Presumably, Kevin O’Connell Isn’t Pleased with Latest News
Head coach Kevin O’Connell has been quite outspoken. When it comes to tight end Johnny Mundt, Coach O’Connell is a passionate supporter. If Mundt was a politician, O’Connell would be donating to his campaign; if Mundt was a company, O’Connell would be investing in shares.
Presumably, the news about the veteran signing elsewhere arrives as bad news.
Consider what Mike Garafolo of The NFL Network had to say: “The #Eagles are have agreed to terms on a one-year deal with veteran TE Johnny Mundt, sources say. The proven blocker heads to Philly after being released by the #Jaguars.”
Kevin O’Connell Misses Shot at Johnny Mundt
Right now, the Vikings are sorting through a logjam at tight end.
Sitting atop the pile is T.J. Hockenson, who was first brought to town ahead of the 2022 NFL trade deadline. He did excellently for the remainder of that season and then rose to borderline elite in 2023 before suffering a major knee injury. He hasn’t quite been the same since, likely due to the prolonged recovery alongside the very poor effort at quarterback.
Keeping him has involved shaving his cap charge in the upcoming season while agreeing to set him free next year. He’s working in a contract year.
Next up is Josh Oliver, a tremendously rugged player (even by the standards of NFL tight ends). He specializes in bulldozing defenders, displacing huge athletes with regularity. Walloping defenders is the name of the game for Mr. Oliver.
Rounding out the depth is Ben Yurosek, Gavin Bartholomew, and Bryson Nesbit. Even Ben Sims could get looped back into the mix, but that remains to be seen.
Was there really enough room for Johnny Mundt?
Once upon a time, Kevin O’Connell called him the NFL’s foremost TE3. The skipper looks at Mundt and sees a do-it-all option who requires essentially no worrying or maintenance. Simply task the veteran with a task and he’ll do a reasonably competent job. Something to be said for that, folks.
Last year, Mundt went to Jacksonville for the promise of a two-year contract coming in at $5.5 million. Not too shabby for someone who isn’t known for piling up stats. Rather, Mundt is a blocker, a special teamer, and an occasional pass catcher. His final stats with the Jaguars show 9 catches for 111 yards but a shutout in the touchdown category.
So far, things have been unusually quiet for the Minnesota Vikings. Some of the inaction was to be expected. After all, Rob Brzezinski hinted at this being the case in recent interviews, pointing toward the draft as the time when resources are more abundant (a compensatory pick has officially been added).
Even still, things have grown very quiet. Does the situation break open with some quarterback fireworks tomorrow? Nothing like signing Kyler Murray (just to pull a random name out of thin air for no reason at all) to inject a jolt into the Vikings airwaves.
The top roster needs in Minnesota are at running back, linebacker, center, and quarterback. A tight end is a luxury, but Kevin O’Connell may have welcomed a reunion with the versatile veteran whom he partnered with for a Super Bowl in Tinseltown.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
