Minnesota Vikings Rumors & News - Pro Football Rumors

Brandon Powell is returning to Minnesota. The free agent wide receiver is signing a new one-year deal with the Vikings, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

The former UDFA has bounced around the NFL during his brief career, but he seemed to find a role with the Vikings in 2023. The wideout got into all 17 games last season, finishing with career highs in receptions (29) and receiving yards (324). Powell also served as the team’s primary punt returner, leading the league with 37 punt returns.

Powell previously had stints with the Lions, Falcons, Bills, Dolphins, and Rams. He’s appeared in 61 career games, hauling in 76 receptions. He also has some experience in the running game, garnering 17 carries for the Rams in 2022.

The Vikings face an uncertain offensive future in a post-Kirk Cousins era, but the organization is apparently valuing continuity in their receivers room. With K.J. Osborn sitting in free agency, Powell could have a path to a significant role in 2024 behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The Vikings are also rostering the likes of N’Keal Harry, Jalen Nailor, and Trishton Jackson at the position.

Vikings To Sign QB Sam Darnold

March 12th, 2024 at 11:37am CST by Sam Robinson

11:37am: Although the Broncos monitored Darnold’s market, 9News’ Mike Klis indicates the team did not make an offer. Darnold’s asking price landing in the $10MM-per-year neighborhood looks to have moved the Broncos out of the mix. Despite the team having only Jarrett Stidham in place post-Russell Wilson, it passed on making this a true bidding war.

12:12am: Competing against multiple other suitors, the Vikings will bring in their preferred Kirk Cousins fallback option. Sam Darnold has joined DaQuan Jones in making a wee-hours call on his 2024 NFL team.

Darnold will rejoin his former teammate — new Vikings QBs coach Josh McCown — in Minnesota, with NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reporting the recent 49ers back will sign a one-year deal worth $10MM. The Vikings appear to have beaten out the Broncos and Commanders for the former No. 3 overall pick.

This will bring what looks to be a clear-cut starter opportunity for Darnold, who has not gone into a season as a starter since 2021 with the Panthers. With Cousins’ Atlanta departure set to bring $28.5MM in dead money due to the void years Minnesota tacked onto their previous starter’s deal, Darnold at a significantly reduced rate will help the Vikings pick up the pieces.

Darnold, 26, emerged on the Vikings’ radar minutes after Cousins chose to leave. The team had made its pitch to its six-year starter up until Sunday night, but the 35-year-old passer will camp in Georgia on a $45MM-per-year accord. Cousins certainly is a more stable option compared to Darnold, who could not stick as the Jets or Panthers’ starter. But the Vikings will not be devoting anything close to their QB spot compared to the past six seasons. The Cousins era taxed the Vikings, who were battling uphill in negotiations since giving the ex-Washington franchise tag recipient a fully guaranteed deal in 2018.

With the salary cap ballooning to $55.4MM, the Vikings will need to give Darnold more than the Buccaneers handed Baker Mayfield in the wake of Tom Brady‘s void years-generated bill hitting their books last year. Mayfield collected some incentives but signed for just $4MM in base value last year. Darnold has not reached the heights Mayfield did merely in Cleveland, and the USC alum has made 56 career starts. But an argument can also be made — even after six seasons — the former top prospect landed in two bad situations as a starter.

The Jets chose to ship Darnold out after three seasons, which came under Todd Bowles and Adam Gase and with clear issues on the offensive line and at the pass-catching positions. And the Panthers acquired Darnold — for three draft picks, including a second-rounder — during an unstable period in which Matt Rhule was ready to move on from the trade pickup by his second season. Mayfield then replaced Darnold as Carolina’s starter, and while the latter recaptured his job, the Panthers were on the verge of another regime change. Darnold has a career 63-56 TD-INT ratio and has averaged just 6.7 yards per pass as a pro. In his most recent season with enough usage to qualify (2021), Darnold ranked 29th in QBR.

The Vikings will give Darnold a Justin Jefferson–T.J. Hockenson–Jordan Addison trio to target, and while the former Trojans standout will probably never live up to his draft slot, Kevin O’Connell‘s offense looks like his best opportunity to show he can be a decent starter. Of course, the Vikings will certainly be connected to QBs in the draft; they hold the No. 11 overall pick. But Darnold would be in place as the bridge in that circumstance. He could also buy the NFC North team time if a trade-up maneuver proves elusive come April.

Vikings Release DL Dean Lowry, Sign K John Parker Romo

March 12th, 2024 at 9:24am CST by Adam La Rose

The Vikings were active in adding to their front seven on Monday, but one veteran member of their D-line will not be in place for 2024. Dean Lowry is being released, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports. In a separate move, Minnesota has agreed to a deal with kicker John Parker Romo, per Pelissero.

