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Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

Vikings Waive OL Adam Bisnowaty

May 8th, 2019 at 1:01pm CST by Ben Levine

Adam Bisnowaty‘s short tenure with the Vikings has come to an end. The team announced today (via Twitter) that they’ve waived the offensive lineman. The team has signed undrafted rookie defensive end Stacy Keely to take the open roster spot.

The former Pittsburgh standout was a sixth-round pick by the Giants back in 2017. He ended up starting the season finale as a rookie, but the Giants ultimately waived him several months later. Bisnowaty then bounced around the league a bit, spending time with the Lions and Panthers. He caught on with the Vikings in late October, and he proceeded to spend the rest of the season on the team’s practice squad.

The Vikings will see several additions to their offensive line next season, as they added free agent guard Josh Kline and drafted center Garrett Bradbury in the first round. The team also added veteran Dakota Dozier and rookies Dru Samia and Oli Udoh.

Keely had participated at last week’s rookie minicamp on a tryout basis, and he parlayed that performance into a contract. The UAB product was relatively productive in a reserve role this past season, compiling eight tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/7/19

May 7th, 2019 at 5:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here are Tuesday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the night:

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Kansas City Chiefs

Minnesota Vikings

New Orleans Saints

  • Signed: WR Deonta Harris

Philadelphia Eagles

Tennessee Titans

Minor NFL Transactions: 5/6/19

May 6th, 2019 at 3:31pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of today’s minor moves here:

Baltimore Ravens

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Green Bay Packers

Kansas City Chiefs

  • Reserve/non-football injury list: DE Tim Ward

Los Angeles Rams

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants 

  • Signed: G Austin Droogsma

New York Jets

Oakland Raiders

San Francisco 49ers

NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/5/19

May 5th, 2019 at 6:08pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

We’ll keep track of the latest late-round draft pick signings here:

  • The Vikings announced the signing of seventh round pick cornerback Kris Boyd. With Boyd inked, the Vikings are just waiting on two more picks to sign, first round pick center Garrett Bradbury and fellow seventh-rounder long snapper Austin Cutting. Cutting is waiting for clearance from the Air Force, so it might be a while before it signs. A Texas product, Boyd is a very solid athlete who was projected by many to be a mid-round selection, but he ended up slipping to the 217th overall pick. The 2018 first-team All-Big 12 selection received a $109.7K signing bonus.

Vikings Notes: Rudolph, Cutting, Badet, Kearse

May 4th, 2019 at 7:24pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

The Vikings made a splash last week in the draft, when they took Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. 50th overall. Smith was considered by many to be the third best tight end in the draft behind the Iowa standouts, and the Vikings are hoping he can turn into a consistent third option behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in the future. But the move could have more immediate implications for one current member of the team, tight end Kyle Rudolph. The selection “appeared to foreshadow that Rudolph’s days in Minnesota could be numbered,” writes Courtney Cronin of ESPN.com.

Additionally, sources told Cronin that the Vikings “fielded interest” before and during the draft about a potential trade for Rudolph. We heard in March that the Vikings had asked Rudolph to take a pay cut, but his representatives then pushed back forcefully on that and denied the report. His reps also said at the time that the team had told them Rudolph would be on the roster in 2019, but that’s looking like far from a sure thing now. Last month Albert Breer of SI.com speculated that the Patriots could be interested in adding Rudolph. With New England looking thin at tight end after Rob Gronkowski’s retirement, it wouldn’t be a shocker.

Here’s more from Minnesota:

  • New Vikings long snapper Austin Cutting, a seventh round pick of the team, will report to rookie minicamp but has signed an “injury protection agreement” instead of his rookie contract, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Cutting is an Air Force product, and he’s not signing “out of respect to letting the Air Force eventually give a final decision of if he can play in 2019,” Tomasson writes. Cutting could possibly have to leave the team for two years to fulfill his service requirements, but we won’t know for sure for a little while longer.
  • Receiver Jeff Badet spent last season on the Vikings’ practice squad, and he signed a reserve/futures deal with the team after the season ended. But he almost didn’t end up back with the Vikings, as he was courted by the Jets, according to Tomasson. Minnesota ended up giving the Oklahoma product a $75K bonus to stick around, which swayed him. Badet, an undrafted rookie last year, became the second player to almost defect to the Jets before coming home after Anthony Barr‘s heavily publicized free agency ordeal.
  • The Vikings are looking to convert safety Jayron Kearse to a weakside linebacker this offseason, sources told Tomasson. Kearse was taken by the Vikes in the seventh round back in 2016. A Clemson product, Kearse played linebacker in high school before being switched to safety in college. Kearse played around 20 percent of the Vikings’ defensive snaps last season and was a key player on special teams, so he’s got a significant role. It’ll be interesting to see how his transition turns out.

