Vikings Special Teamer Stays for Another Year
Free agency begins on Monday with the legal tampering window, and the available free agents can sign deals with their new organizations on Wednesday. The Vikings are a team to watch, with numerous players who could depart and some budget to replace them.
Vikings Special Teamer Stays for Another Year
In the last few days, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah made sure some of his guys don’t get the chance to leave via free agency, handing them new contracts.
The first on the list is safety Theo Jackson, who was a backup for three seasons but, given the raise, could be in line for a promotion and more time on the field in the upcoming season.
Teammate Aaron Jones was signed a year ago to improve the rushing game, and he produced 1,500 yards from scrimmage, earning another deal. One day ahead of the legal tampering window, the Vikings signed him to a new two-year contract.
The trio is completed by punter Ryan Wright, who was set to exit as a restricted free agent. The club says not so fast, keeping the man who punted for them in the last three campaigns in the building.
Tom Pelissero reported Sunday night via X: “Punter news: The Vikings and Ryan Wright agreed to terms on one-year, $1.75 million deal, per source. Wright, who was scheduled to be a restricted free agent, can earn up to $2M with incentives.”
The $1.75 million ranks him 19th among punters in annual average salary. Eight punters have an average annual salary of at least $3 million.
Unfortunately, the guarantees of the deal are currently unknown, but it’s a rather small contract, and if the Vikings find a better option in the draft or on the market, they might still make the U-turn and get rid of the 2022 undrafted rookie.
Last year, the club hired Seth Vernon in the offseason to compete with Wright. Ultimately, they kept Wright around. A similar move is possible, perhaps even likely.
The Tulane alumnus has appeared in 51 games with the Vikings, punting 188 times for 8,947 yards, resulting in an average of 47.6 yards per punt. He has a strong leg, but the ball placement and the touch have drawn some criticism over the years.
After a strong rookie season, his numbers declined in virtually every category, especially the number of touchbacks exploded. Last year, he rebounded following a subpar 2023 season.
In yards per punt and net yards per punt, Wright ranked 24th in 2024. His touchback percentage was the 14th-highest in the NFL, but he ranked eighth in the league in punts inside the 20. He is listed as 17th of 34 punters by the PFF grading system. His hangtime also ranks him 17th.
It’s fair to say that Wright is not a rockstar, but he is pretty much an average punter. The front office will either find an upgrade in the next couple of months, or they will stick with the experienced man whose other job as a holder requires a ton of reps and continuity, which is always a strong selling point for incumbent punters.
Long snapper Andrew DePaola and kicker Will Reichard will complete the trio of specialists. Wright will turn 25 in June.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Vikings Make Sure a Starter Doesn’t Hit Free Agency
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