Kevin O’Connell said he’s been talking to Harrison Smith every few days. “Now that you remind me, I’ll probably bug him today,” O’Connell said.
Most of the conversations have been about how Smith, his family and his golf game are doing. “We’re trying to give Harrison as much space as possible.”
The #Vikings announced linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. has signed his restricted free agency contract. He’s scheduled to make $3.52 million in 2026.
Access Vikings pre-NFL Draft mailbag ep is out now 👀 @bengoessling.bsky.social, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social and I answered Qs about positions the Vikings could pick twice, center strategy and more.
Watch ⤵️ or listen wherever you get your pods youtu.be/OnaSWM_U0fs
New Access Vikings ep. is out now! @bengoessling.bsky.social & I chat plausible options for the Vikings at each of their four Top 100 picks in this month's draft, from Toledo's Emmanuel McNeil-Warren to Vandy's Eli Stowers and more.
Watch ⤵️ or listen wherever you get your pods: youtu.be/fFBpyJRaeiU
Vikings owner Mark Wilf spoke with local media yesterday, mainly about the team's search for its next full-time GM.
What's the search timeline? Who will be involved? And is Rob Brzezinski being considered?
www.startribune.com/when-will-vi...
Got any #Vikings questions after this week's NFL owners' meetings? Leave them here, and @emleiker.bsky.social and I will answer them either in tomorrow's Access Vikings podcast episode or Friday's newsletter.
Thanks!
The Vikings will pick up WR Jordan Addison’s fifth-year option, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski told local media today at the NFL's Annual Meeting. It locks Addison, the Vikings' No. 2 receiving target behind Justin Jefferson, in through the end of the 2027 season.
Had to make a last-minute switch for the owners’ meetings after getting sick this weekend, but Emily will have you covered on all things #Vikings from Arizona. Follow her for all the latest.
Joey Browner, the #Vikings Ring of Honor member who intercepted 37 passes in just nine years with the team, died Saturday at the age of 65: www.startribune.com/former-vikin...
Johnny Hekker's deal with the #Vikings is a veteran minimum salary benefit contract; he has a cap hit of $1,262,500 and a cash value of $1,487,500. $225K of his $1.3M base won't count against the cap.
Base is fully guaranteed, and he gets a $187,500 signing bonus.
The #Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events have submitted a bid to the NFL to host the 2028 draft, with U.S. Bank Stadium as the “anchor” of the plan to host the event: www.startribune.com/vikings-bid-...
The retirements of C.J. Ham and Adam Thielen are official, per the NFL transaction wire; the #Vikings put both players on the reserve/retired list today.
Carson Wentz got a one-year, $3 million deal from the #Vikings, with a $1.1M signing bonus and fully guaranteed $1.545M base salary.
He gets a $100K workout bonus, and up to $255K in per-game roster bonuses. Deal includes $200K of likely-to-be-earned incentives. Total cap hit is $3.05M.
Ryan Van Demark’s $4.2 million deal with the #Vikings was just out of reach of what the Bills were willing to fit under their salary cap (the RFA tender was $3.52M). Vikings added the swing lineman they wanted with a savvy bit of pricing from Rob Brzezinski and crew.
Kevin O’Connell to Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham: “I really do doubt that what we’re talking about today is something that has happened before, or is likely to happen again, in regards to your journey.”
#Vikings have quite the presentation set up for Adam Thielen and C.J. Ham’s retirement press conference today
Twice, Kevin O’Connell has endured seasons where the #Vikings used at least three starting QBs; both times, the team reacted by building a QB room with three former top-10 picks. They'll have that again in 2026, and while the team hasn't given up on J.J. McCarthy, he'll have to earn anything he gets
The #Vikings are bringing back Carson Wentz for 2026; they’ve agreed to terms with the QB on a new contract.
Quick story on the #Vikings signing Johnny Hekker to a one-year deal: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...
The #Vikings have a new punter; they’re signing former Rams punter Johnny Hekker to a one-year deal. He’s the third former All-Pro in the Vikings’ special teams unit, joining Andrew DePaola and Will Reichard.
Quick story on the #Vikings signing Bills tackle Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...
The #Vikings signed Bills tackle Ryan Van Demark to an offer sheet. The restricted free agent played 17 games for Buffalo, starting four, in 2025.
As Kyler Murray looks to reboot his career in Minnesota after his exit from Arizona, the move brought uncertainty to J.J. McCarthy's future.
And as the Vikings revisited the refurbished QB market, it delivered a reminder of how few top picks thrive right away: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...
Interesting to hear Kevin O’Connell talk about a mobile QB in light of how teams plan for Justin Jefferson. Said a lot of Jefferson's touches have to come on first and second down, because teams take him away in obvious pass situations. Murray "is somebody you definitely have to account for."
Kevin O’Connell: "There was a lot of interest in playing quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings." Said the Vikings cast a "pretty wide lens," and had quite a few conversations with different free agent quarterbacks.
Kevin O’Connell on signing Kyler Murray: "I think we accomplished a goal, which was to add a really talented player with some experience to that room. It's something I'm really excited about, as we set out to elevate the situation in that quarterback room, being very competitive."
The #Vikings have signed Kyler Murray, per source. They’ve got their veteran QB.
NEW Access Vikings ep. talking Vikings' free agency moves thus far with @bengoessling.bsky.social and @andrewkrammer.bsky.social.
Stick mostly to moves that have been finalized on this one. Will talk QBs once something's closer to official!
Watch ⤵️ or listen wherever: youtu.be/3ugb3VONjCI
Just talked about this on the (award-winning!) Access Vikings podcast, too, but here are the terms of T.J. Hockenson's restructure:
—Base drops from $15.4M to $7M (now fully g'td)
—Instead of $500K in per-game roster bonuses, Hockenson gets a $3.15M roster bonus up front.
Total savings: $5.691M