Vikings To Sign DT Jullian Taylor
Jullian Taylor has missed the past two seasons, having seen an injury during his second 49ers campaign throw his career off course. But the former seventh-round pick will have another chance soon.
The Vikings agreed to a one-year deal with Taylor on Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets. While Taylor has not been out of football altogether since his December 2019 ACL tear, he has not seen the field since that setback. This signing comes under new Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, who was with the 49ers when they drafted Taylor in 2018.
San Francisco drafted Taylor out of Temple and used him as a rotational backup in six games in 2018 and ’19. Taylor played roughly a quarter of the 49ers’ defensive snaps when active, recovering a fumble and making four tackles for loss for the Super Bowl LIV-bound San Francisco squad in 2019. The Titans signed Taylor on June 3 of last year but cut him a day later.
Minnesota added Harrison Phillips from Buffalo in free agency this year and has Dalvin Tomlinson under contract. The Vikings are switching to primarily a 3-4 scheme under new defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. They will give Taylor, 27, a shot to revive his career.
Vikings, OL Chris Reed Agree To Deal
Chris Reed loomed as a potential option to replace Mark Glowinski in the Colts’ starting lineup, but he will take another opportunity instead. The veteran guard signed with the Vikings on Friday.
The Colts showed interest in re-signing Reed, who made six starts for them last season, but agreed to a two-year Vikings deal, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter links). Reed played collegiately at Division II Minnesota State, where he was teammates with Adam Thielen, and becomes the second starter-caliber O-lineman to sign with the Vikings this week, following ex-Dolphin Jesse Davis.
Reed, 29, subbed for both Glowinski and Quenton Nelson at points last season and spent the 2020 campaign as a full-time Panthers starter, being a first-stringer in each of the 14 games he played that year. Reed and Davis were briefly teammates with the 2019 Dolphins, and the former UDFA spent the first four seasons of his career as a Jaguars backup. The two may wage a battle for the Vikings’ right guard spot soon, with Tomasson viewing Davis as the favorite for the gig (Twitter link). The loser would fit as a valuable swingman.
Minnesota lost three-year contributor Dakota Dozier in free agency but has left guard Ezra Cleveland under contract for two more seasons. The team is poised to return four starters from last season’s O-line and now has options to fill the other slot, with primary 2021 right guard Oli Udoh still under contract.
Indianapolis lost Glowinski early in free agency, with the team’s longtime right guard signing with the Giants. While Nelson, Ryan Kelly and Braden Smith form the core of a top-tier O-line, the Colts will look to replace two starters — Glowinski and left tackle Eric Fisher, whom they are not expected to re-sign. Unless the Colts are eyeing a veteran guard, 2020 fifth-round pick Danny Pinter will have an opportunity replace Glowinski, CBS4’s Mike Chappell tweets.
Contract Details: Armstead, MVS, Douglas, Peterson, Peppers, Butler, Barnett, Harris
Here are the latest details from contracts recently agreed to around the NFL:
- Terron Armstead, T (Dolphins): Five years, $75MM. In addition to a $12MM signing bonus, Armstead’s $43.37MM guarantee includes his 2022 and ’23 base salaries ($1.1MM, $9MM), Aaron Wilson of ProFootballNetwork.com tweets. Armstead’s $13.25MM 2024 base salary is guaranteed for injury at signing. The deal includes $2.5MM-per-year incentives for playing time and Pro Bowl accolades, Wilson adds (on Twitter).
- Marquez Valdes-Scantling, WR (Chiefs): Three years, $30MM. Valdes-Scantling’s $18MM guaranteed includes a $6MM signing bonus and a fully guaranteed 2022 base salary ($2.56MM), Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. The Chiefs have some flexibility in 2023. MVS has $6.4MM of his $8.6MM 2023 salary guaranteed for injury at signing; that shifts to a full guarantee if the wideout is on Kansas City’s roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. Valdes-Scantling’s $11.6MM 2024 base is nonguaranteed.
