Because of the horrendous showing in Monday’s wild-card playoff game against the Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota’s general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, has started their offseason duties. The next item on his to-do list is to fill out the 90-man offseason roster by signing players to futures contracts.
Another Vikings Depth WR Makes His Comeback on Offseason Roster
Earlier in the week, the Vikings re-signed 11 practice squad players and added a couple of cornerbacks from different organizations. Defensive tackle Jalen Redmond, a sneaky breakout player, also saw his contract extended.
On Friday, the club announced that another familiar face would return for the 2025 season: WR Jeshaun Jones. The team posted on X, “WR Jeshaun Jones has signed a reserve/future free agent contract.”
The wideout arrived in the Twin Cities after going undrafted in April of 2024.
His college journey at the University of Maryland was quite difficult. He scored seven touchdowns from scrimmage and one passing score as a true freshman in 2018, looking like the next big thing.
The expectations were high for him entering his sophomore season, but a torn ACL forced him to sit out the entire 2019 campaign. In the shortened COVID-19 season, he played in only four games, and a second torn ACL followed in 2021. Jones stayed healthy in his last two college seasons, scoring four touchdowns each year and tabulating 557 and 790 receiving yards, respectively.
He undoubtedly has some talent, and he was a frequent target (five catches for 90 yards and a touchdown) in the preseason, showcasing his ability to get open. The problem? He also repeatedly dropped passes, three to be exact.
As the roster is undergoing some changes, the Vikings currently have six wideouts under contract for the 2025 campaign.
- Justin Jefferson
- Jordan Addison
- Jalen Nailor
- Lucky Jackson
- Thayer Thomas
- Jeshaun Jones
Veteran depth receivers Brandon Powell and Trent Sherfield are scheduled to hit free agency. Powell was the primary punt returner and caught seven passes for 71 yards in his second season with the Vikings. Sherfield is a top special teamer and blocking receiver. He logged eight receptions for 83 yards and a touchdown.
Both are good options for returning on another one-year contract. Behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, the depth spots are wide-open, although Jalen Nailor has surely distanced himself from the other three teammates.
Jones was ultimately re-signed to the practice squad after being one of the dozens of players on the chopping block. However, he has yet to make his NFL debut.
Because of the roster turnover, the sophomore has a chance to clinch a roster spot and a role on the team.
It should be noted, though, that the Vikings usually have around 10 or 12 wide receivers on the team when the number of players rises to 90, and the competition will be harder than it appears now.
Editor’s Note: Information from Sports Reference and PFF helped with this article.
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Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt