>>>ALL THINGS VIKINGS<<<

The Vikings have announced 15 UDFAs.

They are: TCU offensive lineman Alan Ali, Illinois defensive tackle Calvin Avery, Marshall linebacker Abraham Beauplan, Army linebacker Andre Carter II, Pace offensive lineman Jacky Chen, Oklahoma cornerback C.J. Colton, Cincinnati linebacker Wilson Huber, Southeastern Louisiana receiver Cephus Johnson, Kansas State receiver Malik Knowles, Cincinnati linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, Baylor tight end Ben Sims, N.C. State receiver Thayer Thomas, Georgia Southern cornerback NaJee Thompson, and Indiana cornerback Jaylin Williams.

Carter appeared on PFT Live from the Scouting Combine. He was able to defer his military commitment while he pursues an NFL career. His full interview is attached to this entry.

 

Vikings GM denies team drafted QB to put pressure on Kirk Cousins

With quarterback Kirk Cousins in the final year of his contract and no signs of progress on an extension, some wondered what the Minnesota Vikings drafting BYU QB Jaren Hall means for Cousins’ future.

If you ask Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, he’ll tell you not to read too much into Hall’s selection because not even he is thinking about anything past the 2023 season.

"You can have a long-term plan in terms of understanding how important it is and what you need to do in that room,” Adofo-Mensah told reporters following the draft. “But for me to tell you that this person will specifically be in a certain performance bucket at a certain place, I can't do that. But we know that we added a really talented player that we think has tremendous upside in this league."

Hall’s selection turned a few heads because at 25, he’s a bit older than most rookies and it’s unlikely Minnesota plans to keep him on the bench for two to three years. And with Cousins in a contract year, it’s easy to connect a few dots.

However, Adofo-Mensah maintained that drafting Hall was not a backhanded way of trying to turn up the heat on Cousins in a contract year.

"Kirk doesn't need to show anything to me," he said. "Last year, we won 13 games. I don't know what he would need to prove to me or anybody else."


Though Cousins has a respectable 46-33-1 record as the Vikings starting QB with three Pro Bowls, he’s only led the team to the postseason twice and they’ve never made it past the NFC Divisional Round.

Cousins’ $20.25M cap hit in 2023 is also the eighth-highest among quarterbacks and takes up roughly 17% of Minnesota’s cap space.

Spotrac lists Cousins’ market value around $43.2M per year should he hit free agency next year, possibly pricing himself out of Minnesota.

"When you go into a contract negotiation, you're trying to come up with solutions together," Adofo-Mensah said. "It's not just what Kwesi wants or what the Vikings want or even what Kirk wants. It's what we can do together and ultimately put together that Lombardi [Trophy]. And sometimes you come to a place where you decide, 'Hey, let's talk later. This is a solution for now.' That's all that's happened."

YARDBARKER

 

There is no need to look over your shoulder here Capt Kirk Jaren Hall is no threat he's got to make it out training camp first,that's cool the Vikings should draft a QB every draft until they find a franchise QB there going to have a little luck here

 

Check this out, BaddMan...

Three Vikings Signees Make ESPN's List of Top 25 Undrafted Free Agents

The Vikings supplemented their six-player 2023 draft class by signing 15 undrafted free agents, including a few intriguing prospects who had cases to be selected on Saturday. Several of Minnesota's UDFAs could have a real chance to make the 53-man roster as rookies.

Case in point: The Vikings were the only team to have to have three players make the cut in ESPN's rankings of the top 25 undrafted players this year, based on longtime draft analyst Todd McShay's board.

No. 2: Ivan Pace Jr., ILB, Cincinnati

Pace is the biggest standout in the Vikings' UDFA class; McShay has him as the second-best player to go undrafted this year. The Athletic's Dane Brugler gave Pace a fourth-round grade, ranking him as his ninth-best off-ball linebacker. By the analyst consensus board, he should've been a fifth-round pick.

Pace put up huge numbers at Miami (Ohio), then transferred to Cincinnati last season and took his game to another level. He stuffed the stat sheet to the tune of 136 tackles, 20.5 TFL, nine sacks, four passes defended, and two forced fumbles in 2022, earning unanimous All-American honors. He was PFF's highest-graded linebacker in the country. Pace is notably undersized at 5'10", 231 pounds, making him a bit of a positional "tweener," which is undoubtedly why he went undrafted. He can also get out of position at times by being over-aggressive. Still, Pace has 4.6 speed, good instincts, and a ton of power for his size.



