The Vikings have already done plenty of work on the roster, but there’s still room for one more move or three before Week 1. Minnesota has added bigger names like Kyler Murray, Jauan Jennings, and Kyle Van Noy, while also bringing in Ryan Van Demark and James Pierre. Even so, the team could still use a little more help in a few spots, especially if the goal is to deepen the roster without spending much.
One place that stands out is center. Minnesota added Nick Samac after cutting down to 53 players, but his background with Carolina points more toward special teams than anything else.
He appeared in 11 games for the Panthers and spent all 46 of his snaps there. A more seasoned option like former Chicago Bears center Ryan Bates would give the Vikings a better backup behind Blake Brandel and some real competition up front.
Bates is 29, has seven NFL seasons behind him, and has played in 92 games with 21 starts. Over that stretch, he logged 1,541 offensive snaps and 426 special teams snaps.
Spotrac lists his estimated market value at $1.2 million, which makes him the kind of addition that can help without forcing Minnesota to spend big.
Cornerback is another area where the Vikings could use another familiar face. The room has six players, but it doesn’t have a ton of mileage.
Jay Ward, Byron Murphy Jr., and Isaiah Rodgers should be solid pieces, while Chuck Demmings, James Pierre, and Zemiah Vaughn each have one year or less of experience in Minnesota. That’s why a reunion with Cameron Dantzler Boyd makes sense as a depth play.
Boyd wasn’t a star in Minnesota, but he was useful there, appearing in 58 games from 2019 to 2022. He played 636 defensive snaps and 1068 special teams snaps during that stretch.
The 29-year-old corner, who is 5-foot-11 and 201 pounds, hasn’t found much traction since leaving. In 23 games with the Texans and Cardinals, he recorded just 10 combined tackles while playing 51 defensive snaps and 464 special teams snaps.
He then signed with the Jets last season but never got on the field because a shoulder injury ended his year and landed him on injured reserve.
The edge rush could also use another body after Tyler Batty’s season-ending ACL tear changed the picture during the preseason. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are the starters, and Kyle Van Noy gives Minnesota a veteran backup.
Behind them, Chaz Chambliss and Bo Richter are next in line. Still, a player like Yetur Gross-Matos could give the Vikings another experienced option.
Gross-Matos, 28, missed time last season with a hip injury but returned in Week 16. He has six years in the league and 74 games under his belt.
He’s never produced five or more sacks in a season, but Minnesota wouldn’t be asking him to carry the load. With 169 career combined tackles and four fumble recoveries, he’d be another depth piece the Vikings could lean on in 2026 if they want to keep the edge group sturdy.
In Other News...
Safety Scare At Vikings Facility Puts Stadium Readiness Under Pressure
A high school football game at the Vikings TCO Stadium turned into a safety scare when a railing gave way and sent between 20 and 30 students falling several feet. Emergency medical personnel treated the injured on site, and one spectator was taken to the hospital before later being released, leaving the organization to deal with both the immediate aftermath and the optics of a troubling scene at a venue that regularly hosts outside events.
The Vikings are now working with contractors to repair the damaged railing and inspect all railings before the stadium is used again. For a team that takes pride in the condition of its facility, the episode is a reminder that crowd safety is part of stadium readiness too, especially when youth games and other non-Vikings events bring families and students through the building. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Head Into Packers Opener With One Big Roster Concern
The Vikings barely had time to settle in after trimming to their initial 53-man roster before making another round of moves, a reminder that roster building does not stop when the deadline passes. Minnesota signed safety Harrison Smith to a one-year deal and added edge rusher Kyle Van Noy to the practice squad, while also reshuffling the backfield picture by listing Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason as co-starters heading into the season.
All of it lands with Green Bay coming to U.S. Bank Stadium for the opener, which gives every depth-chart wrinkle a little extra weight. The Packers game will offer the first real look at how Minnesota wants to deploy its running backs and how stable the roster really is after the late changes, with one remaining concern still hanging over the group as kickoff approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Head Into Packers Opener With Key Availability Questions Still Unsettled
The Vikings are heading into their season opener against the Packers with a fairly clean injury picture, but a few familiar names still need to be watched as the week unfolds. J.J. McCarthy is expected to be available despite the ankle sprain that has been hanging over his status, while Jacob Thomas is still working back from a Grade 1 ankle sprain. Theo Jackson is also progressing after a lower-body injury, and Harrison Smith is back with the team after signing, giving Minnesota a short list of health questions rather than a long one.
For a Week 1 matchup that always carries extra weight, the attention is less on who is out and more on how ready the Vikings can be at a handful of key spots. Minnesota has kept the injury list relatively manageable, but with the opener here, the final call on those players will shape both the depth chart and the teams comfort level as it gets set for Green Bay. [Read more 🡒]