probably delivered his best NFL work. Though, the 12-year vet’s rapport with Jefferson will be difficult for Darnold and/or McCarthy to replicate this season.

Cousins departing after a void years-laden restructure moved $28.5MM in dead money onto Minnesota’s payroll. Dead money issues notwithstanding, the third-year GM used void years once again via more restructures this offseason. No such option was available for Hunter, whose run of contract reworkings stopped after last season.

Hunter’s 2023 redo pointed him toward free agency, even though the Vikings did not throw in the towel on keeping him. The Pro Bowl OLB made his first market trip after a career-best season. Hunter saw a borderline-dominant season (16.5 sacks, NFL-most 23 tackles for loss) catapult him into a position in which he commanded a near-fully guaranteed deal from the Texans.

Not long after losing Greenard, Houston guaranteed $48MM of the $49.5MM in his two-year deal. That rare agreement, which will bring Hunter back to the city where he attended high school, came after the former third-round pick reestablished his value following two major injuries.

After a neck injury nixed Hunter’s 2020 season and a torn pec sidelined him for 10 games in 2021, the Mike Zimmer-era third-rounder moved his count of double-digit sack seasons to five. The Vikings depended on Hunter’s bounce-back effort, as their Davenport plan fizzled quickly last year. Davenport’s four-game season led to another “prove it” deal, this one a $6.5MM pact with the Lions.

Although the sack era excludes the famed Purple People Eaters D-line’s work, Hunter leaves Minnesota after racking up the third-most official sacks (87.5) in team history. Wonnum, who became a pivotal edge component due to the injuries the Vikings sustained in recent years, caught a bad break by suffering a torn quad in January. He joined the Panthers on a one-year deal.

Mattison could not match his off-the-bench production as a starter, averaging 3.9 yards per carry and finishing in the bottom third in rushing yards over expected. The Vikings bailed on a two-year deal, and after ex-fifth-round pick Ty Chandler showed a spark late last season, he promises to mix in as a Jones 1-B.

Osborn offered slot consistency with Cousins, producing 655- and 650-yard seasons from 2021-22, before finishing with 540 tethered to the Vikes’ gaggle of backups. Osborn did not make sense as a keeper, given the Jefferson payment. That said, the Patriots added the slot regular for just $4MM in March. Osborn’s exit leaves some questions about Minnesota’s WR3 role, with Sherfield (one 400-yard season in six tries) not having offered anything close to Osborn’s consistency.

Minnesota’s kicker from 2021-23, Joseph is now in Green Bay as Anders Carlson‘s top competitor. That represents a step down for the veteran, who kicked in every Vikings game over the past three seasons. Sixth-round pick Will Reichard, Alabama’s kicker for five seasons, is positioned to take over.

Trades:

Obtained Nos. 23, 232 from Texans for Nos. 42, 188, 2025 second-round pick

Earlier this offseason, it looked like a team that wanted McCarthy would need to complete a notable trade-up transaction to secure necessary real estate. That did not end up being required, but the Vikings acquired more ammo by trading up 19 spots. Minnesota forked over a 2025 second to do so, giving Houston an important future asset. As it turned out, the Vikings used this pick to replace Hunter rather than Cousins. Though, the team made a memorable attempt to climb up for a quarterback.

Draft:

Round 1, No 10 (via Jets): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
Round 1, No. 17 (via Jaguars): Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama)
Round 4, No. 108: Khyree Jackson (CB, Oregon) (signed)
Round 6, No. 177 (from Panthers through Jaguars): Walter Rouse (T, Oklahoma) (signed)
Round 6: No. 203 (from Texans through Browns, Broncos and Jets): Will Reichard (K, Alabama) (signed)
Round 7, No. 230 (from Falcons through Browns and Cardinals): Michael Jurgens (C, Wake Forest) (signed)
Round 7, No. 232 (from Broncos through 49ers and Texans): Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT, Texas A&M Commerce) (signed)

With Darnold as the bridge, the Vikings made no secret of their interest in selecting a quarterback in the first round. Adofo-Mensah indicated the team would be comfortable with multiple options, and while Jayden Daniels interest surfaced, the Commanders confirming only one offer came in for their No. 2 pick — presumably from the Daniels-obsessed Raiders — it became clear Minnesota focused its post-Cousins efforts on another passer. Drake Maye what-ifs may follow McCarthy’s career, as the Vikings and Giants made offers to move up to No. 3.

