Vikings Re-Sign CB Terence Newman
The Vikings have re-signed cornerback Terence Newman, according to a team announcement. Newman said this week that he wanted to continue playing and this deal will allow him to do that as he approaches his age-39 season. 
Newman has started 26 of 31 games since arriving in Minnesota in 2015. He’s a favorite of head coach Mike Zimmer and the two have been in the same locker room for eight seasons with Zimmer either serving as head coach or defensive coordinator. He has 41 career interceptions, putting him second among all active players. Only DeAngelo Hall (43 career picks) has more.
The Vikings lost one cornerback when Captain Munnerlyn left in free agency and they were unwilling to lose two valuable vets. The Vikings also showed interest in cornerbacks like slot specialist Nickell Robey-Coleman and former Ravens fan favorite Lardarius Webb. They might be out on both players after welcoming Newman back into the fold.
We ranked Newman as one of the ten best cornerbacks in free agency this year.
Percy Harvin To Retire
Wide receiver Percy Harvin is retiring from the NFL and won’t be coming back this time around, a representative tells Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Harvin previously announced his retirement in April 2016 only to re-sign with the Bills last November.
Shortly after signing with Buffalo, Harvin indicated he’d like to continue playing in 2017, as well. But chronic migraine issues forced the Bills to shut Harvin down after he’d spent less than a month with the club. Harvin, 28, dealt with those same migraine issues throughout his throughout his career, and missed time due to the ailment with the Vikings.
Harvin, a former first-round pick, battled various other injuries throughout his career, but still managed to produce as an effective offensive weapon, especially while playing for Minnesota. His best season came in 2011, when he posted 87 receptions for 967 yards and six touchdowns, while adding another 345 yards and two scores on the ground.
Traded to the Seahawks prior to the 2013 season, Harvin ultimately played in only six contests for Seattle before being dealt once again, this time to the Jets. Harvin struggled through a half-season with Gang Green before finishing his career in Buffalo, where he never truly got off the ground.
PFR wishes Harvin all the best in in his post-NFL career.
Vikings Sign Datone Jones
The Vikings announced that they have signed defensive end/linebacker Datone Jones. Jones’ deal with the Vikings is a one-year, $3.75MM pact, Mike Garafolo of NFL.com tweets. He can make up to $5MM through incentives. 
Jones, 26, spent the 2016 campaign playing outside linebacker in Green Bay’s 3-4 front after playing the early part of his career as a defensive end. The Vikings run a 4-3 scheme, so he might be in store for a return to end. Through four seasons with Green Bay, the former first-round pick appeared in 59 games but only started in seven games.
Last year, Jones recorded one sack and 22 tackles on 548 defensive snaps, making him the league’s No. 61 edge defender among 109 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. PFR ranked Jones as the ninth-best free agent edge defender heading into the offseason.
The Vikings are projected to start Everson Griffen and Brian Robison at defensive end. They also have Danielle Hunter, Tom Johnson, and Stephen Weatherly under contract as reserves. The linebacker group, meanwhile, is looking thin with just five players under contract.
Terence Newman Plans To Continue Playing
Cornerback Terence Newman is without a gig at the moment, but he plans to continue playing. In an interview with SiriusXM (Twitter link), he indicated that a deal could be right around the corner.
“I hope to get something done in next few days,” Newman said. “I do have a deal that is imminent.”
Newman was Dallas Robinson’s No. 8 ranked cornerback heading into free agency, but we haven’t heard much about him since things got started one week ago. The Vikings are down a veteran cornerback after Captain Munnerlyn left in free agency, so it stands to reason that Minnesota has interest in re-signing him. At the same time, they’re eyeing a younger cornerback in Nickell Robey-Coleman.
Newman will turn 39 in September. Last year, he totaled 38 tackles and one interception across 15 appearances (nine starts).
Jared Cook To Visit Vikings
If tight end Jared Cook does not sign with the Seahawks, he’ll take a visit to the Vikings soon, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. A return to the Packers, of course, is no longer possible after Green Bay signed Martellus Bennett. 
