Minnesota Vikings

With Malik Willis, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith, and Daniel Jones off the board for 2026, the next available (inevitably) quarterback to watch is Kyler Murray.

The Vikings have been strongly linked to Murray, who has $36.8 million in full guarantees from the Cardinals in 2026. He can take a one-year deal for the minimum based on his years of service ($1.3 million) and stick the Cardinals for the $35.5 million balance.

It becomes a great deal for the cap-strapped Vikings, who could have Murray and J.J. McCarthy under contract for the coming year at a total cap charge of less than $7.3 million.

With the Dolphins, Falcons, Jets, and Colts now out of the mix for a potential Kyler courtship, Murray’s options are limited. The Steelers are waiting for Aaron Rodgers. Who else needs a potential starter for 2026? The only team that could conceivably enter the conversation is the analytics-obsessed Browns, who may not be able to resist the opportunity to acquire the “asset” of a former No. 1 overall pick for the minimum.

Last year, as the trade deadline approached and we poked around the possibility of a Murray deadline deal, we learned two things: (1) there were too many moving parts to make a trade happen; and (2) Murray’s preferred destinations were the Raiders (due to the presence of Chip Kelly) and the Vikings (due to the presence of Kevin O’Connell).

Kelly is long gone from Las Vegas. That leaves one team.

The bettors seized on it, even before the other seats were filled. Minnesota opened as a -110 favorite to be Murray’s next team. The odds moved to -295, before the bet went off the board.

So, yes, Murray to Minnesota makes the most sense. And he’ll likely be the next domino to fall in the annual offseason quarterback carousel.

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:

The Saints landed a new punter in the early hours of the free agent negotiating window.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that they have agreed to sign Ryan Wright. It is a four-year agreement worth $14 million and includes $8 million in guarantees.

Wright will make the move to New Orleans after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Vikings. He’s appeared in every game for the team since joining the team and averaged a career-best 44.5 net yards per kick during the 2025 season.

Kai Kroeger was the Saints’ punter in 2025, but the commitment to Wright will likely lead to him moving on at some point this offseason.

The Raiders have plenty of needs, and they’re using free agency to fill some of them.

Las Vegas has lured receiver Jalen Nailor to town, on a three-year, $35 million deal, via Adam Schefter of ESPN.

A sixth-round pick in 2022, Nailor had a career-high 444 receiving yards in 2025. A deal supposedly worth $11.67 million per year suggests that the Raiders envision a much bigger role for Nailor.

For his career, Nailor has 69 catches for 1,066 yards and 11 touchdowns. It’s possible that Nailor could do much more than he has, but Minnesota has plenty of quality pass-catchers and only (if you haven’t heard) one ball.

The Vikings have landed a new cornerback in the early stages of the free agent negotiating window.

Cameron Wolfe of NFL Media reports that they have agreed to terms with James Pierre on a two-year deal. The contract is worth $8.5 million with $3.7 million in guaranteed money.

Pierre signed with the Steelers after going undrafted in 2020 and returned to the team after failing to make the Commanders in 2024. Pierre appeared in 95 games over his six seasons in Pittsburgh.

Pierre had 147 tackles, four interceptions, five forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries in those appearances. He also had six tackles in four playoff games with the Steelers.

The Vikings are hoping to hold onto linebacker Ivan Pace as he moves into restricted free agency.

Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that the Vikings will tender Pace with a contract ahead of the start of the new league year this week. Pace will receive the lowest, right of first refusal tender.

That tender carries a salary of $3.52 million for the 2026 season. Another team can sign Pace to an offer sheet and the Vikings will have a chance to match it, but will not receive any compensation if they opt against doing so.

Pace appeared in every game last season and started six times. He had 62 tackles and a sack in that action.