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Minor NFL Transactions: 7/24/24

July 24th, 2024 at 10:00pm CST by Ely Allen

Wednesday’s minor transactions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Cleveland Browns

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Las Vegas Raiders

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Placed on active/NFI list: T Gottlieb Ayedze, WR Shaquan Davis
  • Placed on active/PUP list: S Sydney Brown

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Washington Commanders

In New Orleans, Young has officially made the comeback from offseason neck surgery, passing his physical today alongside Olave, who is no stranger to offseason injuries.

Treadwell will join his eighth team in nine years after only making one catch in five games with the Ravens last season.

Brown is working his way back from an ACL tear that he suffered in the final game of his rookie season last year, so it’s no surprise that he will start the offseason on PUP.

Vikings CB Mekhi Blackmon Tears ACL

July 24th, 2024 at 7:25pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings’ secondary suffered another blow today when second-year cornerback Mekhi Blackmon suffered a torn ACL, according to Ben Goessling of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Blackmon is likely lost for the year after only the first day of training camp for his sophomore campaign.

Kevin O’Connell later confirmed the tear and indicated the Vikings are discussing possible cornerback additions, though the third-year Minnesota HC noted the team still wants to see some of its in-house options attempt to fill the void, ESPN.com’s Kevin Seifert tweets. Blackmon is now on IR.

Blackmon surpassed draft expectations last year going in the third round out of USC after being projected as a Day 3 pick. After starting cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Akayleb Evans, Blackmon was the third-most utilized cornerback on the Vikings defense last year, even earning three starts as a rookie as an injury replacement for Murphy and Evans. The USC-product was third on the team with eight passes defensed while tallying 41 total tackles and an interception, as well.

The Vikings’ cornerbacks group was set to enter 2024 with an impressive depth after the signing of free agent Shaquill Griffin. Griffin is set to lineup across from Murphy as the starting pair next year with Josh Metellus starting in the slot. Evans is available off the bench after starting all last year and was likely to be pushed by Blackmon for those first snaps coming off the bench.

The tragic loss of rookie fourth-round pick Khyree Jackson adds further to the loss in the room. Despite spending little time at slot in his rookie season, Blackmon and Jackson were both considered candidates to compete with Metellus for the starting nickelback job. With both players now unavailable, the Vikings signed veteran free agent Duke Shelley yesterday to add to the depleting depth at the position. Shelley reunites with the Vikings after spending last year in Los Angeles with the Rams. Back in 2022, Shelley started five games for Minnesota.

The team will also look to former second-round pick Andrew Booth, who has been a major disappointment so far over his first two seasons. The Clemson-product was facing questions of whether or not he would make the roster in 2024, but with the diminishing numbers in the room, Booth’s experience around the team may be too valuable to part with.

Blackmon’s year may be over before it began, as is Jackson’s NFL career, sadly, but the season doesn’t come to a stop just for Minnesota. The Vikings have addressed the position and may need to continue addressing the position. For now, they’ll try to squeeze every contribution out of their rostered players as possible to cover their losses.

Vikings Sign CB Duke Shelley

July 23rd, 2024 at 6:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

Duke Shelley is back with a familiar team in time for training camp. The veteran corner re-joined the Vikings on Tuesday, per a team announcement.

Shelley spent his first three seasons in the league with Chicago, logging six starts and 30 appearances during that span. He did not survive roster cuts in 2022, though, and upon clearing waivers he found himself on the Vikings’ practice squad. The former sixth-rounder made five starts upon signing to Minnesota’s active roster that year, and he recorded his lone career interception during his first Vikings stint (one which predated the arrival of defensive coordinator Brian Flores).

In free agency last offseason, Shelley signed with the Raiders but again he did not manage to secure a roster spot during training camp. The 27-year-old did not need to wait long to find a new home, though, inking a deal with the Rams in September. During his lone Los Angeles campaign, Shelley played 11 games while primarily logging a special teams role.

