Vikings Add A Linebacker

With last week’s release of kicker Gabe Brkic, the Minnesota Vikings had an open spot on their 90-man offseason roster. That open spot was filled yesterday with the signing of linebacker Andre Mintze (pronounced MINTS). After a solid college career at Vanderbilt, Mintze wasn’t selected in the 2021 NFL Draft. He signed with the Denver Broncos and made the 53-man roster. The season didn’t go as well as the preseason as Mintze had to deal with a hamstring injury and a stay on the COVID list. For the season, he totaled two tackles and contributed on special teams. He also played for current Vikings defensive coordinator Ed Donatell. That familiarity and an excellent 10-yard split appear to be big reasons for Mintze now being on the Vikings roster. As has been pointed out by Sports Illustrated’s Will Ragatz and perhaps a few others, new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and new head coach Kevin O’Connell appear to favor players with strong 10-yard splits. That preference showed in the 2022 draft class. It also showed in the earlier signing of linebacker William Kwenkeu. The new Vikings shot-callers like players with a strong “get-off.” 

Some Andre Mintze bona fides:

Height: 6’3”

Weight: 250

Age: 23 (24 in September)

Hometown: Philadelphia

Mintze joins the following outside linebacker group:

Danielle Hunter

Za”Darius Smith

D.J. Wonnum

Patrick Jones II

Janarius Robinson

Luiji Vilain

Zach McCloud

William Kwenkeu 

Adrian Mintze

The starters are set. Danielle Hunter and Za’Darius Smith should be dynamite off the edges. The competition for backup roles will be some of the most interesting of training camp. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Running Backs

Yesterday, I listed my favorite receivers in Minnesota Vikings franchise history. That got me thinking about my favorite running backs in franchise history. The running tradition isn’t as strong as the receiving tradition in Minnesota. Still, there’s been some fine backs. One is headed to Canton. Another should already be there. If he can stay on the field, another is playing his way into Hall of Fame discussion. Here are my favorite running backs in the history of the Minnesota Vikings.

1.   Adrian Peterson

2.   Chuck Foreman

3.   Dalvin Cook

4.   Robert Smith

5.   Bill Brown

6.   Dave Osborn

7.   Terry Allen

8.   Tommy Mason

9.   Chester Taylor

10. Ted Brown

11. Darrin Nelson

12. Rickey Young

Adrian Peterson was a brilliant running back. In his prime, he ranked among the greatest runners I’d ever seen. Part Jim Brown. Part Eric Dickerson. He could run by, through, and over anyone tasked with slowing him. He had games of 224 yards and an NFL-record 296 yards as a rookie. He was just getting started. He took home the league’s MVP a year after tearing his ACL. If he’d managed another nine yards that season, he’d have the season rushing record. He’ll have a bust in Canton soon. 

Chuck Foreman should have a bust in Canton. A lot of fans have Jim Marshall as the former Vikings most deserving of a Hall call. For me, that player is Foreman. During an era when running the ball was still the best way to move the ball, Foreman was one of the best backs in the league. For about five seasons, he was arguably the best running back in the league. Without argument, he was the best all-around running back in the league. His 73 catches led the league in 1975. A running back leading the league in receiving? In the 1970s? That’s inconceivable! If injuries hadn’t shortened his career, Foreman would already be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Still, his first five seasons are worthy of the Hall. 

Dalvin Cook might not be as powerful a runner as Adrian Peterson. While fast, he might not be as fast as Peterson. Cook is a special back in other ways. His balance. His feet. His vision. His running is as fun to watch as Peterson’s. If only he could stay on the field for an entire season. He’s missed at least two games each season. In five seasons, he’s missed a season-and-a-half of games. If he can stay on the field, he’d have a career worthy of Hall of Fame consideration.

Robert Smith also had injury issues. He didn’t start more than seven games in any of his first five seasons. Four straight 1000-yard seasons followed. With his ridiculous speed, Smith was one of the most dangerous backs in the game. Defenses had no answer for the Vikings beautifully executed screen game. At the age of 28, after only eight seasons, he retired. After a 1521-yard season, he was gone. His final four seasons were beautiful. During his final three seasons, Smith provided a terrific running compliment to the pass catching of Cris Carter, Randy Moss, and Jake Reed. 

George Halas traded Bill Brown after the 1961 season. He’d regret that decision for the next 13 seasons. In perhaps the final era of great running fullbacks, Brown ranked with the Jim Taylor and Jim Brown as the best in the game. Bill Brown was an offensive and team leader. As his carries dwindled on offense into the 1970s, he remained a mainstay on special teams. Brown will be forever remembered in the Vikings Ring of Honor.

As the Vikings rose to league prominence in the late 1960s, the team’s versatile committee of running backs was topped by Dave Osborn and Bill Brown. Osborn was a grind-it-out chain mover. Until Chuck Foreman started cranking out 1,000-yard seasons, his 972 yards in 1967 was the team record. 

Terry Allen was another Vikings back that dealt with injuries. He came into the league dealing with injuries. He dealt with injuries in the league. He only played three seasons in Minnesota. A fourth was lost to those damn injuries. His perseverance is a big reason for his place on this list. Allen followed that lost season with 1,000 yards seasons. His best years were spent in Washington. It always felt like those years should’ve been in Minnesota.

As the #1 pick in the 1961 NFL Draft, Tommy Mason was the first pick in Vikings franchise history. He broke out in 1962 and became the Vikings first offensive star. He was a running and receiving threat. He caught passes at a time when most backs didn’t catch passes. Mason went to three straight Pro Bowls and was named All-Pro in 1963. He should be in the Vikings Ring of Honor.

Chester Taylor signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2006. He signed to be the team’s top back. He was great that season, rushing for 1216 yards. Then the Vikings drafted Adrian Peterson in 2007. Everything changed. Instead of being a team’s top back he was the league’s best RB2. He still rushed for 844 yards in 2007. His carries dwindled as Peterson rose to greatness. Taylor was a great #2.

Ted Brown was drafted in the first round of the 1979 NFL Draft to be the next Chuck Foreman. There was never going to be a next Chuck Foreman. Ted Brown was a very good back. At his best, he gained 912 yards in 1980 and 1063 yards in 1981. His numbers declined as the Vikings started relying more on multiple backs through the 1980s. 

Darrin Nelson will always be blamed for not being Marcus Allen. It wasn’t his fault that the Vikings chose him over Allen. Personally, I was thrilled that Nelson was the pick as I’d been watching him closely for four years at Stanford. He was exactly the versatile sort of back that the Vikings had favored since Chuck Foreman. Unfortunately, Nelson wasn’t NFL-sized. He was a very good player for the Vikings. He was never a great player. He was never Marcus Allen. 

I always liked Rickey Young. I liked him when he was with the San Diego Chargers. I loved that the Vikings traded for him in 1978. I didn’t like that Ed White was traded to get him but I liked that the Vikings had him. With the Vikings, he was best known for catching passes out of the backfield. During his first three years in Minnesota, Young had reception totals of 88, 72, and 64. His 88 catches in 1978 led the league. He was also a good runner and great blocker. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Receivers

I was thinking about receivers. When I think about football, I often think about receivers. I like receivers. The Minnesota Vikings have been blessed with a lot of great receivers. Maybe that’s why I like receivers so damn much. Here are my favorite Vikings receivers. 

1.   Cris Carter

2.   Randy Moss

3.   Justin Jefferson

4.   Anthony Carter

5.   Adam Thielen

6.   Ahmad Rashad

7.   Stefon Diggs

8.   Percy Harvin

9.   Sammy White

10. Jake Reed

11. John Gilliam

12. Paul Flatley

13. Sidney Rice

14. Nate Burleson

15. Gene Washington

16. Hassan Jones

17. Chris Walsh

18. Leo Lewis

19. Bernard Berrian

20. John Henderson

***

The top two are tough to separate. Cris Carter is a close second to Alan Page as my favorite Vikings player. Randy Moss is way up there too. I simply loved the way Carter played the position. He had the best pass-catching hands I’ve ever seen. He ran great routes. His body control was incredible. He worked the sideline and end lines better than any receiver I’ve ever seen. Moss is one of the most physically gifted football players to ever flash across the NFL. It was a blast to watch him rip up the league. I was in the Canton stands to see both great receivers inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Justin Jefferson has only played two seasons in the league. What he’s done in those two seasons is ridiculous. 1400 receiving yards. 1616 receiving yards. 2000 receiving yards and 20 touchdowns feels like the next step. That’d be a crazy next step. The kid is just scratching the surface of his talent. That next step really isn’t so crazy. He’s so much fun. His route running. His hands. I think that it’s his competitiveness that puts him in the orbit of Cris Carter and Randy Moss. It’s his competitiveness that makes that next step not so crazy. 

The greatness of Cris Carter and Randy Moss might’ve pushed Anthony Carter into the shadows of Vikings history. He should be in the team’s Ring of Honor. Hell, he should be in the Ring of Honor for his demolition of the powerhouse San Francisco 49ers in the 1987 playoffs. That performance might be the greatest playoff performance in franchise history. It’s certainly the greatest offensive performance. Carter played nine seasons for the Vikings and he was good to great in all nine seasons.

The career progression of Adam Thielen might be the most remarkable story in Vikings franchise history. It’s been a blast to watch. From that punt block, scoop-and-score against the Carolina Panthers to becoming one of the best clutch receivers in the league. He’s a Saint-killer, touchdown-scorer. He’s a great receiver. He’s a fun receiver. 

I’ve always thought that Ahmad Rashad would be in Canton if he’d arrived in Minnesota a few years earlier. He played receiver the way I like the position played. Great hands. Great routes. Great body control. He played the position a lot like Cris Carter. I like that. 

I hated that Stefon Diggs was traded. Getting Justin Jefferson made it easier. It was a blast to watch Diggs play football. Great hands. Great route running. I have a type. Diggs was so damn fun.

Like Moss before him and Diggs after, Percy Harvin was traded out of Minnesota. Sad days. Harvin was a running back that played receiver. A touchdown was possible from anywhere on the field if the ball was in his hands. His physical gifts were so great that they rival those of Moss. 

Sammy White was the explosive compliment to Ahmad Rashad. The Vikings needed a receiver boost in 1976. White provided that as a rookie. He was named the league’s rookie of the year. White-Rashad was my first favorite Vikings receiver duo. 

Cris Carter was great. There’s no questioning that. Throughout his Vikings career, he was blessed with terrific receivers opposite him. First it was Anthony Carter. Later it was Randy Moss. In between, it was Jake Reed. Reed had four consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. He was a Pro Bowl caliber receiver on teams that had Hall of Fame caliber receivers. As a result, he made no Pro Bowls. You look at Reed’s career trajectory and it tails off in 1998. That’s the year that Moss was drafted.

It’ll be tough to crack the Top-10 of my Vikings receiving favorites. Nate Burleson and Sidney Rice would’ve had a shot if each had longer Vikings careers. I really liked how each played the position. 

Chris Walsh and Leo Lewis made this list of favorites as much for their special teams play as their receiver play. Walsh’s maniacal play on kick coverage was a blast. 

Bernard Berrian would’ve been a terrific complimentary receiver to many of those above him on this list. He was a bit miscast as the team’s receiving savior. 

Minnesota Vikings Hires And Promotions

With a new general manager, it was inevitable that the Minnesota Vikings would be making changes to the their front office. When George Paton and the Denver Broncos recently swiped another Vikings personnel employee (Reed Burckhardt), the Vikings were further forced to make hires and/or promote from within. Several changes to Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s personnel team were announced yesterday. 