Neither NFC club was able to convince New England to pass on Maye. The Giants proposed Nos. 6 and 47, along with their 2025 first, for No. 3. Competing with this during the early part of the draft, the Vikings are believed to have sent the Pats an offer including Nos. 11 and 23, along with their 2025 first. Minnesota-Maye buzz built before the draft, with New York also enamored with the North Carolina prospect. The Vikings discussed terms with the Cardinals and Chargers, but no move that high became necessary for a player who appeared the team’s Maye backup plan.

While the Giants shifted away from the position altogether, the Vikings were effectively pot-committed on adding one of this class’ arms. That turned out to be McCarthy, with a Sean Payton-led smokescreen effort potentially influencing the Vikings to part with a fourth-round pick and moving out of the fifth round (via the Jets) to jump up one spot for their QB hopeful.

McCarthy joined the rest of the top six non-Caleb Williams QB options in visiting Minnesota pre-draft; all but Daniels went through a workout. The Vikings were not closely tied to Michael Penix Jr., so it is not certain if the Falcons’ surprise move affected their plan. McCarthy will be expected to move into Minnesota’s lineup, potentially early in the season.

McCarthy said he spent more time with the Giants pre-draft, but the Vikings made him the first top-10 QB draftee in franchise history. Ownership is believed to have nudged the front office to concentrate on a long-term QB, after its recent year-to-year Cousins plan; that potentially helps explain the trade with the Texans.

This will give the Vikings a rookie-deal QB starter — once McCarthy takes the baton from Darnold — for the first time since Teddy Bridgewater, and the 2014 first-rounder’s contract (marred by a severe knee injury) finished out with Sam Bradford on the books as well. McCarthy’s deal will give the Vikes a building block, and while teams’ interest in the Michigan prospect may have been exaggerated — as the Jim Harbaugh pupil fell to No. 10 — Minnesota obviously felt comfortable enough to make a pivotal investment.

Wowing NFL staffers at his pro day, McCarthy was not asked to operate in a high-octane fashion. He attempted 332 passes in each of the past two seasons, reaching that number despite 14- and 15-game campaigns. McCarthy became the rare modern top-10 QB draftee without a 3,000-yard passing season, though his accuracy numbers (72.3% in 2023) impressed. McCarthy averaged nine yards per attempt last season, and his development becomes the central Vikings storyline.

The Vikes also met with Turner pre-draft, and they joined the Colts in benefiting from the draft’s offense-focused start. As a record 14 offensive players started the draft, the top pass rushers fell to the mid-teens. The Colts (Laiatu Latu), Seahawks (Byron Murphy) and Vikings capitalized and addressed their pass rush. Though, Minnesota needed to trade a fifth-round choice and 2025 third- and fourth-rounders to move up six spots. The Vikes had made the Seahawks an offer for No. 16 as well, appearing to emphasize the NFC North team’s interest in pass rushers.

Turner blazed to a 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the Combine, boosting his stock after he followed former teammate Will Anderson Jr. by winning SEC Defensive Player of the Year honors. Turner totaled 10 sacks and 14.5 TFLs during his final Alabama season. The Vikings added some edge options in Greenard and Van Ginkel; Turner becoming a quick study would make this a formidable pass rush.

Other:

Exercised LT Christian Darrisaw‘s $16.04MM fifth-year option
Inquired about trade for Chargers QB Justin Herbert
TE T.J. Hockenson rehabbing January ACL, MCL tears, uncertain to start season on time
Moved N’Keal Harry from WR to TE
Hired Josh McCown as QBs coach; OC Wes Phillips issued three-week suspension
Signed 17 UDFAs

Continuing the trend of Spielman giving Adofo-Mensah building blocks, the former GM’s final first-round pick has become one of the NFL’s best young tackles. ESPN’s run block win rate metric ranked Darrisaw sixth in 2022; Pro Football Focus slotted him second among all tackles that season. PFF graded the Virginia Tech product as the NFL’s eighth-best tackle last season. Understandably, the Vikings are interested in extending Darrisaw. Talks have begun, but the 25-year-old blocker may need to wait.

Minnesota extended Jefferson going into his fifth year, though the team tried to re-up the 2020 first-rounder last summer. The Vikings getting in early on Darrisaw may matter, as a Tristan Wirfs Buccaneers extension has not happened yet.

Wirfs is likely to eclipse Penei Sewell‘s tackle-record $28MM-per-year number. Rashawn Slater is also now extension-eligible. While Darrisaw does not have the accolades those first-rounders do, he can boost his value with a strong fourth season. The price figures to rise the longer the Vikings wait, but with only Brian O’Neill signed to an upper-crust contract up front, Minnesota should have a salary slot open for a Darrisaw deal.

Cousins’ lofty dead money sum also impacts the Vikings on the contract front, but the team joined the Patriots in a full-court heave of sorts by asking about Herbert at the Combine. Tied to a $52.5MM-AAV contract, the Chargers standout is now tied to a new regime. Of course, Herbert’s presence played a central role in Harbaugh selecting the Bolts as his vehicle to return to the NFL. It represented a non-starter, though the inquiries make for a fun “what if?” Only two QBs (Deshaun Watson, Jim Plunkett) have been traded for three first-round picks since the merger. Herbert almost definitely would command such a haul, but both Minnesota and New England moved on to rookies.

McCown coached Maye when the Tar Heels passer was in high school; the assistant will look to rebound from a rough stint as the Panthers’ QBs coach. Carolina axed the former quarterback shortly after firing first-year HC Frank Reich. McCown, who famously knocked the Vikings out of the 2003 playoffs as the Cardinals’ QB, will be tasked with tutoring another first-rounder after his Bryce Young mentorship featured some complications. Phillips served his three-week ban, stemming from a 2023 DWI arrest, this offseason.

Top 10 cap charges for 2024:

Brian O’Neill, RT: $22.93MM
T.J. Hockenson, TE: $14.04MM
Byron Murphy, CB: $10.91MM
Harrison Phillips, DL: $8.83MM
Justin Jefferson, WR: $8.61MM
Harrison Smith, S: $7.32MM
Josh Oliver, TE: $6.17MM
Garrett Bradbury, C: $5.77MM
Jonathan Greenard, OLB: $5.74MM
Sam Darnold, QB: $5MM

Darnold and McCarthy working with O’Connell will be interesting, given how Cousins performed in the third-year HC’s offense. After a dormant NFC North period, however, the Vikings are breaking in their new QBs at an interesting point for this division.

The Lions more than justified last year’s hype, delivering their best season since the Bobby Layne years, while the Packers navigated historic Aaron Rodgers dead money to reach the playoffs behind his replacement. With the Bears appearing to upgrade at QB via the Justin Fields-to-Caleb Williams switch and making key WR additions, this division appears deeper. This could result in a Vikings transition year, though the team exceeding expectations under O’Connell in the recent past offers some hope.

The NFL’s Longest-Tenured Head Coaches

July 5th, 2024 at 10:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following 2023’s five-team coaching carousel, this offseason featured a quarter of the jobs becoming available. One HC-needy team (New England) did not put its position on the market, promoting Jerod Mayo, but the rest did. The Patriots’ decision also produced the first shakeup among the league’s longest-tenured head coach list since 2013.

Since the Eagles fired Andy Reid, Bill Belichick‘s Patriots HC stint had run the longest. After a 4-13 season, the six-time Super Bowl-winning leader was moved out of the picture. No team hired Belichick, generating a wave of rumors, and only one (Atlanta) brought him in for an official interview. While Belichick should be expected to take at least one more run at a third-chance HC gig, Mike Tomlin rises into the top spot on this list.

Tomlin is going into his 18th season with the Steelers, and while he has surpassed Bill Cowher for longevity, the steady leader still has a ways to go to reach Chuck Noll‘s 23-season Pittsburgh benchmark. Tomlin, 52, enters the 2024 season 17-for-17 in non-losing seasons, separating himself from his predecessors in that regard.

Belichick’s ouster brought far more attention, but his Patriots predecessor also slid out of the HC ranks after a 14-year Seattle stay. Pete Carroll‘s third HC shot elevated the Seahawks to their franchise peak. No Hawks HC comes close to Carroll’s duration, and while the Super Bowl winner was interested in remaining a head coach, no team interviewed the 72-year-old sideline staple.

Belichick and Carroll’s exits leave only Tomlin, John Harbaugh and Reid as coaches who have been in place at least 10 years. With Mike Vrabel also booted this offseason, only eight HCs have held their current jobs since the 2010s. A few 2017 hires, however, stand out; Kyle Shanahan, Sean McVay and Sean McDermott have now each signed multiple extensions. Now riding back-to-back Super Bowl wins, Reid joined Tomlin in signing an offseason extension.

