The Raiders Stole a Vikings Player
The Andre Carter II era in Minnesota is over, at least for now.
The Raiders Stole a Vikings Player
The 2-12 Las Vegas Raiders need pass-rushing depth, and to fill the void, Antonio Pierce’s team stole Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Andre Carter II from the practice squad.
Carter II is gone.
NFL Network‘s Ian Rapoport tweeted Wednesday, “The Raiders are signing LB Andre Carter II to their 53-man roster off the Vikings practice squad, source said. The Army product helps Las Vegas off the edge after losing Maxx Crosby for the rest of the season.”
Las Vegas recently lost superstar defender Maxx Crosby to injured reserve and depth defensive end Janarius Robinson — also a former Viking — to a suspension. The Raiders’ DE cupboard was skinny, so they pilfered a Viking from the practice squad.
Here’s Las Vegas’ DE situation with Carter II in the mix:
- Tyree Wilson
- K’Lavon Chaisson
- Charles Snowden
- Andre Carter II
- Maxx Crosby (IR)
- Malcolm Koonce (IR)
- David Agoha (PS)
Carter II hadn’t experienced playing time for the 2024 Vikings, but he has a reasonable chance to change that on a terrible football team. The Raiders are down to nubbins on the defensive front.
Following the 2023 NFL Draft, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah sprinted to the undrafted free-agent wire, capturing 15 players for the 90-man summer roster. Carter was unearthed among that huge list of newcomers and later made the regular roster.
He was projected as a 4th- or 5th-Round prospect in April 2023, akin to his teammate Ivan Pace Jr., but both men missed out on a formal draft pick. Instead, they joined the Vikings as UDFAs. The consensus on Carter II’s lack of draft attention was a bit mysterious, but most believed his size — or perceived lankiness — discouraged general managers from taking the plunge. His strength may need enhancement as an NFL pass rusher, although Army moved Carter II all over the defense.
Carter also garnered attention on Bruce Feldman’s famous Freak List heading into that draft. Feldman wrote about Carter II, “What a gem Army found at Connecticut’s Cheshire Academy in Carter, at the time a two-star tight end prospect. Now a 6-7, 260-pound senior with a 6-10 wingspan, Carter piled up 18.5 TFLs, 15.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 2021.”
“Carter’s length is only more amazing when factoring in that he also blazed a 4.2 in his pro agility test this offseason. Army coaches say that when Carter’s doing change of direction work in the summer, he finishes in the top three with their skill guys. They also say his reaction time and processing speed is unmatched,” he concluded.
The Army alumnus appeared in 12 games with the Vikings as a rookie, logging 68 defensive snaps and 2 tackles. He also saw action on 142 special teams plays.
The Raiders’ defense ranks 21st per DVOA through 15 weeks.
Carter II will turn 25 in June.
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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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