Cook now stands as the top tight end available and there are four teams known to have interest: the Seahawks, Vikings, Bills, and Lions. Interestingly, the Bills (Charles Clay), Seahawks (Jimmy Graham), and Lions (Eric Ebron) already have big name starters at tight end. It stands to reason that these clubs could be looking to emphasize two tight end sets in 2017.
The Vikings have Kyle Rudolph and David Morgan II under contract. They’re down a tight end, however, after Rhett Ellison signed a lucrative free agent deal with the Giants. Ellison offered a much different skill set than Cook, so they might still be in the market for a blocking tight end even if they sign him.
Latest On Latavius Murray, Jamaal Charles
Now that Eddie Lacy has landed in Seattle, Latavius Murray is changing course. Instead of meeting with the Seahawks today, Murray is visiting with the Vikings, a source tells Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter). Interestingly, Jamaal Charles‘ scheduled visit to Seattle on Wednesday is still on, according to Schefter. 
Lacy’s deal with the Seahawks could start a run on free agent running backs. Teams have been wallflowers when it comes to engaging the top available RBs so far. Now, teams could finally start to get serious with Murray, Charles, Adrian Peterson, LeGarrette Blount, Darren McFadden, and others.
At the same time, Lacy was my No. 1 rated RB on the board and he had to settle for a one-year prove-it deal. The age and injury concerns will probably lead Charles, Peterson, Blount, and McFadden to similar pacts, perhaps with less money. Murray, I feel, could still have a shot at a multi-year deal, but if the market is soft for the position, he may also opt for a one-year contract to allow him to try the open market again next year.
Right now, the Seahawks have a strong RB group with Lacy, Thomas Rawls, and C.J. Prosise in the fold. Charles would be a great addition, but it’s hard to see there being enough carries to keep all four backs satisfied.
Broncos Notes: Romo, Webster, Peko, OL
Connected to a high-profile quarterback acquisition for the second straight offseason, Broncos GM John Elway didn’t identify the team’s Tony Romo circumstances as being all that different from the ones that had Denver close to adding Colin Kaepernick last year.
“Yeah [it’s a similar situation], because we feel good where we are. There are so many things … everything gets ratcheted. I will just tell you this: There’s been a lot of things out there that are not true as far as what’s going with our quarterbacks. So that’s what happens. Everything gets frothed up,” Elway said, via Troy Renck of Denver7.
Renck adds that the latest coming out of Dallas is Romo is growing restless with the Cowboys’ tactics, with the franchise having backtracked on its intention to release him in order to pivot back to trying to trade the 15th-year quarterback. The Broncos remain unlikely to trade for Romo, per Renck, even after the Texans’ cap space-clearing trade of Brock Osweiler. It would be a “major upset” if the Cowboys found a taker for Romo’s contract in a trade, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com.
The Broncos nearly traded for Kaepernick last year, but the sides couldn’t agree on a restructured deal. Denver then selected Paxton Lynch in the first round but turned the reins over to Trevor Siemian for most of 2016. That competition would continue for a second straight year if the franchise doesn’t acquire Romo. Vance Joseph said the franchise is in good shape with Siemian and Lynch for “the next four or five years,” per James Palmer of NFL.com (Twitter link). Lynch is under Broncos control for four more years, with Siemian’s rookie deal running through 2018.
Here’s more from the Mile High City.
- Meanwhile, Elway said his understanding is Kayvon Webster wants to play more (Twitter link via Cameron Wolfe of The Denver Post). Webster has been public about his desire to have a larger defensive role and he won’t get that opportunity in Denver, being blocked on the cornerback depth chart. Webster, who made our list of this year’s Top 50 Free Agents, has long been expected to leave. The fifth-year corner has served as one of the Broncos’ top special-teamers, but after a rookie season in which fewer obstacles resided in between Webster and a defensive role, the Broncos’ 2014 additions of Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby effectively buried him on the depth chart for the ensuing three seasons. Now employing his previous defensive coordinator, Wade Phillips, the Rams are hosting Webster on a visit today.
