Vikings Request GM Interviews With Ray Agnew, Reed Burckhardt, Kyle Smith
The list of candidates for the Vikings GM opening continues to grow. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has requested interviews with three executives: Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt, and Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith.
Agnew had front office stints with the Jets and Rams before following Brad Holmes to Detroit to become the Lions assistant general manager in 2021. The executive has helped spearhead a franchise turnaround; after a three-win showing during the first year under the new regime, the Lions have averaged more than 11 wins per season since 2022. The front office has also pulled off shrewd trades (like the Matthew Stafford–Jared Goff swap) and have hit on some key picks (including Aidan Hutchinson and Jahmyr Gibbs). As a result, Agnew has been mentioned as a candidate to eventually lead his own front office.
Burckhardt earned a promotion to Denver’s assistant GM last offseason. The executive previously served as the team’s director of player personnel. Before his stint with the Broncos, Burckhardt worked alongside current boss George Paton in Minnesota, where he held a variety of scouting and personnel roles. Following Burckhardt’s promotion to assistant GM in Denver, the Broncos proceeded to have one of their most successful seasons in recent history, finishing with 14 victories. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, Burckhardt interviewed for the Vikings gig earlier today.
Smith worked his way up to vice president of player personnel in Washington and assistant GM in Atlanta before taking an assistant GM gig in Miami under Jon-Eric Sullivan. The executive was credited with some of Washington’s draft hits like Terry McLaurin, and he’s currently being counted on to guide a similar rebuild in Miami.
The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January and went through the draft with Rob Brzezinski in place in the interim. In the meantime, the team has been looking high and low for their new front office leader. The latest trio joins a list of candidates that also includes Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander, 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen, Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasely, and Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler.
Meanwhile, Albert Breer of SI.com recently provided some insight on the organization’s approach. The reporter suggests that Brzezinski could be kept in a role similar to Mike Disner with the Lions or Tony Pastoors with the Rams, with the new GM being tasked with more of a “scouting-focused” role. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports adds that the team’s search will surely continue through Memorial Day and could drag on into late May.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/11/26
Today’s minor moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: DT Ross Blacklock, LB Daveren Rayner
- Waived: TE Brandon Frazier, DT Ben Stille, WR Deven Thompkins, RB Carlos Washington
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: S K’Von Wallace
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: CB M.J. Devonshire
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Kyron Hudson, LB Wayne Matthews III, LB Jon Rhattigan
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: CB Michael Coats Jr.
- Waived: TE Sal Cannella
Denver Broncos
- Signed: CB Paul Manning, WR Michael Woods
Houston Texans
- Signed: RB Evan Hull
- Waived: TE Luke Lachey
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: LB Cameron McGrone
- Waived: WR Brenden Rice
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: FB DJ Herman
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: LB Bangally Kamara, DL Smith Vilbert
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Xavier Holmes, S Peter Manuma
New Orleans Saints
- Signed: WR Brock Rechsteiner
New York Jets
- Signed: LB Jaden Keller
- Waived: LB Ochaun Mathis
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: C Greg Crippen
- Waived: OT Sataoa Laumea
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: LB Larry Worth III
- Waived: LB Milo Eifler
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
- Waived: LS Wesley Brown, WR Noah Short, LB Benton Whitley, RB Owen Wright
Vikings’ Kyler Murray, J.J. McCarthy Will Have ‘True Competition’ For Starting Job
The Vikings entered the 2025 season hoping to smoothly transition to J.J. McCarthy as their long-term starting quarterback.
That never came to pass. The former No. 10 pick completed just 57.6% of his passes with more interceptions (12) than touchdowns (11). He also missed time due to three different injuries and, overall, did not show signs of being a franchise QB.
Minnesota then brought in Kyler Murray after he was released by the Cardinals, adding another, more proven passer to their quarterback room. Since Arizona is still paying him $36.8MM this year, the former No. 1 pick was available for a veteran minimum salary, making him a hot commodity on the free agent market. He quickly agreed to a deal with the Vikings, indicating that he would have a chance at their starting quarterback job. But the question remained: would Murray have to take the job from McCarthy, or would the two begin offseason practices on equal footing?
An initial answer has come via NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, who said on the Rich Eisen Show that the Vikings “envision it being a true competition: Kyler Murray vs. J.J. McCarthy.”
On paper, Murray should have a substantial advantage. He has 87 career starts to McCarthy’s 10 with a significantly better completion percentage and passer rating in 2025. But Murray will be learning a new offense in Minnesota, while McCarthy will be entering his third year in Kevin O’Connell‘s system.
It is worth noting that Pelissero specifically mentioned those two quarterbacks as part of the competition and not Carson Wentz or Max Brosmer, who are also in the team’s quarterback room. Brosmer was abysmal in his two starts last year, but Wentz statistically outperformed McCarthy nearly across the board. In theory, that would make him a worthy competitor for the starting job, but Minnesota moved in Murray’s direction and seems more inclined to keep Wentz as a third-stringer.
Minor NFL Transaction: 5/8/26
Friday’s minor NFL transactions:
Cincinnati Bengals
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): LB Swayze Bozeman
- Signed: S Isaiah Nwokobia
Cleveland Browns
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): DT Elijah Chatman
- Received international exemption: P Nik Constantinou
Denver Broncos
- Waived: T Marques Cox, OLB Garrett Nelson
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DT Smith Vilbert
New York Giants
- Signed: RB Damon Bankston
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Claimed off waivers (from Colts): LB John Bullock
Tennessee Titans
- Claimed off waivers (from Giants): WR Courtney Jackson
- Waived: WR Hal Presley
After the Giants waived Bozeman, Chatman, and Jackson yesterday, all three found new homes today on the waiver wire. Constantinou qualifies for the international exemption that allows him not to count against the team’s 90-man roster as one of several Australians who have found their way to the NFL as specialists. Lastly, Cincinnati, Minnesota, and New York all added to their UDFA classes today after Nwokobia, Vilbert, and Bankston went undrafted out of SMU, North Carolina, and New Mexico, respectively.
QB Cooper Rush Trying Out For Vikings
Quarterback Cooper Rush was connected to the Jets in early April, but he has not landed anywhere since the Ravens released him March 12. Rush will at least get a look from the Vikings, who invited him to try out at their rookie minicamp (via Craig Peters of the team’s website).
The Vikings did not draft a quarterback or add any UDFA signal-callers, leaving them in need of a passer for rookie camp. With that in mind, Rush may not be under serious consideration for a contract, especially considering the Vikings’ crowded QBs room.
Although J.J. McCarthy‘s career has not gone according to plan since the Vikings drafted him 10th overall in 2024, he will compete for the starting job against free agent addition Kyler Murray. The Vikings also kept Carson Wentz around on a new deal, and 2025 UDFA Max Brosmer is still on the roster despite his immense struggles over seven games and two starts last year.
Like Brosmer, Rush endured a rough 2025. After Rush won nine of 14 starts in place of an injured Dak Prescott as the Cowboys’ backup from 2017-24, the Ravens brought him in on a two-year pact worth up to $12.2MM. In a best-case scenario, the Ravens would have only needed Rush in mop-up duty, but they ended up giving him a pair of starts while Lamar Jackson battled a hamstring injury. Baltimore lost Rush’s starts (to the Texans and Rams) by a combined score of 61-13.
The Ravens demoted Rush to third-string duties after their Week 6 loss to the Rams, and he did not throw another pass in their uniform. The 32-year-old ended the season 34 of 52 for 303 yards (a paltry 5.8 per attempt), no touchdowns, four interceptions, and a disastrous 48.8 traditional rating/26.3 QBR combo.
Vikings Sign First-Rounder Caleb Banks
The Vikings announced deals with eight of their draft picks, including first-round defensive tackle Caleb Banks. As the 18th overall selection, Banks signed a fully guaranteed contract worth around $21.28MM over four years.
Former Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman was a popular pick for the Vikings in mock drafts, but they instead elected to address their defensive line in Round 1. The Vikings released 2025 starters Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave in early March, leaving them in need of help up front. Cognizant of that, they drafted both Banks and third-round defensive tackle Domonique Orange, formerly with Iowa State. The Vikings also signed Orange, aka “Big Citrus,” on Friday.
Banks opened his college career in 2021 at Louisville, but he got into a mere seven games and made one tackle in two years with the Cardinals. The 6-foot-6, 327-pounder then transferred to Florida, where he logged 19 tackles and a sack over 12 games in 2023. Banks’ numbers jumped during another dozen-game season the next year. He tallied 21 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles, but left foot problems prevented Banks from building on that production in 2025. He played in just three games and made six tackles in his last year in school.
Adding to Banks’ health issues, he fractured the fourth metatarsal in the same foot the night before on-field Combine testing in February. Although Banks underwent surgery in mid-March, he gutted out the injury at the Combine and finished second among D-tackles in the broad jump and tied for sixth in the vertical jump. There was still some pre-draft concern over his foot, especially considering Banks is not expected to return to the field until June, but it did not scare off the Vikings.
Along with Banks and Orange, the Vikings inked six other selections on Friday. Here is the list:
- Round 3, No. 97: Caleb Tiernan (T, Northwestern)
- Round 3, No. 98: Jakobe Thomas (S, Miami)
- Round 5, No. 159: Max Bredeson (FB, Michigan)
- Round 5, No. 163: Charles Demmings (CB, Stephen F. Austin)
- Round 6, No. 198: Demond Claiborne (RB, Wake Forest)
- Round 7, No. 235: Gavin Gerhardt (C, Cincinnati)
Former Cincinnati linebacker Jake Golday, the Vikings’ second-rounder, is now the only unsigned member of their nine-player class.
