Vikes thread!

[Gunner55]

  Adams was born & raised in Palo Alto, Calif. He played his college ball at Fresno St & has let it be known that he'd like to finish his NFL career playing on the West Coast is what I've been hearing. “While the assumption has been that Davante Adams wants to play with Aaron Rodgers (and historically, that's been the plan), my understanding is the pull of being on the West Coast is very real,” Rapoport said via social media on Tuesday.It is interesting to note that Adams wants to head back to the West Coast. There are only a handful of teams in that part of the country, which could narrow Adams' market if he truly does want to head west.

The Los Angeles Chargers could be one team to poke around at Adams. LA desperately needs to add weapons on offense around Justin Herbert and Adams would make a perfect addition.

The Arizona Cardinals are another West Coast team that could be interested in Adams. Arizona has plenty of cap space and could use another dangerous receiver next to Marvin Harrison Jr. 

[Steve-o]

Davante Adams strikes me as a player who is hard to keep happy.  And if Davavte isn't happy, he wants to be someplace else.  G'luck.   

Update... Adams signs with Rams.

[Gunner55]

Rumored that it's for 2-years/$46 mil/$26 mil guaranteed, no way was he ever going to get anything like that here. Seen a report today that the Steelers would like to talk to Darnold now too.

[Gunner55]

The punter got a new deal yday too.................According to Pelissero, Wright receives a one-year contract worth $1.75 million for the 2025 season. The deal can increase up to $2 million by reaching incentives. I read that with Jones's deal getting done yday, they saved $3.2 million in dead cap money. 

[Rookie]

Aaron Jones signs 2 year $20 million deal. $13 million guaranteed.

[roony]

With Rogers they could go ALL THE WAY!

[Rookie]

 The betting now is that with Geno Smith going from Seattle to the Raiders that Darnold will sign with Seattle. Would they not have a clear plan to replace Smith before trading him? Maybe they already have a contract with Darnold's agents. Just waiting for Wednesday. Is that tampering???? Definitely. But NFL doesn't care.

[Steve-o]

    Fact... Rodgers has been BAD for three seasons, going back to his last year with the Packers.  What makes anyone think he's going to return to MVP form at age 41?  I ain't goona say it ain't goona happen, but it ain't goona happen.

We all knew the Vikings plan last year:  Darnold into McCarthy.  I think you have to be drinking purple Kool Aid to assume that McCarthy was going to be one of those break-out phenom rookie QBs who is a Pro Bowler in his first season.  The McCarthy injury put an end to that plan and Darnold's performance all season was a pleasant surprise.  Still, last year the Vikes outkicked their coverage for most of the season and were exposed at the end.  So what should the plan and [fan] expectations be for this season?  To my mind, pretty much the same, 'cept McCarthy hopefully won't need to have a veteran play in front of him for the first 3 to 9 games before he takes over the starting role.  They don't need a bridge QB to start the season, they need a competent backup in case McCarthy gets hurt - which is what the Vikes have been lacking since Keenum left.

QB talk aside, since the Vikes only have 3 picks in the draft, they had better make their splashes early and often in free agency.  They have a lot of money to spend, but so do a lot of other teams.  They gotta hope that free agents want to play for the Vikings and won't have to overpay to get guys to come so they fill needs at many positions.

I'm still waiting to see the moves that are going to improve their team over last year's roster.

[dutchboy]

Erin was pretty good last year. He made it through all 17 games which few would expect after that surgery.

Viking beat up on a weak schedule with a failed starting quarterback whom they brought back to life. There should be no expectations of winning as many games this year, yet they may be a better over-all team this year.

McCarthy is and will be the guy until I see they traded him. I doubt that happens anytime soon as he is linked to the currant GM and coach who hand picked him.

[Steve-o]

Rodgers threw for lots of yards and touchdowns, but still was 25th in the league for ESPN QBR.  At this point he's just padding his stats for Canton and strokin his own ego.  He ain't helpin' anyone win in the playoffs (or the regular season).

Plus he makes teams do stupid thinks like trade a 3rd round pick to add his buddy Davante Adams with 3 games left in the season, who ALSO got released after they got rid of Rodgers.

Cousins finished 23rd in QBR and pretty much everyone acknowledged he had a lousy season.

[Gunner55]

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/sam-darnold-signing-with-seahawks-former-vikings-qb-agrees-to-three-year-100-5-million-contract-per-report/  I thought they had to wait 'til Wednesday before they were able to sign any new FA deals. But this pc kind of makes it sound like it's already a done deal.

[Steve-o]

This must be the pre-legal tampering period.   

[Gunner55]

  Nope, just another poorly written pc, as they do have to wait..............At 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 12, the NFL will officially ring in the new league year, signaling the start of NFL free agency. Some of the league's more notable players will officially put pen to paper on new deals, but that doesn't mean you won't have an idea of where some of these guys are going.