After the news broke that he was signing with the Vikings, Pace put up a message on his Instagram story: "Y'all done f***ed up."

The Vikings didn't draft a linebacker this year, so Pace will have an opportunity to make the roster and potentially even see the field. He'll be competing with Troy Reeder, Troy Dye, and William Kwenkeu for reps behind projected starters Jordan Hicks and Brian Asamoah. If there's a coach who knows how to use a versatile player like Pace, it's new Vikings defensive coordinator and former linebackers coach Brian Flores.

No. 13: Andre Carter II, OLB, Army

Carter is right there with Pace as the biggest name in the Vikings' UDFA class. The consensus board had him at 101, making him easily the highest-ranked player by that measure to not get drafted. Brugler gave him a 5th/6th round grade.

In 2021, Carter burst onto the scene with 15.5 sacks, second-most in the nation behind Will Anderson Jr., the third overall pick this year. He recorded 59 pressures, earned a 93.4 pass rush grade from PFF, and also had four forced fumbles and an interception that year. Teams then threw a ton of attention at Carter in 2022, and his numbers fell to just 3.5 sacks, 23 pressures, and 7.5 total tackles for loss (albeit in three fewer games).

Carter is a 6'6" edge rusher with long arms, good agility, and solid burst off the line. He just needs to bulk up and get stronger; he weighed in at 256 pounds and only managed 11 bench press reps at the combine. With a 6'6" frame, there's room for plenty of additional muscle mass and power. In college, Carter's lack of power hurt him in the run game and prevented him from effectively countering the double-teams he faced last season.

A focused plan with the Vikings' strength staff should help Carter, who has the length, quickness, and motor to develop into an NFL pass rusher.



No. 24: Malik Knowles, WR, Kansas State

Knowles is another player to keep an eye on. The Vikings drafted Jordan Addison in the first round, but there could be room for a second rookie receiver to sneak onto the roster. After Justin Jefferson, Addison, and K.J. Osborn, the depth chart is fairly open; Knowles and two other UDFA WRs will be competing with players like Jalen Nailor, Jalen Reagor, Brandon Powell, and Trishton Jackson.

Knowles spent five years at Kansas State, breaking out last year with career-highs in catches (48) and receiving yards (725). The 6'2", 200-pound wideout has a versatile skill set. Last season, he carried the ball eight times for 164 yards and three touchdowns, and he had 440 career rushing yards on over 12 yards per carry. Knowles also returned kicks for the Wildcats, taking three back to the house in his career while averaging 27.7 yards per return. He scored 21 career touchdowns in three different ways: 14 receiving, 4 rushing, 3 kick return. Now the electric playmaker will look to make the Vikings' roster.



Three other UDFAs of note are Illinois nose tackle Calvin Avery, Georgia kicker Jack Podlesny, and Southeastern Louisiana QB Cephus Johnson, who is switching to wide receiver at the next level.

INSIDE THE VIKINGS/SI

 

These UDFA picks are fantastic selections. I believe they will definitely give a few regulars a run for their money someday soon. I love the LB picks and that WR looks nice too. Knowles can run and catch. Great job picking up the crums that got looked over, in my opinion. Practice squad will be strong, depth will be strong also.

 

I like Pace seems like a Brian Flores type of guy a little undersized but he has a real nasty frame and aggressive mind,another thing I forgot having a strong practice squad is a must oh this Dewayne McBride is very interesting

 

• OLB Andre Carter II's deal includes a $300,000 base salary guarantee and a $40,000 signing bonus, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reports, per a source. Pelissero adds that it's one of the biggest commitments ever for an undrafted free agent.

 

This OLB Andre Carter Army looks like an aggressive player Brian Flores is looking for and he's changing the Defense from a passive to an aggressive Defense he looks fast hope he makes the roster

 

After being selected in the first round of the 2022 NFL draft, Minnesota Vikings safety Lewis Cine was in line to be a difference-maker for the defense. Unfortunately, he broke his leg in the fourth game of the season covering a punt against the New Orleans Saints.

During offseason team activities, the defensive players hit the field for the first time and teammates came away forgetting that Cine was even injured.

Look at how fluid he is moving in the video below. He could be a massive addition to the Vikings defense.

 

Lewis Cine looks pretty smooth just have to wait and see cause never we did see your game

 

Vikings claim John Reid off waivers

The Vikings used the waiver wire to bolster their secondary on Thursday.