New Hires

Donovan Jackson - Pro Scout

David Williams - National Scout

Promotions

Chisom Opara - Assistant Director of Player Personnel

Chris Blanco - Director of Pro Personnel

Taylor Brooks - Player Personnel Analyst

Updated Titles

Ryan Grigson - Senior Vice President of Player Personnel

Ryan Monnens - Director of Player Personnel

Jamaal Stephenson - Senior Personnel Executive

Imarjaye Albury - Pro Scout

Sean Gustus - National Scout

Kaitlin Zarecki - Football Operations Manager/Special Assistant to GM and HC

Scott Kuhn - Director of Football Quantitative Methods/Pro Scout

Rex Johnson - Football Quantitative Methods Manager

Chris French - Football Quantitative Methods Analyst

The “moves” that stand out most to me are those involving Ryan Grigson, Chisom Opara, and Jamaal Stephenson. If Grigson wasn’t already the highest ranking member of Adofo-Mensah’s personnel team, he probably is now. Opara makes the well-earned jump from National Scout to Assistant Director of Player Personnel. I’m getting the feeling that Stephenson is inching towards retirement. Maybe I’m reading too more into this title change. He was co-Director of Player Personnel with Ryan Monnens. Before that he was the Director of College Scouting. He’s been telecommuting/commuting from his Maryland home for a while. Senior Personnel Executive kinda feels like a created title with more of a consultant role. Or maybe I’m just wrong. Anyway, here’s the new personnel department of the Minnesota Vikings.

General Manager

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

Executive Vice President-Football Operations

Rob Brzezinski

Senior Vice President of Player Personnel

Ryan Grigson

Vice President of Football Operations

Demitrius Washington

Director of Player Personnel

Ryan Monnens

Assistant Director of Player Personnel

Chisom Opara

Senior Personnel Executive

Jamaal Stephenson

Director of Pro Personnel

Chris Blanco

Director of College Scouting

Mike Sholiton

Assistant Director of College Scouting

Pat Roberts

Pro Scout

Imarjaye Albury

National Scouts

Donovan Jackson

Sean Gustus

David Williams

College Scouts

Frank Acevedo

Jake Essler

Blaine Gramer

Kevin McCabe

College Scout/BLESTO

Mitch Johnson-Martin

Player Personnel Assistant 

Caroline DeFelice

Player Personnel Analyst

Taylor Brooks

Scouting Associate

Alex Dale

Football Operations Manager/Special Assistant to GM and HC

Kaitlin Zarecki

Director of Football Quantitative Methods/Pro Scout

Scott Kuhn

Football Quantitative Methods Manager

Rex Johnson

Football Quantitative Methods Analyst

Chris French

Executive Director/Football Information Systems

Paul Nelson

Senior Manager/ Football Information Systems

Luke Burson

Database Administrator 

Derek McCormick

Football Administration Coordinator

Emily Badis

Football Data Analyst

David Blando

Player Personnel Consultant 

Paul Wiggin

***

Unless that damn George Paton does further raiding, the Vikings personnel department should be set until next offseason and perhaps, hopefully, longer. 

Best Remaining Free Agents

The Minnesota Vikings wrapped up their offseason workouts this week. With my purple-skewed view of the entire NFL that means all teams are done until training camp. If there’s ever an offseason in the league, this is it. Over the next month-plus, teams will be evaluating what they saw in the workouts. If they see holes, there are players still looking for work that might fill them. Here are some of the best of those free agents.

Best Remaining Free Agents:

1.   Odell Beckham Jr., WR

2.   Duane Brown, OT

3.   Rob Gronkowski, TE

4.   Dont’a Hightower, LB

5.   Trey Flowers, Edge

6.   JC Tretter, C

7.   Eric Fisher, OT

8.   A.J. Johnson, LB

9.   Julio Jones, WR

10. Jaquiski Tartt, S

11. Will Fuller, WR

13. Bryce Callahan, CB

14. Anthony Barr, LB

15. Justin Houston, Edge

16. Sheldon Richardson, DL

17. Larry Ogunjobi, DL

18. Ndamukong Suh

19. Kevin King, CB

20. Riley Reiff, OT

21. Joe Haden, CB

22. Darryl Williams, OT

23. TY Hilton, WR

24. Landon Collins, S

25. Ereck Flowers, OG

26. Jason Pierre-Paul, Edge

27. Carlos Dunlap, Edge

28. Janoris Jenkins, CB

29. K,J. Wright, LB

30. Jerick McKinnon, RB

***

The above are free agents in early June for a variety of reasons. Age is likely a big reason. Only seven of the above 30 players are on the preferred side of 30. 

Odell Beckham

Trey Flowers

Will Fuller

Larry Ogunjobi

Kevin King

Landon Collins

Ereck Flowers

Since he was released by the Cleveland Browns, Vikings fans have been pleading for the signing of JC Tretter. I didn’t see it happening in March. I don’t see it happening in June. Or July. The Vikings are moving forward with Garrett Bradbury. He has the talent and movement skills to be a high-end starter. He just has to get NFL strong and play with more consistency. The new Vikings coaching staff clearly hopes to maximize Bradbury’s strengths and minimize his weaknesses. He has one season to bring it all together and justify his selection in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. 

2023 College Football Hall of Fame Ballot

The ballot for the 2023 Class of the College Football Hall of Fame was released this week. The ballot includes 80 players and nine coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision and 96 players and 33 coaches from the divisional ranks. 

The criteria for Hall of Fame consideration include:

-a player must have received First-Team All-America recognition

-a player becomes eligible 10 full seasons after his final year of college football

-a coach becomes eligible three full seasons after retirement

-a coach becomes immediately eligible provided he is at least 70 years of age

-a coach must have coached 10 years and 100 games with a .600 winning %

2023 FBS Player Candidates:

Flozell Adams, OT, Michigan State

Aaron Beasley, DB, West Virginia

Eric Berry, DB, Tennessee

Michael Bishop, QB, Kansas State

Justin Blackmon, WR, Oklahoma State

Jeff Bregel, OG, USC

Larry Burton, WR, Purdue

Reggie Bush, RB, USC

Rocky Calmus, LB, Oklahoma

Greg Carr, LB, Auburn

Mark Carrier, DB, USC

Ki-Jana Carter, RB, Penn State

Russell Carter, DB, SMU

Matt Cavanaugh, QB, Pittsburgh

Dallas Clark, TE, Iowa

Tim Couch, QB, Kentucky

Brad Culpepper, DT, Florida State

Ken Dorsey, QB, Miami

D.J. Dozier, RB, Penn State

Vaughn Dunbar, RB, Indiana

Warrick Dunn, RB, Florida State

Dwight Freeney, DE, Syracuse

Robert Gallery, OT, Iowa

Joe Garten, OG, Colorado

Willie Gault, WR, Tennessee

Toby Gerhart, RB, Stanford

Tony Gonzalez, TE, California

Dan Hampton, DT, Arkansas

Kevin Hardy, LB, Illinois

Marvin Harrison, WR, Syracuse

Garrison Hearst, RB, Georgia

Josh Heupel, QB, Oklahoma

Craig Heyward, RB, Pittsburgh

Steve Hutchinson, OG, Michigan

Bradie James, LB, LSU

LaMichael James, RB, Oregon

Sebastian Janikowski, K, Florida State

Derrick Johnson, LB, Texas

Levon Kirkland, LB, Clemson

Luke Kuechly, LB, Boston College

Antonio Langham, DB, Alabama

James Laurinaitis, LB, Ohio State

Ryan Leaf, QB, Washington State

John Lee, K, UCLA

Ray Lewis, LB, Miami

Todd Lyght, DB, Notre Dame

Marshawn Lynch, RB, California

Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri

Terance Mathis, WR, New Mexico

Chris McIntosh, OL, Wisconsin

Bryant McKinnie, OT, Miami

Heath Miller, TE, Virginia

Corey Moore, DL, Virginia Tech

Herman Moore, WR, Virginia

Kellen Moore, QB, Boise State

Dan Neil, OL, Texas

Haloti Ngata, DT, Oregon

Ken Norton Jr., LB, UCLA

Julius Peppers, DE, North Carolina