Vikings To Sign WR Jauan Jennings
One of the top remaining free agents has finally found a new home. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports that wide receiver Jauan Jennings has reached an agreement with the Vikings.
Schefter adds that it’s a one-year deal worth up to $13MM. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero clarifies that the receiver will earn an $8MM base salary. Jennings met with the franchise last month.
While the player‘s price point was believed to be misaligned with his value, it was eventually understood that he’d settle for a modest deal once the compensatory pick formula was no longer in effect. Indeed, he garnered his first visit of the offseason days after the draft, when he met with the Vikings. It took an additional week, but the WR finally completed a deal with Minnesota.
PFR’s No. 18-ranked free agent, Jennings market never emerged as many expected. The 49ers were initially interested in re-signing the veteran, but his potential return took a major hit when the organization pivoted to the likes of Mike Evans, Christian Kirk, and second-rounder De’Zhaun Stribling. Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald adds that the Dolphins were also interested in Jennings’ services, but the front office “couldn’t compete financially” considering their cap situation.
During his time in San Francisco, Jennings worked his way up from a seventh-round pick to one of the team’s most dependable wideouts. As the organization navigated a number of injuries at WR in 2024, Jennings had a breakout season, hauling in 77 catches for 975 yards and six touchdowns. He requested a trade after that showing when he couldn’t agree to an extension with the 49ers. The franchise opted to keep him via a restructured deal.
With Deebo Samuel out the door and Brandon Aiyuk sidelined with an injury, there was hope that Jennings could carry his momentum into the 2025 campaign. Even with Aiyuk sitting out the entire year and Ricky Pearsall missing nearly half the season, Jennings struggled to match his 2024 numbers. While he hauled in a career-high nine touchdowns, he saw his yards-per-game (42.9), yards-per-target (7.1), and catch percentage (61.1) drop. He also didn’t do much in the playoffs, when he tallied three catches for 68 yards in two games.
Jennings’ stint as a WR1 will surely come to an end in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison will continue to lead the depth chart, but Jennings should still be able to carve out his own role in 2026. Jalen Nailor was productive as the team’s WR3 last year, finishing with 29 catches for 444 yards and four touchdowns, a performance he parlayed into a three-year, $35MM deal with the Raiders.
Chad Alexander, John McKay, Dave Ziegler, Others Receive Vikings GM Interview Requests
2:38pm: It is certainly possible more candidates emerge, but the Minneapolis Star Tribune’s Ben Goessling notes Gray and the five candidates to emerge today represent the full list of external options in the Vikings’ search.
12:59pm: The Vikings’ mid-offseason GM interview search is forming. After Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray received the first known request Wednesday, the Vikes have sent out a host of interview slips.
Minnesota is focusing on the assistant GM level; five more execs with that title join Gray among the NFC North franchise’s list of hopeful meetings. A second-chance candidate — a rarity in the modern NFL — is on Minnesota’s list, with NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero noting the team sent Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler a request.
Rams assistant GM John McKay, 49ers AGM R.J. Gillen, Chargers AGM Chad Alexander and Seahawks AGM Nolan Teasley also received interview slips from the Vikings, according to Pelissero, CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones and ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Alexander, Gillen and McKay have been part of GM interview processes before; this is a first for Teasley. Gray joins this quintet among candidates, with the Vikes’ current top front office decisionmaker — interim GM Rob Brzezinski — likely to receive an interview as well.
Ziegler teamed with Josh McDaniels with the Raiders, but Mark Davis short-circuited this regime’s plans by firing both less than two years in. Ziegler, who established himself as a GM candidate by working with the Patriots and Broncos, landed as the Titans’ assistant GM in January 2025. Considering Ziegler’s abrupt Las Vegas ouster and the Titans’ 2025 performance, it is a bit surprising the Vikings are interested.
That said, Ziegler did work closely with Bill Belichick and now-Texans GM Nick Caserio in New England, which won three Super Bowls during Ziegler’s time in the front office. This is Ziegler’s first interview request since his Vegas dismissal. After both Tom Telesco and Trent Baalke received pink slips in 2025, the NFL does not have any second-chance GMs in place presently.
Gillen and McKay each interviewed for the Dolphins’ GM post this year. That marked the first such meetings for both NFC West execs. Gillen climbed to the AGM level in San Francisco in 2025, coming up through the scouting ranks to become the team’s player personnel director in 2023. Gillen has been with the 49ers since before John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan’s arrivals, being hired during Trent Baalke‘s GM tenure.
