Details On Newman Contract
- The Vikings re-signed veteran cornerback Terence Newman last week, and Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune has details on the new deal (via Twitter). The 39-year-old will earn a $1.015MM base salary and a $90K workout bonus. However, there’s no guaranteed money, and the contract accounts for a $720K cap hit.
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Vikings Sign Rookie Brian O’Neill
The Vikings officially signed second round pick Brian O’Neill, the team announced. The tackle was selected with the No. 62 overall selection.
O’Neill is now the fifth member of the Vikings draft class to ink his deal, following the signings of kicker Daniel Carlson, guard Colby Gossett, defensive end Ade Aruna, and linebacker Devante Downs on Thursday. As of this writing, Minnesota has just three rookies to go before wrapping up the entire class: cornerback Mike Hughes, defensive tackle Jalyn Holmes, and tight end Tyler Conklin.
O’Neill impressed evaluators with his athleticism during the draft process and his long wingspan should help him adjust to the game at the pro level. However, there are some concerns about consistency in his technique.
The Vikings project to start Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers at the tackle spots this year, but O’Neill will look to get in the rotation as a reserve.
Vikings Sign Four Draft Picks
With their rookie minicamp on tap for this weekend, the Vikings have gotten to work on signing their draft class. Minnesota signed four members of its eight-man class on Thursday, agreeing to terms with the final four players in the group.
- Round 5-167: Daniel Carlson, K (Auburn)
- 6-213: Colby Gossett, G (Appalachian State)
- 6-218: Ade Aruna, DE (Tulane)
- 7-225: Devante Downs, LB (California)
Carlson signed for four years and $2.708MM, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press tweets, adding the kicker prospect received a $248K signing bonus. Gossett and Aruna both signed $2.578MM deals with $118,408 bonuses. Downs’ deal is worth $2.554MM. The Cal product received a $94K signing bonus, Tomasson reports.
Carlson will come in and compete with Kai Forbath, whom the Vikings re-signed earlier this offseason. Carlson made just 21 of his 31 field goal tries but made four of eight from beyond 50 yards. Minnesota’s selection of Carlson does not necessarily mean he’ll be kicking in the Twin Cities come September. Both the Bengals and Panthers saw their 2017 draftees, Jake Elliott and Harrison Butker, poached by other teams off their respective practice squads early last year.
Gossett was one of two offensive linemen in the Vikings’ class, joining second-round tackle Brian O’Neill. Aruna and Downs figure to be in line to compete for spots as backups and on special teams or on Minnesota’s practice squad.
Terence Newman To Retire After Season
Terence Newman will return for his age-40 season, but he’s not planning on going much further. The veteran says that he has no designs on extending his career beyond 2018.
[RELATED: Vikings Re-Sign CB Terence Newman]
“I think this will be my last year no matter what happens,’’ Newman said (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press). “After 15 years, I’ve soaked as much as I can in. It’s been a heck of a ride. I understand when it’s time for me. I’m not going to put an onus on doing anything special.”
Newman entered the league as the No. 5 overall pick of the 2003 NFL Draft. He is one of three active players remaining from that class and that number will be reduced to two if Cowboys tight end Jason Witten retires to begin his broadcasting career. Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs is the only other player from the ’03 class still hanging on.
This year will mark Newman’s fourth year with the Vikings. Before that, Newman spent nine years with the Cowboys and three years with the Bengals.
Bengals Sign Moritz Böhringer
The impressive athleticism of German wide receiver Moritz Böhringer compelled the Vikings to take a flier on him in the sixth round of the 2016 draft. This year, the Bengals will take an up close look at him as a part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program, the league announced. 
Böhringer is the only European player in NFL history to be selected in the draft without playing any college football. His lack of experience probably put a cap on his pro prospects as he spent his rookie year on Minnesota’s practice squad and did not sign with another team after his release in September. He’s still pursuing his pro dreams, however, and he’s slated to enter the year as the eleventh player on the Bengals’ practice squad.
The league’s International Player Pathway program will allow each AFC North team to carry an extra overseas player on their practice squad in 2018. Unlike those on the traditional ten-man practice squad, the additional player cannot be activated during the season. Last year, the NFC South had the honors.
The Ravens will have German Football League linebacker Christopher Ezeala, the Browns will practice with former British American Football League defensive back/wide receiver Tigie Sankoh, and the Steelers will have former English professional rugby tight end Christian Scotland-Williamson.
Minor NFL Transactions: 4/30/18
Here are Monday’s minor moves.
Cincinnati Bengals
- Waived: LB Carl Bradford
- Waived: Connor Harris
Dallas Cowboys
- Signed: G Dustin Stanton
Houston Texans
- Waived: TE Zach Conque
- Waived: CB Bryce Jones
- Waived: TE Ryan Malleck
- Waived: OLB Gimel President
Minnesota Vikings
- Suspended for four games (PEDs): WR Cayleb Jones
Philadelphia Eagles
- Waived/Injured: CB Elie Bouka
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived/Injured: LB Jimmie Gilbert
- Waived: LB Boseko Lokombo
- Waived/NFI: DB Dexter McCoil
- Waived/Injured: LB Donavin Newsom
- Waived: CB Channing Stribling
Tennessee Titans
- Waived: DL Johnny Maxey
- Waived: RB Khalfani Muhammad
- Waived: QB Alex Tanney
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Waived: OL Avery Young
Washington Redskins
- Released: DL Montori Hughes
- Waived: TE Chris Brazil
- Waived: DB James Sample
- Waived: LB Cassanova McKinzy
Vikings Re-Sign CB Terence Newman
Terence Newman is back for another season. The Vikings announced that the veteran cornerback has re-signed with the team.
