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Minnesota Vikings News & Rumors

Seahawks Trade No. 114 To Vikings

April 27th, 2019 at 11:42am CST by Ben Levine

The Seahawks have pulled off another trade. ESPN’s Field Yates reports (via Twitter) that Seattle is sending No. 114 to the Vikings. In exchange, Minnesota will send No. 120 and No. 204.

The Vikings will use the pick on Oklahoma offensive guard Dru Samia. The six-foot-five, 302-pound lineman primarily played offensive guard throughout his collegiate career. He started all 14 games in 2018, earning him a second-team All-American nod from the Associated Press.

The Vikings have added a pair of key offensive linemen this offseason. They signed offensive guard Josh Kline before drafting center Garrett Bradbury in the first round.

Vikings Receiving Calls On Veterans

April 27th, 2019 at 9:28am CST by Ben Levine

It could be a busy day in Minnesota. SI.com’s Albert Breer tweets that the organization has received calls on three veterans: tight end Kyle Rudolph and cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes. Breer notes that while the organization is not “actively shopping” the trio, they’d be open to trades for their expensive veterans.

Breer had mentioned earlier this week that the Vikings could be willing to talk trade. Rudolph is a natural trade candidate, as the tight end is set to earn $7.28MM in the final year of his contract. The organization also selected Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. with their second-round pick, which naturally added some competition to the position. General manager Rick Spielman said the two players can play different roles on offense, with ESPN’s Courtney Cronin suggesting the offense could replicate Philly, where Zach Ertz and Trey Burton coexisted. The 29-year-old Rudolph had another productive season in 2018, hauling in 64 receptions for 634 yards and four scores.

Waynes is also a natural trade candidate, as the cornerback will be playing on a fully-guaranteed fifth-year option salary of $9.07MM. The former first-rounded has spent his entire career in Minnesota, including a 2018 campaign where he finished with 44 tackles, eight passes defended, and one interception.

As Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com points out, trading Rhodes could be a bit more complicated. His $10.4MM salary is fully-guaranteed, and a trade would subsequently trigger a $7.2MM cap charge. At this point of the offseason, it could be difficult for an inquiring team to fit the 28-year-old into their books. On the flip side, a trade would help the Vikings financially; the team would save $6.14MM in cap space by trading the defensive back. Rhodes finished last season with 47 tackles, nine passes defended, and one interception.

Vikings Send No. 93 Pick To Ravens

April 26th, 2019 at 10:01pm CST by Sam Robinson

More Vikings trade action. The Ravens enticed Rick Spielman to trade down, for the fourth time in Round 3.

While the Vikings just acquired a seventh-round pick for a one-spot Jets move, the Ravens will send them two choices — sixth-rounders, at 191 and 193 — for the right to climb nine spots in the third round. The Ravens used the pick to take Notre Dame wide receiver Miles Boykin.

Minnesota began its Round 3 odyssey at No. 81, then moved to 88, 92, 93 and now 102. At this rate, the Vikings will be busy on Day 3.

Boykin will follow Marquise Brown to Baltimore, with the Ravens using the draft to augment their aerial weaponry corps this year. With a developmental quarterback in Lamar Jackson, this strategy makes sense. At 6-foot-3, 220 pounds, Boykin does offer a complementary skill set to the former Oklahoma deep threat.

Vikings Trade No. 92 Pick To Jets

April 26th, 2019 at 9:57pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Vikings apparently are not into this section of the third round. This marks the third time Minnesota has traded down in Round 3.

The Jets moved up one spot, to No. 92, and will send the Vikings a seventh-round pick (No. 217) to do so. Minnesota is now set to pick at No. 93, though that cannot be guaranteed at this point, based on the events of the past hour.

With the one-spot climb, the Jets chose USC tackle Chuma Edoga.

Seahawks Land No. 88 Pick From Vikings

April 26th, 2019 at 9:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second time in an hour, the Vikings have traded down. This time, they will send the No. 88 overall pick to the Seahawks.

Minnesota previously dealt its No. 81 choice to Detroit. Seattle selected Utah linebacker Cody Barton. This was a four-pick swap, with the Vikings also dealing a sixth-round pick (No. 209) and the Seahawks sending back a fifth-rounder (No. 159).

The Vikings have now acquired fourth- and sixth-round picks Friday night. Their next selection window will open at pick No. 92.

Barton joins what is now by far the Seahawks’ most experienced defensive position group, with Bobby Wagner and the recently re-signed K.J. Wright anchoring the linebacking corps. Barton registered four sacks in each of his final two seasons with the Utes.

Lions Acquire No. 81 Pick From Vikings

April 26th, 2019 at 9:26pm CST by Sam Robinson

Two NFC North teams worked together on a third-round deal. The Lions moved up seven spots to No. 81, sending the Vikings a sixth-round selection (No. 204) to do so.

Detroit took Boston College safety Will Harris with the pick. A second-generation NFLer, Harris ran a 4.41-second 40-yard dash at the Combine. He finished with six fumble recoveries and 158 tackles the past two years.

The Lions cut Glover Quin this offseason and signed Andrew Adams in free agency. Harris joins a safety group headed by Quandre Diggs and Tavon Wilson.

 

Breer’s Latest: Jets, Broncos, Rudolph

April 25th, 2019 at 5:28pm CST by Ben Levine

Some assorted notes from SI.com’s Albert Breer leading up to tonight’s draft…

  • The Jets are beginning to gain some traction on a deal involving the third-overall pick. Breer mentions that the Redskins could be a match, with the team presumably eyeing a quarterback. Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins could be an option, as could Oklahoma’s Kyler Murray (if he isn’t taken with the first-overall pick). Breer notes that if the Jets remain in the top-10, they could opt for Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver, who one scout described as “the epitome of a [defensive coordinator] Gregg Williams player.”
  • Missouri quarterback Drew Lock is “rising continuously in draft meetings” among the Broncos front office. The team could be eyeing him with pick No. 10, or they could be preparing for a scenario where Lock falls towards the bottom of the first round.
  • After paying Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks, Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter, the Vikings could be looking to deal one of their other pricey veterans. Tight end Kyle Rudolph could be a trade candidate, and Breer writes that he wouldn’t be shocked if the Patriots make a play for the pass-catcher. The writer mentions cornerbacks Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes as well as wideout Laquon Treadwell as trade candidates.
  • Two players who are set to play on their fifth-year option are on the block. Breer writes that Eagles receiver Nelson Agholor and 49ers defensive end Arik Armstead “have been part of trade discussions.” On the flip side, Breer believes that it’s unlikely that the 49ers trade defensive lineman Solomon Thomas.
  • If Mississippi State’s Montez Sweat gets past the Redskins (No. 15), Panthers (No. 16), or Seahawks (No.21), Breer is unsure how far the defensive end could end up falling. Breer points to the Rams as a potential fit at the end of the first round. Reports indicated that Sweat was diagnosed with a heart condition, although there were rumblings today that he may have been misdiagnosed.

Draft Rumors: Bush, Redskins, Rams

April 25th, 2019 at 9:04am CST by Rory Parks

Let’s round up the latest draft rumors in advance of tonight’s main event:

  • We heard several days ago that the Falcons were interested in trading into the Top 10, and that they had their sights set on defensive linemen like Christian Wilkins and offensive linemen. Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network confirms that Atlanta is indeed interested in moving up, but his sources say the club’s target is actually linebacker Devin Bush (Twitter link). Per Pelissero, the Falcons would need to leapfrog the Broncos, who hold the No. 10 overall pick, to assure themselves of landing Bush.
  • Despite all of the rumors suggesting that the Redskins are interested in making a big trade up into the Top 5, Pro Football Talk says that all of the calls that team president Bruce Allen are making are just an example of Allen being Allen and that Washington doesn’t really have a desire to make a move (Twitter link).
  • Adam Schefter of ESPN.com tweets that the Rams, who hold the No. 31 overall pick in tonight’s draft, have received a number of calls from teams wanting to trade into the back end of the first round. First-rounders, of course, can be kept under club control for five years instead of four.
  • As Pelissero notes in a separate tweet, the teams that have shown the most interest in trading down from their current first-round slots are the Jets (No.3), Lions (No. 8), Dolphins (No. 13), Seahawks (Nos. 21 & 29), and Rams (No. 31).
  • If Kyler Murray should start to fall down the draft board, he may end up having a better financial future in baseball. As Albert Breer of SI.com notes, MLB’s Oakland A’s have offered him a $14MM “sweetener” on top of the $4.6MM bonus he was already due after the club drafted him last year, for a total of $18.66MM. That number would land between the 10th and 11th overall picks in tonight’s NFL draft, so if Murray ends up falling that far, teams are concerned that he would return to the diamond. But Breer still thinks that Murray will be the No. 1 overall pick tonight.
  • Breer calls Mississippi State defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons the most interesting prospect in the draft. He is one of the top defensive players in his class, but the troubling video showing him striking a woman in high school, along with his ACL tear, have completely removed him from some teams’ draft boards. But there is still a good chance that he will be selected in the first round tonight.
  • The Panthers and Vikings are both very serious about addressing their needs along the offensive line with early draft picks, as Breer notes in a separate piece. Both clubs used a high number of top-30 visits on O-linemen.
  • LSU cornerback Andraez “Greedy” Williams is perhaps the most talented corner in the draft, but as Breer notes, he comes with plenty of red flags concerning his toughness, work ethic, and personality. He did not make a single pre-draft visit, and despite his upside, he could slip out of the first round.

Brian Robison Retires From NFL

April 24th, 2019 at 1:48pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Brian Robison is hanging them up. The longtime Vikings defensive end is officially retiring from the NFL today, the team announced in a video they posted to Twitter.

In the video, which is worth a watch, Robison reflects on his career and his journey in Minnesota. The 2007 fourth round pick spent all 11 years of his career with the Vikings before the team cut him last September. Adam Schefter of ESPN tweeted that Robison signed a one-day contract with Minnesota to officially retire as a member of the team.

Robison will finish his career with 60 sacks, which has him tied for ninth on the franchise’s all-time list. Robison played only a rotational role his first few years in the league, but then blossomed into a full-time starter. He was very reliable, and only missed one start from 2011 through 2016. In 2017 he had his role reduced to again become a reserve, and he was released at the beginning of last season.

Robison will turn 36 in a couple of days and he spent the entire 2018 season out of football, so his decision to call it quits isn’t too surprising. A Texas product, Robison had a run of three straight years with at least eight sacks from 2011 through 2013. Robison’s emotional thank you to Vikings fans in the tribute video show why he became such a fan favorite during his time in Minnesota.

Draft Will Determine Riley Reiff's Role

April 19th, 2019 at 9:49pm CST by Sam Robinson
  • The Vikings are considering moving left tackle Riley Reiff to left guard, but it appears that is contingent on how the draft goes. Reiff will likely only move inside if Minnesota selects a first-round tackle, per Dave Campbell of the Associated Press. Reiff has only played tackle in the NFL. The Vikings “wouldn’t hesitate” to move center Pat Elflein to guard, Campbell adds, but that will also be contingent on the draft. Minnesota failing to add a center worth relocating Elflein would presumably nix that move. Either way, the Vikings’ embattled line will likely look a bit different post-draft.
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