Emily Leiker

Vikings receive one comp pick: No. 97 overall in the third round.

Brings this year’s total to nine currently, starting with No. 18.

Thinking of our last time chatting with Nailor at locker room clean out in January and how surprised he was when he turned around to a crowd waiting for him.

Now he’s on to Vegas.

Can confirm WR Jalen Nailor will sign with the Raiders on a 3-year, $35 million deal with $23 million guaranteed.

He'll play for former Vikings assts. Klint Kubiak and Andrew Janocko, who are Vegas' HC and OC, respectively, though their time in Minnesota and Nailor's did not overlap.

Punter Ryan Wright is indeed signing a 4-year, $14-million deal with the Saints, a source confirmed.

Vikings bid goodbye to Mr. Wright.

Live: Negotiating period for NFL free agents begins today at 11 a.m. The Vikings have many roster holes to fill after missing the playoffs and firing General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. Follow what happens here.

Our @stribsports.startribune.com free agency live blog is up and running now. @bengoessling.bsky.social, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social and I will be adding updates today and throughout the week.

Should update shortly with CB James Pierre’s signing. ✍️

Follow along: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Vikings free agency tracker: Who’s in, who’s out for the 2026 season? NFL teams can begin negotiating for unrestricted free agents at 11 a.m. Monday; the signing period opens at 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Our @stribsports.startribune.com free agency live blog is up and running now. @bengoessling.bsky.social, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social and I will be adding updates today and throughout the week.

Should update shortly with CB James Pierre’s signing.

Follow along: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

After signing a one-year deal to return to Minnesota and setting career highs in sacks and fumbles, Eric Wilson has a new three-year deal with the #Vikings, a source confirmed. Per NFL Network, the new deal has a max value of $22.5 million.

Little corner of this bar in NE just got hyped for that Moorhead-Minnetonka OT ending

Hahaha

Have confirmed via source that the Vikings tendered OLB Bo Richter, who was an exclusive rights free agent.

Richter’s been a significant contributor on special teams through his first two seasons with the Vikings. Led the team in ST snaps last season, per PFF.

Veteran center Ryan Kelly, who spent the 2025 season with the Vikings, just announced his retirement over on X:

Vikings restructure contracts of Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw to clear cap space The Vikings have to cut more than $40 million before the opening of NFL free agency on March 11.

Quick story on the #Vikings restructuring Justin Jefferson and Christian Darrisaw's contracts on Friday to clear salary cap space: www.startribune.com/minnesota-vi...

Haha we’ll see if we can throw something together while it’s relevant for the next week or so, otherwise we’ll bank on it next year!

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Emily Leiker open the mailbag and answer your Vikings questions ahead of NFL free agency. How did the team's former GM earn an "A" grade in the NFLPA's latest team… Vikings mailbag: Quarterbacks, J.J. McCarthy, and competitively rebuilding

NEW Access Vikings answering listener Qs ahead of free agency: @bengoessling.bsky.social takes us to the classroom on cap concerns, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social names some potential FA safety targets, and we all talk a lot of QBs.

Watch ⤵️ or listen wherever you get your pods: youtu.be/yAYFk4gHFC0

YouTube video by Star Tribune Best-case scenario for Vikings at quarterback and in the draft is ... ?

Great Daily Delivery podcast talk today with @emleiker.bsky.social on the Vikings' draft needs and -- of course -- their QB conundrum. Can free agency get here already?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFxR...

Our Access Vikings episode this week will be a pre-free agency mailbag, so drop your questions for @bengoessling.bsky.social, @andrewkrammer.bsky.social and me below, via DM or via email to accessvikings@startribune.com. 📭️ 📧

With Rob Brzezinski as acting GM, Vikings have a people person in charge of offseason reset Brzezinski’s affability positions him well to lead rooms full of strong opinions as the Vikings look to make key addition in the quarterback room and land an impact draft class.

The Vikings will interview other candidates for GM.

But at the Combine, a variety of voices expressed support for Rob Brzezinski taking the role full-time.

On Rob’s personableness, which earned him that support & will help the Vikings the next few months:http://bit.ly/4rcobLq

New Access Vikings newsletter arrives today, full of tidbits that @emleiker.bsky.social and I picked up at the NFL combine this week.

