Vikings TE Bounces to Jacksonville
Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Nick Mullens signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday, a surprise move because the veteran QB2 had been a bit lost in the shuffle of Vikings quarterback discussions.
Vikings TE Bounces to Jacksonville
And Vikings tight end Johnny Mundt will follow Mullens to the AFC South — Mundt is a Jaguar.
ESPN’s Mike DiRocco tweeted, “The Jaguars have reached agreements with TEs Hunter Long and Johnny Mundt and CB Eric Murray, per a league source. Five players added so far today with CB Jourdan Lewis and QB Nick Mullens earlier.”
The move will leave the Vikings with this TE room entering free agency:
- T.J. Hockenson
- Josh Oliver
And Mundt will join this TE group in Jacksonville:
- Brenton Strange
- Hunter Long
- Johnny Mundt
- Shawn Bowman
The Jaguars notably released 2024 TE1 Evan Engram last week amid a flurry of roster moves.
Mundt joined the Vikings via free agency in March of 2022 and served as a TE2 and TE3 during his purple maiden voyage. Initially, Mundt turned pro with the Los Angeles Rams in 2017 as an undrafted free agent. He remained on the Rams roster for five seasons and partnered with Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles in 2020 and 2021. The pair even won a Super Bowl together in 2021, prompting O’Connell to accept the ‘big job’ in Minnesota as head coach. About a month later, Mundt followed O’Connell to the Twin Cities.
Mundt played in all 17 games last year, tabulating 19 receptions for 142 yards and 2 touchdowns. He played 434 offensive snaps, on the field about 39% of the time on offense. The 30-year-old also saw action on 133 special teams plays.
In his career, Mundt has logged 65 receptions, 547 receiving yards, and 4 touchdowns on 84 targets in 98 games. Minnesota must now scour free agency or the draft for a TE3 following Mundt’s departure to the Jaguars.
Heading into the 2023 season, head coach Kevin O’Connell told reporters, “I believe Johnny Mundt is the best 3rd TE in the NFL. If there was a category for that, Johnny would certainly get that, in my opinion.”
“So reliable. So trusted. By not only myself but everybody in that huddle with him. The variety of jobs he can do on all three downs. He doesn’t get enough credit for how well he runs — or blocks for that matter — and the physicality.”
The Vikings made cornerback Isaiah Rodgers their first notable free-agent signing on Monday, right around the time Mundt signed in Jacksonville.
Mundt will turn 31 in the fall.
In addition to Mullens and Mundt, the Jaguars also employ former Vikings guard Ezra Cleveland.
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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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