His third phase experience could help him carve out a roster spot upon his return to Minnesota. Shelley did, however, log a 52% defensive snap share during his first Vikings stint, so he has experience handling at least a rotational role in the secondary. Minnesota has Byron Murphy and free agent addition Shaquill Griffin atop the depth chart as things stand, but Shelley will be able to compete for a backup gig.

The tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson left the Vikings short on depth at the cornerback spot, and Shelley will aim to land a full-time gig during his return to Minnesota. The team entered Tuesday with over $21MM in cap space, so further roster moves in the coming days and weeks could still take place.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/22/24

July 22nd, 2024 at 7:52pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor moves:

Baltimore Ravens

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

  • Waived-injured: WR Jared Wayne

Kansas City Chiefs

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Kevin Austin Jr.

New York Jets

Vikings Place T.J. Hockenson On PUP List; TE Ahead Of Schedule In Rehab

July 22nd, 2024 at 2:39pm CST by Adam La Rose

T.J. Hockenson saw his first full Vikings season cut short by ACL and MCL tears. The Pro Bowl tight end will begin training camp on the active/PUP list as he continues to rehab, the team announced on Monday.

That move comes as little surprise. The injury occurred in December, and more than one month elapsed before Hockenson’s surgery took place. Players placed on the active/PUP list can be activated at any time, but Minnesota will no doubt proceed with caution regarding his recovery. Hockenson’s rehab process has been positive to date, though.

“T.J. will begin training camp on the PUP list,” head coach Kevin O’Connell confirmed when speaking to the media on Monday (video link). “He’s well ahead of schedule from a standpoint of some of the benchmarks on his rehab. T.J., looking back at the offseason program, did not miss really a day outside going to see his surgeon in Los Angeles. He was here every single day and that continued through the summer.

“The significant injury that it was, we want to make sure to follow our plan to when T.J. gets on the field and continues to do more and more throughout training camp, and hopefully at some point when he’s ready to go we want to make sure everything is done the right way for T.J., because he’s such a significant part of our organization.”

Upon trading for Hockenson midway through the 2022 season, Minnesota has seen the expected return from a production standpoint. The 27-year-old signed an extension last August averaging $16.5MM per season, and he posted a 95-960-5 statline in 15 games prior to the injury. Hockenson is under contract through 2027, so his long-term health is an obvious priority for team and player in his case. As things stand, though, he could find himself back on the field earlier than expected.

Vikings Ink First-Round OLB Dallas Turner, Finish Draft Class Signings

July 21st, 2024 at 7:10pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings have finally finished up the signings of their rookie draft class, inking first-round pick Dallas Turner to his entry-level four-year deal. According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, the contract is worth $15.76MM with an $8.28MM signing bonus. The deal comes just in time as Turner would not have been able to participate in the team’s upcoming training camp until he put pen to paper.

Turner spent most of the draft process being billed as the 2024 NFL Draft’s top pass rushing prospect. The Fort Lauderdale-native wasn’t a starter in his true freshman season at Alabama, but that didn’t stop him from racking up 8.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss in a rotational role, earning him freshman All-American honors. Turner experienced a bit of a sophomore slump in Tuscaloosa, only tallying four sacks and eight tackles for loss in 10 starts, but he rebounded strongly last year. Starting all 14 games for the Crimson Tide in 2023, Turner led the SEC in sacks (11.0) and led his team in tackles for loss (15.5) en route to becoming a consensus All-American.

As the No. 17 overall pick in the draft, Turner suffered a bit of a slide from his projected draft slot. The two noted reasons for this slide were the unprecedented run of offensive picks to open the night and some medical red flags that had not been widely reported in pre-draft conversations. Still, he was the second pass rusher off the board, taken two picks after UCLA’s Laiatu Latu, and the third defensive player off the board, following Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy, as well.