Here is how the 32 HC jobs look for the 2024 season:

Mike Tomlin (Pittsburgh Steelers): January 27, 2007; extended through 2027
John Harbaugh (Baltimore Ravens): January 19, 2008; extended through 2025
Andy Reid (Kansas City Chiefs): January 4, 2013; extended through 2029
Sean McDermott (Buffalo Bills): January 11, 2017; extended through 2027
Sean McVay (Los Angeles Rams): January 12, 2017; extended through 2027
Kyle Shanahan (San Francisco 49ers): February 6, 2017; extended through 2027
Matt LaFleur (Green Bay Packers): January 8, 2019: signed extension in July 2022
Zac Taylor (Cincinnati Bengals): February 4, 2019; extended through 2026
Mike McCarthy (Dallas Cowboys): January 7, 2020
Kevin Stefanski (Cleveland Browns): January 13, 2020; signed offseason extension
Robert Saleh (New York Jets): January 15, 2021
Dan Campbell (Detroit Lions): January 20, 2021; extended through 2027
Nick Sirianni (Philadelphia Eagles): January 21, 2021
Matt Eberflus (Chicago Bears): January 27, 2022
Brian Daboll (New York Giants): January 28, 2022
Kevin O’Connell (Minnesota Vikings): February 2, 2022
Doug Pederson (Jacksonville Jaguars): February 3, 2022
Mike McDaniel (Miami Dolphins): February 6, 2022
Dennis Allen (New Orleans Saints): February 7, 2022
Todd Bowles (Tampa Bay Buccaneers): March 30, 2022
Sean Payton (Denver Broncos): January 31, 2023
DeMeco Ryans (Houston Texans): January 31, 2023
Shane Steichen (Indianapolis Colts): February 14, 2023
Jonathan Gannon (Arizona Cardinals): February 14, 2023
Jerod Mayo (New England Patriots): January 12, 2024
Antonio Pierce (Las Vegas Raiders): January 19, 2024
Brian Callahan (Tennessee Titans): January 22, 2024
Jim Harbaugh (Los Angeles Chargers): January 24, 2024
Dave Canales (Carolina Panthers): January 25, 2024
Raheem Morris (Atlanta Falcons): January 25, 2024
Mike Macdonald (Seattle Seahawks): January 31, 2024
Dan Quinn (Washington Commanders): February 1, 2024

Latest On LB Blake Cashman’s Free Agency

July 4th, 2024 at 6:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Texans’ success on defense in 2023 led to a few members of that unit securing lucrative deals on the open market this spring. In the case of linebacker Blake Cashman, several interested parties emerged before he chose his next destination.

The 28-year-old inked a three-year, $22.5MM contract with his hometown Vikings in March. Considering Cashman primarily on special teams for three of his five seasons to date, the pact represents a notable windfall. Houston was interested in keeping him in the fold for 2024 and beyond, but the team expected a strong market to exist once Cashman was known to be available.

Going further on that note, the former fifth-rounder indicated (via Andrew Krammer of Minneapolis Star Tribune) that the Broncos, Packers, Falcons and Steelers showed interest in addition to the Texans prior to his Vikings agreement. Cashman is a veteran of 21 starts, 13 of which came last season. During DeMeco Ryans‘ debut campaign as Houston’s head coach, he shattered his career high in tackles (106) while adding a pair of sacks, one interception and one fumble recovery.

That production – along with the terms of his contract, which includes $15MM in total guarantees – will lead to high expectations for Cashman. Minnesota made a notable investment in another ex-Texan (edge rusher Jonathan Greenard) this offseason, and both players will be counted on to handle a starter’s workload on defense. For Cashman, that would have been the case on any new team considering the contract he landed.

Denver lost Josey Jewell in free agency, creating a linebacker vacancy which was filled (at least in part) by the addition of Cody Barton. Green Bay released De’Vondre Campbell in a cost-shedding move, but no outside move was made to replace him before Edgerrin Cooper‘s selection in the second round of the draft. Atlanta was quiet on the linebacker front this offseason, waiting until Day 3 of the draft to make a move (JD Bertrand). Pittsburgh made by far the most lucrative LB investment of the group by inking Patrick Queen to a three-year, $41MM deal.

The decisions made by the other teams interested in Cashman is a simple ‘what if’ matter at this point, of course. Still, it is notable he managed to generate enough of a market to draw interest from several teams after his strong showing in 2023. Repeating that performance moving forward will prove Minnesota’s investment in him to be worthwhile.

Vikings Open To Re-Signing RB Cam Akers?

July 2nd, 2024 at 8:59am CST by Adam La Rose

Cam Akers closed out the 2023 season in Minnesota after his Rams tenure ended in a trade. The free agent running back is still on the market, but a deal allowing him to remain with the Vikings could be worked out shortly.

Akers is set to take part in a physical, and Charley Walters of the Pioneer Press writes passing it could put him on track to re-sign in Minnesota. That would allow the 25-year-old to compete for a depth spot in the backfield during training camp. Akers’ Vikings tenure proved to be short-lived when he suffered an Achilles tear in November.

