Minnesota Vikings Tampering: Day 1

It was another frantic Day 1 of NFL tampering. Within minutes of the window opening, Olamide Zaccheaus was signed by the Atlanta Falcons and Dre’Mont Jones was signed by the New England Patriots. There’s no way either deal was negotiated in those few minutes of “legal tampering.” There was some “illegal tampering.” Everyone knows it and accepts it. With player-team agreements being reported at ridiculous rate, it was a very active Day 1. 

It was a fairly slow day for the Minnesota Vikings. With the team having to scramble the past week to simply get to the right side of salary cap space, this free agency wasn’t expected to be very busy. The Vikings did sign one player from another team.

James Pierre, CB

James Pierre agreed to a two year deal worth up to $8.25 million. $3.7 million is guaranteed and includes a $2.5 million signing bonus. It’s a low-cost contract for a quality cornerback. Pierre started 13 games over six seasons with the Pittsburgh Steelers. For the analytics-centric folks, PFF loves him as he was rated the #2 cornerback in the league last season. At 6’2”, he brings some much-needed size to the Vikings cornerbacks. Byron Murphy Jr. is 5’11” and Isaiah Rodgers is 5’10”. If this is the team’s top corner trio in 2026, they’ll be much better than they were in 2025. Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores is familiar with Pierre from his single season on the Steelers coaching staff in 2022. New defensive backs coach Gerald Alexander coached Pierre with the Steelers from 2022-23 and last season. If there’s a coach that knows Pierre, that coach is Alexander. The Vikings got better with the addition of James Pierre. 

The Vikings added one player but lost two players on the first day of the”legal tampering.” The New Orleans Saints stole punter/holder Ryan Wright. The Las Vegas Raiders stole receiver Jalen Nailor. Both players headed to familiar places. Wright spent his college days at Tulane. Nailor attended Bishop Gorman  High School in Las Vegas. That sort of sentimentality is the only thing that could pry a Vikings player away from Minnesota. 

Other Day 1 activity

Re-signed:

Zavier Scott, RB

Bo Richter, OLB

Now, it’s on to Day 2. Much of the pre-offseaon talk has been about the Vikings quarterback situation. That probably won’t be addressed until Kyler Murray, and others, are officially released, and made available, tomorrow afternoon. Other than the quarterback position, the Vikings need to address the following position needs. 

Safety 

Cornerback

Running Back

Center

Defensive Line

Receiver

Despite the addition of James Pierre, cornerback is still a need. It’ll probably be addressed in Day 1 or Day 2 of the draft. I expect running back and center to also be seriously addressed in the draft. Here are some of the players I’d really like to see the Vikings sign.

Nick Cross, S

Logan Hall, DL

Juaun Jennings, WR

Keaton Mitchell, RB

And, of course:

Kyler Murray

It’s on to Day 2.