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Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

Vikings Obtain Texans’ First-Round Pick; Team Hoping To Acquire Cardinals’ No. 4 Pick?

March 17th, 2024 at 10:16am CST by Sam Robinson

MARCH 17: Now that the Vikings have two first-round picks in the 2024 draft, ESPN’s Matt Miller says the “latest leaguewide rumor” is that Minnesota will use its newfound resource to acquire the Cardinals‘ No. 4 overall pick (subcription required). Arizona has Kyler Murray entrenched as its QB1 and could accelerate its rebuild with additional high-end draft capital to address non-QB needs.

Such a move would almost certainly give the Vikes the chance to select McCarthy, and there is a chance that Maye or Jayden Daniels may be available as well.

MARCH 15: More than a month ahead of the draft, the Vikings reached an agreement to acquire an additional first-round pick. Minnesota and Houston agreed to a trade Friday involving only draft picks.

The NFC North team will part with two second-rounders to move up this year. The Vikings will obtain the Texans‘ 2024 first-rounder — No. 23 overall — and a 2024 seventh in exchange for Nos. 42, 188 and a 2025 second-round pick, NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero report.

This will give the Vikings another asset if they are serious about moving up for a quarterback. The Texans, who obtained the No. 23 overall pick from the Browns in the Deshaun Watson trade, will not have a 2024 first-rounder now. But they now hold two second-rounders in 2024 and ’25.

Minnesota now holds the Nos. 11 and 23 overall picks in this year’s draft. The deal could give the team a chance to add two starter-caliber rookies to team with Sam Darnold. Perhaps more likely: it provides a team transitioning at quarterback — following Kirk Cousins‘ Falcons defection — with a better asset to acquire a long-term replacement. Early-offseason rumblings about the Vikings’ interest in trading up surfaced; this deal will provide them with a better chance at moving into range for one of the top QB prospects.

QB injuries have led the Vikings to continually turn to veterans at quarterback this century. Daunte Culpepper‘s six-season run as Minnesota’s QB1 ended with an October 2005 ACL tear. Teddy Bridgewater saw his time as the team’s starter end with a severe knee injury during training camp in 2016. The likes of Brett Favre, Sam Bradford, Case Keenum and Cousins have stepped in. But with Cousins moving on after six years — as the Vikings did not offer their longtime starter the guarantees the Falcons did in a four-year, $180MM deal — could put the Vikes on a path to make another first-round effort to land a passer.

Since the 1999 Culpepper pick, Minnesota has not enjoyed good luck choosing first-round passers. Neither Bridgewater nor Christian Ponder panned out as a long-term option. The Vikings, however, have never chosen a quarterback in the top 10 of a draft. The Nos. 11 and 23 selections could serve as the lead assets in a deal to potentially move into the top three, though it would not surprise to see the Patriots — who sit at No. 3 — to ask for more for a draft pick that could lead to a Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy investment. McCarthy may well be available further down the board, but the Michigan prospect’s stock is climbing. It is certainly possible the Vikings would be stuck with the draft’s fifth-best QB if they stay at 11.

Third-year GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will receive more attention this offseason, having a chance to grab his own quarterback after effectively renting Cousins for two seasons. Darnold agreed to a one-year, $10MM deal, but the former No. 3 overall pick should be considered a bridge QB. The Broncos also showed interest in Darnold, and while they may not have submitted an offer, this trade leaves another obvious candidate to select a QB lacking in ammo by comparison. Sean Payton‘s team — thanks to the move to acquire the head coach — does not have a second-round pick. Denver sits at No. 12.

For the Texans, this move marks a considerable change with regards to their 2024 draft arsenal. The Watson trade had given the team two 2024 firsts, but GM Nick Caserio dealt the team’s own pick to move up for Will Anderson last year. But the C.J. Stroud pick has changed Houston’s trajectory. Picking up seconds in back-to-back drafts provides Houston the opportunity to add more quality cost-controlled starters around its new franchise quarterback.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/24

March 15th, 2024 at 10:04pm CST by Ely Allen

Friday’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

  • Released: OL Roy Mbaeteka

Cincinnati Bengals

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

Irwin gets a crack at a WR3 role in Cincinnati as Tyler Boyd heads to free agency. Irwin also holds experience as the team’s backup return man, filling in last year when Charlie Jones was injured.

Heck rejoins the Texans on a one-year deal worth up to $3.3MM. He’ll add some key depth at an important position.

Rozeboom was a restricted free agent who wasn’t tendered. Regardless, the two sides work out a fully guaranteed deal for 2024.

Feeney joins the Vikings on a one-year deal. Though far removed from a consistent starting role with the Chargers, Feeney has continued to find starts throughout his career as a valuable body off the bench.

The Giants bring in two tight ends without much receiving experience. Manhertz, a veteran whose played for the Panthers from 2016-20, has extensive starting experience as a blocking tight end with 53 starts in his career.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/14/24

March 14th, 2024 at 9:44pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Dallas Cowboys

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New York Jets

Pittsburgh Steelers

Tennessee Titans

Washington Commanders

Vikings To Sign DT Jerry Tillery

March 14th, 2024 at 1:01pm CST by Adam La Rose

Continuing to re-shape their front seven, the Vikings have a deal in place with Jerry Tillery. The former first-round defensive tackle is set to join Minnesota on a one-year deal worth up to $3.25MM, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.

Tillery had an underwhelming start to his career with the Chargers, despite seeing a full-time starting role 2020 and ’21. The 27-year-old saw his workload cut the following season, and he was ultimately waived midway through the 2022 campaign. He closed out that year with the division-rival Raiders, starting four of eight games. His play with Las Vegas earned him a two-year, $6.8MM contract last offseason.

However, Tillery was released last week as part of the Raiders’ cost-shedding moves. The Notre Dame product logged a 45% defensive snap share in Vegas in 2023, making 31 tackles and adding a pair of sacks. His nine pressures fell well short of his previous high marks in the pass-rush department, something of particular significance given his skillset. Tillery will get another chance to establish himself in Minnesota, though.

The Vikings have seen plenty of changes along the defensive front this offseason, with edge rushers Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport departing and Jonathan Greenard being added on a big-money deal along with Andrew Van Ginkel. Along the interior, Minnesota has retained Jonathan Bullard, but Tillery will add to the list of new faces for the unit. The latter will look to carve out a starting (or at least rotational) role under DC Brian Flores.

Minnesota ranked 19th in the league in sacks last season, and the absence of Hunter will lead to questions about the team’s ability to improve on that figure (even given the additions made to replace him). Known more for his ability to generate interior pressure than his run defense, Tillery could help in that regard if he earns notable playing time. Doing so would help the Vikings transition to a new look on the defensive front while helping his 2025 free agent stock in the process.

NFL Investigating Eagles, Falcons For Potential Tampering

March 14th, 2024 at 11:31am CST by Sam Robinson

Although the NFL calls its unofficial free agency the legal tampering period, the league is looking into whether two teams went too far during this year’s window. The Eagles and Falcons are under investigation, ESPN.com’s Dan Graziano tweets.

The league is looking into potential violations from these teams during their respective Saquon Barkley and Kirk Cousins negotiations. Penn State coach James Franklin, who coached Barkley in college, said GM Howie Roseman spoke directly with the running back prior to the new league year. Teams are not permitted to speak directly with players during the tampering period unless they are self-represented; the Eagles have denied any violation occurred, ESPN.com’s Tim McManus notes.

Cousins said Wednesday night he spoke with the Falcons’ trainer during the tampering window, which is not permitted under league rules. While tampering ahead of the days that comprise the legal tampering period happens annually, as some deals come to pass rather quickly once the signing window opens. But the league is investigating these two high-profile team changes. Fines or potential loss of draft picks can come out of tampering violations.

“For him now to come back and be able to play within the state, in Philadelphia, he said that was one of the first things that Howie said to him on the phone as part of his sales pitch to him was not only the Philadelphia Eagles and that but obviously the connection with Penn State and the fan base as well,” Franklin said (via McManus) of Barkley’s Eagles talks.

