The Minnesota Vikings are one of the teams to watch in this year’s free agency, as numerous significant contributors are slated to depart from the organization in free agency. Those include practically the entire secondary.
Vikings Announce First Roster Move in 48 Days
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Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is scheduled to say goodbye to his entire cornerback group outside of undrafted 2024 rookie Dwight McGlothern and 2023 third-rounder Mekhi Blackmon, who lost his whole sophomore campaign due to a torn ACL.
The safety group doesn’t look much better. Future Ring of Honor inductee Harrison Smith might retire, while fellow starter Cam Bynum is an impending free agent.
Therefore, the front office had to take action, and after a long offseason drought, they made a move on Thursday. The agency of Theo Jackson, Equity Sports, announced that the Vikings agreed to terms with the defender.
They wrote on the website formerly called Twitter, “Congratulations to Vikings safety Theo Jackson on agreeing to a 2-year extension through 2027, worth $12.615M, including the first two years fully guaranteed at signing.”
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Jackson was in the final days of his Vikings tenure with the restricted free agent tag hanging over his head. The Vikings didn’t play any of the tender games and instead made sure to keep him in the building.
The contract is noteworthy, especially since the salary shows a significant raise. The deal might remind folks of a move the Vikings made at the same time a year ago when they extended the contract of Blake Brandel, a backup offensive lineman. He also signed a three-year contract and eventually claimed the starting role at left guard.
With Smith and Bynum potentially leaving, Jackson could clinch a starting role at safety, or at least that of the third safety in Flores’ safety rotation. His competitors are Joshua Metellus, who was in a comparable situation ahead of the 2023 offseason when the Vikings re-upped his deal before he had ever played a big role on defense, and 2023 fourth-rounder Jay Ward, who has primarily played on special teams so far.
Jackson was ahead of Ward in the last couple of seasons, and it would be a real upset if that changed. Of course, the Vikings can add another safety or two in free agency and the draft, complicating the competition.
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Potential starter Jackson arrived in the Twin Cities in 2022, just days after Lewis Cine had suffered his season-ending leg injury. The Vikings needed a new depth safety, and Jackson was available on Tennessee’s practice squad.
The Titans stashed him on that taxi squad after selecting him in the sixth round of the draft. In three years with the Vikings, Jackson has appeared in 43 games with the Vikings, playing a total of 222 defensive snaps and 875 on defense.
Whenever the coaching staff asked him to play a bigger role on defense, he played well, securing a pair of interceptions. The first one came in 2023 against the Eagles; the other one clinched the game against the Seahawks in the 2024 season.
Jackson will be a name to watch. He could be in line for a big promotion, depending on new arrivals.