That represented the second such injury of his relatively brief career, and to little surprise it hurt his free agent value. The former second-rounder was limited to one regular season contest in 2021, although he did manage to return to action in time for the Rams’ Super Bowl run that year. A falling out with head coach Sean McVay made it clear Akers would not have a long spell in Los Angeles, however, and the trade which sent him to Minnesota paved the way for a fresh start.

Across six games with the Vikings, the Florida State product posted 138 yards and one touchdown on a 3.6 yards per attempt average. Akers did chip in with respect to the passing game (11 receptions, 70 yards) but those figures will limit expectations for him on Minnesota or any new team he joins this summer. Regardless of if he is brought back into the fold, the Vikings have a number of backfield options available.

Allowing Alexander Mattison to depart, the team added former Packer Aaron Jones on a one-year deal. He will occupy lead back duties in 2024, while recent draftees Ty Chandler and DeWayne McBride will compete for backup snaps. The Vikings also have Kene Nwangwu in place as their kick returner, as well as Myles Gaskin as an option for veteran depth. The latter in particular would be in competition for a roster spot if Akers were to re-sign. The Vikings currently have over $26MM in cap space.

Latest On Vikings, LT Christian Darrisaw

July 1st, 2024 at 4:45pm CST by Adam La Rose

While it took longer than many expected, the Vikings managed to hammer out a monster extension with Justin Jefferson. The team can now turn its attention to other financial priorities, one of which is a second contract for left tackle Christian Darrisaw.

The latter has cemented himself as Minnesota’s blindside blocker, logging 39 starts in 41 games. Darrisaw has become one of the league’s top young offensive linemen over that span, and as a result it came as no surprise when the Vikings picked up his fifth-year option. That has him on track to earn $16.04MM in 2025.

A multi-year extension will check in at a much higher cost, of course. Despite having two years to work out an agreement, talks on an extension are underway. Nothing is imminent at this time, but Darrisaw profiles as a logical extension candidate as a foundational member of the Vikings’ offensive corps. Jefferson and tight end T.J. Hockenson are both on the books for years to come given their respective extensions. Other key offensive players – including wideout Jordan Addison and quarterback J.J. McCarthy – are under team control through the foreseeable future via their rookie contracts.

Alec Lewis of The Athletic notes the Vikings remain interested in working out a Darrisaw extension (subscription required). As he notes, though, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah – who was not in place when the Virginia Tech alum was drafted – has a deliberate process when it comes to in-house deals. Lewis adds Minnesota is in “no rush” on the Darrisaw front, but a deal near the top of the tackle market could still be on the horizon.

Penei Sewell signed the league’s most lucrative tackle pact despite playing on the right side. In terms of blindside protectors, five players average more than $20MM per year on their respective deals with Laremy Tunsil leading the way at a $25MM AAV. Darrisaw may not reach that level, but Lewis notes he recently changed agents; Drew Rosenhaus now represents him. It will be interesting to see if that change leads to traction being gained as it pertains to negotiations.

As things stand, Minnesota is set to be among the league leaders in 2025 cap space. A free agent departure ahead of next year is not an option for Darrisaw, but the Vikings will have plenty of flexibility to structure a multi-year investment. If team and player display a mutual desire to work out an agreement, a sizable extension could be in place well before his rookie deal expires.

Vikings Targeting DL, CB This Summer

June 30th, 2024 at 9:02pm CST by Ely Allen

In a recent mailbag Q&A, Alec Lewis of The Athletic noted two positions that are likely to be subject to additions this summer and in free agency next year for the Vikings: defensive tackle and cornerback. While there were some attempts to address each position already this offseason, there is likely much more work to be done in Minnesota.

On the defensive line, Minnesota is running it back with Harrison Phillips and Jonathan Bullard as two of their starters in a three-man front. Unfortunately, neither really stood out as strong players at their position with Lewis noting specifically that Phillips and Bullard ranked as two of the worst interior pass rushers in the NFL last year. Last year’s fifth-round rookie Jaquelin Roy could potentially take the next step after playing in an extremely minor role last season.

The team did make two free agent additions, signing Jerry Tillery and Jonah Williams back in March. Tillery had a bit of a resurgent season last year in Las Vegas after falling out of favor with the Chargers. Williams saw his first full-time starting role for the Rams last year, starting all but one game in 2023. This provides a bevy of options as the Vikings plan their rotation on the defensive line. It’s hard to say just how much of an improvement this will be; it will really depend on who steps up this summer to grab starting positions.

