Vikings 2024 free agency tracker: Stay up to date on the newest actions and narratives
Minneapolis, Minnesota As NFL free agency begins this week, the Minnesota Vikings’ roster is rapidly shifting.
Even though the actual start of free agency is not until Wednesday, as of late Monday morning, the “legal tampering period” had already begun. This implies that players whose contracts are about to expire have the ability to speak with and negotiate contracts with other teams via their representatives.
One of the most important questions going into the offseason was resolved shortly after the legal negotiation period began: veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will not start for the Vikings going forward. It is said that he will sign a four-year contract with the Falcons in Atlanta.
The Vikings are reportedly signing former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold to a one-year contract to replace Cousins. In the event that the Vikings decide to select a young passer in the 2019 draft, he might be used as a bridge quarterback.
Pass rusher Danielle Hunter, who led the Vikings with over 16 sacks in the previous campaign, is another noteworthy player who is a free agent. After the team apparently signed linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel, who has also been successful in pressuring the passer, and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, it appears less likely that he would return.
Alexander Mattison, the Vikings’ starting running back from the previous campaign, was cut early in the offseason, creating a need at the running back position.
The team apparently brought in former Green Bay Packers RB Aaron Jones to handle that as well.
Only once free agency starts at 3 p.m. on Wednesday may contracts be officially signed, but in the interim, a number of significant announcements are anticipated.
Adding defenders Jihad Ward and Kamu Grugier-Hill to the Vikings
The Vikings added linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill and pass rusher Jihad Ward on Wednesday, continuing their offensive spending binge in free agency.
With the New York Giants last season, Ward, 29, had a career year with five sacks and one forced fumble. In his career, he has 18 sacks.
The previous season, Grugier-Hill, 29, was a member of the Carolina Panthers and recorded 56 total tackles along with one sack.
As a full-time starter for the Houston Texans in 2021, he recorded 108 sacks, two forced fumbles, an interception, and three sacks.
The Vikings announced that Ward had signed his contract and that Grugier-Hill had reached an agreement with the team.
Vikings sign Shaq Griffin, a CB
The Vikings signed veteran Shaq Griffin to a contract on Tuesday, adding to their shoddy cornerback room.
The previous season, Griffin, 28, started games for the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans. In 2017, he was picked by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round. After departing Seattle in 2021, he was a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars for two seasons.
Griffin has appeared in 89 games and has seven interceptions. 2019 saw him make the Pro Bowl.
Rams DL Mr. is signed by Vikings Williams Jonah
An addition to the defensive line’s depth has been announced by the Minnesota Vikings.
Jonah Williams, a former defensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, was officially signed by the organization on Monday.
In 2020, Williams became an undrafted free agent and signed with the Rams. Last season, he started 16 of the 17 games.
RELATED: Vikings strengthen their defense through agreements with Cashman, Van Ginkel, and Greenard
AUTHOR COLE PREMO
The Vikings (2024) free agency tracker, latest moves and storylines, https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/live-updates/#post-update-cc484e59
Former RB for the Vikings AFC West team reportedly signs Alexander Mattison
Alexander Mattison, a former running back for the Minnesota Vikings, has found a new squad.
After being cut by Minnesota in late February, Mattison is allegedly joining the Raiders in Las Vegas.
RB Aaron Jones was released by the Green Bay Packers and signed with the Vikings. This coming season, Jones and Ty Chandler—who displayed explosiveness in the previous season—will probably supply the majority of the running assault.
WR K.J. Osborn is rumored to be joining the Patriots.
Since being picked in 2020, K.J. Osborn has primarily filled the role of No. 3 wide receiver for the Vikings. Reports indicate that Osborn will be leaving free agency to join the New England Patriots.
The move was originally reported by NFL Network. The agreement’s terms were not disclosed.
Over his career, Osborn has 158 catches for 1,845 yards and 15 touchdowns.