The Lowy release – which the team has made official – means his Minnesota tenure will be limited to one season. The 29-year-old spent his first seven years of his career in Green Bay before making the intra-divisional move to the Vikings. Lowry started four games in 2023, but his campaign was cut short due to a pectoral injury.

The former fourth-rounder landed on IR in November, marking another disappointing development on the health front. Lowry had not previously missed a game from 2017-21. His base salary ($3.7MM) would have become guaranteed on March 16, so it comes as little surprise Minnesota will move on now. This cut will create just over $2MM in cap space while generating a dead money charge of $2.4MM.

The Vikings have relied on Greg Joseph in the kicking game for the past three seasons. He is a pending free agent, though, and the Romo addition means a competition could be in the cards or Joseph could be playing elsewhere in 2024. The latter had a strong debut Minnesota season in 2021 with a success rate of 86.8% on field goals. That figure dropped to 78.8% the following year before rebounding to 80% in 2023.

If the Vikings turn to Romo as their kicker, he would be in line for his first regular season NFL action. The 26-year-old has spent time with the Lions, Saints and Bears but he has not been able to win a training camp battle. Romo played for the XFL’s San Antonio Brahmas in 2023, going 17-for-19 on field goals. He was named to the All-XFL team, and he will look to parlay that into an NFL gig in Minnesota.

Kirk Cousins To Sign With Falcons

March 12th, 2024 at 12:11am CST by Sam Robinson

The Falcons will make their upgrade at quarterback. Kirk Cousins is coming to town, according to his agent. The Falcons are giving the longtime Vikings passer a four-year deal, ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter reports.

After steady buzz about Cousins changing teams in free agency once again, he will give the Falcons a major upgrade at a position they have struggled to staff since trading Matt Ryan. It will also mean a new era for the Vikings, who have a massive need to fill now.

As he is wont to do, Cousins will cash in big. The Falcons are giving him a four-year, $180MM deal, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports. The contract includes $100MM guaranteed and features a $50MM signing bonus as part of that commitment. This $45MM-per-year deal represents Cousins’ first AAV beyond $35MM.

Additionally, Pelissero notes $90MM is guaranteed at signing and an additional $10MM will lock in by March 2025, making the $100MM a practical guarantee. A $2MM incentive exists each year for a Super Bowl win, bringing the contract’s max value to $188MM.

The Vikings made a last-ditch push to retain Cousins on Sunday night, NFL.com’s James Palmer reports. This looks to have driven up the price. Cousins has already made more than $230MM in his career; he is set to add a considerable amount to that whopping total in Atlanta.

Minnesota attempted to retain Cousins, but it became clear a price ceiling existed. The Vikings had refused to provide guarantees into a third year for the veteran quarterback during 2023 negotiations, and it is believed that remained an issue. That is not exactly surprising, as Cousins is coming off an Achilles tear. Still, the Vikings had bent to Cousins during 2018, 2020 and 2022 negotiations. They will now be tasked with replacing the third-longest-tenured QB1 in franchise history.

For the Falcons, this is a major change from where they were last year. The team memorably passed on a Lamar Jackson pursuit, though it was not exactly alone on that front, and anointed Desmond Ridder early last offseason. Ridder did not fare well as Atlanta’s starter, being benched on multiple occasions. Taylor Heinicke remains on Atlanta’s roster, but the team made no secret of its desire to unlock more from its passing game. Cousins’ arrival stands to be big news for ex-Terry Fontenot top-10 picks Drake London and Kyle Pitts.

Cousins, 35, has never been confused with a top-tier quarterback. But he has offered stability for multiple franchises. Cousins’ Washington QB1 status proved fleeting, as negotiations soured and led to a two-franchise tag route out of town. Cousins repeatedly said he wanted to stay in Minnesota, but the Big Ten product will venture to a new region in a Falcons effort to change their trajectory under Raheem Morris and OC Zac Robinson. Cousins and his wife were believed to be scouting real estate in Atlanta recently, and the team will change its QB pay structure from the past two years.

While Cousins offered the Vikings stability leading up to his Achilles tear, Minnesota was not an automatic contender despite the spree of big-ticket payments to the former fourth-round pick. The Vikings won one playoff game with Cousins and missed three NFC brackets during his healthy seasons. Cousins was playing at a high level before his October Achilles setback, however, ranking seventh in QBR in a span that also included a Justin Jefferson injury. Still, Cousins has one Pro Bowl nod as a non-alternate (2022) in his career.

Arthur Blank said last year he wanted to reset around a rookie-QB contract; that charted course lasted one year. But the Falcons were ready to trade three first-round picks for Deshaun Watson in 2022. After Ridder underwhelmed, they are back in the high-priced QB business. Meanwhile, the Vikings will take on a $28.5MM dead money hit for not re-signing Cousins by March 13. Void years used to drop Cousins’ 2023 cap hit will lead to that penalty.

