Vikings agree to terms with Eric Wilson, tender Ivan Pace Jr., Jalen Redmond
Bercich Breakdown: What will the Vikings do in free agency?
Sunday night on FOX 9 Sports Now, Jim Rich catches up with Pete Bercich from the Vikings Audio Network to discuss what's ahead for the franchise as legal tampering starts Monday, and free agency starts Wednesday.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - The NFL’s legal tampering period opened at 11 a.m. Monday, ahead of the start of the league year and free agency on Wednesday.
The Minnesota Vikings have already made a slew of moves, and announced a few of them.
Vikings bring back Eric Wilson
What we know:
Linebacker Eric Wilson was set to become an unrestricted free agent on Wednesday, but the Vikings made sure that didn’t happen. They agreed to terms with Wilson on a multi-year deal to keep in Minnesota.
According to an ESPN report, it’s a three-year contract worth up to $22.5 million, with $12.5 million guaranteed. Wilson stepped up last season when Blake Cashman went down with a hamstring injury. Wilson had career-highs with 16 starts, 17 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks, 10 quarterback hits and four forced fumbles. He also had 108 tackles, the most since he had 121 during the 2020 season.
Vikings tender Ivan Pace Jr., Jalen Redmond
The Vikings announced Monday they’ve tendered a one-year contract to linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. They also placed the exclusive rights tender on defensive lineman Jalen Redmond.
What we don't know:
Pace’s tender means the Vikings can match any offer from another team, but they won’t receive draft compensation if he leaves Minnesota, so we don't yet know if he'll return to the Vikings. Pace is set to be a restricted free agent. He has 27 starts over his past three seasons. Over that time, has 215 tackles on defense, 11 for loss, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions. He also has a fumble recovery for a touchdown.
In 30 games and 17 starts, Redmond has 80 tackles, including 18 for loss and seven sacks. He was one of three players last season to record at least 60 tackles, six sacks and five passes defended.
Vikings QB update
What they're saying:
The Vikings remain in the center of rumors with the quarterback situation as J.J. McCarthy enters his third season Minnesota. Tua Tagovailoa is being released by the Dolphins this week, and multiple reports have the Atlanta Falcons pursuing him in free agency as a back-up plan to Michael Penix Jr., who is recovering from a torn ACL.
That likely means the end of Kirk Cousins in Atlanta, and there could be a path to him coming back to Minnesota. The Vikings and Kyler Murray also reportedly have mutual interest. Murray is expected to be released by the Arizona Cardinals this week.