- Rasul Douglas, CB (Packers): Three years, $21MM. The Packers gave Douglas a $5.3MM signing bonus and have him tied to base salaries of $1.1MM, $2.25MM and $6.25MM, Wilson tweets. Douglas will collect a $2MM roster bonus if he is on Green Bay’s roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year.
- Derek Barnett, DE (Eagles): Two years, $13.2MM. Barnett will see $7MM fully guaranteed, which includes $5.5MM in Year 1 and $1.5MM in Year 2, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer notes (Twitter links). The Eagles guaranteed $1.5MM of Barnett’s 2023 salary and will guarantee $2MM more of that $7.5MM figure if he is on their roster on Day 3 of the 2023 league year. There are $9MM in incentives available, Wilson tweets.
- Malcolm Butler, CB (Patriots): Two years, $9MM. The Patriots only guaranteed the recently unretired cornerback $750K, Ben Volin of the Boston Globe tweets. That comes via a $500K signing bonus and a $250K guarantee of Butler’s 2022 base salary. Butler’s cap numbers check in at $2.22MM and $2.75MM.
- Patrick Peterson, CB (Vikings): One year, $4MM. In addition to the $3.5MM guaranteed Peterson will collect, Wilson notes the Vikings included $1MM in playing-time and playoff incentives (Twitter link). The team tacked a void year onto the deal.
- Anthony Harris, S (Eagles): One year, $2.5MM. The Eagles are guaranteeing $1MM of Harris’ $2MM base salary, Wilson tweets.
- Jabrill Peppers, S (Patriots): One year, $2MM. The Patriots are giving Peppers a $300K signing bonus and guaranteeing his $1.1MM base salary, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The deal includes $3MM in playing-time incentives.
Vikings To Re-Sign Patrick Peterson
Although the Vikings have changed GMs and coaching staffs, Patrick Peterson will return for a second season in Minnesota.
The All-Decade cornerback said during an appearance on the All Things Covered podcast (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero) he is re-signing with the Vikings on a one-year deal. The deal is worth $4MM, including $3.5MM in guaranteed money, per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo on Twitter). This will be Peterson’s 12th NFL season.
Minnesota gave the former Arizona star corner a one-year, $8MM deal in 2021. New GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah praised the Mike Zimmer-era signing recently, and the eight-time Pro Bowler will aim to make an impact in new DC Ed Donatell‘s system. Peterson, who will turn 32 this summer, played 13 games with the Vikings last season. A few other teams — the Bills, Bears, Colts and Commanders — also expressed interest, Peterson said (via the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson; Twitter links).
After regressing toward the end of his Cardinals tenure, which featured a 2019 PED suspension, the former top-five pick performed better in his first Vikes campaign. Peterson allowed a 67% completion rate as the nearest defender in coverage in 2020; he dropped that number to 56% last season. Peterson’s passer rating-against figure also dropped considerably (98.2 to 78.7) in that span. While the 6-foot-1 cover man is not the player he was at his peak, he remains a capable starter.
The Vikings waived Bashaud Breeland late last season; he ended the season with the Cards. Former Minnesota first-round corner Jeff Gladney is also with Arizona, having signed with the NFC West squad this offseason. Minnesota returns Cameron Dantzler, who started seven games last year, and signed slot defender Chandon Sullivan from Green Bay. The Vikings also added potential depth pieces in Nate Hairston and Tye Smith this week. Even with Peterson’s return, the Vikings still have a need at the position. Peterson expects the team to further address cornerback in the draft (Twitter link via Tomasson).
Pack, Broncos Pursued Chandon Sullivan
- Prior to Chandon Sullivan‘s Vikings agreement, the Packers made a late push to keep him, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. Sullivan spent the past three seasons with the Packers, who have a need at slot cornerback thanks to his defection to a division rival. The Broncos also pursued Sullivan but signed K’Waun Williams days before news of Sullivan’s Vikings agreement surfaced.
