Matt Fries
@friesfootball.bsky.social
Degenerate levels of random football knowledge but mostly the Vikings
Before players put the pads on and really get started on practices, @friesfootball.bsky.social has his 53-man roster prediction for the Vikings wideleft.football/p/matt-fries...
Matt Fries' pre-August 53-Man Roster Projection
Matt Fries put together a 53-man roster projection ahead of August, built off of observations and scouting ahead of training camp.
wideleft.football
This is a really good deal for O'Neill, getting enough cash up front in the deal that the final, non-guaranteed years will be the AAV of the contract rather than a higher number.
Ben Goessling@bengoessling.bsky.social · 5d agoTerms of Brian O’Neill’s new deal with the #Vikings: —$27.1M SB; base salary guarantees in ‘26 ($5.1M,), ‘27 ($17.2M) —Per-game RB up to $510K, $100K WB each year —Base salary escalator clauses from ‘27-30 —‘26 cap drops from $23.12M to $14.74M
Blake Brandel with snap issues? Uh-oh.
Andrew Krammer@andrewkrammer.bsky.social · 6d agoMy view of Day 2: Murray vs. McCarthy
The obvious choice. The tackle market is BLEAK, and they generally age really well. They should do Cashman next.
Ian Rapoport@rapsheet.bsky.social · last wk.The Vikings have signed veteran OT Brian O'Neill to a contract extension.
>Team gets a player to agree to take a pay cut. >"This is a win-win" Shameless
Ian Rapoport@rapsheet.bsky.social · 3w agoThe Saints and RB Alvin Kamara agreed to terms on a deal that will pay him a base salary of $6M for the 2026 season with a chance to make $8.5M with incentives. A win-win that almost certainly means Kamara will finish his career with New Orleans.
Love the signing, but don't let the Vikings tell you they needed to trade Greenard to be able to sign Jennings. They absolutely did not. The two transactions had basically no influence on each other from a cap perspective. $8 million is nothing.
At Wide Left, @arif.bsky.social and I co-wrote a comprehensive piece on Caleb Banks, breaking down everything from the draft position, the injury, the athleticism, the production, and the tape. Everything you need to know about the player, all in one place: www.wideleft.football/p/caleb-bank...
Caleb Banks is a Swing for the Fences
The Vikings produced one of the biggest surprises of the NFL draft. By selecting Caleb Banks, they may have drafted the highest-ceiling rookie in the NFL. Or, they may have crashed their defense.
wideleft.football
At Wide Left, @arif.bsky.social and I co-wrote a comprehensive piece on Caleb Banks, breaking down everything from the draft position, the injury, the athleticism, the production, and the tape. Everything you need to know about the player, all in one place: www.wideleft.football/p/caleb-bank...
Caleb Banks is a Swing for the Fences
The Vikings produced one of the biggest surprises of the NFL draft. By selecting Caleb Banks, they may have drafted the highest-ceiling rookie in the NFL. Or, they may have crashed their defense.
wideleft.football
Breaking down the Caleb Banks pick @friesfootball.bsky.social and I cowrote an exhaustive article breaking down the player, diving into analyst reactions, his medical history, production profile, athleticism and a lengthy film breakdown www.wideleft.football/p/caleb-bank...
Caleb Banks is a Swing for the Fences
The Vikings produced one of the biggest surprises of the NFL draft. By selecting Caleb Banks, they may have drafted the highest-ceiling rookie in the NFL. Or, they may have crashed their defense.
wideleft.football
Caleb Tiernan has the craziest athletic profile I've ever seen. It's all or nothing. (Not pictured: his 8.08s 3-cone, 17th percentile). I know he was the consensus next tackle after the first round guys, but I really don't know anything else about him.
Jon Ledyard and Ollie Connelly said that Jakobe Thomas was a perfect scheme fit with the Vikings and I trust the implicitly so let's go
Realized I forgot to put my opinion on this here. I feel like, with the Greenard trade, the Vikings envision Turner in Greenard's role full time and want Golday to be the Van Ginkel understudy. I think he does make sense in that role, but I also hate the thesis of trading Greenard so...