- Domata Peko also received interest from the Bengals, Vikings and Eagles prior to signing his two-year Broncos accord, Nicki Jhabvala of the Denver Post tweets. Peko had obvious connections to the Bengals and the Mike Zimmer-coached Vikings but chose to join the Broncos.
- Elway said the team’s starting left tackle might not be on the roster presently, per Renck, but noted recent right tackle signings Menelik Watson and Donald Stephenson are options there. Watson served as an emergency left tackle after injuries ravaged the Raiders’ tackle corps at a point last season, but Oakland primarily utilized him on the right edge. Stephenson began the 2015 season as the Chiefs’ starting left tackle, when he took Eric Fisher‘s spot, but Andy Reid reversed course and placed Fisher back there. Stephenson didn’t get a starting job back and signed with Denver, where he struggled as the team’s primary right tackle starter.
- Denver still has interest in re-signing backup outside linebacker Dekoda Watson, according to 9News’ Mike Klis, who confirms the team’s interest in bringing back Vance Walker (Twitter link).
- Newly signed Kasim Edebali will likely compete for work behind Von Miller and Shane Ray at outside linebacker, Wolfe writes. He played defensive end in the Saints’ 4-3 scheme and 58.7 percent of New Orleans’ special teams snaps in 2016. The Broncos also have Shaquil Barrett as their top backup at outside ‘backer.
Zach Links contributed to this report.
Vikings In On CB Nickell Robey-Coleman
The Vikings are one of four teams in the mix to sign free-agent defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. As Tomasson notes, he could be a replacement in the slot for Captain Munnerlyn. 
Robey-Coleman was cut by Buffalo earlier this month and that move caught some by surprise, given his proficiency in the slot. He didn’t get mainstream attention with the Bills, but he did earn a higher grade from Pro Football Focus higher than teammates Stephon Gilmore and Ronald Darby. He ranked as PFF’s No. 33 overall corner overall for his work in 573 snaps. The former USC standout also had two interceptions, one forced fumble, and a defensive touchdown.
The Vikings are also interested in defensive back Lardarius Webb.
Vikings Interested In CB Lardarius Webb
The Vikings have interest in free agent defensive back Lardarius Webb, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets. The Ravens have some level interest in bringing the fan favorite back on a reduced deal, so it’s fair to wonder if he’ll truly consider outside offers. 
[RELATED: Ravens May Re-Sign Lardarius Webb]
The Vikings currently project to start a pair of former first-round picks at cornerback in Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes with Harrison Smith at free safety and Andrew Sendejo at strong safety. However, after losing Captain Munnerlyn to the Panthers in free agency, they could use some veteran help in the secondary. Webb started all 16 regular season games for Baltimore last season while seeing time at cornerback and both safety spots.
Last season, the 31-year-old finished with 73 tackles, one sack, and one forced fumble.
Vikings To Host Datone Jones
Having already met with running back Eddie Lacy, the Vikings are now set to visit with another Packers free agent. This time, it will be defensive end/linebacker Datone Jones, who will take a meeting with Minnesota today, tweets Ian Rapoport of NFL.com.
Jones, 26, spent the 2016 campaign playing outside linebacker in Green Bay’s 3-4 front after playing the early part of his career as a defensive end. The Vikings run a 4-3 scheme, meaning Jones almost certainly wouldn’t stick at linebacker. More likely, he’d return to end, or perhaps even play as a three-technique defensive tackle (Jones is listed as 6’4″, 283 pounds).
A former first-round pick, Jones is on the free agent market because the Packers declined his 2017 fifth-year option. Through four seasons with Green Bay, Jones appeared in 59 games but only started seven contests.
In 2016, Jones posted one sack and 22 tackles on 548 defensive snaps, grading as the league’s No. 61 edge defender among 109 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus. PFR ranked Jones as the ninth-best free agent edge defender heading into the offseason.