After a trade with the Houston Texans, the Minnesota Vikings now have two first-round draft selections.
Following a trade with the Houston Texans, the Minnesota Vikings will have two first-round selections in the 2017 NFL Draft.
The organization declared on Friday that it had acquired the No. 23 pick in a draft pick transaction from the Texans.
Harrison Smith’s revised deal allows him to remain with the Vikings.
The man with the oldest contract with the Vikings, Harrison Smith, is returning for another year.
The group disclosed on Wednesday that Smith’s contract had been reorganized. The Vikings were reportedly considering releasing him in order to free up more cap space.
2012 saw Smith selected by the Vikings 29th overall. Along with 19.5 sacks, 12 forced fumbles, and 34 interceptions in his career, he has started 175 games for the team.
Vikings reach agreements with Van Ginkel, Cashman, Greenard, and Darnold.
The Minnesota Vikings officially opened free agency on Wednesday afternoon, and they have now formalized terms with numerous previously rumored signings:
QB Sam Darnold LB Cashman Blake
OLB Greenard, Jonathan
OLB Van Ginkel, Andrew
Vikings and DL reach an agreement. Bullard, Jonathan
Along the Vikings’ defensive line, a well-known face is coming back.
On Wednesday, the team declared that it and DL Jonathan Bullard had reached an agreement.
If a contract wasn’t reached, the 30-year-old was scheduled to become a free agent on Wednesday afternoon. Last season, he participated in all 17 games, starting 14 of them.
The Chicago Bears selected Bullard in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft. In 2022, he signed on with the Vikings as a free agent.
Vikings formally acquire Kicker Romo, John Parker
There is a new kicker for the Minnesota Vikings.
The team declared John Parker Romo’s signing on Wednesday. In the 2023 XFL season, the free agent was a member of the San Antonio Brahmas.
The Peachtree City, Georgia native has not yet made a start but has played for a number of NFL clubs, including the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
Kirk Cousins bids Minnesota Vikings and supporters farewell
Kirk Cousins, the former quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, officially said goodbye to his teammates, coaches, and fans on Wednesday before joining the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins stated in the parting video that he is having a “bittersweet” day. Cousins is anticipated to formally sign a contract with the Falcons later today, bringing an end to his time as a Viking.
It is said that Danielle Hunter is moving to the Houston Texans.
Danielle Hunter, a dominant pass rusher, is allegedly leaving the Minnesota Vikings and joining the Houston Texans.
Hunter, 29, and the Texans reached an agreement on a $48 million, two-year contract on Tuesday, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.
A brief summary of the noteworthy exits thus far (excluding Kirk Cousins)
Here are a few well-known Vikings players that have supposedly signed contracts elsewhere as of late.
Linebacker Jordan Hicks, who played well for the Vikings last season, is reportedly on a two-year contract that will see him join the Cleveland Browns, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Marcus Davenport had a strong season for the Vikings last season, despite seeing little action because of ankle issues. According to reports, he’s going to the Detroit Lions, thus Minnesota might get to see him twice in the upcoming campaign. Should he recover from his injuries, he might pose a threat to the Vikings.
Vikings let go of a few defensive players.
On Tuesday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that they had waived linebacker William Kwenkeu and cut defensive lineman Dean Lowry’s contract.
Report: Former XFL kicker John Parker Romo to join with the Vikings
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network has reported that former XFL kicker John Parker Romo is being signed by the Minnesota Vikings.
Pelissero said that after winning a kicking competition over the weekend, Romo got three offers. He supposedly made a 64-yard field goal during the match.
Romo has played for a number of NFL teams, but he has not yet been a starter.
Greg Joseph, the Vikings’ kicker from the previous season, is a free agent at this time.
Vikings are rumored to sign former Packers RB Aaron J. Jones
A running back from an NFC North rival is reportedly being acquired by the Minnesota Vikings.
Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports that Aaron Jones and the Vikings have reached an agreement on a $7 million one-year contract.