McKay joined the Rams a year before Sean McVay, joining Les Snead‘s front office as a scouting assistant. The McVay-era Rams have certainly represented a launching pad for HC and GM candidates. Ex-Ram staffers Brad Holmes (Lions) and James Gladstone (Jaguars) are currently in GM roles.
Alexander has more interview experience than his California AGM counterparts. The Chargers exec joined Gillen and McKay in the Dolphins’ search and competed with Gladstone for the Jags’ gig last year. The Raiders also brought in Alexander for a meeting in 2025. Alexander has been with the Chargers since shortly after Joe Hortiz‘s 2024 GM hire, coming over from the Jets.
Teasley’s name may be the most interesting here, seeing as the Seahawks won Super Bowl LX. Teasley climbed to the AGM level in 2023 but has been with the Seahawks under John Schneider since 2013. Schneider having won Super Bowls 12 years apart, with two completely different rosters, sets him apart in NFL history. Considering how impressive the Seahawks’ post-Russell Wilson retooling effort has been, it is unsurprising Teasley is on the GM radar. If the Vikings do not end up hiring him, the longtime Seattle staffer figures to be a prime candidate for roles come winter 2027.
The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January and went through the draft with Brzezinski in place in the interim. The team held off on conducting a search until after the draft. With that point having arrived on the NFL calendar, Minnesota’s next FO boss figures to emerge this month.
Vikings Request GM Interview With Terrance Gray
Over three months after the Vikings fired general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, they have identified their first external candidate to replace him. The Vikings have requested an interview with Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Vikings executive vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski has served as the team’s interim GM since Adofo-Mensah’s ouster in late January. Brzezinski has interest in a full-time promotion, but the Vikings have enlisted search firm TurnkeyZRG to assist in finding the best candidate. If Gray ends up as the choice, it is worth pointing out there is already familiarity between him and the organization. Gray worked as a college scout in Minnesota from 2006-16. Brzezinski was also with the Vikings then.
Since leaving the Vikings in 2017, Gray has taken on multiple roles in the Bills’ Brandon Beane-led front office. Before his promotion to assistant GM last May, Gray spent time as a director of college scouting, an assistant director of player personnel, and a director of player personnel. During his long run in Buffalo, Gray has conducted GM interviews with the Jaguars, Titans, Chargers and Raiders. Those teams went in other directions, though it is possible Gray will finally get a coveted GM opportunity this year. Also a former Chiefs staffer, Gray has worked in NFL front offices since 2003.
If the Vikings select Gray or another outside GM candidate, it may still lead to a promotion for Brzezinski. The Vikings will reportedly consider bumping Brzezinski to a president of football operations-type role, which means he would outrank the GM. The Falcons installed a similar setup when they hired Matt Ryan as president of football and Ian Cunningham as GM earlier this offseason.
Vikings Remain Willing To Bring Back Harrison Smith
In March, the Vikings released franchise stalwart Harrison Smith with a post-June 1 designation, as his contract was due to void and a decision needed to be made. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert reported the release and noted it was not an indication that Smith plans to retire (although the 37-year-old safety did contemplate hanging up his cleats in 2025 before re-upping with Minnesota).
Now that the March free agent frenzy and the April draft are in the books, Seifert echoes his prior report and says the Vikings have let Smith know they would be happy to have him back. Per Seifert, “all signs were pointing” to retirement following the 2025 campaign, but as Smith himself has made no public remarks in that regard, it seems as if another season could be in store.
While the Vikings return Josh Metellus, Theo Jackson, and Jay Ward and added Jakobe Thomas in the third round of last month’s draft, they have made no other notable additions at the safety position. Minnesota still believes it will have a better defense with Smith, whose 85% snap share trailed only Metellus’ 97% mark among the club’s safety contingent last season.
It has been a few years since Pro Football Focus considered Smith a top-tier defender, but his 68.9 overall grade in 2025 is still strong and is squarely in line with the site’s evaluation of his work from the prior three seasons. That mark placed him 33rd among 91 qualified safeties last year.
Pro Football Reference did charge him with a 115.1 quarterback rating allowed in 2025, which was far and away a career-worst figure. However, he did record two interceptions among 10 passes defensed and added 54 stops, including one sack and three tackles for loss.
Smith joined the Vikings in the first round of the 2012 draft and has never played for any other team, collecting six Pro Bowl nods and one first-team All-Pro selection during his 14-year career. His 207 games played is currently fifth in Minnesota franchise history, and he could move into third place, leaping Carl Eller (209) and Fred Cox (210), if he inks another deal.
The Vikings saved $1.3MM with the March release and are spreading out $3MM in dead money over the next two years. That number is separate from the cost of any new contract for Smith.