With Turner’s contract done, now Bengals’ rookie first-round offensive tackle Amarius Mims is the lone draft pick without a signed contract. Cincinnati’s rookies reported to camp yesterday, and camp is set to begin on Wednesday. Mims will not be able to participate in training camp until he signs his rookie deal.

Here’s one last look at the Vikings’ 2024 rookie draft class before training camp starts:

  • Round 1, No 10 (via Jets): J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan) (signed)
  • Round 1, No. 17 (via Jaguars): Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama) (signed)
  • Round 4, No. 108: Khyree Jackson (CB, Oregon) (signed)(deceased)
  • 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)

Vikings, Round 1 QB J.J. McCarthy Agree To Terms

July 19th, 2024 at 11:45am CST by Adam La Rose

Three rookies from the 2024 draft class were unsigned as of Friday. Two of those – quarterback J.J. McCarthy and edge rusher Dallas Turner – belonged to the Vikings, but the former is now set to sign his rookie pact.

McCarthy and the Vikings have agreed to terms, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. The four-year pact will carry a value of $21.85MM including a $12.71MM signing bonus. Both figures are guaranteed in full. Minnesota will be able to keep him in place for the 2028 campaign via the fifth-year option.

Modern rookie contracts are essentially a formality around the NFL, but Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk recently noted the Vikings had not “engaged much” with respect to negotiating a McCarthy agreement. One possible explanation was that Minnesota was waiting for the Bears to come to an agreement with first overall pick Caleb Williams; that took place earlier this week after a number of creative attempts to set an unusual precedent regarding rookie compensation. In any event, both passers are now on the books.

Across three seasons at Michigan, McCarthy enjoyed considerable success including an unbeaten run to the national title in 2023. He finished 10th in Heisman voting last year, but questions persisted in the pre-draft process with respect to his impact on the team’s run-heavy offense. As one of the youngest signal-callers in the 2024 class, though, he was firmly on the first-round radar of teams looking to invest at the position.

The Vikings ultimately moved up one spot in the draft to select McCarthy 10th overall. It comes as no surprise that Minnesota added a passer via the draft after watching Kirk Cousins depart in free agency, but the rookie is not positioned to see the field right away during his rookie campaign. Sam Darnold – added on a one-year deal to provide a veteran replacement for Cousins – will begin training camp atop the depth chart.

Darnold could thrive in Kevin O’Connell‘s system, something which would help his free agent stock considerably ahead of the 2025 offseason. If not, McCarthy will no doubt find himself on the field at some point during his rookie campaign. The latter enters a situation with a strong array of pass-catchers (led by wideouts Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, along with tight end T.J. Hockenson) which could help him acclimate to the NFL level. Now, McCarthy can turn his attention to the upcoming start of training camp with his contract in hand.

The NFL’s Eight-Figure Dead Money Hits For 2024

July 18th, 2024 at 10:20pm CST by Sam Robinson

The NFL moved into new territory this offseason, with one Broncos decision creating a staggering gap between the most costly dead money hits and No. 2 on the all-time list. Beyond Denver’s Russell Wilson release, other teams are taking on notable dead cap hits in 2024. Here are the players who will account for more than $10MM in dead money on teams’ payrolls this year.