Josh Jacobs, a former player for the Las Vegas Raiders, is reportedly joining the Green Bay Packers after Jones was released on Monday.
QB Sam Darnold is reportedly signed by the Vikings to replace Kirk Cousins.
The Minnesota Vikings quickly began looking for a new quarterback when Kirk Cousins accepted a contract to play for the Atlanta Falcons.
Sam Darnold will be signed by the Vikings to a one-year contract worth up to $10 million, according to Ian Rapoport of the NFL Network.
Vikings are apparently going to sign a native Minnesotan who was a Gophers player.
According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, linebacker Blake Cashman is joining the Minnesota Vikings on a three-year contract worth up to $25.5 million.
Eden Prairie native Cashman was a Golden Gophers player.
It’s the second linebacker that the team has reportedly signed. The team already added Andrew Van Ginkel, a former linebacker for the Dolphins (details in an update below).
The Houston Texans’ edge rusher Jonathan Greenard is reportedly being added to the team as part of their early free agency attempt to strengthen the defense.
Vikings announce their cousins
In response to rumors about Cousins’ contract with the Falcons, general manager of the Vikings Kwesi Adofo-Mensah issued a statement.
“We were unable to come to an agreement on a contract that matches the short- and long-term plans for both Kirk and the Minnesota Vikings, despite extensive and fruitful discussions with Kirk and his representatives. We value Kirk’s leadership and services to the team and the Minneapolis-St. Paul community over the past six seasons. He will always have a special place in Vikings history. We send our warmest wishes to him, Julie, his wife, and their kids.
“We always had layers of contingencies in place at the quarterback position going into free agency. We are making strategies that will enable us to keep assembling a roster that can
fight for the title.”
According to reports, Vikings sign a linebacker from the Dolphins.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Vikings and former Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel have reached an agreement. According to reports, the agreement is for a $20 million, two-year contract with a $14 million guarantee.
“The deal was confirmed by agents Drew Rosenhaus and Ryan Matha,” Schefter stated.
The Houston Texans’ edge rusher Jonathan Greenard and the Vikings are apparently in agreement.
Kirk Cousins has reportedly inked a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. According to his agency, Kirk Cousins’ days as the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings are finally finished.
On X Monday, agent Mike McCartney said that Cousins will agree to a four-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons. The best quarterback available as a free agency was the 35-year-old.
Two offensive line depth players are back for the Vikings.
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings announced that offensive lineman Blake Brandel and David Quessenberry will be returning.
The change will stabilize the OL depth to some extent. After being signed by the team in the offseason, Quessenberry, 33, filled in for injured right tackle Brian O’Neill and left tackle Christian Darrisaw.
The Vikings selected 27-year-old Brandel in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft.
Austin Schlottmann and Oli Udoh, the swing tackles, and starting left guard Dalton Risner are still evaluating their options in the free agency market.
Jon Greenard, an edge rusher, is supposedly signed by the Vikings.
It has been claimed that the Vikings have signed a free agent edge rusher, albeit not the one that the supporters had hoped for.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, the Vikings will sign Jonathan Greenard, a free agent from the Houston Texans, on Monday.
The 26-year-old Greenard had his greatest season to date with 12.5 sacks.
Adam Schefter of ESPN has reported that Greenard will agree to a four-year contract worth $76 million, of which $42 million is guaranteed.
While signing Greenard makes it less likely, it doesn’t completely rule out the Vikings re-signing Danielle Hunter.
TE Johnny Mundt is back with the Vikings.
Johnny Mundt, the Vikings’ third-string tight end, was re-signed before to the start of free agency.
Mundt might play a bigger role early on in the regular season because starting lineman T.J. Hockenson is anticipated to miss it.
GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah discusses negotiations at the combine with Cousins, Hunter, and Jefferson.
Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, general manager of the Vikings, spoke about the three key offseason negotiations—Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, and Danielle Hunter—last month at the NFL Scouting Combine.