This will be a big swing for Fontenot and Co., who probably had a chance to add Georgia native Justin Fields via trade. The Falcons’ desire for a better passer has stalled Fields’ market, but with Baker Mayfield staying with the Buccaneers and Cousins leaving Minnesota, the Bears may need to sit tight with their three-year starter.

Vikings Interested In RB Aaron Jones; Packers Offered Pay Cut

March 11th, 2024 at 11:11pm CST by Sam Robinson

One of the busiest days involving starting running backs in the position’s history, Monday may feature another move. At least, one appears in play.

The Vikings are interested in longtime Packers RB Aaron Jones, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini and Matt Schneidman report. This would be an interesting fit, as Minnesota moved on from its 2017 RB draftee — Dalvin Cook — last year. The Vikings also moved on from their Cook replacement option, Alexander Mattison, creating some uncertainty atop the depth chart.

Green Bay attempted to retain Jones, but Schneidman indicates that came with a significant pay-cut offer. The Packers wanted Jones to reduce his salary by at least 50%. Jones passed, but the Packers gave Josh Jacobs the same $12MM-AAV accord they once gave Jones (back in 2021). Jones declined the Packers’ final offer Friday, leading to today’s release.

The Vikings are certainly familiar with Jones, having played against the fifth-round success story a number of times since his 2017 debut. Jones joined Cook as one of this era’s most productive backs, being a better option through the air.

Jones battled through knee and hamstring injuries last season but delivered for the Pack down the stretch. The 29-year-old back ripped off five straight 100-yard rushing games to both secure Green Bay playoff entry and then power the team to the precipice of the NFC title game. Although Packers GM Brian Gutekunst expected Jones to be back for an eighth season in Wisconsin, the pay-cut attempt led to a separation.

Ty Chandler remains on the Vikings’ roster; two seasons are left on the end-of-season starter’s rookie contract. Many teams also filled their RB slots today, with the likes of Jacobs, Saquon Barkley, D’Andre Swift, Tony Pollard, Devin Singletary, Antonio Gibson and Austin Ekeler finding homes. Jones showed in January he remains a high-end talent, but he will turn 30 before next season ends. His next contract, despite what Jacobs and Barkley fetched today, will not approach the four-year, $48MM Packers pact he once signed.

But it would still obviously be interesting if the longtime Packer starter landed in Minnesota and enjoyed the opportunity to face his former team twice in 2024.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/11/24

March 11th, 2024 at 10:51pm CST by Ely Allen

On the busiest transaction day of the NFL year, here are a few moves that maybe didn’t make the headlines:

Atlanta Falcons

Signed: TE Charlie Woerner

Baltimore Ravens

Re-signed: Malik Harrison

Buffalo Bills

Re-signed: CB Cam Lewis

Jacksonville Jaguars

Re-signed: OL Blake Hance

Kansas City Chiefs

Re-signed: LS James Winchester

Minnesota Vikings

Re-signed: G Blake Brandel, T David Quessenberry

New York Giants

Re-signed: LB Carter Coughlin, WR/KR Gunner Olszewski

Philadelphia Eagles

Signed: LB Zack Baun

Woerner is probably one of the bigger names on this list. After serving as a reliable run-blocking tight end with the 49ers for the duration of his rookie contract, Woerner earns a new three-year deal worth up to $12MM to head to Atlanta, according to ESPN’s Michael Rothstein.

Brandel may be the next biggest deal on this list. After making five starts in 39 game appearances with the Vikings during his rookie deal, Brandel earned a new three-year, $9.5MM contract to remain in Minnesota. Quessenberry joins him as a depth lineman sticking around.

Lewis also gets to stick around on a multi-year deal, signing a two-year, $4MM deal to remain in Buffalo. A valuable special teamer, Lewis has done a good job of getting himself worked into the rotation on defense a good amount over the course of his rookie deal.

Olszewski earns another year in New York after solving a big issue on punt returns for the Giants last year. Baun heads to Philadelphia as a strong backup after starting 14 games for the Saints during his first four years in the league.

Broncos, Vikings Submit Offers To QB Sam Darnold; Commanders In Mix

March 11th, 2024 at 9:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

9:20pm: The Commanders are also in talks with Darnold, NFL.com’s Peter Schrager tweets. That would seem a less enticing fit, due to the team being expected to draft a passer at No. 2 overall. Though, that is not a lock. And the Commanders, Sam Howell’s status notwithstanding, are kicking the tires on adding Darnold to Kliff Kingsbury‘s offense.

8:13pm: Sam Darnold has an interesting decision to make. Two teams in need of at least a bridge starter — the Vikings and Broncos — are pursuing him. Both have made offers, per the Boston Globe’s Ben Volin.

