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Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/16/21

March 16th, 2021 at 6:35pm CST by Zachary Links

Tomorrow is the deadline for NFL teams to extend tender offers to their own restricted free agents and exclusive rights free agents. We’ll keep tabs on the latest here:

RFAs

Tendered: 

Non-Tendered:

Vikings Have Made Offer To CB Mackensie Alexander

March 16th, 2021 at 5:20pm CST by Ben Levine

Mackensie Alexander could land back in Minnesota. Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reports (via Twitter) that the Vikings have interest in the veteran cornerback. Sources tell Goessling that Minnesota has made an offer to the free agent cornerback.

Alexander spent the first four seasons of his career with the Vikings, starting 10 of his 55 appearances. The veteran’s final season in Minnesota came in 2019, when he compiled 38 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one interception in 13 games (four starts).

He joined the Bengals last offseason on a one-year, $4MM deal. He ended up starting a career-high 10 games for Cincinnati, collecting 47 tackles, six passes defended, and one interception. He also appeared in a career-high 61-percent of his team’s defensive snaps in 2020.

The Vikings have been relatively quiet over the past few days. The team’s one notable addition was the signing of nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. The team entered the offseason with just over $9MM in cap space.

Vikings To Release DT Shamar Stephen

March 16th, 2021 at 12:18pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are set to cut defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, as Adam Caplan of ESPN.com tweets. Previously, he was set to carry a cap hit of $5.083MM. Releasing Stephen will save $3.75MM on the books for 2021.

[RELATED: Vikings To Sign Tomlinson]

A seventh-round Vikings pick in 2014, Stephen has spent most of his career in Minnesota, save for his 2018 season with the Seahawks. He’s spent the last two years as a full-time starter, serving as a durable, though not spectacular, run-stuffer.

The recent arrival of Dalvin Tomlinson pushed Stephen out of the equation. The 6’3”, 320-pound defensive tackle will pair with Michael Pierce in Stephen’s place, albeit on a more expensive two-year, $22MM deal.

Before signing Tomlinson, the Vikings were also connected to Trey Hendrickson. Ultimately, the ex-Saints standout signed with the Bengals instead.

Vikings To Sign NT Dalvin Tomlinson

March 15th, 2021 at 9:55pm CST by Ben Levine

The Vikings are adding to their defensive line. NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero reports (via Twitter) that Minnesota is signing nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that the deal is worth $22MM, including $20MM in total guarantees.

Tomlinson has been a consistent starter since joining the Giants in 2017. The defensive lineman has started each of the Giants’ 64 games over the past four years, averaging 26.6 tackles and two sacks per season. He had another solid season in 2020, finishing with career-highs in tackles for loss (eight) and QB hits (10). Pro Football Focus ranked Tomlinson as the 25th-best interior defender out of 126 qualified players in 2020.

While there were reports that the Giants wanted to retain Tomlinson, there were also rumblings that the organization was shopping the defensive lineman during last year’s trade deadline; the Packers were mentioned as a potential suitor for the nose tackle.

The Vikings have apparently been in the market for defensive linemen. We heard whispers earlier today that they were a potential suitor for Trey Hendrickson, who ultimately signed with the Bengals. Despite the Tomlinson signing, it sounds like Minnesota is still prepared to roll with defensive tackle Michael Pierce next season.

Minor NFL Transactions: 3/15/21

March 15th, 2021 at 7:55pm CST by Zachary Links

Today’s “minor” moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Buffalo Bills

Carolina Panthers

Dallas Cowboys

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

New England Patriots

New York Giants

Minnesota Vikings

Jets, Vikings, Browns, Bengals Interested In DE Trey Hendrickson

March 15th, 2021 at 5:05pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

With Shaquil Barrett off the board after his re-signing with Tampa Bay the group of free agent pass-rushers took a hit, but there are still plenty of quality options available. One of those options is the Saints’ Trey Hendrickson, and we now have details on what the bidding for his services looks like.

The Jets, Vikings, and Browns have all shown interest in signing Hendrickson, a source told Josina Anderson of ESPN (Twitter link). Anderson notes that list is in no particular order. We’ve heard all offseason that the Browns are looking to add a pass rusher next to Myles Garrett, so their interest isn’t surprising.

The Bengals are also interested in Hendrickson, per Anderson (on Twitter). Cincinnati did not place its franchise tag on Carl Lawson, running the risk of letting the emerging pass rusher defect in free agency. It will be interesting to see the prices for Hendrickson and Lawson. The former broke out in 2020, while the latter has been a producer for a bit longer.

Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network followed up with a tweet noting that the Jets view Hendrickson as a “great fit” for new coach Robert Saleh‘s system. New Orleans is in a really tough cap situation, and GM Mickey Loomis seemed to acknowledge last month that Hendrickson moving on was likely.

