Tag: Tyarise Stevenson

Vikings ranked 16th in the NFL in spending when signing undrafted free agents

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero released a report on Saturday that showed a breakdown of spending by NFL teams for UDFA signings

Every year after the draft, NFL teams can bid for undrafted free agents in a recruitment process that mirrors regular free agency. Generally, teams who assert themselves and offer more guaranteed money have a higher likelihood of signing these players.

NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero released a report on Saturday. The report indicated that the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA) provided agents with a team-by-team spending breakdown of last year’s undrafted free agent class.

The Minnesota Vikings were able to sign nine undrafted free agents last year, spending a total of $609,705. This ranks them 16th in the league in terms of total money spent on these players. Below are the names of the nine undrafted free agents who signed with the Vikings last season.

  • S Mike Brown
  • WR Thomas Hennigan
  • RB Bryant Koback
  • OLB Zach McCloud
  • C Josh Sokol
  • DT Tyarise Stevenson
  • OLD Luiji Vilain
  • P Ryan Wright
  • K Gabe Brkic

Keep in mind that this is just signing bonus money given to undrafted free agents. Teams will offer upwards of $250k to players to get them to sign with their team. If the player gets cut, which happens often, the signing bonus gets accelerated to next year’s salary cap.

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Two Vikings Cuts Reverted to Injured Reserve

Two former Vikings reverted to injured reserve

There are multiple ways for a team to remove a player from the active roster. The usual ways to do so are to release or trade them to another team.

Before the season begins, there is a multitude of ways to do so. There is the physically unable to perform list, injured reserve and the non-football injury list.

Waiving a player with less than four years of vested experience can also revert to injured reserve. Two of the Vikings cuts yesterday did just that after they weren’t claimed via waivers.

Neither Hennigan nor Stevenson were projected to make the final roster, so the Vikings holding onto their rights until next season helps their development and the hope that they will take a step forward.

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The Vikings make first round of roster cuts

The Vikings trim the roster down to 85

Once the schedule changes were made to increase regular season games to 17, the preseason was also altered dropping from four to three games.

In turn, the way roster cuts were also modified. Instead of having two cutdown days, the league moved to three. Rosters go from 90 to 85 on the first one, 80 on the second one and the final 53 on the third and final cut.

On Tuesday, the Vikings made their first round of cuts, releasing five players with three separate designations.

None of these releases is a surprise, albeit Vargas going this early is interesting. Being the only backup fullback, does this mean that CJ Ham won’t factor into long-term plans as much as we might have thought?

11 personnel is going to be heavy on the menu this season and likely the next two weeks as well.

Nine undrafted rookie free agents agree to terms with Vikings

Vikings load up on undrafted rookies.

Another NFL draft is in the books, but the work continues for the Minnesota Vikings with the team announcing they have agreed to terms with nine undrafted rookie free agents.

The names on that list are Virginia Tech receiver Tre Turner, Wake Forest linebacker Luiji Vilain, Tulane punter Ryan Wright, Miami (OH) safety Mike Brown, Appalachian State receiver Thomas Hennigan, Toledo running back Bryant Koback, Miami linebacker Zach McCloud, Sacred Heart center Josh Sokol and Tulsa defensive tackle Tyarise Stevenson.

The Pioneer Press’ Chris Tomasson reported the Vikings sifted through a “variety of options” at punter. So the team appears determined to bring in direct training camp competition for current punter Jordan Berry.

They ultimately settled on Wright, who averaged a career-high 47.5 yards per punt after 51 punts in 2021.

Vilain is also a name of interest on this list considering his disruptive capabilities on the defensive front.

He led the Demon Deacons with eight sacks last season, while also compiling nine tackles for a loss, one fumble recovery and two forced fumbles.

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