After spending last season as the 49ers’ backup, the former No. 3 overall pick profiles as a lower-cost option for a team in need of a reset. Both Denver and Minnesota qualify, given Russell Wilson and Kirk Cousins‘ respective exits. With Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew committing elsewhere, options have thinned a bit in this market.

Darnold-to-Denver would probably make him the favorite over Jarrett Stidham to replace Wilson on a full-time basis. But the Broncos’ draft plan introduces a variable. Then again, the Vikings are now in the same boat post-Cousins. Both teams figure to be closely connected to QBs in this draft, and Darnold will be cognizant of that. But starting jobs, especially with the Raiders snagging Minshew, are running out. Darnold seems like he will be the bridge in Denver or Minnesota soon, however.

Immediately linked to Darnold in the aftermath of Cousins’ Falcons decision, the Vikings will need a lower-cost option in 2024. They are about to eat $28.5MM in dead money stemming from Cousins’ last contract. A disagreement on guarantees last year nixed another Cousins extension, leading to Minnesota using void years to make his 2023 cap hit work. Although the Vikings pursued their six-year starter and drove up the Falcons’ price, Cousins is still bolting for Georgia.

The team that misses out on Darnold here would have the likes of Ryan Tannehill, Jameis Winston, Marcus Mariota and Joe Flacco (though, probably not in Denver’s case) still available. The Raiders are also planning to cut Jimmy Garoppolo on Wednesday; the six-year 49ers starter would stand to be an option as well, but Darnold — who is still just 26 — looks to be the teams’ top priority as of Monday night.

Browns To Add LB Jordan Hicks

March 11th, 2024 at 7:48pm CST by Ely Allen

The Browns are set to reward Jim Schwartz‘s recent success as defensive coordinator by bringing in a former player of his. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cleveland will sign former Vikings linebacker Jordan Hicks to a two-year, $8MM contract.

Hicks and Schwartz worked together when the pair were both in Philadelphia near the start of Hicks’ career. Health assisted, but after pairing with Schwartz, Hicks took a big step forward in his sophomore season, mostly showing his worth in coverage where he nabbed five interceptions and 11 passes defensed. He graded out as the league’s third-best linebacker that season, according to Pro Football Focus, out of 87 graded players at the position.

After two more injury-riddled years under Schwartz, Hicks spent three years in Arizona and two more in Minnesota. Since leaving Philadelphia in 2019, Hicks had mostly put his injury troubles behind him, starting every possible game until missing four this past year with a leg contusion. Despite the missed time due to injury, Hicks was still productive for the Vikings. Including his shortened 2023 season, Hicks has not totaled fewer than 107 total tackles since going to the Cardinals.

Minnesota has already made preparations for Hicks’ departure. Knowing that Hicks was likely on the move, the Vikings addressed the position by bringing in a younger free agent like Blake Cashman from Houston. Cashman should pair up with returning starter Ivan Pace to form the team’s new inside linebacker duo.

In Cleveland, Hicks arrives to fill some holes of his own after the Browns saw free agent linebackers Sione Takitaki and Anthony Walker sign with the Patriots and Dolphins, respectively. Hicks may have to compete with Jacob Phillips, but he should secure a starting position on the Browns defense alongside Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. Phillips may be able to factor in as the team’s third starter, but it makes sense for Cleveland to continue to monitor the draft and free agency for at least one more potential linebacker addition.

Vikings To Sign LB Blake Cashman

March 11th, 2024 at 2:24pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Texans-to-Vikings pipeline is forming on defense. Hours after Jonathan Greenard committed to leave Houston for Minnesota, the Vikes are poaching another of DeMeco Ryans‘ troops.

Blake Cashman has a past in the Twin Cities, however, and the Eden Prairie, Minn., native is returning home. Cashman is coming back to Minnesota on a three-year deal worth up to $25.5MM, according to NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero.

Brought in as a special-teamer in Houston, Cashman became a defensive regular on the team’s divisional-round-qualifying team last season. He was expected to generate a market, and that came to fruition. This will give the Texans another defensive cog to replace.

The Texans expected Cashman to draw a notable market, which differs from where his value was before last season. Houston had employed the ex-Jet fifth-rounder as a special-teamer, but Ryans gave him a much bigger defensive role in 2023. Cashman started 13 games — after totaling just eight starts from 2019-22 — and made 106 tackles, intercepting a pass and adding two sacks. The Texans used Cashman, Christian Harris and Denzel Perryman extensively; only Harris is signed for 2024.

The Vikings have both Jordan Hicks and Troy Dye unsigned for the ’24 season. With change coming on the edge in Brian Flores’ defense, it can be expected more ILB moves are on tap as well. Hicks and UDFA Ivan Pace led the way in LB snaps for the ’23 Vikings; Pace appears set to team with Cashman on a low-cost linebacking corps.

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