Hendrickson was a revelation last year, coming out of nowhere to start 15 games and rack up 13.5 sacks. The 2017 third-round pick had previously had only 6.5 sacks total over his first three years in the league, but set himself up nicely for a big payday in 2020. It’ll be very interesting to see what kind of contract he ends up landing. Yannick Ngakoue is another big edge rushing domino waiting to fall.

Details On Anthony Barr’s New Vikings Deal

March 15th, 2021 at 10:25am CST by Zachary Links

Anthony Barr has agreed to a pay cut in exchange for a shorter contract. Now, the linebacker will make a fully guaranteed $9.4MM in 2021 — a, plus $500K in per-game roster bonuses and a $100K workout bonus (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero). 

Originally, Barr was set to make $12.9M this year with a deal running through 2023. Now, he’ll be eligible for free agency in March of 2022. In turn, the Vikings will clear $2.9MM in cap space.

Barr, who turns 29 this week, made the Pro Bowl every year between 2015 and 2018. However, a torn pec limited him to just two games last year and many believed that the Vikings would release him this offseason to gain some much-need cap space. Barr hasn’t been stellar on his five-year, $67.5MM contract, but he has an opportunity to cash in all over again. When healthy and at his best, the former No. 9 overall pick is among the best linebackers in the league.

Roughly two years ago today, Barr flip-flopped on the Jets to stay in Minnesota. The Jets then parlayed that money into an ill-fated deal with Le’Veon Bell.

Vikings Won’t Tender Chad Beebe

March 15th, 2021 at 9:41am CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings will not extend a restricted free agency tender to wide receiver Chad Beebe, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. However, the Vikes are still interested in bringing him back at a lesser rate. 

[RELATED: Vikings’ Barr Takes Pay-Cut, Will Become FA After 2021]

Minnesota could have tendered the former undrafted free agent at $2.133MM, but that wouldn’t have fetched them anything in the event of a signed offer sheet. Now, Beebe is unfettered and free to strike a handshake deal with any team during the legal tampering period.

Beebe had 20 catches 201 yards and two touchdowns in 2020, including a game-winner against the Panthers (to erase his earlier muffed punt). He’s not one of the Vikings’ leading receivers, but he would provide the team with consistency and depth. As it stands, they’re pretty thin at WR beyond Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson.

Meanwhile, the Vikings have some extra coin to work with after Anthony Barr agreed to restructure his deal.

Vikings LB Anthony Barr To Take Pay-Cut, Become FA After 2021

March 14th, 2021 at 9:02pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

It looks like the Vikings are close to making a major adjustment to Anthony Barr‘s contract. Minnesota and the veteran linebacker are working on a restructured deal that would see Barr reduce his $12.3MM salary for 2021, sources told Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link).

The Vikings will get some immediate cap relief, and in return Barr will enter free agency after this season. Previously Barr’s contract ran through 2023, so he’s about to get the last two years knocked off his pact. There had been some speculation that the team could move on this offseason due to his hefty cap hit, but this move will ensure he’s on the Vikings’ roster come Week 1 while also potentially setting things up for a divorce next offseason.

The ninth overall pick of the 2014 draft has been with Minnesota for all seven of his pro seasons. There’s been plenty of drama along the way, like when Barr agreed to sign with the Jets in March of 2019 before pulling out at the last second and returning to the Vikings. A separation has appeared likely several times, but they always have found a way to make things work.

Barr got a five-year, $67.5MM deal to stay last time. The UCLA product made the Pro Bowl four straight times from 2015-18, but only played in two games this past year due to a torn pec. He’ll turn 29 later this week.

Vikings Likely To Re-Sign QB Sean Mannion

March 12th, 2021 at 3:53pm CST by Sam Robinson

Sean Mannion appears in the picture to reprise his role as Kirk Cousins‘ backup. The Vikings are likely to bring their QB2 back on a third contract, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (on Twitter).

The Vikings initially added Mannion in 2019, and he stuck around on a second one-year contract last year. Mannion played at the veteran-minimum rate last season; a similar Vikings pact should be expected.

Originally a third-round Rams draft pick in 2015, Mannion did not make inroads to being a starter in St. Louis. And the Rams traded up for Jared Goff upon moving to Los Angeles ahead of Mannion’s second season. The Oregon State product has done well to land jobs that have not required him to play in games especially often.

Mannion’s only two career starts — Week 17 in 2017 and Week 17 in 2019 — have come when his respective team has rested starters ahead of the playoffs. Cousins has not missed a game due to injury in three Vikings seasons. Mannion, 29 next month, is 45 of 74 for 384 yards and three INTs in his six-year career.

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