Paul Posluszny, LB, Penn State

Antwaan Randle-El, QB, Indiana

Errict Rhett, RB, Florida

Simeon Rice, LB, Illinois

Ron Rivera, LB, California

Mark Russell, LB, Colorado

Chris Samuels, OT, Alabama

Larry Sievers, WR, Tennessee

Dewey Selmon, DL, Oklahoma

Alex Smith, QB, Utah

Justin Smith, DL, Missouri

Kevin Smith, DB, Texas A&M

Michael Stonebreaker, LB, Notre Dame

Taylor Stubblefield, WR, Purdue

Tim Tebow, QB, Florida

Troy Vincent, DB, Wisconsin

Chris Ward, OT, Ohio State

Peter Warrick, WR, Florida State

Eric Weddle, DB, Utah

DeAngelo Williams, RB, Memphis

Luis Zendajas, K, Arizona State

FBS Coach Candidates:

Larry Blakeney

Troy (1991-2014)

Jim Carlen

West Virginia (1966-69)

Texas Tech (1970-74)

South Carolina (1975-81)

Pete Cawthon Sr.

Austin College (1923-27)

Texas Tech (1930-40)

Larry Coker 

Miami (2001-06)

UTSA (2011-15)

Ralph Friedgen 

Maryland (2001-10)

Paul Johnson 

Georgia Southern (1997-01)

Navy (2002-07)

Georgia Tech (2008-18)

Mark Richt 

Georgia (2001-15)

Miami (2016-18)

Darryl Rogers

Cal State Hayward (1965)

Fresno State (1966-72)

San Jose State (1973-75)

Michigan State (1976-79)

Arizona State (1980-84)

Frank Solich

Nebraska (1998-03)

Ohio (2005-20)

Divisional Player Candidates:

Ashley Ambrose, DB, Mississippi Valley State

Archie Amerson, RB, Northern Arizona

Rick Bealer, DB, Lycoming

Rennie Benn, WR, Lehigh

Bill Borchert, QB, Mount Union

John Bothe, C, Augustana

Carl Boyd, RB, Northern Iowa

Vincent Brown, LB, Mississippi Valley State

Joe Campbell, RB, Middle Tennessee State

William Campbell, DB, Western Colorado

Vin Carioscia, OT, Franklin & Marshall (PA)

Roger Carr, WR, Louisiana Tech

Peter Catan, DE, Eastern Illinois

Steve Cockerham, LB, Akron

Bruce Collie, OT, Texas-Arlington

Tom Collins, DB, Indianapolis

Ray Condren, RB, Gettysburg

Mark Cotney, DB, Cameron

Case deBruijn, P, Idaho State

Parnell Dickinson, QB, Mississippi Valley State

William Dillon, DB, Virginia Union

Al Dorenkamp, LB, Central (IA)

John Dorsey, LB, Connecticut 

Chuck Downey, DB, Stony Brook

Matt Dunigan, QB, Louisiana Tech

Tom Ehrhardt, QB, Rhose Island

Keith Elias, RB, Princeton

Curtis Eller, LB, Villanova

Blake Elliott, WR, St. John’s 

Richard Erenberg, RB, Colgate

Jahri Evans, OL, Bloomsburg 

John Fitzgerald, OG, Central Oklahoma

Bernard Ford, WR, Central Florida

Duane Fritz, P, Chadron State

Rick Fry, End, Occidental

Bob Gaddis, WR, Mississippi Valley State

Chris George, WR, Grenville State

Don Greco, OG, Western Illinois 

Don Griffin, DB, Middle Tennessee State

Ron Hausauer, OG, Jamestown

Pat Hauser, OT, Cal State Northridge

Bobby Hedrick, RB, Elon

Chris Hegg, QB, Truman State

Bob Heller, C, Wesleyan (CT)

Billy Hess, WR, West Chester

Lynn Hieber, QB, Indiana (PA)

Rene Ingoglia. RB, Massachusetts 

Louis Jackson, RB, Cal Poly SLO

Terron Jackson, OT, Missouri Southern State

John Jurkovic, DE, Eastern Illinois

Ed Kelley, DE, Hampden-Sydney

Bill Kollar, DE, Montana State

Garry Kuhiman, OT, Delaware

Sean Landeta, P, Towson

Jeff Loots, QB, Southwest Minnesota State

Al Lucas, DL, Troy

Vince Mazza, P, Ashland (OH)