  1. Russell Wilson, QB (Broncos): $53MM
  2. Stefon Diggs, WR (Bills): $31.1MM
  3. Kirk Cousins, QB (Vikings): $28.5MM
  4. Haason Reddick, EDGE (Eagles) $21.52MM
  5. Jamal Adams, S (Seahawks) $20.83MM
  6. J.C. Jackson, CB (Chargers): $20.83MM
  7. David Bakhtiari, T (Packers): $18.15MM
  8. Danielle Hunter, EDGE (Vikings): $14.91MM
  9. Carlton Davis, CB (Buccaneers) $14.1MM
  10. Andrus Peat, OL (Saints): $13.64MM
  11. Kevin Byard, S (Titans): $13.36MM
  12. Mike Williams, WR (Chargers): $12.46MM
  13. Aaron Jones, RB (Packers): $12.36MM
  14. Chandler Jones, EDGE (Raiders): $12.27MM
  15. Mike Evans, WR (Buccaneers): $12.19MM
  16. Keenan Allen, WR (Chargers): $11.62MM
  17. Xavien Howard, CB (Dolphins): $11.41MM
  18. Michael Thomas, WR (Saints): $11.19MM
  19. Laken Tomlinson, G (Jets): $10.74MM
  20. Leonard Williams, DL (Giants): $10.64MM
  21. Arik Armstead, DL (49ers) $10.31MM
  22. Quandre Diggs, S (Seahawks): $10.26MM
  23. Byron Jones, CB (Dolphins): $10.1MM
  24. Maliek Collins, DT (Texans): $10MM

Months after trading for Wilson, the Broncos gave the decorated quarterback a five-year, $245MM extension. While Wilson offered something of a bounce-back effort from a shockingly mediocre 2022, Sean Payton‘s team still opted to designate him as a post-June 1 cut. Wilson’s $37MM injury guarantee, which the Broncos attempted to move in an effort that led to NFLPA involvement but no grievance, would have resulted in comparable dead money in 2025 had he remained on Denver’s roster on Day 5 of the 2024 league year and then been released next year.

The Broncos will receive a small cap credit — due to Wilson’s veteran minimum Steelers deal — in 2025, but the team will take on more than $83MM in total dead money from the release. This shatters the NFL record for dead money, which the Falcons previously held by trading Matt Ryan ($40.5MM), and the contract will remain on Denver’s books through the 2025 season. The Broncos opted to take on more dead money this year than next, separating this post-June 1 cut from most teams’ strategies.

The Bills’ decision to trade Diggs less than two years after giving him a four-year extension broke the non-QB dead money record. Unlike the Wilson matter, Buffalo will take on the Pro Bowl wide receiver’s full dead cap hit this year. Ditto Green Bay, which passed on a Bakhtiari post-June 1 designation. The Chargers will also be rid of the Allen and Williams responsibilities after 2024. The Seahawks also passed on post-June 1 designations with Adams and Diggs.

New Orleans has Thomas set to count more than $9MM in dead money in 2025 as well due to using the June 1 strategy. The Dolphins are still paying out the Jones contract from a 2023 post-June 1 designation, while Howard’s post-June 1 status will create a $15.7MM dead money penalty in 2025.

Void years created the Vikings’ Cousins cap hit. After attempting to negotiate a fourth contract with the veteran quarterback last year, the parties failing to come to terms resulted in void years being added in a restructure. The Falcons came in much higher than the Vikings were willing to go, guarantee-wise, leading Minnesota to a new QB path and significant Cousins dead money.

The Eagles also included three void years on Reddick’s contract, and the Buccaneers will eat some Evans dead money — despite re-signing the 11th-year wide receiver just before free agency — due to a void year-driven trigger before the latest contract was signed.

Vikings WR Jordan Addison Arrested For DUI

July 14th, 2024 at 8:35pm CST by Ely Allen

The Vikings received some unwelcome news today as Luca Evans of the O.C. Register reports that wide receiver Jordan Addison has been arrested near Los Angeles International Airport under suspicion of driving under the influence. With a history of reckless driving, it’s likely that Addison will be forced to miss some time this season.

Addison, the Vikings’ top pick in the 2023 NFL Draft, was back in Los Angeles this weekend, where he spent the final season of his collegiate career after two years at Pittsburgh. Late on Friday night, officers responded to reports of “a white Rolls-Royce blocking the number one lane of the freeway.” Addison, the driver of that vehicle, was reportedly found sleeping behind the wheel when officers arrived at the scene. The 22-year-old was arrested at approximately 11:36 p.m. and released two hours later, at 1:36 a.m. on Saturday

This arrest comes almost exactly a year after Addison was cited for speed and reckless driving after being pulled over for driving 140 MPH on a Minnesota freeway in a Lamborghini Uus. According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Addison agreed to plead guilty in 2023 to a misdemeanor speeding charge and pay $686 in fines and fees, while Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reminds us that Addison faced no discipline from the league for the incident last year.