Vikings Sign CB Nate Hairston
The Vikings made a handful of roster moves today, including the signing of a veteran cornerback. The team announced (on Twitter) that they’ve signed cornerback Nate Hairston. The Vikings also announced the signing of offensive lineman Jesse Davis, and the team announced that they have re-signed cornerback Tye Smith.
[RELATED: Vikings Sign OL Jesse Davis]
Hairston was a fifth-round pick by the Colts in 2017, and he spent the first two seasons of his career with Indy, starting 11 of his 27 games. He spent the 2019 campaign with the Jets before splitting the 2020 season between New York and Denver.
In total, Hairston has seen time in 59 career games, collecting 104 tackles and a pair of interceptions. That includes a 2021 campaign with the Broncos where he complied nine tackles and four passes defended in 16 games (one start). The 27-year-old played the majority of his snaps on special teams last year.
Smith, a former fifth-round pick, joined the Vikings last offseason, and he collected six tackles in five games with the organization. Per Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter), Smith is signing a one-year minimum contract worth $1.035MM.
Vikings Sign OL Jesse Davis
A longtime starter for the Dolphins, Jesse Davis visited the Vikings on Monday. That meeting is expected to lead to a signing, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The Vikings have announced the move. It is a one-year deal worth $3MM, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets.
Davis has worked extensively as a first-stringer over the course of his career, seeing time at tackle and guard during his five-season run with the Dolphins. The Vikings are looking at Davis at right guard, with Tomasson noting he is now viewed as the top candidate to start there (Twitter links). The Dolphins cut Davis last week.
The Vikings brought in Bills restricted free agent Ryan Bates for a visit, but Bates signed an offer sheet with the Bears — one the Bills matched. While Minnesota has a few positions solidified up front, the team is in need at right guard. Pro Football Focus viewed it as by far the team’s weakest spot in 2021.
Despite having five years’ experience, Davis will turn 31 this fall. The Idaho product spent two years developing without seeing game action, entering the NFL as a 2015 UDFA. But he moved into a starting role with the Dolphins in 2017 and logged 72 starts over the past five years, spending full seasons at both guard and tackle. The Dolphins gave Davis a three-year, $15MM deal in 2019.
Last season, the Dolphins moved Robert Hunt to guard and slid Davis back to right tackle. PFF did not view Davis’ latest right-edge work well, but the veteran made 16 starts for Miami in 2021. He has also seen left tackle time, giving the Vikings an ideal swingman if they opt to further address their right guard spot this offseason. Longtime Vikings swingman Dakota Dozier signed with the Bears earlier this month.
Minnesota has Christian Darrisaw, Ezra Cleveland, Garrett Bradbury and Brian O’Neill on track to continue as up-front starters, giving the team a solid outlook up front as begins a new regime. The team returns its primary 2021 right guard, Oli Udoh. But Davis should be expected to, at worst, provide strong competition for the job.
Vikings To Sign CB Chandon Sullivan
It looks like the Vikings have a new slot cornerback. Chandon Sullivan‘s Minnesota visit Friday led to a contract agreement, according to the veteran corner’s agency (Twitter link).
Sullivan spent the past three seasons with the Packers and worked primarily as their slot defender. The Vikings are not planning to bring back Mike Zimmer mainstay Mackensie Alexander, and Sullivan is coming off a nice contract year at the position. Sullivan will reunite with new Vikings staffer Mike Pettine, who was the Packers’ defensive coordinator during two of the cornerback’s three seasons in Green Bay.
Originally an Eagles UDFA, Sullivan caught on with the Packers in 2019. The Georgia State alum played 77% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps last season and intercepted three passes. He ranked among the top five slot corners in snaps per target and snaps per reception. Sullivan, 25, did not miss a game for Green Bay during his time with the team.
