Ben Goessling

The #Vikings have agreed to a new deal with long snapper Andrew DePaola, per source. The four-time All-Pro returns to Minnesota for another year.

The #Vikings agreed to a two-year deal with cornerback James Pierre, reuniting the corner with Brian Flores and Gerald Alexander, who both coached him in Pittsburgh.

Vikings agree to three-year deal with linebacker Wilson The free agent, who set career highs in sacks and forced fumbles in his return to the Vikings, can reportedly make up to $22.5 million in his new deal.

Story on the #Vikings agreeing to a new deal with Eric Wilson: www.startribune.com/vikings-agre...

After signing a one-year deal to return to Minnesota and setting career highs in sacks and fumbles, Eric Wilson has a new three-year deal with the #Vikings, a source confirmed. Per NFL Network, the new deal has a max value of $22.5 million.

Haven't seen full terms yet, but would assume it's just for 2026.

Vikings clear more salary cap space after Hockenson restructures contract The Vikings will save more than $5 million against the cap in preparation for the start of NFL free agency.

Story on the #Vikings agreeing to a restructured contract with T.J. Hockenson: www.startribune.com/vikings-clea...

The #Vikings and T.J. Hockenson agreed to terms on a restructured contract that saves the team about $5 million in cap space, per source.

Kelly's post on X: "10 seasons. What an incredible ride it was. I was blessed to be around some of the greatest people this sport has to offer. I always wanted to leave each place better than how I found it and with that I can hang my hat. Forever grateful for my family and brothers! Cheers"

#Vikings center Ryan Kelly announced his retirement after 10 NFL seasons. Kelly suffered three concussions last season, including one after he shifted to a new helmet and a Guardian cap last year.

This is updated with the news that the #Vikings are also restructuring Byron Murphy Jr.'s deal.

Vikings restructure contracts of Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw to clear cap space The Vikings have to cut more than $40 million before the opening of NFL free agency on March 11.

Quick story on the #Vikings restructuring Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw's contracts on Friday to clear salary cap space: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Free agency preview: Who are the Vikings’ options at QB to compete with J.J. McCarthy? The Vikings seem set to cast a wide net in NFL free agency as they look for a veteran quarterback who can challenge or supplant J.J. McCarthy.

A look at the #Vikings' possible QB options, as they head into the market next week looking for a veteran who can challenge J.J. McCarthy: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Depends on how much they deferred on the signing bonus conversions; I don't have the exact amounts yet. But if they did the full deferrals, combined with those three moves, that'd be enough to get them under. Would think there's a Ryan Kelly move coming yet, and possibly an O'Neill extension.

Source confirms the #Vikings will restructure the contracts of Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw. They can defer as much as $18 million with a signing bonus conversion on Jefferson's deal, while clearing as much as $9.2 million on Darrisaw's contract.

Vikings plan to release DT Jonathan Allen in cost-cutting move The Vikings are unwinding moves they made before last season as they try to clear more $40 million to get under the NFL salary cap.

The #Vikings plan to release Jonathan Allen, one their priciest defensive additions from last year, as they clear cap space before free agency: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Vikings mailbag: Quarterbacks, J.J. McCarthy, and competitively rebuilding Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Emily Leiker open the mailbag and answer your Vikings questions ahead of NFL free agency. How did the team's former GM earn an "A" grade in the NFLPA's latest team…

NEW Access Vikings answering listener Qs ahead of free agency: @bengoessling.bsky.social takes us to the classroom on cap concerns, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social names some potential FA safety targets, and we all talk a lot of QBs.

Watch ⤵️ or listen wherever you get your pods: youtu.be/yAYFk4gHFC0

Our Access Vikings episode this week will be a pre-free agency mailbag, so drop your questions for @bengoessling.bsky.social, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social and me below, via DM or via email to accessvikings@startribune.com. 📭️ 📧

Emily’s had a great week at the combine, and she did a really nice job with this. Spend some time with it (and give her a follow if you haven’t already!).

Really excited to win an
@APSE_sportmedia
award in the Explanatory category for my story from last September on the industry behind developing young QBs.

