Minnesota

Vikings

Tavierre Thomas, a major contributor to the Vikings’ special teams who also provides depth in the secondary, will stay in Minnesota.

Thomas is signing a two-year deal to remain with the Vikings, his agents told Adam Schefter of ESPN.

Last year Thomas played 371 special teams snaps and also played a small role as a defensive back, where he has lined up at both cornerback and safety. The Vikings will likely use him in a similar role this season.

Thomas, whose 30th birthday is today, originally signed with the Cardinals as an undrafted rookie in 2018 and has also spent time with the Browns, Texans and Buccaneers.

The well-traveled Sam Howell will be traveling again.

Via Adam Schefter of ESPN, the former Eagles backup quarterback has agreed to terms with the Cowboys.

A fifth-round pick of the Commanders in 2022, Howell was the full-year starter in 2023, leading the league in both attempts (612) and interceptions (21). He was traded to the Seahawks in 2024.

Last year, Seattle traded Howell to the Vikings. After the preseason, he was re-traded to the Eagles.

The current Cowboys understudy to Dak Prescott is Joe Milton III. The Howell arrival suggests that Will Grier won’t be back as the third quarterback. Or it could set up a potential trade of Milton, who is under contract through 2027.

Johnny Mundt wasn’t unemployed for long.

Cut by the Jaguars on Monday after completing one year of a two-year deal with the Jaguars, Mundt has signed with the Eagles.

Via Mike Garafolo of NFL Media, it’s a one-year deal.

Mundt, 31, spent his first five seasons with the Rams, arriving as an undrafted free agent. He played the next four in Minnesota, before signing in Jacksonville a year ago.

He was a member of the Super Bowl LVI championship team, but he had landed on injured reserve in October with a torn ACL.

The hiring of Sean Mannion as Philly’s offensive coordinator makes Mundt a logical fit; he knows the offense that Mannion will be bringing from L.A.

Long snapper Andrew DePaola has played in every game for the Vikings over the last five seasons and he’s set to extend his run in Minnesota.

DePaola’s agent Sean Stellato told Adam Schefter of ESPN that his client has agreed to a new one-year deal with the Vikings. It comes with a fully guaranteed salary of $1.725 million.

DePaola played the final seven games of the 2020 season with Minnesota, so his consecutive game streak stands at 88 games heading into the 2026 season. He has 14 tackles and a fumble recovery over that span.

The Vikings also have kicker Will Reichard due back for another year, but they’ll need a new punter with Ryan Wright set to sign with the Saints this week.

The NFL announced 33 compensatory draft selections in the 2026 draft awarded to 15 teams.

Under the rules for compensatory draft selections, a team losing more or better compensatory free agents than it acquires in the previous year is eligible for compensatory draft picks. The compensatory picks are positioned within the third through seventh rounds based on the value of the compensatory free agents lost.

In addition to the 32 compensatory selections awarded under the net-loss formula, a special compensatory selection was awarded to the Lions for the Jets hiring Aaron Glenn as their head coach. The initiative is intended to promote minority hirings. The Lions traded the pick to the Jaguars.

The following 2026 compensatory draft picks were awarded for the 2026 draft, which will be held on April 23-April 25 in Pittsburgh: