The Minnesota Vikings announced their offseason workout, OTA & minicamp dates
The Minnesota Vikings have officially announced the dates for their offseason workout program, organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp.
Per the release, the offseason workout program begins on April 15th at Twin Cities Orthopedic Performance Center.
OTAs begin Monday, May 20th and are as follows:
Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21
Thursday, May 23
Tuesday, May 28 and Wednesday, May 29
Friday, May 31
Monday, June 10 – Thursday, June 13
Mandatory minicamp will be from Tuesday, June 4th through Thursday, June 6th.
These practices will not be open to the public.
With so many new faces like running back Aaron Jones, quarterback Sam Darnold and edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, it will be interesting to see how they utilize this offseason program leading up to the first year of Vikings football post-Kirk Cousins.
Fans also get a chance to get a first look at the next phase of Brian Flores’ defense, and a Sam Darnold-led offense will look like in Minnesota.
Our @LazarczykLogan breaks down what the L’Jarius Sneed trade means for the #Chiefs.
Over the weekend, the Kansas City Chiefs dealt star cornerback L’Jarius Sneed to the Tennessee Titans for a 2025 third-round pick, while swapping 2024 seventh-round picks.
Sneed was rumored to be a trade candidate from the start of the offseason when the Chiefs placed their franchise tag on him.
After Kansas City signed Chris Jones to a massive contract extension, the Chiefs didn’t have enough salary cap room to ink Sneed to a new deal without mortgaging future financial security.
The Titans signed the star cornerback to a four-year, $76 million deal with $55 million guaranteed after acquiring him from Kansas City.
The minimal compensation that the Chiefs received for sending Sneed to Tennessee may be an indication that Kansas City wasn’t interested in signing him to an extension.
Chiefs general manager Brett Veach has shown a knack for identifying and drafting defensive back in the late rounds of the draft.
The rise of Trent McDuffie as lockdown corner gave Kansas City’s front office some flexibility with Sneed, and may have led Veach to believe that the team’s secondary could maintain its success without adding more burden to the Chiefs’ defensive payroll.
Veach’s decision to trade Sneed freed up almost $20 million in cap space that Kansas City can now spend on free agents who are still on the market after the initial waves of signings this month.
In the end, the Sneed trade was a win-win-win for all sides involved. The Chiefs accumulated more draft capital, Sneed got paid, and the Titans bolstered their defense with a star cornerback.
Touchdown Wire’s post-free agency power rankings are unimpressed by the New Orleans Saints offseason so far:
There aren’t many exercises more useless than NFL power rankings, which are the ultimate subjective expression of someone’s takes. Still, they are a quick way to summarize every team’s status and outlook relative to their peers, and it’s interesting to see where the New Orleans Saints clock in.
And they didn’t earn positive marks from Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey, who ranked the Saints all the way down at No. 24 among the league’s 32 teams. Here’s why Bailey is so down on the Saints:
The Saints win the award for the team I care the least about in 2024. We know what they are. They’re the same team they’ve been for the last three years. They’ll keep kicking this can down the road, thinking they’re just one or two moves away from being contenders, only to go 7-10 and repeat the cycle (see the Chase Young and Willie Gay signings). The Panthers may win fewer games in the division, but at least they’re interesting and have a young quarterback that went No. 1 overall last year. What is interesting about watching Derek Carr overthrow Chris Olave five times a game while Taysom Hill poaches touchdowns from inside the five? Nothing. They’re a team with a lame duck head coach and a lame duck quarterback awaiting another boring, mediocre season.
The Saints are the lowest-ranked team to finish the 2023 season with a winning record, but as Bailey said this was more of a vibe check than any really substantial analysis. And it’s tough to argue with the suggestion that Derek Carr and Dennis Allen are an uninspiring duo. Neither of them have won a single playoff game in a decade as a starting quarterback or five years as a head coach (or in two seasons together, between the Saints and Raiders).
Buying what the other teams in the NFC South are selling, though: that’s indefensible. For all his interest in the Panthers, Bailey ranks them behind the Saints at No. 29 while coming off a two-win season. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are further ahead at No. 21 after winning a home playoff game but having lost their offensive coordinator.
And the most baffling decision is to rank the Atlanta Falcons all the way up at No. 7, calling them Super Bowl contenders for having signed Kirk Cousins. The same quarterback who famously did not lead a much more talented Minnesota Vikings team to the Super Bowl during his six years with the team, and who is now coming off season-ending Achilles surgery while joining a team built to lean on its defense without the defensive coordinator who led them to success a year ago. Good luck with that.
The Saints tried to jumpstart their offense by hiring Klint Kubiak, and Bleacher Report labels that the smartest move of their offseason:
It’s been a busy offseaseon for the New Orleans Saints, but Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton labels the hiring of offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak as their smartest move so far. Free agency is on the front of many minds, specifically the Saints’ Chase Young signing, but Kubiak is unquestionably the biggest move of the offseason.
