Minnesota Vikings free agency tracker: Day 2 recap
After Day 1 of NFL free agency yielded Vikings deals with edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, and linebacker Blake Cashman, Day 2 led to the Vikings landing running back Aaron Jones and quarterback Sam Darnold. But they also watched Danielle Hunter agree to terms with the Houston Texans.
We tracked the rumors and reports and all day long. Check them all out below.
Major headlines the first two days:
- 5:50 p.m. Tuesday - Danielle Hunter signs two-year deal with Houston Texans
- 7:45 a.m. Tuesday – Vikings reportedly agree deal with RB Aaron Jones
- 12:04 a.m. Tuesday – Vikings sign Sam Darnold, how good can he be?
- 2:19 p.m. Monday – Vikings splash again with Blake Cashman signing
- 1:55 p.m. Monday – Vikings ink high-end edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel
- 1:30 p.m. Monday – Kirk Cousins agrees 4-year deal with Atlanta
- 12:25 p.m. Monday – Vikings' target Christian Wilkins lands with Raiders
- 11:40 a.m. Monday – Vikings sign edge rusher Jonathan Greenard
- 9:30 a.m. Monday – Cousins, Atlanta to begin talks
8:34 p.m. – 98% of Hunter's deal fully guaranteed
"He actually took less to go to the Houston Texans," said NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
How much less in total money? That's unclear, but it's fairly obvious that the Texans guaranteeing $48 million of his $49 million two-year deal was what got Hunter to agree to the terms.
From Free Agency Frenzy: More on the #Texans deal for Danielle Hunter, which is 98% fully guaranteed and includes $29.5M in Year 1. pic.twitter.com/lqWUApnttO
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 13, 2024
5:50 p.m. - Danielle Hunter signs with Houston Texans
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero and Ian Rapoport are reporting that Danielle Hunter will sign with the Houston Texans on a two-year, $49 million deal, with $48 million guaranteed. Read more here.
Danielle Hunter has agreed to terms with the Houston Texans, to return home! 2-years, 49m with 48m fully guaranteed. Contract has 51m total max. Deal done by @zekesandhu @KlutchSports https://t.co/AvjNkqGE3f
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
5:15 p.m. - Danielle Hunter has held talks with Colts
ESPN's Stephen Holder reports that Vikings free agent edge rusher Danielle Hunter has held talks with the Indianapolis Colts.
Among the outside free agents the Colts have had talks with: Vikings DE Danielle Hunter, a 4-time Pro Bowl selection with 87.5 career sacks. Too early to predict where he winds up as of this moment, but with MIN signing multiple edge rushers, he looks to be headed elsewhere.
— Stephen Holder (@HolderStephen) March 12, 2024
4:15 p.m. — Brandon Powell is back
Adam Schefter says the Vikings are bringing back wide receiver and punt returner Brandon Lowell on a one-year deal.
Free-agent WR Brandon Powell is returning to the Vikings on a one-year deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 12, 2024
3:35 p.m. - Vikings officially announce Aaron Jones signing
The Vikings made official the signing of former Packers running back Aaron Jones. The 29-year-old was able to sign with a team immediately, instead of having to wait until Wednesday, because he was outright cut by the Packers.
Adding more juice to the backfield 🧃
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 12, 2024
The #Vikings have agreed to terms with RB Aaron Jones (@Showtyme_33).
📰: https://t.co/PjOVLkUkBM pic.twitter.com/fdmLnEchyx
2:55 p.m. - D.J. Wonnum to meet with Carolina and Bears
ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports Vikings free agent pass rusher D.J. Wonnum is set to meet with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears when free agency opens Wednesday. Wonnum had eight sacks in 2023 with the Vikings.
Free agent pass rusher D.J. Wonnum headed to Carolina on Wednesday to meet with the #Panthers, then to Chicago with the #Bears on Thursday, per source.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 12, 2024
Wonnum an intriguing option after eight sacks with the Vikings.
2:05 p.m. - Texans and Danielle Hunter have mutual interest, nothing imminent though
Texans reporter Aaron Wilson reported there is "mutual interest" between the Houston Texans and Danielle Hunter but that no deal between the two sides is imminent.
There's mutual interest between #Texans and #Vikings Pro Bowl free agent defensive end Danielle Hunter, per league sources, but nothing imminent. Fluid situation, multiple #NFL teams are intrigued by Morton Ranch grad coming off 16 1/2 sack year, has 87 1/2 career sacks @KPRC2
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 12, 2024
1:15 p.m. – No Vikings at Bo Nix pro day?
Alec Lewis of The Athletic is reporting that it "doesn't like" Kevin O'Connell, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah or quarterbacks coach Josh McCown are at Bo Nix's pro day at the University of Oregon. Could that mean Minnesota isn't interested in Nix or did they see enough of him at the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine?
Doesn’t sound like Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, Kevin O’Connell or Josh McCown are in Eugene today for Bo Nix’s pro day at Oregon. https://t.co/KXC695lTdk
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 12, 2024
12:10 p.m. – Dalton Risner, D.J. Reader
Darren Wolfson of KSTP-TV said on SKOR North Tuesday morning that the Vikings have not yet reached out to free agent defensive tackle D.J. Reader and they have not introduced a contract offer to free agent guard Dalton Risner, who started at left guard during the second half of the season with the Vikings last season. More here.
10:35 a.m. – Kirk Cousins also got no-trade clause
How good was Cousins' deal? According to reports he also got a no-trade clause worked into the four-year, $180 million contract that includes $100 million guaranteed money. Read more here.
9:30 a.m. – Vikings releasing linebacker William Kwenkeu
That's according to Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune, who notes that the Vikings will save about $2.5 million by cutting Dean Lowry.
The #Vikings are releasing Dean Lowry and William Kwenkeu. They’ll save $2.5 million in cap space with the Lowry move.
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 12, 2024
9:20 a.m. – Vikings release Dean Lowry
The defensive end has been released by the Vikings, according to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero. The only defensive ends on the roster right now are Jonathan Greenard and Andre Carter II.
The #Vikings are releasing veteran DL Dean Lowry, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2024
7:45 a.m. – Aaron Jones 'expected to join Vikings'
Some major breaking news, with the Vikings set to sign running back Aaron Jones, who was released by the Packers on Monday. NFL Network is reporting that it's a one-year deal for $7 million. Read more here.
7:30 a.m. – The Vikings signing a kicker?
With Greg Joseph set to become a free agent on Wednesday the Vikings are assessing their options at kicker, and the Pioneer Press is reporting that the team has agreed to terms with former XFL kicker John Parker Romo.
12:04 a.m. – Vikings, Sam Darnold agree to 1-year deal
One year for $10 million. That's the deal, according to NFL Network as the Vikings have their apparent starting quarterback in 2024. We broke it all down and looked into reasons why Darnold has yet to live up to the hype of being the third overall pick in the 2018 draft. Read more here.
A new QB in Minnesota: The #Vikings are expected to sign #49ers QB Sam Darnold, per me and @TomPelissero.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2024
Darnold gets a 1-year deal worth $10M, sources say, and joins former teammate Josh McCown, who is Minnesota’s new QB coach.
Kirk Cousins out, Darnold in. pic.twitter.com/QzrZDJ1Sdq
