Vikings Cut Everson Griffen, Get Down To 53
Everson Griffen‘s reunion with the Vikings has already come to an end. The veteran defensive end was among the team’s cuts today.
Griffen spent his entire career with the Vikings up until 2020. Splitting time between the Cowboys and Lions, Griffen finished out with six sacks in total. Meanwhile, no Vikings edge rusher finished with more than five. His ten-year run with the Vikes saw four Pro Bowl appearances and 74.5 total sacks.
Running back Ameer Abdullah was among the other players to earn their walking papers today. The veteran spent the past two-plus seasons with the Vikings, collecting 313 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns on 55 carries.
The Vikings made the following moves to get down to 53 players:
Released
- LS Andrew DePaola
- OG Dakota Dozier
- CB Tye Smith
Waived
- OT Zack Bailey
- FB Jake Bargas
- LB Tuf Borland
- QB Jake Browning
- TE Zach Davidson
- S Myles Dorn
- OG Kyle Hinton
- DE Hercules Mata’afa
- WR Myron Mitchell
- CB Parry Nickerson
- WR Whop Philyor
- RB A.J. Rose, Jr.
- DE Kenny Willekes
- TE Shane Zylstra
Waived/Injured
- WR Chad Beebe
- S Luther Kirk
- OG Dru Samia
- QB Nate Stanley
NFL Reserve/Futures Contracts: 1/5/21
We’ll keep track of the latest reserve/futures deals here:
Carolina Panthers
- LB Daniel Bituli, WR Ventell Bryant, DB Sean Chandler, WR Amara Darboh, G Mike Horton, WR Ishmael Hyman, LB Clay Johnston, WR Marken Michel, G Aaron Monteiro, LB Chris Orr, DT Mike Panasiuk, TE Giovanni Ricci, C Sam Tecklenburg
Dallas Cowboys
- OT Isaac Alarcon, WR Aaron Parker, WR Jon’Vea Johnson, C Adam Redmond, C Marcus Henry, TE Cole Hikutini, WR Chris Lacy, DT Walter Palmore, CB Kemon Hall, LB Ladarius Hamilton, QB Cooper Rush
Denver Broncos
- OT Quinn Bailey, WR Trinity Benson, WR Fred Brown, S Chris Cooper, RB Damarea Crockett, FB Jeremy Cox, WR/QB Kendall Hinton, TE Jordan Leggett, OT Darrin Paulo, DT Deyon Sizer
Houston Texans
- OL Cohl Cabral, LB Curtis Bolton, LS Anthony Kukwa, CB Brandon Williams, WR J’Mon Moore, OL Beau Benzschawel
Minnesota Vikings
- CB Tae Hayes, OL Zack Bailey, TE Brandon Dillon, OL Blake Brandel, FB Jake Bargas, S Luther Kirk, CB Cordrea Tankersley, QB Jake Browning, QB Nate Stanley
New England Patriots
- K Roberto Aguayo, QB Jake Dolegala, DT Bill Murray, G Ross Reynolds, K Justin Rohrwasser, CB D’Angelo Ross, WR Devin Smith, DT Nick Thurman, WR Kristian Wilkerson, WR Isaiah Zuber
New York Giants
- QB Alex Tanney, CB Quincy Wilson, WR Alex Bachman, LB Trent Harris, DB Montre Hartage, DB Jarren Williams, LS Carson Tinker, G Kenny Wiggins, TE Rysen John, RB Taquan Mizzell, DT David Moa, G Chad Slade, QB Clayton Thorson
New York Jets
- TE Connor Davis, LB Noah Dawkins, K Sam Ficken, RB Pete Guerriero, DB Zane Lewis, WR Josh Malone, WR D.J. Montgomery, WR Jaleel Scott, QB Mike White
Philadelphia Eagles
- Deontay Burnett, WR Hakeem Butler, WR Blake Countess, DT Treyvon Hester, CB Lavert Hill, RB Elijah Holyfield, CB Jameson Houston, DE Matt Leo, DE Joe Ostman
San Francisco 49ers
- CB Adonis Alexander, DL Josiah Coatney, S Chris Edwards, LB Jonas Griffith, DL Daeshon Hall, CB Tim Harris Jr., FB Josh Hokit, WR Jauan Jennings, DB Obi Melifonwu, WR Austin Proehl, OL Dakoda Shepley, WR Kevin White, OL Isaiah Williams
Vikings Sign K Chase McLaughlin To Practice Squad
The Vikings signed kicker Chase McLaughlin, kicker Chase McLaughlin, linebacker Hardy Nickerson, and defensive tackle Albert Huggins to the practice squad on Tuesday. With that, the Vikes have filled out their 16-man unit:
- FB Jake Bargas
- T Blake Brandel
- QB Jake Browning
- OL Aviante Collins
- TE Brandon Dillon
- CB Mark Fields
- G Kyle Hinton
- WR Alexander Hollins
- DT Albert Huggins
- C Brett Jones
- LB Blake Lynch
- K Chase McLaughlin
- CB Nate Meadors
- S Josh Metellus
- K Chase McLaughlin
- LB Hardy Nickerson
- QB Nate Stanley
McLaughlin bounced around last year, appearing in games for the Colts, Chargers, and 49ers. He started off the 2019 season with the Vikings’ practice squad, and they’re bringing him back in 2020 to serve as extra insurance for Dan Bailey. Earlier this summer, he lost out on the Colts’ kicking job when Chris Ballard & Co. chose rookie Rodrigo Blankenship.
Vikings Sign 12 UDFAs
On Monday, the Vikings formally signed a dozen undrafted free agents:
- Brady Aiello, T (Oregon)
- Jake Bargas, TE (North Carolina)
- Dan Chisena, WR (Penn State)
- Nevelle Clarke, CB (UCF)
- Quartney Davis, WR (Texas A&M)
- Myles Dorn, S (UNC)
- Jordan Fehr, LB (Appalachian State)
- Nakia Griffin-Stewart, TE (Pittsburgh)
- Tyler Higby, G (Michigan State)
- Jake Lacina, C (Augustana)
- Blake Lynch, LB (Baylor)
- David Moa, DT (Boise State)
The Vikings gave Davis a $100K guarantee (Twitter link via Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle), a sizable sum for UDFAs. Davis is coming off of solid back-to-back seasons with the Aggies and many expect him to hear his name called on Day 3. In 2019, he caught 54 passes for 616 yards and four touchdowns. Davis and Chisena will fight for a place on the WR depth chart, which also includes first-round pick Justin Jefferson and fifth-round choice K.J. Osborn.
Clarke, meanwhile, fetched a total guarantee of $115K (Twitter link via Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press) and Aiello has $45K locked in (Twitter link via Wilson).