That being said, all four of Phillips, Bullard, Tillery, and Williams have expiring contracts after this season. Lewis notes that this will make the position just as much of a position-of-focus next year in free agency, as well. While one or a few of the above names may prove to be worth re-signing, Lewis already pegs veteran division-rival Kenny Clark as a target free agent next spring. He tabs Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux and Eagles pass rusher Josh Sweat as potential targets, as well.

At cornerback, Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans return as two starters while veteran Shaquill Griffin comes in as a new starter on the outside, allowing Murphy to play a bit more in the slot, if necessary. Evans has overperformed as a recent fourth-round pick, while his draft classmate Andrew Booth, a former second-rounder, has failed to establish himself in the rotation. There are no real stars in this position group, though Griffin has displayed the ability to be one of the better players at the position in past years.

Like on the defensive line, though, Murphy and Griffin will both be free agents next year, making cornerback a position of focus in 2025, as well. As for future targets at cornerback, Lewis likes Jets corner D.J. Reed and San Francisco’s Charvarius Ward.

None of the free agents Lewis suggests are necessarily stars at their position, and most are in their older years, but all would provide an improvement to what the Vikings currently have on the roster. There are still several months for Minnesota to continue addressing those positions, and there’s still every possibility that the current Vikings will step up and prove that they belong and are good enough to keep around beyond this year.

NFC North Front Office Updates: Vikings, Lions, Packers

June 28th, 2024 at 9:40pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings announced a number of hires to their scouting staff in recent weeks. As general manager continues to find the path to draft success in the NFL, he is enlisting the help of these new additions to achieve the best possible results.

Before getting to the new hires, Minnesota promoted Sam DeLuca to director of pro personnel, according to Neil Stratton of SucceedinFootball.com. DeLuca joined the Vikings about a year ago as a senior assistant director of pro personnel before getting the full director title. His NFL start came as a scouting intern with the Eagles in 2012 before he spent ten years in the Browns scouting department.

The biggest new hire comes in DeLuca’s department as Shane Normandeau joins the team as a pro scout. Normandeau worked alongside DeLuca in Cleveland, joining the Browns two years ago as football operations coordinator after interning for three months with the Colts.

The team also hired on Brian Schnorr as a scouting associate. Schnorr is making his NFL staff debut after three and a half years working in college recruiting with UCF, Florida State, and Nebraska. Schorr also has three years of experience as a data analyst with Pro Football Focus. Lastly, Minnesota added Dabness Atkins as a scouting assistant. After playing college ball at Holy Cross, Dabness spent the 2023 season as a recruiting assistant at UMass.

Here are a few other front office updates out of the NFC North:

The Lions made a big move, adding Charlie Adkins to the staff as senior director of football administration, per ESPN’s Seth Walder. Adkins comes from Arizona, where he spent the last seven years in the Cardinals’ football analytics and research department, eventually working his way up to manager of football analytics and research. He reunites with chief operating officer Mike Disner, who joined the Lions in 2019 after six years with the Cardinals as director of football administration.
Stratton informs us of one more NFC North scouting hire, noting the addition of Sam Fleming as a scouting assistant for the Packers. Fleming first worked in the NFL as an intern with the Saints before serving two years at Samford, where he played wide receiver in college, in personnel and operations. He has spent the last three years working with National Football Scouting.

NFC North Notes: Bears, Vikings, Love

June 26th, 2024 at 10:39am CST by Sam Robinson

Last year, the Bears became the Eagles’ gateway to Jalen Carter by trading down one spot and picking up an additional fourth-rounder from the NFC East team. GM Ryan Poles referenced this transaction when contacting Falcons GM Terry Fontenot during Round 1 this year. The third-year Chicago front office boss called the fourth-year Atlanta decision-maker about a move from No. 9 to No. 8, via The33rdteam.com’s Ari Meirov, with the aim to lock down Rome Odunze draft real estate. With plans on selecting Odunze’s college QB at No. 8 — to the surprise of most — Fontentot declined Poles’ offer and chose Michael Penix Jr.

The Jets (at No. 10) were also interested in Odunze, shifting to the offensive line once the Bears chose the high-end WR prospect at 9, with Poles undoubtedly aware of the AFC East club’s aim of adding another Aaron Rodgers weapon. A pre-draft report also pointed to the Colts’ interest in trading up for a playmaker; GM Chris Ballard confirmed he made “big offers” to move up from 15. After a dominant final season at Washington, Odunze rounds out a promising Bears receiving corps that includes D.J. Moore and trade pickup Keenan Allen. The Bears, who experimented with Odunze as a punt returner during their offseason program (per ESPN.com’s Courtney Cronin), could have the Pac-12 product on a rookie deal through 2028 via the fifth-year option.