Steve McAdoo, OL, Middle Tennessee State

Gary McCauley, TE, Clarion

Fran McDermott, DB, St. Mary’s (CA)

Bill McGovern, DB, Holy Cross

Tony Miles, WR, Northwest Missouri State

Carl Morris, WR, Harvard

Robert Morris, DE, Georgetown

Kenneth Murawski, LB, Carnegie Melon

Timmy Newsome, RB, Winston-Salem State

Ed O’Brien, K, Central Florida

Randy Page, QB, Central Oklahoma

Chris Parker, RB, Marshall

Alonzo Patterson, RB, Wagner

Ted Peterson, C, Eastern Illinois

Martin Peterson, OT, Pennsylvania 

Charlie Pierce, P/K, Central Florida

Dave Pomante, DL, Whitworth (WA)

Tyrone Poole, DB, Fort Valley State

Gerry Quinlivan, LB, Buffalo

Michael Renan, DE, Delaware

David Rhodes, WR, Central Florida

Neil Ringers, DE, Ohio Wesleyan

Kirk Roach, K, Western Carolina

Bobby Saiz, QB, Adams State (CO)

Jeff Schebler, K, Wisconsin-Whitewater

Terry Schmidt, DB, Ball State

Joe Skladany, LB, Lafayette

Ed Smith, WR, Bethel (KS)

Paul Smith, RS, Gettysburg

Tom Stenglein, WR, Colgate

Freddie Thomas, DB, Troy

Markus Thomas, RB, Eastern Kentucky

Brad Tokar, RB, Westminster

Jay Wessler, RB, Illinois College

Brian Westbrook, RB, Villanova

Tim Whelan, RB, Tufts

Mike Wiggins, P, Iowa-Wesleyan

Jerry Woods, DB, Northern Michigan

Divisional Coach Candidates:

Dick Biddle

Colgate (1996-13)

Monte Carter

Lakeland (1981-86)

Shepherd (1987-17)

Paul Durham

Linfield (1948-67)

Jim Feix

Western Kentucky (1968-83)

Howard Fletcher 

Northern Illinois (1956-68)

Ross Fortier

Minnesota-Moorhead (1970-92)

Morley Fraser

Albion (1954-68)

Danny Hale

West Chester (1984-88)

Bloomsburg (1993-12)

Walt Hameline 

Wagner (1981-14)

Eddie Hurt

Virginia Lynchburg (1925-28)

Morgan State (1930-59)

Art Keller

Carthage (1952-82)

Glenn Killinger

Dickinson (1922)

Rensselaer (1927-32)

Moravian (1933)

West Chester (1934-41, 45-59)

Larry Kover 

Northwestern College (1967-94)

Roy Kramer

Central Michigan (1967-77)

Maxie Lambright

Louisiana Tech (1967-78)

Dick Lowry

Wayne State (1974-79)

Hillsdale (1980-96)

James Malosky

Minnesota Duluth (1958-97)

George Mihalik

Slippery Rock (1988-15)

Don Miller

Trinity (CT) (1990-13)

Steve Morhr 

Trinity (TX) 1990-13)

Charles Murphy

Middle Tennessee State (1947-68)

Jim Ostendarp 

Amherst (1959-91)

Forrest Perkins

Wisconsin-Whitewater (1956-84)

Bill Ramseyer

Wilmington (1972-90)

Virginia’s College at Wise (1991-01)

Dwight Reed

Lincoln (1949-71)

Pete Schmidt

Albion (1983-96)

Gideon Smith

Hampton (1921-40)

Clyde “Buck” Starbeck

Northern Iowa (1936-42, 45-57)

Clarence Stasavich

Lenoir-Rhyne (1946-61)

East Carolina (1962-69)

Lou Wacker

Emory & Henry (1982-04)

John Whitehead

Lehigh (1976-86)

Alex Yunevich

Alfred (1937-41, 46-76)

Allen Zikmund

Nebraska-Kearney

***

It’s a long list. Best of luck to all those on it. 

