Vikings Make 8 Roster Moves in One Swoop
One day after finishing the 2025 season with a 9-8 record and claiming the 18th overall pick in April’s draft, the Minnesota Vikings signed eight players to futures contracts, a customary event in which the team re-ups with its favorite practice squaders.
Quiet roster moves (futures deals) show where Minnesota wants more competition in 2026, with an emphasis on wide receivers this go-round.
Free agency is nine weeks away, but in the meantime, eight unsung performers will remain on the roster and get auditions at training camp and in the preseason.
Eight Futures Deals Put Early Stakes on Vikings Depth Chart
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah inks eight players to futures deals.
The Eight Retained on Future Deals
Re-signing practice squad members right after the regular season is not new. Here’s the 2026 batch for the Vikings:
- Joaquin Davis (WR)
- Caleb Etienne (OT)
- Donte Fleming (WR)
- Kahlef Hailassie (S)
- Jeshaun Jones (WR)
- Vershon Lee (OG)
- Bryson Nesbit (TE)
- Josh Ross (LB)
Minnesota apparently enjoys its wide receiver depth, as 38% of futures deals went to wideouts, in addition to Nesbit’s contract, a tight end.
Our Janik Eckardt noted on the wideouts, “Wideout Dontae Fleming hopes for a similar jump. The 2025 undrafted rookie out of Tulane spent the entire campaign on the practice squad. He secured three passes for 71 yards in the preseason. Intriguing is the 4.44-second 40-yard dash he showcased prior to the draft.
Wideout Joaquin Davis is an exciting athlete who showed flashes in training camp with the Denver Broncos. He ran a 4.36 40-yard dash at 6’4″ and 195 lbs. He’ll be a popular player in the summer. Fellow wideout Jeshaun Jones has been with the team for the past two seasons. On Sunday, he made his NFL debut, functioning as the team’s punt returner with Myles Price sidelined. His two returns went for five yards.”
It’s also worth mentioning that none of the eight are guaranteed a roster spot in 2026, but they now have an inside track to battling for one in July and August.
Who’s Missing?
While there’s plenty of time to re-sign 2026 free agents and even practice squad members left off Monday’s list, these semi-notable players from the 2025 practice squad have yet to get the call on futures deals:
- Tyrek Funderburk (CB)
- Gabriel Murphy (OLB)
- Sione Takitaki (LB)
Funderburk could have been re-added because Minnesota has skimpy cornerback depth in 2025 — and entering the offseason. Murphy looked like a Pro Bowler in the preseason five months ago. And Takitaki is a seasoned veteran who could easily be on an NFL team’s active roster.
Moreover, futures contracts come in waves. The Vikings could sign more men later this week or month. Monday may be merely the first batch.
Last Year’s List for Context
Why do futures agreements matter? Well, they usually predict the following season’s practice squad enrollment and even hint at eventual roster spots. In early 2025, Minnesota re-signed these players at this time on the calendar:
- Henry Byrd (OG)
- Jonathan Harris (DT)
- Zavier Scott (RB)
- Gabriel Murphy (OLB)
Scott even finished the 2025 campaign as the Vikings’ RB3. Futures deals don’t mean too much within the confines of the offseason, but they do subtly predict eventual roster makeup.
What’s Next in the Offseason?
The Vikings have three main items to attack early in the offseason. First, they must determine if a new defensive coordinator is needed. The current defensive boss, Brian Flores, could interview for and accept a head coaching position in the next few weeks. Teams like the Las Vegas Raiders will reportedly be interested in Flores.
If Flores skedaddles, Minnesota will need a new defensive coordinator, possibly an internal candidate like Daronte Jones or an external option like Raheem Morris, Jonathan Gannon, or Patrick Graham.
Too, Minnesota must decide its path regarding quarterback J.J. McCarthy. If it has seen enough of his development and is not afraid of his injury history, the Vikings can keep him as the QB1 and find a quality backup. Otherwise, if McCarthy is not the long-term solution, trade options for players like Kyler Murray or Mac Jones could be explored.
What’s more, Minnesota’s season did go as planned in 2025. The Vikings were bounced from postseason contention by mid-December. That outcome could spark change, with Kevin O’Connell, for example, firing some of his coaches and starting fresh. Adofo-Mensah could do the same in his front office. Minnesota has drafted poorly since the start of 2022.
Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell will presumably speak this week in Eagan and outline their plans for the 2026 offseason to the public.
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