As of Thursday morning, the Giants had not contacted the league about tampering, per McManus. By most accounts, the Giants were prepared to move on from the two-time Pro Bowler. While New York did add a veteran replacement in Devin Singletary, the ex-Brian Daboll Bills charge comes cheaper than Barkley, who signed a three-year, $37.75MM deal with $26MM guaranteed at signing. The Vikings did make a more concerted effort to retain Cousins, but the Falcons came in with a big offer — four years, $180MM with a $100MM practical guarantee — to lure him out of Minneapolis.

Rehabbing a torn Achilles sustained in late October, Cousins wants to be ready for the Falcons’ summer workouts. Falcons buzz began building coming out of the Combine, which often serves as a preview of the market. After battling uphill against Cousins during negotiations for years, the Vikings held tight against the kind of guarantee the Falcons are authorizing. As he prepares to move to his wife’s hometown, the 35-year-old passer will be working with the Falcons’ medical staff soon. The NFL will look into whether the Falcons’ staff violated tampering policies during this high-profile recruitment.

Latest On Falcons QB Kirk Cousins

March 13th, 2024 at 10:21pm CST by Ely Allen

There’s a new sheriff in Atlanta and he brings with him a surprising amount of bling. Kirk Cousins officially signed today to join the Falcons, the third NFL franchise of his 12-year career. He’s played six seasons in Washington and six seasons in Minnesota, and if things go well, it sounds like Cousins could play the last six years of his career in Atlanta.

The decision to leave the Vikings was certainly not a sudden one. Cousins joined the team after being franchise-tagged twice in Washington. He signed a fully guaranteed three-year, $84MM salary to head to Minnesota. After narrowly missing the playoffs in his first season as a Viking and then making it to the Divisional Round of the playoffs in his second, the Vikings rewarded his success. While technically a multi-year extension, Minnesota only signed him to two more fully guaranteed years. Going into the final year of that deal, the Vikings gave him one more fully guaranteed season.

Shortly after signing the deal that would keep him in town through this past season, Cousins led the Vikings to a 13-4 record, though the season ended in a first-round knockout. Pleased with the success in 2022, the Vikings spent much of the offseason, and eventually the regular season, working towards another extension for Cousins. The deal never ended up getting done.

All of these short-term solutions sent a message to Cousins who told ESPN’s Michael Rothstein that it felt like his time in Minnesota “was trending year-to-year” over his last few seasons with the team. Whether or not it came up in negotiations, it doesn’t seem like a true long-term solution was ever in play. On the flip side, Cousins said that “when he talked to Atlanta, it seemed like, if things went well, he could retire with the Falcons when he was done.” What seems to have won Atlanta his services was the fact that they seemed more willing to commit to him long-term, something most recently displayed when Matt Ryan played with the team until he was 36 years old.

Now, Cousins is currently working his way back from a torn Achilles that cost Cousins his last 10 weeks in Minnesota. He’s certainly not ready to suit up in red and black just yet. According to James Palmer of NFL Network, his current goal is “to be full speed before the Falcons break for the summer after spring workouts.”

He believes that to be a feasible goal. For right now, he says he’s able to take drops and make throws with no problems, something we saw from Aaron Rodgers‘ ambitious attempt to return from the same injury in a length of time shorter than the NFL regular season. He adds that, were he to attempt to break from the pocket, that’s when it would become noticeable that he’s still recovering from the Achilles injury.

Falcons fans will just have to be patient. If they are, they will eventually get to see Cousins leading their team. If they’re patient and things go well, they could get to see him leading their team for the remainder of his career.

Vikings To Re-Sign DE Jonathan Bullard

March 13th, 2024 at 8:29pm CST by Ben Levine

Jonathan Bullard is inking a third contract with the Vikings. The team announced that they’ve resigned the veteran defensive lineman.

According to Aaron Wilson of KPRC2 in Houston, Bullard inked a one-year deal worth a max value of $3.25MM.

Bullard has spent the past two seasons in Minnesota, starting 21 of his 29 appearances. During his age-30 season in 2023, he got into a career-high 644 defensive snaps, compiling 44 tackles and a pair of sacks. Pro Football Focus ranked him 115th among 130 qualifying interior defenders, although the site did give him a glimmer of hope for his run-stopping ability.

The former third-round pick spent the first three seasons of his career with the Bears, where he got into 46 games. He bounced around the league a bit before finding a home in Minnesota, spending time with the Cardinals, Seahawks, and Falcons.

The Vikings will be counting on Bullard to provide some continuity on their defensive line. The veteran will likely continue to slot in next to Harrison Phillips on the Vikings defensive line in 2024.

Vikings, S Harrison Smith Agree To Restructure

March 13th, 2024 at 5:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

A number of veteran safeties have seen their tenures with their respective teams come to an end this offseason, but Harrison Smith will not be one of them. The Vikings All-Pro will remain with Minnesota for 2024 on a restructured contract, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reports.

Smith has spent his entire 12-year career with the Vikings, and his continued presence will be welcomed given his high-end play over the course of his decorated tenure. A report from last month indicated he would likely be required to take a pay cut to remain with the team, though, so today’s news comes as little surprise. Smith’s agency has announced (via Pelissero) the new agreement is worth $9MM, and it will lower his 2024 cap figure.

The 35-year-old had two years remaining on his deal entering Wednesday. His scheduled cap hits over that span were set to reach $19.22MM and $22.02MM, so Minnesota was unsurprisingly looking to lower those figures. Smith accepted a pay cut last year, and he has remained willing to re-negotiate his existing deal to continue his career.

The six-time Pro Bowler has been one of the league’s top ballhawks at the safety spot, racking up 34 interceptions. Smith was held without one in 2023, however, marking just the second time in his career in which that was the case. He recorded 93 tackles, three sacks and a trio of forced fumbles during the campaign, showcasing a continued ability to produce in other areas.

In an offseason in which both edge rusher Danielle Hunter and linebacker Jordan Hicks have agreed to deals with outside teams, Smith’s continued presence will also be helpful from a leadership standpoint. The latter will be counted on as one of the veterans of Brian Flores‘ unit for at least one more campaign as he looks to add further to his legacy.

Vikings To Sign RB Aaron Jones

March 13th, 2024 at 11:35am CST by Adam La Rose

MARCH 13: The pay cut the Packers offered checked in south of what Jones will make with the Vikings. Green Bay proposed slashing Jones’ $11MM 2024 base salary to less than $4MM, per The Athletic’s Matt Schneidman, with $2MM in incentives dangled. The Vikings are giving Jones a $6MM base salary on a deal that includes $1MM in incentives.

After Jones agreed to a $5MM pay cut in 2023 — in exchange for 2023 guarantees — Schneidman adds the seven-year veteran did not want to take another reduction in this range. Although Jones will end up taking a cut from his original 2024 salary number, he lessened the damage by leaving for the Vikings, who will give him an opportunity to remain a starter.

MARCH 12: Aaron Jones‘ time with the Packers is up, but he will remain in the NFC North in 2024. The Pro Bowl running back has agreed to a one-year, $7MM deal with the Vikings, Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network report.

Green Bay attempted to work out a pay cut with Jones to ensure his time with the team continued. No agreement could be reached, however, and the team pivoted by releasing him and agreeing to terms with Josh Jacobs on a four-year, $48MM deal. The latter will carry the load moving forward with his new team, but plenty of touches will be available for Jones in Minnesota.

Jones was due to earn $12MM in 2024 on his Packers contract, but the team wanted him to take a 50% pay cut. It will be interesting to see how this Vikings deal is arranged with respect to guaranteed money as a result. In any case, today’s agreement comes as no surprise, given a Monday report indicating Minnesota was eyeing Jones on a deal which can be finalized at any time since he was released.