The Packers will make a transition here, but the team has committed significant resources at corner. In addition to housing first-round picks Jaire Alexander and Eric Stokes, the Packers re-signed Rasul Douglas on a $7MM-per-year deal last week. Still, Green Bay valued what it had in Sullivan and hoped to re-sign him, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets. The Broncos also had interest, per Tomasson.
With the Vikings moving to a new defensive system, it is uncertain they will re-sign free agent Patrick Peterson, though the All-Decade defender has expressed interest in staying. Peterson signed a one-year, $8MM deal to leave Arizona for Minnesota last year. The Vikes have Cameron Dantzler under contract, but even after signing Sullivan, the retooling team will need more help in coverage.
Vikings To Meet With CB Chandon Sullivan
The second wave of free agency, per usual, is featuring a number of visits. The Vikings will participate. They are set to meet with veteran cornerback Chandon Sullivan, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets.
Sullivan has been a Packers regular for the past three seasons. That included time with current Vikings staffer Mike Pettine, who was the Packers’ defensive coordinator from 2018-20. Green Bay signed Sullivan during the 2019 offseason, picking the former UDFA up after the Eagles waived him.
Coming out of Georgia State, Sullivan worked frequently as Green Bay’s slot corner during his Wisconsin time. Last season, Pro Football Focus graded Sullivan as one of its top slot defenders. The 5-foot-11 cover man ranked in the top five among slot players snaps per target and snaps per reception. For traditional stats, Sullivan intercepted three passes and broke up four more.
Sullivan, 25, played 77% of Green Bay’s defensive snaps last season. The Packers have Jaire Alexander on the cusp of an extension, used a first-round pick on Eric Stokes last season and prioritized a Rasul Douglas re-up. This appears to point to Alexander leaving in free agency.
The Vikings are expected to let slot defender Mackensie Alexander walk in free agency. Alexander was a staple in Minnesota’s secondary, but with the team having canned Mike Zimmer, it is moving in a different direction.
Latest On Vikings’ Patrick Peterson, Anthony Barr
The top two remaining free agents the Vikings have are cornerback Patrick Peterson and linebacker Anthony Barr. According to Chris Tomasson of The St. Paul Pioneer Press, the former is more likely to remain in Minnesota than the latter. 
[RELATED: Vikings Considering Hunter Extension?]
As Tomasson notes, Peterson has spoken often about wanting to remain with the team. The 31-year-old signed a one-year, $8MM deal last offseason after a decade with the Cardinals. His level of play – 45 tackles and one interception in 13 games – led to a PFF grade of 63. That is a long way from the All-Pro standard he set during his time in Arizona, but it could be enough to earn him an extended stay in his new home.
“Pat Pete’s a great person, a great player in this league for a long time”, said general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. “You want to make sure you respect a player of his caliber, his expertise in this league, but also the reality of the situation we’re in from a salary-cap standpoint.”
As for Barr, 30, Tomasson notes that the acquisition of Za’Darius Smith could lead him elsewhere. Between Smith and Danielle Hunter – whom the team could be looking to extend, rather than trade, as once thought – the Vikings appear to be set at the OLB spot in their new 3-4 scheme. The four-time Pro Bowler has been with the team since 2014, but has missed 20 games over the past two seasons. A new contract would be complicated by the fact he already carries of dead money cap charge of $10.8MM.
“That’s going to be a tougher situation to navigate”, Adofo-Mensah said of Barr. “Never say never. Obviously, there are things salary-cap related with acceleration and things like that that made that kind of a challenging deal.”
At present, the Vikings likely have enough cap room to afford bringing back one, but not both, of Peterson and Barr. From a positional standpoint, the former has a clearer path to being a starter, which explains the team’s openness to a new contract. If that does come to fruition, Barr could very well be in Peterson’s position from one year ago, needing to find a new team after several high-quality years with the one that drafted him.