Put a ton of work into that one, with lots of help and insight from a wide range of people. startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

New Access Vikings newsletter arrives today, full of tidbits that @emleiker.bsky.social and I picked up at the NFL combine this week.

You can sign up for the free newsletter here: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig...

Vikings takeaways from the NFL Scouting Combine Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker join Andrew Krammer from Indianapolis, where the annual NFL Scouting Combine features not just Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but also members of the Vikings' ownership…

Full-length Access Vikings ep. w/ @andrewkrammer.bsky.social back in the host position to get all of the NFL Combine news, notes, etc. out of @bengoessling.bsky.social and me.

Which QB's name we've been surprised by, GM thoughts and more.

Listen wherever or watch: youtu.be/AM2Z_QwMhSA

NFL Combine Day 2: What do the Vikings view as their draft needs? Plus Gophers' Deven Eastern Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss how interim GM Rob Brzezinski described his draft philosophy, and what the Vikings view as their needs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Plus, they go over podium…

Today's mini Access Vikings ep w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social covers what we heard from Rob Brzezinski yesterday about the Vikings' draft needs, analysis shared by Daniel Jeremiah at a podium session today and talk of Gophers D-line prospect Deven Eastern.

Only on YT: youtu.be/adqBZVAhDWk

NFL Combine Day 1: Vikings "exploring all possibilities" at QB; Rob Brzezinski speaks Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss three of the biggest talking points to come out of media sessions with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and interim ...

Mini Access Vikings pod w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social here in Indy at the NFL Combine chatting 3 of the bigger talking points during media availability with Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski.

We lead with QBs 👀

Only on YT: m.youtube.com/watch?v=BspN...

Vikings “exploring all possibilities” at QB at NFL scouting combine Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O'Connell indicated the Vikings are exploring their quarterback options after J.J. McCarthy's first season as the starter.

On the first day of the combine, the #Vikings made clear they're open to all possibilities at QB. Kevin O’Connell said "a lot of" his feelings about J.J. McCarthy "are still the same" as when the team drafted him, but the "timeline is in a different place:" www.startribune.com/vikings-kevi...

The #Vikings’ full coaching staff for 2026. Of note: Josh McCown gets an offensive passing game coordinator role, while Dalmin Gibson moves from the special teams staff to the assistant LB coach role.

Analysis: How the Vikings could clear cap space before NFL free agency The Vikings need to clear roughly $40 million in salary cap space before the start of NFL free agency in March. Here's how they could do it.

As the #Vikings head into their offseason, a player-by-player look at the decisions and cap considerations they’ll face between now and the start of free agency in March: www.startribune.com/vikings-kwes...

Sam Darnold is a Super Bowl champ. Who might the Vikings bring as competition for J.J. McCarthy? Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss Sam Darnold and the Seahawks' 29-13 win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LX, including how the narrative around Darnold shifted in the lead up to and aftermath…

New episode of Access Vikings w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social discussing the Seahawks' Super Bowl win and its effect on the narrative around Sam Darnold before opening up the mailbag to answer listener Qs on GMs, QBs and more.

Listen wherever you get your pods or watch: youtu.be/UPi2BjMgr18

Putting out a call for some more Qs to answer on Access Vikings w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social tomorrow.

Super Bowl, GM search, Combine, draft -- whatever you're curious about!

Sign up for Access Vikings Sign up for Minnesota Vikings news and complete team coverage.

As the #Vikings arrange their front office with Rob Brzezinski running the show, I took a closer look at their GM search timeline and what it means for the offseason in this week’s Access Vikings newsletter.

You can sign up for the free newsletter here: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig....

Vikings hire Matt Thomas to help front office manage NFL salary cap With Rob Brzezinski running the Vikings’ free agency and draft strategy, Matt Thomas is getting support in his former job, overseeing the cap.

Story on the Vikings hiring Matt Thomas as a consultant to help manage their cap while Rob Brzezinski directs the front office: www.startribune.com/vikings-hire...