Vikings Considered Drafting Joshua Dobbs
- The belief is that the Seahawks and Vikings had interest in Tennessee quarterback Joshua Dobbs on the third day of the draft, according to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Dobbs ended up with the Steelers in the fourth round, pick No. 135. The Seahawks used their fourth-rounder, No. 111, on Colorado safety Tedric Thompson. Minnesota selected Michigan linebacker Ben Gedeon 120th.
Vikings Add 13 UDFAs
The Vikings have agreed to contracts with 13 undrafted free agents, reports Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune. Here’s the list:
- Tashawn Bower, DE (LSU)
- Dylan Bradley, DT (Southern Mississippi)
- Aviante Collins, OT (TCU)
- Nick Fett, OT (Iowa State)
- Caleb Kidder, DE (Montana)
- Wes Lunt, QB (Illinois)
- Sam McCaskill, DE (Boise State)
- Terrell Newby, RB (Nebraska)
- Josiah Price, TE (Michigan State)
- Horace Richardson, CB (Southern Methodist)
- R.J. Shelton, WR (Michigan State)
- Shaan Washington, LB (Texas A&M)
- Eric Wilson, LB (Cincinnati)
Bower ($45K) and Bradley ($40K) received the largest financial commitments of the bunch, tweets Tom Pelissero of USA Today. Bower set personal bests in tackles (34), tackles for loss (5.5) and sacks (four) last season. Bradley was more productive than Bower, albeit against inferior competition, with 64 tackles, 15.5 for loss, and 8.5 sacks in 2016.
Vikings Decline Teddy Bridgewater’s Option
As expected, the Vikings have declined Teddy Bridgewater‘s fifth-year option. The news was confirmed by the team today as it picked up the 2018 option for linebacker Anthony Barr. 
Recently, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer admitted that he has “no idea” whether Bridgewater will be able to play in 2017. With that kind of uncertainty surrounding the one-time face of the franchise, it’s hard to argue with the Vikings’ decision. The 2018 option is not a full guarantee, but it is guaranteed for injury and the Vikings could not reasonably take that kind of risk since Bridgewater may never be the same player.
In fact, we don’t know for sure that Bridgewater can return to football after suffering a gruesome leg injury last summer. For now, the Vikings will plan on having Sam Bradford as the starting QB with new pickup Case Keenum as the backup.
Vikings Pick Up Anthony Barr’s Option
The Vikings are exercising their fifth-year option on linebacker Anthony Barr, a source tells Tom Pelissero of USA Today (on Twitter). The move was expected, but we did not have confirmation of it until today. 
In 2016, Barr started in every regular season game for the Vikings and totaled 70 tackles, two sacks, four passes defensed, and one fumble recovery. For the second straight season, he earned a Pro Bowl nomination for his work.
Interestingly, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus gave Barr a dreadful 43.1 overall score, despite him earning the fifth-highest pass rush mark of any qualified linebacker. This comes after being ranked in the top 30 amongst qualified linebackers as a rookie and earning a stellar 91.7 score in 2015.
Barr is now scheduled to earn $12.306MM is 2018, as shown in PFR’s Fifth-Year Option Tracker for 2014 first round picks.
Redskins Trade For Vikings’ No. 199 Pick
The Vikings and Redskins made a sixth-round deal, with Minnesota trading the No. 199 selection to Washington, Ben Goessling of ESPN.com tweets. Minnesota also sent a seventh-round choice, pick No. 230, to Washington and will receive the Redskins’ seventh-rounder (No. 220), Goessling notes (on Twitter).
Washington moved up two spots to select Wyoming center Chase Roullier, Master Tefatsion of the Washington Post reports (on Twitter). The Redskins have former third-round pick Spencer Long entering a contract year, doing so as former longtime snapper Kory Lichtensteiger retired.
Chiefs Acquire Pick #139 From Vikings
Looks like Kansas City is moving up once again. The Chiefs have acquired pick #139 from the Vikings, according to ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling (via Twitter). Minnesota will receive a pair of fifth-rounders (picks #170 and picks #180).
With their new draft pick, the Chiefs selected wide receiver Jehu Chesson. The offensive weapon spent four seasons at Michigan, where he served in a variety of roles. This past season, Chesson hauled in 35 catches for 500 yards and two touchdowns. He also added another 63 rushing yards. His best collegiate season came in 2015, when he finished with 919 all-purpose yards and 11 scores.
Eagles Acquire Pick #132 From Vikings
The Eagles have moved up in the fourth round. According to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press (via Twitter), Philadelphia has acquired pick #132 from the Vikings. Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer tweets that Minnesota acquired pick #139 and a seventh-rounder (#230).
The Eagles ultimately used the pick on running back Donnel Pumphrey. The San Diego State product had four productive collegiate seasons, rushing for over 1,000 yards on three different occasions. 2016 was arguably his most productive season, as Pumphrey ran for 2,133 yards and 17 touchdowns on 349 carries. He also hauled in 27 catches for 231 yards.
Vikings Approached 49ers About Pick #104
- The Vikings reportedly approached the 49ers about trading for the 104th pick, according to Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (via Twitter). However, San Francisco wanted to guarantee that they’d get Iowa quarterback C.J. Beathard, so they rebuffed Minnesota’s advances. Ironically, Minnesota was previously in possession of that pick.
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49ers Acquire 104th Pick From Vikings
The 49ers have acquired the 104th pick from the Vikings in exchange for the 109th and 219th selections, per Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area (Twitter link).
San Francisco is using the pick on a quarterback, Iowa’s C.J. Beathard, who became the Hawkeyes’ full-time starter in 2015. Beathard totaled 17 touchdown passes in each of his two seasons at the helm and combined for 15 interceptions, 10 of which came last year. The 6-foot-2, 215-pounder has a “very good” arm, observes Pro Football Focus, though the outlet only expects him to develop into a third-stringer at the NFL level. That figures to be his immediate role in San Francisco, which features Brian Hoyer and Matt Barkley as its top two QBs.
Chiefs Acquire Vikings’ No. 86 Pick
The Chiefs have traded for the Vikings No. 86 pick, which they will use to select Toledo running back Kareem Hunt. Minnesota will pick up No. 104, No. 132 and No. 245.
Hunt will give the Chiefs another option at running back, where veteran Jamaal Charles has been released. Hunt will team with Spencer Ware and Charcandrick West.