Tag: Stephen Weatherly

Grading the fit for each Vikings player who signed elsewhere

The Vikings let a lot of talent sign elsewhere in free agency. See the best fits for each player on their new team.

Minnesota has let a lot of talent walk in free agency this offseason, and some of the teams the former Vikings players ended up are interesting fits to say the least.

Linval Joseph on the Chargers? Xavier Rhodes with a prove-contract on the Colts? Those two and more will be enticing to watch as the 2020 NFL season progresses.

Are you a fan of a former player still and want him to succeed? Or will you relish in schadenfreude if the Vikings let a player walk who ends up declining. Either way, it’s going to be strange to see certain Vikings players in different jerseys next season.

Bengals CB Trae Waynes

I think this is a great fit for Waynes. He can come in and start right away on a team that has the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 Draft.

A frustration will be that the Bengals are a year or two away from contending again, unless the team drafts a quarterback who absolutely takes the league by storm (which they might).

However, some of the money Waynes reportedly received will probably ease the burden of losing. He signed with Cincinnati for three years and $42 million, sources tell NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport.

I think it’s a good fit for Waynes, but the Bengals overpaid for a cornerback that is only serviceable. They had the cap space, but would have the money been better spent on more offensive linemen to protect the quarterback, especially if the team ends up drafting Joe Burrow? Good for Waynes, but not great for the Bengals.

Grade: B-

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6, Page 7, Page 8

CBS Sports lists pass rusher as the Vikings biggest need in free agency

Of all the needs Minnesota has in the offseason, CBS Sports thinks the biggest one is pass rusher.

When it comes to positional needs on the team, Minnesota sure has a lot to choose from.

But CBS Sports still managed to narrow it down to one, listing the Vikings’ biggest need in free agency as pass rusher.

Everson Griffen announced on Instagram that he is leaving the team. Also, Stephen Weatherly reportedly agreed to terms with the Panthers.

With two openings at defensive end, the Vikings need to add at least a serviceable backup in either free agency or the draft.

Here’s what CBS Sports said:

“The Vikings defense is predicated on getting pressure with a four-man front, but they lost both Everson Griffen and Stephen Weatherly in free agency. They need an end opposite Danielle Hunter. They do like Ifeadi Odenigbo, but they need more help. They have two first-round picks after trading Stefon Diggs to the Bills, so they can use one of those on that position.”

Vikings defensive end Ifeadi Odenigbo might be capable of stepping up into a starting role. And recently, Minnesota reportedly added defensive end Anthony Zettel in free agency. However, I still think the team can do more in the offseason with the defensive end position.

Report: Panthers and former Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly agree to two-year contract

It’s time to say goodbye to defensive end Stephen Weatherly.

Stephen Weatherly, a Vikings player representative and a defensive end, has agreed to a two-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, according to his agent Blake Baratz.

Weatherly’s agent reported that the deal is for two years and is worth $12.5 million.

Weatherly started just one game last season, but there was a possibility that the Vikings would bring him back due to the lack of depth the team currently has on the defensive line. Defensive end Everson Griffen voided his contract with the team, and Minnesota terminated the contract of defensive tackle Linval Joseph.

Both Joseph and Griffen could very well come back under new contracts, but as of now, the Vikings’ defensive line appears to look a lot different than it did in 2019-20.

In other free agency news, the Vikings have reportedly re-signed punter Britton Colquitt. Minnesota also extended quarterback Kirk Cousins, and gave the franchise tag to Anthony Harris.

Panthers signing former Vikings DE Stephen Weatherly

The Panthers are signing former Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5 million deal according to his agent.

The Panthers are signing former Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly to a two-year, $12.5 million deal according to his agent Blake Baratz.

Weatherly (25) was a seventh-round pick by Minnesota in the 2016 NFL draft. He’s played 49 games but started just seven, totaling six sacks, 13 tackles for a loss and 17 quarterback hits.

Weatherly probably won’t be leading the league in sacks this year, but this move adds some more depth to Carolina’s edge rotation, which is expected to take a couple of big hits this offseason. Both Bruce Irvin and Mario Addison are 32 years old and expected to test the free agent market.

[lawrence-related id=619545]

[vertical-gallery id=619384]

Stephen Weatherly on CBA: ‘Labor peace for 10 years is great’

“I voted yes because it helps a lot of people,’’ Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly said about the CBA.

Defensive end Stephen Weatherly is a Vikings player representative, and he thinks it was a good call to vote yes on the new CBA.

He told the Pioneer Press this about the decision:

“I voted yes because it helps a lot of people,’’ Weatherly told the outlet. “There’s a lot of stuff that wasn’t ideal for the players but at the end of the day, it’s negotiations. It’s not Christmas. We didn’t get a lot of things we asked for, but we’re going against 32 billionaires (NFL owners), sot there’s give and take and ebbs and flows.”

Weatherly also talked about the divide between younger and older players when it came to the CBA. He said that younger players wanted the pay increase, while older players were more concerned about safety. Overall, Weatherly seemed optimistic about the new deal.

“Labor peace for 10 years is great,’’ Weatherly told the Pioneer Press. “We’re not completely there but we’re a step in the right direction.’’

Star Tribune reporter projects that Stephen Weatherly will stay on Vikings

Andrew Krammer, who covers the Vikings for the Star Tribune, projects that Stephen Weatherly will return to the team.

Stephen Weatherly provided depth and versatility to the Vikings defensive line last season. With the way the team’s salary cap is at the moment, Weatherly could re-sign and do more of the same.

Weatherly, an unrestricted free agent, wants to re-sign with the team, according to the Star Tribune. The Star Tribune’s Andrew Krammer projects that he will, signing a multi-year extension due to veterans on the defensive line possibly not coming back. 

Here’s what Krammer said about the situation:

“Weatherly fits the Vikings’ big picture: draft, develop and pay. There are many reasons to believe both sides can eventually agree on the details,” Krammer said in an article. He was still third on the team with 30 quarterback pressures last year and provides trusted depth.”

This is a good fit for both sides. With just 24 total tackles in 2019-20, Weatherly wouldn’t command a huge price in free agency. Linval Joseph and Everson Griffen might not come back, so it seems like the Vikings need to secure some continuity on the defensive line.

3 Vikings with lowest Pro Football Focus grades in 2019

The list is headlined by Xavier Rhodes, who had one of the worst seasons among all cornerbacks in the NFL.

DT Jaleel Johnson, 50.6

The hope was that at some point Johnson could be the replacement for Linval Joseph. Not so much. The 2017 fourth-round pick out of Iowa had a rough season and will have to fight for any role he gets in 2020 with the team, the last season of his rookie contract.

DE Stephen Weatherly, 49

Weatherly enters free agency as an unrestricted free agent. It seems unlikely he’ll be back in Minnesota, though. In his four seasons with the team, the 2016 seventh-round pick didn’t prove he was much more than a special teams player.

CB Xavier Rhodes, 47.9

What a brutal season it was for Rhodes. The 29-year-old, three-time Pro Bowler had his worst season as a pro. His speed wasn’t there nor was any of the coverage skills that made him one of the most feared corners in the league.

The Vikings have a huge decision to make this offseason. Rhodes has a $12.9 million cap hit in 2020, but the team can cut ties with him for a penalty of just $4.8 million. That certainly seems worth it.