Vikings Sign Brand New WR
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t been reluctant to sign new players during free agency, and the trend continued on Tuesday.
Vikings Sign Brand New WR
In addition to signing cornerback Jeff Okudah — the third overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft — Minnesota added wide receiver Tim Jones, formerly of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Vikings.com’s Craig Peters wrote, “The Vikings have added to their receivers room and special teams efforts via an agreement with Tim Jones that was announced Tuesday. Jones joins Minnesota after spending the past four seasons (including 2021 on the practice squad) with the Jacksonville Jaguars.”
The Tim Jones Resume
Jones has spent four seasons in Jacksonville, though he didn’t see a regular season field until the 2022 campaign. He’s tallied 17 receptions for 154 yards and a touchdown on 27 targets in 51 career games. Jones has also fielded a couple of kick returns, which could be his role with the 2025 Vikings.
To date, he’s played 653 offensive snaps since 2021, with 648 on special teams.
Jones is 6’1″ and 200 pounds and will tuck in the middle of Minnesota’s current WR depth chart.
Peters added, “He has appeared in all 17 games in each of the past three seasons, logging 653 snaps on offense and 648 on special teams. Jones has recorded 17 receptions for 154 yards on 27 targets while on offense. The native of Biloxi, Mississippi, who played college football at Southern Miss has added six tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.”
The 2025 WR Room
Heading into the 2025 offseason, most believed Minnesota’s WR room didn’t need much attention, outfitted with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison at the top of the ticket.
That turned out to be mostly true, as the Vikings have not added a big-name WR3 at the time of this article’s publication.
This is Minnesota’s WR group, with Jones as the only newcomer in bold:
WR1: Justin Jefferson
WR2: Jordan Addison
WR3: Jalen Nailor
WR4: Tim Jones
WR5: Jeshaun Jones
WR6: Thayer Thomas
WR7: Lucky Jackson
It’s worth noting that this group typically expands to 10 or 11 players by the summer, so more pass-catchers will be on the way, probably from undrafted free agency.
All the Free Agent Movement
Before Jones, the Vikings notably signed Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), Jordan Mason (RB, trade), Isaiah Rodgers (CB), and Jeff Okudah (CB) in free agency in addition to re-upping with Aaron Jones (RB), Byron Murphy Jr. (CB), Theo Jackson (S), and Harrison Smith (S).
It’s fast and furious free-agent movement, as general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah constructs a roster worthy of a Super Bowl window, especially if one assumes that quarterback J.J. McCarthy has the juice to develop into a Top 12 quarterback.
Other free-agent newcomers included Tavierre Thomas (CB), Bubba Bolden (S), Justin Skule (OT), and Eric Wilson (LB).
Who’s Left for New WRs?
Still equipped with $33 million in cap space, Minnesota could, in theory, spring for another high-profile wide receiver.
These are the options entering free agency’s second wave:
- Nelson Agholor
- D.J. Chark
- Brandin Cooks
- Amari Cooper
- Stefon Diggs
- Diontae Johnson
- Tyler Lockett
- Robert Woods
Adofo-Mensah could also get morbidly rich at wide receiver by using his 24th overall pick in the draft on a player like Luther Burden III or Matthew Golden, though that’s a longshot theory with the draft five weeks away.
Jones will turn 27 in May.
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 MIN 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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