Here is the latest from the NFC North:

For a second straight offseason, Dalton Risner‘s market underwhelmed. This led to the sixth-year guard changing agents, per The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, as he sought an upper-echelon agreement only to see nothing close come his way. The Vikings blocker called this a “frustrating” offseason, noting (via KSTP’s Darren Wolfson) he was surprised how little interest came his way — during an offseason that featured five free agent guards sign for at least $10MM per year. This mirrored his 2023 offseason, which did not see a deal come together until September. Risner started four seasons in Denver and worked as an 11-game Minnesota starter, with the Vikes trading Ezra Cleveland to the Jaguars, last season. Risner, 29 next month, is attached to a one-year, $2.41MM deal that includes playing time-based incentives.
While Risner will compete with Blake Brandel for Minnesota’s left guard job, Jordan Addison is a locked-in starter. Addison impressed despite Kirk Cousins‘ injury last season, and SI.com’s Albert Breer notes the former USC and Pitt wideout’s offseason growth has turned heads at the Vikings’ facility. During a season that featured an extended Justin Jefferson absence and the Vikes starting four QBs, Addison totaled 911 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns. The 2023 first-rounder’s rookie deal will now pair with Jefferson’s market-setting extension, and Sam Darnold — before a likely baton pass to J.J. McCarthy — will have a promising WR duo to target this season.
The Bears drafting Odunze meant a long wait for defensive help, and the team extended the wait after taking O-lineman Kiran Amegadjie in Round 3 and punter Tory Taylor in Round 4. Montez Sweat is in place as Chicago’s pass-rushing anchor, and Andrew Billings is poised to start once again. Beyond that, the Bears feature some question marks. A late-summer addition at DE and/or DT may be something the team will consider, per The Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain, if they do not see enough early in training camp. A Yannick Ngakoue reunion could be on the table. Chicago has Gervon Dexter and veteran DeMarcus Walker on track for regular roles, with Fishbain adding veteran pickup Jacob Martin‘s fit will also determine whether the team needs to make another move.
Although Jordan Love is expected to join the $50MM-per-year club, the Packers QB is only going into his second starter season. On that end, Matt LaFleur added 7-on-7 periods during practice to help his passer’s development, ESPN.com’s Rob Demovsky notes. LaFleur has resisted implementing this common offseason drill due to the lack of a pass rush impacting decisions, noting an emphasis on Love’s footwork for dusting off the passing period.

Vikings Waiting For 2022 Draft Class To Step Up

June 23rd, 2024 at 8:20pm CST by Ely Allen

2022 was the first draft in Minnesota for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. While there have been some success stories like fourth-round cornerback Akayleb Evans becoming a starter in Year 2 and fifth-round running back Ty Chandler serving as a decent RB2 in his sophomore campaign, the class has overall been a bit of a disappointment.

We already commented on Kevin Seifert of ESPN’s stance that former first-round safety Lewis Cine could be on the roster bubble, but Seifert didn’t stop there, claiming that the other three picks in the first three rounds could run into similar difficulties this offseason.

This statement expands to the later picks of the draft class, as well, though it obviously doesn’t pertain to Evans and Chandler. Worth mentioning, though, is former sixth-round offensive tackle Vederian Lowe, who was traded to the Patriots for a seventh-round pick and went on to start eight games in New England last year, and fifth-round pass rusher Esezi Otomewo, who was waived after a year with the team.

Of the remaining players in the class, LSU second-round offensive guard Ed Ingram has been the most impactful player. Ingram became an instant, full-time starter as a rookie and has only missed two games in his time with the team. That being said, head coach Kevin O’Connell seemed to indicate recently that both starting guard spots are being fought for in a three-way competition between Ingram, backup tackle Blake Brandel, and Dalton Risner.

The battle could be a result of underwhelming performance from the second-rounder. According to Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Ingram graded out as the 57th-best guard in the league out of 77 graded players his rookie year. Though he improved to the 38th-ranked guard in 2023, his overall score that determines those rankings only rose from 57.0 to 59.5. For reference, the top players at the position graded out in the 80s. Ingram could certainly win one of the two available starting jobs over Brandel and Risner, but the fact that, going into his third year, Ingram’s in danger of losing his job as the incumbent starter points to relative disappointment.

Taken 17 picks before Ingram, former Clemson cornerback Andrew Booth has also failed to play up to his second-round draft stock. Booth was already playing behind the starters, Evans and Byron Murphy, last year, but he is in danger of continuing to tumble down the depth chart as free agent addition Shaquill Griffin comes in with far more starting experience and fourth-round rookie Khyree Jackson could have more goodwill to win a roster spot in his first year with the team.

