The Vikings’ Top 3 Moves from 2nd Week of FA
The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up free agency Week No. 2, and most onlookers have applauded the club for their fearless signings since March 10th.
The Vikings’ Top 3 Moves from 2nd Week of FA
The week was busy, and it might’ve been easy to lose track of everything.
So, these were the Vikings’ three best roster moves of the week. They’re listed in ascending order (No. 1 = best decision).
3. The Jeff Okudah Flier at CB
The Athletic’s Alec Lewis tweeted Tuesday, “The Vikings have agreed to terms with CB Jeff Okudah. Adds another young, physical corner to young and hungry group. Competition will be very fun. Can’t get out of my mind Okudah v Jefferson game in 2022. Okudah had help all day but was so physical.”
The former third-overall pick from the 2020 NFL Draft will get a look in purple. Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 31.0
- 2023: 50.5
- 2022: 59.4
- 2021: 53.0
- 2020: 42.5
And Okudah’s NFL resume since 2020:
- Houston Texans (2024)
- Detroit Lions (2020–2022)
- Atlanta Falcons (2023)
He probably won’t turn into a superstar in Minnesota, but optimists will hold out hope that defensive coordinator Brian Flores can squeeze the goodness out of him.
2. Rondale Moore (WR) Signs in Minnesota
ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted, “The Vikings have agreed to terms with WR Rondale Moore, who took his first visit last week to Minnesota. He was a big-time playmaker in Arizona who suffered a serious leg injury last summer in Atlanta.”
It’s a done deal for Moore.
Moore is 5’7″ + 180 pounds and will contend for a WR3 or WR4 job this summer, perhaps filling the role previously held by Brandon Powell. He also provides special teams skills, and without Powell, who remains unsigned, Moore could return kicks or punts in 2025.
The Cardinals scooped Moore from Round 2 of the 2021 NFL Draft, the same day the Vikings drafted Kellen Mond, Patrick Jones II, and Wyatt Davis, among others. At the time, Cardinals faithful considered him the next big thing, though his career has not taken off to date.
Get ready for a Moore vs. Nailor summer camp battle. It’s comin’.
1. RB Jordan Mason Arrives via Low-Risk Trade
Last weekend, ESPN’s Adam Schefter tweeted, “Trade: 49ers are trading Jordan Mason to the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings are signing Mason to a 2-year deal with over $7 million fully guaranteed at signing with a maximum value of $12m. Negotiated by Jason & Michael Katz.”
“Full trade, per sources: Minnesota sends a 2026 6th-round pick and pick No. 160 this year to San Francisco. San Francisco sends RB Jordan Mason and pick No. 187 to Minnesota.”
The trade became official on Wednesday.
Adding Mason at RB2 ensures that a Jones dip or injury keeps the enterprise afloat.
Meanwhile, Mason’s addition reduced the likelihood of Cam Akers returning in 2025. He played for the purple team in 2023 and 2024 — traded for twice, in fact. Minnesota doesn’t quite have enough roster spots to re-up with Akers, at least on paper.
It also meant that RB2 Ty Chandler would be on the roster bubble.
Mason at RB2 was a marvelous and unexpected development.
If Minnesota wants to get rich-rich at running back, these are the options from the draft after Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who will likely be gone by pick No. 12:
- Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
- TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
- Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
- Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
- Cam Skattebo (Arizona State)
- Devin Neal (Kansas)
- Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
- Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
One Vikings Player Won the Month of March
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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