2022 NFL Draft Signing Tracker

The 2022 NFL Draft is just over a month old and teams have been plowing through the work of getting their draft picks signed. Only two first round picks remain unsigned. 

1.   Jacksonville Jaguars: Travon Walker, Edge, Georgia-Signed

2.   Detroit Lions: Aidan Hutchinson, Edge, Michigan-Signed

3.   Houston Texans: Derek Stingley Jr., CB, LSU-Signed

4.   New York Jets: Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati-Signed

5.   New York Giants: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Edge, Oregon-Signed

6.   Carolina Panthers: Ikem Ekonwu, OT, North Carolina State-Signed

7.   New York Giants: Evan Neal, OT, Alabama-Signed

8.   Atlanta Falcons: Drake London, WR, USC-Signed

9.   Seattle Seahawks: Charles Cross, OT, Mississippi State-Signed

10. New York Jets: Garrett Wilson, WR, Ohio State-Signed

11. New Orleans Saints: Chris Olave, WR, Ohio State-Signed

12. Detroit Lions: Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama-Signed

13. Philadelphia Eagles: Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia-Signed

14. Baltimore Ravens: Kyle Hamilton, S, Notre Dame-Signed

15. Houston Texans: Kenyon Green, OG, Texas A&M-Signed

16. Washington Commanders: Jahan Dotson, WR, Penn State-Signed

17. Los Angeles Chargers: Zion Johnson, OG, Boston College-Signed

18. Tennessee Titans: Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas-Signed

19. New Orleans Saints: Trevor Penning, OT, Northern Iowa-Signed

20. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kenny Pickett, QB, Pittsburgh

21. Kansas City Chiefs: Trent McDuffie, CB, Washington-Signed

22. Green Bay Packers: Quay Walker, LB, Georgia-Signed

23. Buffalo Bills: Kaiir Elam, CB, Florida-Signed

24. Dallas Cowboys: Tyler Smith, OT, Tulsa-Signed

25. Baltimore Ravens: Tyler Linderbaum, C, Iowa-Signed

26. New York Jets: Jermaine Johnson II, Edge, Florida State-Signed

27. Jacksonville Jaguars: Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah-Signed

28. Green Bay Packers: Devonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia-Signed

29. New England Patriots: Cole Strange, OG, Tennessee-Chattanooga 

30. Kansas City Chiefs: George Karlaftis, Edge, Purdue-Signed

31. Cincinnati Bengals: Daxton Hill, S, Michigan-Signed

32. Minnesota Vikings: Lewis Cine, S, Georgia-Signed

***

30/32 signed. On June 8, only two first round picks remain unsigned. 

Teams are making quick work of signing the first-round picks. As for the remaining six rounds and 230 draft picks, the second round and fourth rounds are significant outliers. 

Second Round:

13/32 signed

Third Round:

37/41 signed

Fourth Round:

10/38 signed

Fifth Round:

36/36 signed

Sixth Round:

41/42 signed

Seventh Round:

41/41 signed

All seven rounds:

208/262 signed

The Minnesota Vikings had a flurry of signings the days before their rookie mini-camp. Before they stepped on the field for their first professional practice, six of the 10 draft picks had signed their first NFL contracts. Last week’s signing of third-round pick Brian Asomoah was the first since that early rookie signing flurry. 

Vikings Rookie Signings:

1. Lewis Cine, S, Georgia-Signed

2. Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson

2. Ed Ingram, G, LSU

3. Brian Asomoah, LB, Oklahoma-Signed

4. Akayleb Evans, CB, Missouri

5. Esezi Otomeco, DL, Minnesota-Signed

5. Ty Chandler, RB, North Carolina-Signed

6. Vederian Lowe, OT, Illinois-Signed

6. Jalen Nailor, WR, Michigan State-Signed

7. Nick Muse, TE, South Carolina-Signed

 

As with the rest of the league, the Vikings have stalled in getting their second and fourth round picks signed.