Here’s why Moton agrees with that sentiment:
“New Orleans hired Klint Kubiak to replace Pete Carmichael Jr., whose offense moderately improved between 2022 and 2023 but sputtered for stretches last year. The Saints’ offense finished 15th and 18th on third-down conversions and in red-zone scoring, respectively.
After a year as the San Francisco 49ers’ passing-game coordinator, Kubiak may be able to carry over some principles from the Niners’ fourth-ranked passing offense that can help elevate Derek Carr’s production.”
New Orleans’ inconsistent offense was the biggest issue on the team, so it was naturally the paramount question heading into the offseason. The Saints answered that question in the form of a new offensive coordinator. Kubiak must, at the worst, establish consistency on the offensive side of the ball. That alone elevates ceiling of the Saints in 2024.
Improvements on the offense may be more important than last season. The defense is talented and has been carrying the team since Drew Brees retired. The recipe hasn’t resulted in playoff teams. The defense is getting older at pivotal positions, and there’s questions about the younger players. A dropoff could occur at any moment.
The offense remaining stagnant limits the Saints’ ceiling as an above-average team. Chemistry between players should be an issue left in 2023. Now it’s about mastering the offense and Kubiak maximizing the talent.
While Reid is among the oldest head coaches currently in the NFL ranks, his youthful demeanor and excitement on the sideline captivate audiences around the country every time he is shown on television broadcasts.
One of the most accomplished coaches in football, Reid has cemented his place in league history with the impressive run of success that Kansas City has accomplished in recent seasons.
Expect fans and commentators around the country to join the Chiefs in wishing the long-tenured skipper a happy birthday on Tuesday.
Chris Jones took to Twitter after signing his blockbuster extension, telling fans he will “Retire a Chief”
Chris Jones earned a massive contract extension from the Kansas City Chiefs over the weekend and had plenty to say to fans on social media after the deal was officially finalized.
Never one to shy away from the camera, Jones was seen in a video on the Chiefs’ official Twitter page sharing his excitement about the extension.
Check out his message to the Kansas City’s fans shortly after putting ink to his new contract:
Jones is among the league’s most accomplished defensive linemen and has been one of Kansas City’s most impactful players during the Chiefs’ three Super Bowl runs in the Patrick Mahomes era.
One of the NFL’s preeminent sack-masters, Jones has made a name for himself as a tenacious pass-rusher with the ability to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines with ease.
His return to Kansas City should prove to be a key factor in the Chiefs’ ability to compete for an ever-elusive Super Bowl three-peat next season.
The #Chiefs re-signed long snapper James Winchester on Monday just after the legal tampering period of free agency opened.
The Kansas City Chiefs have reportedly agreed to terms on a new contract for long snapper James Winchester.
News of the move came just after the NFL’s legal tampering period of free agency opened on Monday morning and was first reported by Matt Derrick of ChiefsDigest.com.
Chiefs have agreed to terms on a new contract for long snapper James Winchester, per source. Terms not yet available.
The ultra reliable Winchester, who hasn't missed a game in his career, will be back for season No. 10 in Kansas City.
While the details of Winchester’s new deal haven’t yet been released, Chiefs fans can rest easy knowing that a key piece of Kansas City’s special teams unit is officially under contract for at least one more season.
Winchester has played for the Chiefs since 2015 after initially joining the NFL as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
He played collegiately at the University of Oklahoma and has made a name for himself as one of the league’s most consistent long snappers.
This move might not be the flashiest, but it will prove to help Kansas City maintain continuity on its special teams unit, which is expected to lose All-Pro punter Tommy Townsend.
The #Chiefs signed star defensive lineman Chris Jones to a massive five-year extension that reportedly guarantees him $95 million.
The Kansas City Chiefs and veteran defensive lineman Chris Jones reached agreement Saturday on a five-year contract that includes $95 million in guarantees.
The contract will keep Jones in Kansas City until he is 34 years old and clears the way for the Chiefs to keep their championship defense intact for another season.
Jones’ new deal was first reported by ESPN’s Adam Schefter:
Chiefs and five-time Pro-Bowl DT Chris Jones reached agreement on a record 5-year deal that includes $95 million guaranteed and allows KC to keep its best defender before free agency begins, per his agents, @KatzBrosSports.
While the finer details of the move have yet to be announced, fans in Kansas City are sure to be excited that one of the Chiefs’ cornerstone players will be with the team for the foreseeable future.
Jones tallied 10.5 sacks in 2023, playing for Kansas City on the franchise tag after holding out through training camp, the preseason and the Chiefs’ Week 1 loss against the Detroit Lions.
With his new deal, Jones will be among the highest-paid players ever at the defensive tackle position and should be expected to continue producing elite numbers in Steve Spagnuolo’s system.
