One Vikings Player Won the Month of March
A week and a half of Minnesota Vikings free agency is in the books, with the club adding about a dozen new players and nine from the 2024 roster already finding new teams.
One Vikings Player Won the Month of March
The action has not disappointed, not by a long shot.
Along the way, one Vikings defender won the month of March — safety Theo Jackson. As of March 20th, he’s the only player from the 2024 depth chart to receive a certifiable promotion. All other roster enhancements arrived externally.
Theo Jackson = Only Existing Player Promoted
On March 6th, four days before the NFL’s “legal tampering” phase of free agency kicked off, NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Vikings and safety Theo Jackson agreed to terms on a two-year, $12.615 million extension through 2027, with the first two years fully guaranteed at signing, per source. Deal done by Equity Sports Agency.”
Jackson has played 43 games in 3 seasons, with no starts to date, and 47 total tackles, along with 4 passes defended, 2 interceptions, and a QB hit. He’s tabulated a 95.3 passer-rating-against in 43 games. All told, Jackson has played 222 defensive snaps and 875 on special teams since the start of 2022, the dawn of the Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell era.
The significance? That was the primary safety move of the Vikings’ offseason, other than an offhanded signing of a man named Bubba Bolden, who may not make the active roster in late August.
Most Vikings fans on social media interpreted the Jackson contract (and amount) as a tip of the cap about his starting role — and they’re probably right.
Of course, Minnesota could draft Malaki Starks (Georgia) or Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina) and undercut Jackson’s starting outlook, but generally speaking, that feels unlikely with the draft five weeks out.
It’s probably Jackson or bust. His new deal is for three years and $9.3 million.
Jackson is revered by his current teammates and is known for splashy plays when given the opportunity. He logged a sweet 79.2 Pro Football Focus grade in 2024, albeit in a small sample.
Camryn Bynum to Colts
Peliserro tweeted four days after the Jackson transaction: “Former Vikings safety Cam Bynum and the #Colts agreed to terms on a four-year, $60 million contract, per sources. Deal negotiated by agent Damarius Bilbo of Klutch Sports.”
The deal was fantastic for Bynum, who spent four seasons in Minnesota. Former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman scooped Bynum out of the 2021 NFL Draft from Round 4, a product of the Stefon Diggs trade to Buffalo in 2020.
And just like that — the Bynum era in the Twin Cities ended after four fun years, stuffed to the gills with memorable touchdown + turnover celebrations and prompting Jackson as a replacement, though he probably won’t have the celebratory flair.
Harrison Smith Back for Year No. 14
Two days after Bynum left and six after Jackson locked in, beloved longtime Vikings Harrison Smith re-upped in Minnesota, on tap for his 14th season in the big leagues.
Naturally, fans rejoiced because Smith has been the identity of Vikings football for three separate coaching regimes. Smith played 1,011 defensive snaps in 2024, logging 87 total tackles, 10 passes defended, 3 interceptions, 3 tackles for loss, and a sack. He also banked a commendable 67.7 PFF grade.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores said about Smith in January, “I smile when I think about Harrison, because we’re always kind of going back and forth with ideas. I think he thinks I’m a little nutty as far as pushing the limits, but I think he enjoys it, too.”
“I think it’s been an opportunity for him to learn and grow, and I put a lot on him, as far as, if we’re going to be able to get into that defense, I’m not going to be able to do it.”
He’s back.
The State of Play at Safety
So long as one trusts Jackson for a starting gig, Minnesota’s safety room is pretty well set, even with Bynum transferring to the AFC South.
Here’s the gang:
- Harrison Smith
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Bubba Bolden
Aside from possibly cornerback Mekhi Blackmon, who would’ve competed for a starting job last summer if not for an ACL tear, Jackson is the only internal Viking sizing up a 2025 promotion in March.
He won the month.
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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 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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