[Steve-o]

More pre-legal news...

Former Vikings safety Cam Bynum is now will be the seventh-highest paid safety in the NFL after landing a huge contract from the Colts. The 26-year-old has agreed to terms on a four-year, $60 million deal with Indy.  Bynum had been a force in Minnesota since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2021. He started all 17 games in each of the past three seasons and he finished second on the team in interceptions in 2024 with three.
I guess $15M/yr is more than the Vikes were willing to pay for a safety. 

[Rookie]

Numerous sources are reporting that the Jaguars have agreed to terms with both quarterback Nick Mullens and tight end Johnny Mundt. Both of the deals are for two years, with Mullens getting $6.5 million and Mundt getting $5.5 million.

Now have only 1 QB under contract. Especially if Jones leaves also.

[LPS]

Hate to see some of these guys go.  As in Mundt, and Mullens was good to have around too.  Bynum looked good in Vikes gear too.  AND what is the use of even having tampering windows.  Such as ok you can sort of illegally tamper now till next week.      Either have them and stick to it or get rid of them.  I do think there needs to be some time constraints for some things. 

[glenn57]

More pre-legal news...

Former Vikings safety Cam Bynum is now will be the seventh-highest paid safety in the NFL after landing a huge contract from the Colts. The 26-year-old has agreed to terms on a four-year, $60 million deal with Indy.  Bynum had been a force in Minnesota since being drafted in the fourth round back in 2021. He started all 17 games in each of the past three seasons and he finished second on the team in interceptions in 2024 with three.
I guess $15M/yr is more than the Vikes were willing to pay for a safety. 

i'm gonna miss his end zone moves!!!!!!

[Bobberineyes]

Any truth to this,  or more mud..

[Bobberineyes]

After looking closer, looks like mud..

[Rookie]

The Minnesota Vikings and Free Agent CB Isaiah Rodgers have agreed to a two-year deal worth $15 million. The deal includes $8 million in fully guaranteed money.
Unfortunately for Rodgers, he was suspended for the entire 2023 NFL Season for breaking the league’s gambling policy.

[Steve-o]

Now we're talkin'  (I hope  )

[Rookie]

Kelly was the Colts first-round pick (#18 overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft after a successful college career at the University of Alabama. He was a second-team All-Pro in 2020 and has garnered Pro Bowl honors four times, with the most recent coming in 2023.

[glenn57]

Now we're talkin'  (I hope  )

he even looks badazz!!!!!!!!

[Bobberineyes]

So, see ya Bradbury???

[Steve-o]

They have Bradbury for this season - the last year of his deal - and his cap hit is just over $6M.  I don't think they would save anything by releasing him.  How much could they get in a trade?     Maybe he's just a depth guy now, which wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.

[Gunner55]

 Murphy is coming back. https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/article/vikings-pro-bowl-cb-byron-murphy-jr-agree-to-66m-deal-042305721.html Bynum's leaving leads me to believe that they think #22 will be back.

[Gunner55]

So, see ya Bradbury???

I agree, Bobber, $6 million is a lot for a backup. But his dead cap # is only $2.4 mil so............ "The signing raises questions about the future of center Garrett Bradbury, who has only one season remaining on his current deal. Minnesota could save more than $3.5 million on the salary cap by trading him or releasing him before June."

[Gunner55]

  It looks like they got some help on the D-line yday too.......................https://bleacherreport.com/articles/25167971-report-jonathan-allen-vikings-agree-60m-contract-after-commanders-release

[Steve-o]

Signings so far:  Defensive Tackle, Guard, Inside defensive lineman, Cornerback, Center, Cornerback, Safety, Punter, Runningback

Javon Hargrave, DT, ???.  (The Vikings will work to sign the defensive tackle when the 49ers officially release him on Wednesday  )
Will Fries, Guard, five-year, $88 million deal.
Jonathan Allen, DL, three-year, $60 million deal.  (Allen, 30, missed half of last season due to injury.)
Byron Murphy, CB, three-year, $66 million contract.  (Murphy joined the Vikings in 2023 after four years with the Cardinals. This would put him among the highest-paid cornerbacks.)
Ryan Kelly, C, two-year, $18 million deal.
Isaiah Rodgers, CB, two-year, $15 million contract.
Bubba Bolden, S,  ???.  (Bolden participated in the Vikings' rookie minicamp in 2024. He's spent time on the Cleveland Browns' practice squad but has not played in a regular season game. )
Ryan Wright, P,  ???.
Aaron Jones, RB,  ???.

This CBS link is a great place to track all the action:  https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/minnesota-vikings-nfl-free-agency-tracker-2025/

From the 2024 roster, the Vikes had 24 free agents:  3 resigned with the Vikes, 8 will sign with other teams, and 16 are still on the market. 

[LPS]

QB Jones signs with Colts for 14 mill.