You can sign up for the free newsletter here: link.email.startribune.com/join/7v1/sig...

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker join Andrew Krammer from Indianapolis, where the annual NFL Scouting Combine features not just Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, but also members of the Vikings' ownership… Vikings takeaways from the NFL Scouting Combine

Full-length Access Vikings ep. w/ @andrewkrammer.bsky.social back in the host position to get all of the NFL Combine news, notes, etc. out of @bengoessling.bsky.social and me.

Which QB's name we've been surprised by, GM thoughts and more.

Listen wherever or watch: youtu.be/AM2Z_QwMhSA

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss how interim GM Rob Brzezinski described his draft philosophy, and what the Vikings view as their needs in the 2026 NFL Draft. Plus, they go over podium… NFL Combine Day 2: What do the Vikings view as their draft needs? Plus Gophers' Deven Eastern

Today's mini Access Vikings ep w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social covers what we heard from Rob Brzezinski yesterday about the Vikings' draft needs, analysis shared by Daniel Jeremiah at a podium session today and talk of Gophers D-line prospect Deven Eastern.

Only on YT: youtu.be/adqBZVAhDWk

Shakopee native and Gophers D-lineman Deven Eastern speaking this morning:

Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell grieving loss of Rondale Moore Vikings coach Kevin O'Connell is grieving the recent death of wide receiver Rondale Moore, who signed a one-year deal with the team in March 2025.

From yesterday: Kevin O’Connell talked about Rondale Moore’s death, Moore not being around TCO during his injury rehab and the “unique challenge of mental health.”

He said Dir. of Player Engagement Jasper Brinkley visited Moore’s family on Saturday.

www.startribune.com/vikings-kevi...

There are a /lot/ of people at the Combine working on a /lot/ of stuff that isn’t relevant to the Vikings. Better use of time — especially w/ KOC now on the competition committee — to devote the time just to talking with local media who knows the team.

Ben Goessling and Emily Leiker discuss three of the biggest talking points to come out of media sessions with Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and interim ... NFL Combine Day 1: Vikings "exploring all possibilities" at QB; Rob Brzezinski speaks

Mini Access Vikings pod w/ @bengoessling.bsky.social here in Indy at the NFL Combine chatting 3 of the bigger talking points during media availability with Kevin O’Connell and Rob Brzezinski.

We lead with QBs 👀

Only on YT: m.youtube.com/watch?v=BspN...

Vikings “exploring all possibilities” at QB at NFL scouting combine Rob Brzezinski and Kevin O'Connell indicated the Vikings are exploring their quarterback options after J.J. McCarthy's first season as the starter.

On the first day of the combine, the #Vikings made clear they're open to all possibilities at QB. Kevin O’Connell said "a lot of" his feelings about J.J. McCarthy "are still the same" as when the team drafted him, but the "timeline is in a different place:" www.startribune.com/vikings-kevi...

Busy Day 1 at the NFL Combine, including chats with Kevin O’Connell and interim GM Rob Brzezinski. Stories to come.

I’ll be posting BTS/more general content on Instagram @/eleiker.writes throughout the week if you want to follow along!

The #Vikings’ full coaching staff for 2026. Of note: Josh McCown gets an offensive passing game coordinator role, while Dalmin Gibson moves from the special teams staff to the assistant LB coach role.

Vikings receiver Rondale Moore dead at 25 from suspected suicide Moore, who spent the past year on the Vikings roster, died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot.

Here's the @stribsports.startribune.com story by @andrewkrammer.bsky.social confirming the death of Vikings receiver Rondale Moore.

Just awful, awful news.

www.startribune.com/vikings-wide...

Statements from the Vikings and head coach Kevin O'Connell on Rondale Moore's death:

"He was a humble, soft-spoken and respectful young man who was proud of his Indiana roots"

Vikings receiver Rondale Moore dead at 25 from suspected suicide Moore, who spent the past year on the Vikings roster, died of a suspected self-inflicted gunshot.

Here's the @stribsports.startribune.com story by @andrewkrammer.bsky.social confirming the death of Vikings receiver Rondale Moore.

Just awful, awful news.

www.startribune.com/vikings-wide...