Third-round linebacker Brian Asamoah has likewise failed to crack the rotation in his first two years out of Oklahoma. He’s not likely to earn any starting time in 2024 as he’s been consistently working behind Ivan Pace and Blake Cashman so far this offseason. The free agent addition of veteran Kamu Grugier-Hill will likely take away any snaps as the primary backup at the position, as well.

Seventh-round pick Nick Muse was maybe not expected to do much as a late-round tight end, but he’s only been on the field for two offensive snaps in his career and missed all but two games last year. He may not see much room for improvement in 2024 as he’s been buried on a depth chart that now includes T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver, Robert Tonyan, and Johnny Mundt.

Lastly, sixth-round receiver Jalen Nailor was also mentioned by Seifert but on a slightly more positive note. Seifert claims that the coaching staff really wants to see Nailor make an impact and possibly earn the WR3 role this offseason. That role was vacated as K.J. Osborn departed for New England in free agency, and the Vikings didn’t really do much to replace Osborn after he left. With Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison leading the receiving corps, Nailor has an opportunity to step up into a crucial role.

Nailor’s early career has been hampered by injury. He missed seven games early in the season last year before sitting out the final four contests, as well. But coaches have pegged him as a “slippery target that defenders have trouble tracking” during his limited time in games and practice. While the coaches are hoping that he’ll force their hand, he’ll be competing with Brandon Powell, who was the fourth receiver on the team after coming over from the Rams last year, and Trent Sherfield, who has been an inconsistent contributor over his six years in the league.

So, Adofo-Mensah’s first draft did not produce the desired results in 2022, and while he did a little better by nailing Addison in the first round last year, the rest of the 2023 class has yet to make their impact. He’ll hope to continue hitting on first-rounders with quarterback J.J. McCarthy and pass rusher Dallas Turner this year, and he’ll hope that late-round picks like Jackson and kicker Will Reichard show their impacts, as well. Entering a bit of a rebuild post–Kirk Cousins, the team’s success will depend partially on how well Adofo-Mensah can build the team moving forward.

Vikings LB Ivan Pace “Top Contender” To Serve As Defensive Signal-Caller

June 23rd, 2024 at 12:23pm CST by Rory Parks

The defensive signal-caller in a Brian Flores-coordinated defense is especially important to the success of the unit, given how much Flores likes to rotate most of his personnel. At present, second-year linebacker Ivan Pace appears to be the “top contender” to serve in that role for the Vikings in 2024, per ESPN.

That should not come as much of a surprise. Even as an undrafted rookie, Pace took over green dot responsibilities when veteran Jordan Hicks was forced to miss four games with a leg injury last season, and he played in 100% of Minnesota’s defensive snaps during that time. In all, he appeared in all 17 contests (11 starts) and racked up 102 total tackles to go along with 2.5 sacks and an interception.

Pace’s surface-level production is impressive enough for any rookie, but especially a UDFA. Those numbers were supported by a similarly strong showing in the advanced metrics world, as Pro Football Focus considered him the 16th-best linebacker out of 82 qualifiers and thought especially highly of his work in coverage. With Hicks having signed with the Browns in free agency, Pace seems like the most logical candidate to step in as the full-time signal-caller on defense.

That said, the Vikings did authorize a notable contract for linebacker Blake Cashman in March, and they also signed Kamu Grugier-Hill, who has 115 games and 42 starts on his resume. Those acquisitions were part of a defensive overhaul that saw the team part ways with star pass rusher Danielle Hunter while adding the likes of Cashman, Grugier-Hill, Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Jihad Ward, and Jerry Tillery to the front seven. Minnesota also selected prized prospect Dallas Turner in the first round of April’s draft.

The ESPN report indicates that the team is considering Cashman and Grugier-Hill for the green dot role, but it would nonetheless seem that Pace, in light of his rookie-year performance and the fact that he handled those duties last season, would have a leg up.

Said head coach Kevin O’Connell, “[Pace] has had a very good spring, just with the type of communication [Flores] is putting on his plate.”

Pace himself said, “I know they brought in a couple linebackers that have more experience and stuff, but if they trust me enough to have the green dot, I’m ready for it.”

Undrafted free agents are signed to three-year contracts, as opposed to the four-year pacts that their drafted counterparts receive. As such, UDFAs become extension-eligible after accruing just two years of service time, so if Pace can build on his 2023 showing, he could be in line for a noteworthy pay raise next offseason.

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