Field Yates of ESPN reports that the team claimed cornerback John Reid off of waivers. The Falcons cut Reid on Wednesday.

Reid signed to the Falcons practice squad late last season after being let go by the Titans. He had five tackles in three games with Houston.

Reid also played 11 games for the Seahawks in 2021 and 13 games for the Texans in 2020. He had 25 tackles and three passes defensed in those appearances.

The Vikings have also added Byron Murphy, Joejuan Williams, third-round pick Mekhi Blackmon, and fourth-round pick Jay Ward to their cornerback group this offseason.

PFT

 

CINCINNATI — Former UC linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. is PFF's top undrafted free agent signing after he landed with the Minnesota Vikings following the draft.

"Pace was the highest-graded linebacker in the FBS last season, earning a 93.2 overall grade, which included a 90.7 run-defense grade (third) and a 93.3 pass-rush grade (first) that led to 55 pressures and 12 sacks — both the most among linebackers," Jon Macri wrote. "Pace was one of the smaller linebackers in the draft at 5-foot-10 and 231 pounds and only scored a 5.71 relative athletic score (RAS), but his on-field quickness and blitzing ability should allow for a perfect fit in Brian Flores’ defense."

Landing in Minnesota may end up being a better result for Pace than getting picked by a random team in the sixth or seventh round. The Vikings prioritized Pace after the draft and he should have a strong opportunity to make the roster this August.

 

Brian Flores is different from Ed Donatell he's all about bringing the pressure and blitzing and quickness not just passive,the defensive philosophy is just amazing how fast it has changed

 

Joe Kapp 85yrs old passes away tough old school type of QB RIP

 

He was the Vikings QB when I was a kid in the late 60's. I was just starting to really dig the Vikings and the NFL in general. Great player at all levels, CFL, NFL and collegiate. After him it was the Fran Tarkington era and I was hooked. Life long fan, period.

Anyways, what a great guy, RIP

 

You know what as great as Fran Tarkington was and all the great players the Vikings have had it is mind blowing they haven't won a SB...and Joe Kapp was not a great passer but he was straight out tough

 

Sometimes, often more than not, adequate will get the job done if you have the team/supporting cast to help.

 

Didn’t Kapp take the Vikings to their first Super Bowl?

 

Joe Kapp got hurt it was Gary Cuozzo that got the Vikings to the SB against KC Joe Kapp started that game it should have been Gary Cuozzo cause they were out of sync BIG TIME,and the one of worst player just one of many is Ed Mainaro I will never forget how he ran scared against Steelers in the SB and how Mean Joe Green just terrorized him

 

The quarterback the Minnesota Vikings wanted in the NFL Draft was Bryce Young, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero.

The Minnesotan who works for NFL Network broke the news Tuesday during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show, saying most rumors about the Vikings and quarterbacks going into the draft were "just completely wrong," but the idea that they could trade up into the top five was very real.

"They were making calls about moving up very high in the draft. My understanding is that was for one player and that was for Bryce Young, who ended up going No. 1. And so there went any possibility for Minnesota to go get him. They knew he wasn't going to be a Minnesota Viking, so the focus really turned toward getting another weapon for the offense in the draft," he said.

As for Kirk Cousins's future in Minnesota, the ball is still up in the air.

"With Cousins, there were contract talks about an extension. It's just, last year Kirk Cousins signed a one-year extension which gave the Vikings flexibility to do exactly what they did, which was explore their options, decide that Kirk Cousins right now is their best option and roll with him in 2023. So Kirk was never going to take another short-term type of deal, another one-year extension. It just didn't make a lot of sense," said Pelissero.

Meanwhile, Pelissero said the Vikings have no real sense of urgency to make decisions on Danielle Hunter, Za'Darius Smith and Dalvin Cook. He said he thinks Smith ultimately "ends of playing some place else," but the Vikings won't just cut him or give him up easily in a trade.

He said "ideally a contract extension" will develop for Hunter, while Cook's future remains unknown just as it has for a couple of months.

YARDBARKER
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Thought the article was interesting, especially trading up for a QB the whole world knew was going #1. Why? I have no idea, seems to me in retrospect a work in futility. Just doesnt make too much sense on the surface in my opinion.

As for Cook, Hunter and Smith, well, thats just a big mess. Confusion reigns per usual.