Andrew Krammer@andrewkrammer.bsky.social · 3mo agoVikings are taking LB Jake Golday out of Cincinnati at No. 51
Cut two DTs, draft two DTs. (I like adding Orange. Banks is not a nose and this is so much better value than what McDonald would have been)
Ben Goessling@bengoessling.bsky.social · 3mo agoThe #Vikings are drafting Iowa State defensive tackle Domonique Orange with the 82nd overall pick. He'd visited them before the draft, and he'll join first-rounder Caleb Banks in the middle of the line.
My selection bias is this: I would like the Vikings to SELECT Caleb Banks with the 18th overall pick
Caleb Banks, let's go! Obviously the foot is a major concern but absolutely love the player!
Draft Day Vikings thoughts for 18: Would love: Delane Trade back for 2027 picks Blue chips that fell - Reese, Love, Downs, Tate, Styles, Bain, Ioane Would love (injury): McCoy Banks I'm good with: Trade back for 2026 picks Thieneman Not for me: Sadiq McNeil-Warren Fire everyone: Faulk Woods
Check this out on draft day! I talk with Luke about what I think of the Vikings offseason moves, and who I want and who I don't early in the draft.
Kindred Skols Podcast@kindredskols.bsky.social · 3mo agoA NEW Episode!?! Matt chats with Luke Braun about the draft and the Vikings offseason so far. 🌐Download Link: kindredskols.buzzsprout.com 🎵iTunes: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/e... 🔊Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/455L... ▶️Youtube: youtu.be/LbwjUX2g_ts?... RSS: feeds.buzzsprout.com/1848207.rss
Complete no-brainer. Even in the downside case (Addison continues to have off the field issues) this doesn't hurt the Vikings because suspensions mean you don't have to pay him. This also sets an additional year of cost control at $18 million, making an extension easier. Franchise tag is $27 mil.
Star Tribune Sports@stribsports.startribune.com · 4mo agoVikings will pick up fifth-year contract option for receiver Addison
I hate this design, why is he pivoting twice? Maybe Kyler could have gotten the ball out here.
By my estimation, here are the current Vikings needs. You could fill some of these with internal promotions, of course, but I'm not necessarily ready to. Starters: C S P IDLx2 WR3 It's probably Kyler: QB Backups: Swing OT LB TE CB
With more information on some of the contracts/restructures and recent moves, here's a Vikings cap update. 2026 Cap Current Space - $7,024,431 Operating Space - $8,532,022 2027 Cap Current Space - $70,721,624 Operating Space - $43,894,424 Post-June 1 cuts affect current space but not operating
RB market was very thin based on remaining FAs and the draft. I think this was probably the best value for both sides, I really like this.
Ben Goessling@bengoessling.bsky.social · 5mo agoSource confirms the NFL Network report that the Vikings have agreed to a restructure deal with Aaron Jones. He will be back for the 2026 season, as the Vikings recoup cap savings.
This price feels like the range the Vikings should be shopping in with the current safety market. There are actually enough good players available at the position that I don't see why the team would wait for the draft.
Ian Rapoport@rapsheet.bsky.social · 5mo agoThe Chiefs are signing Ravens FA S Alohi Gilman, per The Insiders. He gets a 3-year, $24.75M done by David Canter, Ness Mugrabi and Brian McIntyre of Aura Sports Group. Gilman gets $15M fully guaranteed.
At this point Aaron Jones' contract kind of feels like a steal, not gonna lie.
NFL Daily News@insidenflnews.bsky.social · 5mo agoPelissero: JK Dobbins signed a 2-year, $20M deal.
Paying this much for a WR3 just didn't make sense for the Vikings. Happy for Nailor that he cashed in.
Arif Hasan, but NFL🔨⚒️🛠️@arif.bsky.social · 5mo ago🫡
Always feel good seeing Tonga succeed, he was very fun for us.
NFL Daily News@insidenflnews.bsky.social · 5mo agoDT Khyiris Tonga to sign a 3-year, $21M deal with the Chiefs.