The 29-year-old topped 1,000 rushing yards three times during his seven-year stint in Green Bay. Jones has also been a notable contributor in the passing game during his career, recording between 395 and 474 yards through the air each season from 2019-22. He was limited to 11 games last season, however, and as a result his production fell considerably (889 scrimmage yards, three total touchdowns). His 4.6 regular season yards per carry average was also the lowest of his career.

In much better shape from a health perspective down the stretch, however, Jones showed flashes of his old self in the postseason. The former fifth-rounder racked up 226 yards and three touchdowns across the wild-card and divisional rounds, suggesting he could remain a productive lead back in the future. He will certainly have the opportunity to do so with Minnesota, given the team’s decision to move on from Dalvin Cook last offseason as well as his RB1 replacement (Alexander Mattison) last month.

The Vikings’ offense will of course look much different under center with Sam Darnold (or a passer added in the first round of April’s draft) in place as a Kirk Cousins replacement. Minnesota ranked fifth in the league with respect to passing yards per game in 2023 – despite the time Cousins missed with an Achilles injury – but only 29th on the ground. Jones and the team will look to improve in the latter regard during what will be a transition year in Minnesota.

Vikings Have “No Intent” To Trade Justin Jefferson

March 13th, 2024 at 9:26am CST by Ben Levine

MARCH 13: Kirk Cousins‘ free agency departure for Atlanta has not changed Minnesota’s plans with Jefferson. The team is not considering a blockbuster trade involving its elite wide receiver, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Alec Lewis note. The All-Pro undoubtedly served as a key selling point for Sam Darnold, who is positioned — before the draft, at least — to take over for Cousins.

FEBRUARY 27: The Vikings made a late push to extend Justin Jefferson last offseason, and while both sides made it clear that they were fine with tabling talks until this year, that hasn’t stopped pundits from speculating on a potential divorce. Head coach Kevin O’Connell was quick to dismiss those rumors, stating during an appearance on PFT Live that the organization has no intention of trading their star wideout.

[RELATED: Justin Jefferson Wants To Remain With Vikings]

“I can tell you we have no intent to trade Justin Jefferson,” O’Connell said (via Josh Alper of ProFootballTalk.com). “We have had zero discussions, dialogue about that either internally, externally, on this planet or another planet. I feel very strongly that Justin is best in his position in football. Any time you’re trying to reset the receiver market — we know who he is, we know what Justin’s earned through his first four years in this league — you know how hard it is. . . . It was never gonna be something that was just be easy to get done, but the intent was there. The intent is still stronger than ever to get something done with Justin.”

The former first-round pick is set to play the 2024 campaign on his fifth-year option worth $19.74MM, so it’s only natural for both Jefferson and the Vikings to explore an extension. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah admitted this week that the two sides got “unbelievably close” to an extension last offseason (per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert), and the executive reiterated that the Vikings want Jefferson to stick around Minnesota “for a long time.” Adofo-Mensah also said that any whispers of difficult negotiations were “completely false.”

Jefferson has expressed a desire to re-sign with the Vikings, but it doesn’t sound like he’s overly interested in giving the team a hometown discount. The 2022 first-team All-Pro said he wants to “break the bank,” a hint that he’s looking to surpass the position-leading $30MM average annual value set by Tyreek Hill. Three other WRs are currently making $25MM or more per season (Davante Adams, Cooper Kupp, A.J. Brown), and Jefferson will surely be looking to join that accomplished group with his next contract.

While the organization may be willing to commit to Jefferson’s AAV, it sounds like they’re drawing a line in the sand with the guaranteed money. According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, it’s common for the Vikings organization to only commit to one year of guaranteed money in extensions. However, while that’s been their “typical structure,” the organization did make an exception with tight end T.J. Hockenson, a factor that Jefferson’s camp will presumably point to during negotiations.

After not missing a game through his first three seasons in the NFL, Jefferson was limited to only 10 appearances this past season. He still managed to pass 1,000 yards from scrimmage, and his 107.4 yards per game actually established a new career-high.

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