Vikings Sign Three Draft Picks

May 3rd, 2019 at 6:41pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings got ahead of the game on Friday by signing the following draft choices (all Twitter links from Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press):

Smith, who grew up in sunny California, will have to get used to the cold weather in Minnesota. He didn’t impress with his measurables in workouts, but he has proven to be a savvy defender in live action. In 2017, he led the Trojans with 112 tackles, with 11 tackles for a loss. He was slowed somewhat by injuries last year, but still managed 81 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss in ten games.

Watts measures in at 6’5″ and roughly 300 pounds, so he already has the size to compete in the NFL. In accordance with his slot, he’ll receive a four-year, $2.687MM deal with a $167K signing bonus.

Vikings To Sign Irv Smith Jr.

May 2nd, 2019 at 3:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Vikings second-round pick Irv Smith Jr. has reached agreement with the club on his rookie deal, as ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter tweets. As of this writing, the tight end is the highest-drafted 2019 rookie to put pen to paper. 

Smith was widely regarded as one of the top tight ends in this year’s class after a strong showing at Alabama. After Iowa’s T.J. Hockenson went to the Lions (No. 8 overall) and Noah Fant fell to the Broncos (No. 20), Smith stood out in a group that still included Washington’s Drew Sample, San Jose State’s Josh Oliver, and Texas A&M’s Jace Sternberger.

Now in Minnesota, the No. 50 overall pick could theoretically displace Kyle Rudolph. Rudolph, who is consistent yet unremarkable, is under contract for one more year. Dumping Rudolph would save the club $7MM+ in cap room. On draft week, the Vikings received calls on Rudolph, so there’s definitely a market for his services.

Per the terms of Smith’s slot, he’ll earn $5.8MM over the life of his four-year deal.

Vikings To Decline Treadwell’s Option

April 30th, 2019 at 1:06pm CST by Zachary Links

The Vikings are not expected to pick up the fifth-year option for wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, according to Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press (on Twitter). The Vikings technically have until the Friday deadline to make the call, but barring a change in thinking, Treadwell will be on course for free agency after the 2019 season. 

The 2020 option for Treadwell would have called for a $10.162MM salary. Although it would have been guaranteed for injury only, it was a risk that the front office was unwilling to take. Treadwell, 24 in June, has done little to justify his selection at No. 23 overall in 2016. Last year, he had 35 catches for 302 yards and one touchdown, and that was his most productive season to date.

In fact, Treadwell profiles as a trade candidate after a series of costly mistakes in 2018. The Vikings probably won’t get much for him, but there are likely evaluators out there who feel that they can harness the talent he displayed just three years ago.

In 2016, Treadwell, was widely projected as a top-15 pick before a slow 40-yard dash time and other concerns about his game hurt his draft stock. Still, the Chiefs and other clubs were targeting him in the lower-third of the first round before the Vikings snatched him.

Vikings Add 10 Undrafted Free Agents

April 29th, 2019 at 5:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings agreed to terms with 10 undrafted free agents on Monday. Here is the full list:

The Huskies’ career leader in passing yardage (12,296) and single-season touchdown pass leader with 43 in 2016, Browning will be the fourth quarterback on Minnesota’s offseason roster. He joins fellow newcomer Sean Mannion, along with Kirk Cousins and 2017 UDFA Kyle Sloter. Tito Odenigbo is Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo‘s younger brother. Keenoy was a 50-game starter at Western Michigan, while Dillon posted 105 receptions for 1,661 yards at Marian — an NAIA school.

Of the receivers on the Vikings’ roster, only two — Stefon Diggs and Laquon Treadwell — were draft picks. Davis was a four-year contributor at Sam Houston State, hauling in 226 receptions for 3,181 yards and 40 touchdown grabs.

Vikings Deal No. 159 To Patriots

April 27th, 2019 at 1:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

After moving down four times late Friday night, the Vikings did so again in Round 5. The Patriots climbed up three spots, acquiring the No. 159 pick from the Vikings.

Minnesota’s next pick window will open at No. 162, and New England will send a seventh-rounder (No. 239) to the NFC North team. With the pick, the Patriots took Maryland defensive tackle Byron Cowart.

Cowart joins fellow former Big Ten defensive lineman Chase Winovich as front-seven players headed to New England. Cowart only played one season at Maryland, doing so after transferring from Auburn. He finished his college career with just three sacks, all three coming with the Terrapins last season.

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