[RELATED: Vikings Pick Up Trae Waynes’ Option]
This year will mark Newman’s 16th season in the NFL. Even though he’ll turn 40 in September, the Vikings believe that he can provide valuable veteran leadership in the locker room and quality play in limited spurts on the field. He’ll mentor first-round cornerback Mike Hughes while he offers support in nickel packages behind starters Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes.
Last year, Newman appeared in all 16 of the Vikings’ regular season games as well as their two playoff contests. In the regular season, he tallied 35 tackles and five passes defensed as he played on 555 snaps, the third-highest total of any Vikings corner.
Pro Football Focus ranked Newman as 66th-best cornerback in the NFL, which indicates that he is still a quality contributor, even though he is no longer among the league’s best. Interestingly, the advanced metrics showed that Newman turned in one of his best seasons ever in 2016 – his age-38 season.
In the wake of James Harrison‘s retirement, Newman now stands as the oldest defensive player in the NFL. He also boasts the highest number of interceptions amongst all active players with 42.
Vikings Sign 17 Undrafted Free Agents
The Vikings have agreed to terms with 17 undrafted free agents. Here’s the complete rundown:
- Jeff Badet, WR (Oklahoma)
- Mike Boone, RB (Cincinnati)
- Curtis Cothran, DT (Penn State)
- Garret Dooley, LB (Wisconsin)
- Armanti Foreman, WR (Texas)
- Chris Gonzalez, G (San Jose State)
- Holton Hill, CB (Texas)
- Tyler Hoppes, TE (Nebraska)
- Hercules Mata’afa, LB (Washington State)
- Trevon Mathis, CB (Toledo)
- Tray Matthews, S (Auburn)
- Kamryn Pettway, FB (Auburn)
- Peter Pujals, QB (Holy Cross)
- Korey Robertson, WR (Southern Mississippi)
- Roc Thomas, RB (Jacksonville State)
- Jake Wieneke, WR (South Dakota State)
- Jonathan Wynn, DE (Vanderbilt)
Hill received $75K guaranteed in the form of a $15K signing bonus and $60K in base salary, which is the most money received by UDFA since Mike Zimmer became the team’s head coach in 2014, writes Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune.
Robertson received $50K guaranteed with his deal, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. The wide receiver caught 76 passes for 1,106 yards for Southern Mississippi last season.
Wieneke, a native of Maple Grove, Minnesota, said this week that he is ecstatic about the opportunity to play for the Vikings.
“It’s the best feeling in the world,’’ said Wieneke (via Tomasson). “I get to stay with the team I grew up loving and I get to stay in Minnesota. It can’t be anything better than this.’’
Dooley received $41K in guaranteed money with an $11K signing bonus and $30K in base salary.
Hill may be the most intriguing prospect of the bunch. The cornerback was suspended by Texas for the last month of the season for reasons that are still unknown. In terms of talent, he was regarded as a draftable player.
Meanwhile, running backs Thomas and Boone and fullback/running back Pettway have a reach chance at making the roster after the Vikings declined to select a running back over the weekend. After the departure of Jerick McKinnon, there are no other running backs to support Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray.
Vikings Pick Up Trae Waynes’ Option
On Monday, the Vikings made an easy call. The fifth-year option for cornerback Trae Waynes has been exercised, according to a team announcement.
As the No. 11 pick in the 2015 draft, Waynes will earn $9.069MM in 2019. As shown on PFR’s Fifth-Year Option Tracker, many of the first-round picks from that class have already had the extra season tacked on to their contracts. Teams have until Thursday to make determinations on the remaining players.
Waynes started in all 16 games for the first time in his career last year. He tallied 65 total tackles, two interceptions, eleven passes defensed, and his first career sack.
Waynes will return as the team’s CB2 alongside First-Team All-Pro Xavier Rhodes. The Vikings will also get cornerback Mike Hughes involved after selecting the UCF product with a late first-round choice.
The bar is set high in Minnesota after the team finished out as the league’s No. 1 defense in 2017, but the unit looks as fierce as ever thanks to the addition of defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
Pat Elflein Expected To Miss OTAs
Bridgewater, however, is no lock to make the roster. As Watkins notes, the former Vikings signal-caller receives a $5MM base salary if he makes the team. If not, the Jets are only out the $500,000 signing bonus. If he proves he is back to his pre-injury form, New York will have a steal. If not, the team can cut bait with minimal salary implications.
- Vikings center Pat Elflein is doing “part work” in spring drills but is not going to be ready for OTAs, the player told Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Elflein suffered a fractured left ankle in the NFC Championship game on Jan. 21 and underwent surgery the following week. “We’re just not rushing it. I’m just trying to get myself back in shape and get strong and be ready to go.,” Elflein said.