Here’s How the Vikings Are Connected to Each NFL Team This Offseason
Dustin Baker
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The NFL is one giant intertwined mechanism, with players and coaches heading to and fro — seemingly all the time.
Here’s How the Vikings Are Connected to Each NFL Team This Offseason
Thirteen days of NFL free agency are in the books, and these are all the connections to the Minnesota Vikings by team.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals could end up as the Vikings trade partner on draft night. Asked by reporters this week if he’d be willing to trade down from the No. 4 spot, Arizona Cardinals general manager Monti Ossenfort didn’t hold back. “There will be a big neon sign that says ‘open.’ I don’t like it blinking — that kind of messes with my eyes — but we’ll always have the conversation. We may not get to the point where the deal makes sense, whether it’s at 4 or anywhere we’re picking, but we’re always going to have the conversation,” the executive replied.
For now, Arizona feels like Minnesota’s fail-safe plan for trading up and drafting a quarterback. They’re open for business.
Atlanta Falcons
About as straightforward as it gets, the Falcons grabbed Kirk Cousins via free agency, and the Vikings will play Cousins’ Falcons this season.
Baltimore Ravens
There aren’t many Vikings ties this offseason to Baltimore, aside from Dalvin Cook playing there for a minute during the postseason and then the Ravens not bringing him back (yet) for a sequel.
Buffalo Bills
The Vikings grabbed Buffalo wide receiver Trent Sherfield from free agency, and he’ll compete for WR3 or WR4 this summer.
Carolina Panthers
Former Vikings outside linebacker D.J. Wonnum signed with the Panthers, and former Panthers defenders Shaquill Griffin and Kamu Grugier-Hill joined the Vikings.
Chicago Bears
Minnesota signed former Bears offensive guard Dan Feeney last week, and the clubs, of course, are natural rivals. They don’t need much of an offseason connection.
Cincinnati Bengals
Justin Jefferson trade theories have run wild this offseason — they’re not very realistic — and when one searches the internet for such gossip, the Bengals usually top the list.
Cleveland Browns
Early in free agency, Minnesota grabbed cornerback A.J. Green III, who last played for the Browns. Then, linebacker Jordan Hicks and offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji skedaddled for Cleveland.
Dallas Cowboys
Longtime Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer became the Cowboys’ defensive coordinator this offseason, a return to his coaching roots. Minnesota won’t see Zimmer in 2024 — unless it’s the postseason — but could see him down the road if Zimmer stays for a while.
Denver Broncos
This is the team that Minnesota must box out to draft J.J. McCarthy, or so goes credible NFL reporting.
Detroit Lions
Outsider linebacker Marcus Davenport signed with Detroit this offseason after a failed experiment in Minnesota. Most Vikings fans cynically believe he’ll do great as a Lion.
Green Bay Packers
The Vikings ripped Aaron Jones away from Green Bay, and adding at least one Packer is a regular offseason tradition for the purple team.
Houston Texans
The Vikings became the Texans North this offseason — and the Vikings South for Houston — swapping free agents like Danielle Hunter for Blake Cashman and Jonathan Greenard. The clubs also did business via trade, as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah shipped two 2nd-Round picks to Houston for the Texans’ 2024 1st-Rounder (Pick No. 23) and a late-round pick swap.
Indianapolis Colts
Nothing much here other than Vikings fans wanting Gardner Minshew as a possible bridge quarterback. He quarterbacked the Colts in 2023 and signed with the Las Vegas Raiders during free agency.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Former Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland joined Jacksonville during the 2023 regular season and was extended this offseason for the long haul — three years and $24 million.
Kansas City Chiefs
Minnesota nibbled at the L’Jarius Sneed trade sweepstakes, but he ultimately joined the Tennessee Titans via trade on Friday night. Meanwhile, Irv Smith is a Chief.
Las Vegas Raiders
Vikings RB1 Alexander Mattison signed with the Raiders last week, and he’ll get a chance to be anything from an RB1 to an RB3 in Las Vegas. It’s a fresh start. Minnesota also signed Raiders DT Jerry Tillery.
Los Angeles Chargers
Offball linebacker Troy Dye wanted a chance to start in 2024, so he signed with Jim Harbaugh’s team in Los Angeles. He spent four seasons with the Vikings before departing.
Los Angeles Rams
Jonah Williams became a Viking this offseason, and the veteran defender came from the Rams, a former coworker of Kevin O’Connell.
Miami Dolphins
Minnesota has been sideways linked to trade rumors with Tua Tagovailoa, but they’re really just people’s recommendations rather than anything realistic.
New England Patriots
K.J. Osborn traveled easterly to join the Patriots, while New England is a popular trade-partner theory for Minnesota. When the dust settles, the Patriots may do business with the Vikings on draft night.
New Orleans Saints
Klint Kubiak offensively coordinated Minnesota in 2021 and will now assume the same job for the Saints in September. Andrew Janocko and Rick Dennison, former purple coaches, are on his staff. Oli Udoh also joined Kubiak in New Orleans.
New York Giants
Reservist offensive lineman Austin Schlottmann became a Giant last week, and the Vikings signed former Giants EDGE Jihad Ward a few days ago.
New York Jets
The team that drafted new Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold was the Jets, and that’s about it for offseasons links.
Philadelphia Eagles
Not much here. A few Vikings fans wanted Saquon Barkley from free agency, but he signed in Philadelphia.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Minnesota was sideways linked to quarterback Russell Wilson and Justin Fields in recent months, but both ended up on Mike Tomlin’s team.
San Francisco 49ers
There was no trade involved, but Minnesota and San Francisco essentially swapped quarterbacks Joshua Dobbs and Sam Darnold.
Seattle Seahawks
Former Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier is now the assistant coach for the Seahawks. He’s back after a year off.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Vikings fans, in unison, called for safety Antoine Winfield Jr. to hit free agency and join his dad’s old team. But he received the franchise tag and will remain in Tampa Bay after the two sides work out an extension.
Tennessee Titans
Minnesota reportedly wanted L’Jarius Sneed via trade, but the Titans swooped in Friday night and grabbed the superstar corner via trade.
Washington Commanders
The Commanders represent the highest realistic position the Vikings can jump on the draftboard — at No. 2. If Adofo-Mensah wants his unfettered choice between Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye, he must pull off a trade with Adam Peters, a former coworker of his from the San Francisco days.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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