The 4 Mega Moves of the Vikings’ Summer
The Minnesota Vikings’ regular season gets underway in 20 days, a date in New Jersey with the New York Giants.
The 4 Mega Moves of the Vikings’ Summer
And the club wasn’t shy about roster additions and contract extensions this summer, paving the way for 2024 and beyond, especially during the spring when drafting quarterback J.J. McCarthy and outside linebacker Dallas Turner.
But for the summer’s sake, these were four major moves listed in chronological order.
Dalton Risner Re-Signed — Finally
Date: May 31
After four months of Vikings fans assuming and hoping Risner would return in 2024, he did just that in late May.
The beloved Viking signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal following a second consecutive offseason of little to no free-agent interest from other NFL teams. Risner has been hampered by injury as of late, and he might start the season as a backup guard. But the same thing happened last year for Risner in Minnesota, and he wound up starting most of the season.
For the first time in a long while, Minnesota has some OG depth.
Justin Jefferson Extended
Date: June 3
Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million extension to start the summer, capping an 18-month negotiation saga that featured a consistent commitment and message from Vikings brass — but a whirlwind of trade theories and disgruntlement hypotheses from NFL media.
He’s now attached to the Vikings’ roster through the end of 2028, which directly aligns with new quarterback J.J. McCarthy’s contract.
Jefferson became the richest non-quarterback in NFL history, at least until CeeDee Lamb’s extension hits in Dallas, and the man owns every receiving yard record through a player’s first four seasons. Not bad.
Christian Darrisaw Extended
Date: July 23
This one fell out of the sky.
Most onlookers didn’t believe Darrisaw extended his contract in Minnesota until next offseason. But Darrisaw inked a four-year, $113 million extension, connecting him to the purple depth chart through the end of 2029. As it stands at the moment, he’s scheduled to be the last man standing on the Vikings’ roster.
He’s one of the sport’s best left tackles, curiously still waiting on his first Pro Bowl nod, and he’ll be a Viking for the long haul.
Stephon Gilmore Signed
Date: August 19
ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted Sunday morning, precisely three weeks before the start of the regular season: “ESPN sources: Five-time Pro-Bowl CB Stephon Gilmore has reached an agreement in principle on a one-year deal worth up to $10 million, including $7 million guaranteed with the Minnesota Vikings. The deal was negotiated and confirmed by Gilmore’s agent Jason Chayut of Sportstars.”
The Super Bowl champion has ties to defensive coordinator Brian Flores from the New England Patriots days, and Minnesota needed cornerback help after Khyree Jackson’s tragic passing + Mekhi Blackmon’s ACL tear in July.
Help arrived in Gilmore, who will presumably start for the 2024 Vikings.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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