The Vikings released a statement on the matter, saying, “We are aware of Jordan Addison‘s arrest this past Friday and are currently gathering more information regarding the incident.”

There’s still a chance, based on the wording of the reports, that Addison was not, in fact, under the influence, as the initial reports allege. Reports that he was arrested “on suspicion of DUI” and his relatively quick release make it seem as though there is a current lack of evidence to definitively lay that charge on Addison. After getting off with a slap on the wrist a year ago, there’s a possibility Addison may walk away from this situation scot-free yet again.

If he does face league discipline this time around, in the form of a suspension, a position of strength for the Vikings will quickly turn into a point of concern. Without Addison, the next top returning receivers from the room behind Justin Jefferson would be Brandon Powell (29 receptions-324 yards-one touchdown in 2023) and Jalen Nailor (3-29-0). The team also rosters Trent Sherfield, but he has been inconsistent over his six-year career, totaling 30 catches for 417 yards and two touchdowns in a 2022 campaign with the Dolphins but only amassing 48 receptions for 513 yards and three touchdowns in his five other years in the NFL. Last season with the Bills, Sherfield had 11 catches for 86 yards and a touchdown.

Time will tell what the future holds for Addison and the Vikings. Even if Addison finds a way to avoid punishment for this incident, a troubling trend is emerging for the promising, young receiver.

Vikings’ Justin Jefferson Did Not Contemplate Sitting Out 2023 Season Following Hamstring Injury

July 13th, 2024 at 8:13pm CST by Adam La Rose

This offseason’s Hard Knocks has generated a number of interesting details regarding the Giants. Similarly, Netflix’s Receiver series has offered a glimpse into Vikings wideout Justin Jefferson during his rehab from a 2023 hamstring injury.

Jefferson suffered the injury in Week 5, leading to a notable absence for the first time in his record-setting career. Questions were raised about how willing he would be to return to the field given the fact extension talks from the previous offseason had not made it across the finish line. The 25-year-old could have shut himself down for the remainder of the campaign, but instead he suited up in Week 14 and played each subsequent contest.

Of course, Jefferson’s contract status was coupled with Kirk Cousins‘ Achilles tear as a reason why a cautious approach by team and player would have been logical. Minnesota relied on multiple replacements at quarterback and wound up outside of the playoff picture. Jefferson had a strong close to the campaign after he ensured he returned to the field rather than turning his attention to renewed extension talks.

“No one, no one, no one in this game can ever tell me to not play or to tank the season or to do any of that other stuff because I’m not that type of person,” the LSU alum said (h/t ESPN’s Kevin Seifert). “I want to play. I love the game of football. I want to be the best. In order for that to happen, I’ve got to be out there on that field… There’s no prolonging the injury, there’s no, ‘Oh he’s sitting out because of the contract. It’s not any of that. At all.”

Following the draft, the Vikings turned down trade interest and finalized an historic extension with Jefferson. The 2022 Offensive Player of the Year is now attached to a $35MM AAV, the highest ever given to a non-quarterback. Obviously, he and Minnesota will hope a repeat of last season’s hamstring injury – which the series notes was a high grade strain – will not be in store over the years to come. The same is true of the bruised lung he suffered in his first game upon return.

Cousins departed in free agency, and the Vikings will have a tandem of Sam Darnold and first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy at quarterback in 2024. Jefferson will be counted on to remain the focal point of the team’s passing game as he serves as the financial standard-bearer amongst wideouts. If his approach to his health remains the same now that his extension is in place as it was before, Minnesota’s top offensive weapon should be available as much as possible.

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