Jones’ latest cryptic post on social media seems to be a signal that he might re-sign with the #Chiefs.
Chris Jones has been a cornerstone of the Kansas City Chiefs defense for years. He is set to become a free agent next week if the team can’t agree with him on a contract extension, but the star lineman’s latest post to Twitter may indicate that Jones is leaning toward re-signing in Kansas City.
Check out his cryptic tweet below to see his message:
While this tweet is far from concrete evidence that the Chiefs have a deal to keep Jones on their roster, it seems to signal that negotiations are progressing well.
Kansas City elected to use its franchise tag on defensive back L’Jarius Sneed after using it on Jones last year, so if no agreement is reached, the defensive lineman will hit the open market.
Nothing official has been reported by the Chiefs yet, but if this enigmatic post is any indication, Kansas City’s fans may get some good news about Jones’ contract situation in the coming days.
Breaking down the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ situation at inside linebacker heading into the 2024 offseason
As with several other positions on the roster, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ inside linebacker group is entering a transitional period this offseason. Moreso likely than any other unit on the team, the inside linebackers in Tampa Bay could look completely different in 2024 from last season.
Since 2019, the presumed starters have been veteran Lavonte David and 2019 fifth-overall pick Devin White. Together, they formed a potent duo at the center of Tampa Bay’s defense, helping lead the team to their Super Bowl LV victory.
However, over the last few seasons, the shine has come off White. While he has been consistent as a blitzer, his tackling, coverage and run fits have been more down than up. Since the Bucs drafted him, White has missed 12.8% of his tackles and allowed a passer rating of 104.6 according to Pro Football Focus.
White’s inconsistency is likely why the Bucs opted to let him play on his fifth-year option in 2023 rather than sign him to a multi-year, ten-digit contract extension. After an aborted demand for a trade, White had about as bad a season as a player could have in a contract year.
Jeremy Reper-USA TODAY Sports
A foot injury hobbled him early and made him look slower than any point in his career. He was replaced for three games late in the season by 2021 fifth-round pick K.J. Britt. Though he is not nearly the athlete White is, Britt was the better linebacker, helping lock down the rushing attacks of Atlanta and Green Bay.
Britt’s emergence and White’s contract demands made the former top-five pick expendable. With the recent re-signing of Mike Evans and expected extensions of Baker Mayfield and Antoine Winfield Jr., White appears to be the odd man out in Tampa Bay.
Lavonte David may also have played his last snaps in Tampa Bay, though they would also likely be his last snaps as an NFL player. He has made no secret of his desire to “retire a Buc,” and at 34 years old, his options in free agency will be limited.
The Bucs could very well bring David back. Though he is not quite as fast as he used to be, David is still one of the best linebackers in the NFL, finishing with the 10th-most tackles for a loss (17) among all defenders. He also recorded the second most defensive snaps in Tampa Bay, attesting to his durability in spite of his age.
Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports
Signing David to another one-year deal under $10 million would be a safe and easy move for the Bucs to make. David has been the bedrock of Tampa Bay’s defense for over a decade and as long as he has the desire and health to continue playing, the Bucs are likely to oblige.
In any case, the Bucs have at least one starting job to fill at inside linebacker and plenty of options to consider. The most likely is the Bucs staying in-house and fully promoting K.J. Britt to the starting lineup. Britt is not the splashy playmaker Devin White could be, but he is far more reliable down to down in addition to being a leader on special teams.
Tampa Bay also has linebackers SirVocea Dennis and J.J. Russell waiting in the wings. Dennis excels in coverage though his tackling certainly needs work after missing 30.8% of his attempts in 2023 per PFF. Russell saw limited playtime last year, but he was PFF’s highest rated linebacker in the preseason and could shine in a larger role.
If David were to depart, the Bucs would face greater pressure to add outside talent to the linebacking corps. The current paradigm in the NFL has devalued rookie linebackers, who tend to struggle adapting to the sophistication and speed of NFL offenses. A free agent addition should be Tampa Bay’s initial move.
Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
Carolina LB Frankie Luvu should be near the top the Bucs’ free agent list. He excels as a pass rusher, recording 12.5 sacks and 43 total pressures over the past two seasons. Kansas City LB Drue Tranquill would also be a solid addition after he resuscitated his NFL career in 2023.
If the Bucs do look to address the long-term prospects of the decision in the draft, they will likely wait until the middle rounds to take a prospect. Clemson LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. has the obvious pedigree to be an NFL linebacker, though like most of his contemporaries he is undersized.
A sleeper linebacker pick for the Bucs is Washington LB Edefuan Ulofoshio. Although he too is undersized at 6’1″ and 236 pounds, Ulofoshio was excellent in coverage, allowing an opposing passer rating of 60.5 in the pass-happy Pac-12 last season.
