Latest news with #JoshOliver
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
MN Vikings Extend Tight End Who Previously Had No Such Interest…
It's day one of 2025 NFL mandatory minicamp, which means the entire Minnesota Vikings team is gathered in Eagan today at TCO Performance Center, where they will be allowed to practice in ways that were not permitted during phase two of of the NFL offseason, which recently wrapped up. These next three days of minicamp workouts will also allow for more time (10 hours per day for a max of 24 hours total) than what has been allowed under the NFL CBA so far during phase three (6 hours per day for a max of three days). But then, as players were arriving in Eagan Tuesday morning, some surprising news broke. Minnesota Vikings sign Josh Oliver to contract extension As first reported by Tom Pelissero (NFL Network), the Minnesota Vikings have agreed to a contract extension with 28-year-old tight end Josh Oliver, who was selected 69th overall by the Jacksonville Jaguars during the 3rd round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Oliver's fresh new deal is worth three years, $23.25 million and will keep him in Minnesota through the 2028 season. Oliver played three NFL seasons (in four years), mostly with the Ravens, before signing with the Vikings prior to the 2023 season. In two purple campaigns, the University of Michigan alum has hauled in 44 receptions for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns. Advertisement Related: Former Minnesota Vikings Running Back Lands Tryout in New Orleans Prior to arriving in Minnesota, Josh Oliver had totaled just 26 receptions for 230 yards and 2 TDs. That, along with the increased priority from head coach Kevin O'Connell to run the football in 2025, re-upping on the best blocking tight end in football makes sense… on its face. Oliver extension goes against recent reporting But it's surprising the news drops today, less than one week after Darren Wolfson (KSTP) reported on SKOR North Thursday that he saw pretty much no chance of a Josh Oliver extension prior to the start of the Minnesota Vikings 2025 regular season, let alone training camp or (god forbid) minicamp. I think, at this point, Josh Oliver hits unrestricted free agency next March, which my understanding, is he would be okay with…He's moved around already. He sure likes it here, he is banking on himself having a good year this year, then being in a position to sign a third contract, maybe even back here. But not signing a contract extension like before training camp. I don't think that is happening unless things change. Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North) Advertisement I have no doubt that what Wolfson was told last week was legitimate, at the time. Was he used by the Josh Oliver camp to induce more serious negotiations on the side of the Minnesota Vikings? That's certainly possible. Either way, Josh Oliver will be he for the foreseeable future, which is a much different reality than what we were told heading into last weekend. No matter how it went down though, the Oliver extension is a big time W for Kevin O'Connell's offense and the MN Vikings' chances in 2025. Related Headlines
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Minnesota Vikings Tight End Has No Interest in Contract Extension
The NFL offseason is cruising by. This week, the Minnesota Vikings will hold Mandatory Minicamp at TCO Performance Center in Eagan from Tuesday-Thursday. Then, they have one more voluntary OTA scheduled for the week after, June 16-18. From there, players will get a month or so off before they get ready to reconvene back in the south suburbs of the Twin Cities for Training Camp in mid-late July. Between now and then, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the Vikings front office will continue ongoing contract negotiations with coaches and players. Advertisement We've already touched on some of the coaches who are currently working on new deals, as reported by Darren Wolfson (KSTP) this week on SKOR North. Meanwhile, the most well-known and public player negotiation currently taking place is that of Josh Metellus, a deal Wolfson and others expect to get done eventually. Minnesota Vikings tight end looking forward to free agency next offseason…? Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images The same cannot be said about tight end, Josh Oliver, however. The 28-year-old former 3rd round pick out of San Jose State is also due to hit the open market next offseason. Unlike Metellus, Oliver appears content with playing out the final year of his deal, before entering free agency next March. Don't get it confused. Just like everyone who works for the Vikings, the 6'5″ road grading tight end likes it in Minnesota and Darren believes he'll be open to a return. Advertisement Josh Oliver is confident in his abilities to earn more money on the open market, after one more successful season in purple. Should the Vikings rise up next offseason, as his best option for 2026 and beyond, Josh Oliver could still be back. Just no early discounts. 'If I had to bet, I'd like to think the two sides come to a happy medium eventually. That this is the next extension to get done. That it's not Josh Oliver. I think, at this point, Josh Oliver hits unrestricted free agency next March, which my understanding, is he would be okay with. He's moved around already. He sure likes it here, he is banking on himself having a good year this year, then being in a position to sign a third contract, maybe even back here. But not signing a contract extension like before training camp. I don't think that is happening unless things change. But right now, in the moment, no movement on the Josh Oliver front.' Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North) Losing Josh Oliver, who many consider to be the best blocking tight end in all of football, to free agency would be a big hit to what Kevin O'Connell wants to do offensively, especially since the Vikings are trying to be much more run-heavy, going forward with JJ McCarthy. How much would losing Josh Oliver hurt the MN Vikings? As a Viking, Josh Oliver has played 32 games, including 27 starts, racking up 44 receptions on 56 targets for 471 yards and 5 touchdowns, essentially doubling the numbers he had put up through the first four years of his NFL career, in Jacksonville and Baltimore. Season Age Team G GS Tgt Rec Yds 22 JAX 4 1 6 3 15 23 JAX — — — — — 24 BAL 14 1 15 9 66 25 BAL 17 9 25 14 149 26 MIN 17 14 28 22 213 27 MIN 15 12 28 22 258 Drafted in 2019 by the Jacksonville Jaguars, Oliver spent most of his first two NFL seasons on the injured list, including all of 2020. In March 2021, after playing just four total games (3 receptions, 15 yards) with the team that used a 3rd round pick on him, Josh Oliver was traded to the Baltimore Ravens. Advertisement Related: Justin Jefferson Reveals Why He Attended Minnesota Vikings OTAs Under John Harbaugh, Oliver became a crucial piece to the Ravens running game, but was utilized very little, outside of that role. He started only 10 games for Baltimore, in his two years there, catching 23 total passes for 215 yards and 2 touchdowns. The Paso Robles (CA) native then hit free agency in March 2023, where he quickly found a new job with the Minnesota Vikings, inking a three-year deal worth $21 million. What's followed has been the best seasons of his professional career. Multiple times since arriving in Eagan, head coach Kevin O'Connell has gushed over how much Josh Oliver means to what KOC's offense does on a weekly basis. But just one year from now, it sounds like one of the most underrated pieces of the Minnesota Vikings' high-powered attack could very well leave. Advertisement Next February/March, we'll find out how much the Minnesota Vikings really value Oliver, compared to other teams across the league, who may be able to offer him a more prominent role in the passing game, something he has proved he can handle when asked. Josh Metellus, Vikings struggling to find sweet spot in negotiations Metellus skipped the first few voluntary Vikings OTA sessions in May, before showing up and VERY lightly participating in their most recent workout, on June 2. It's pretty clear that the defensive leader's disinterest this spring is due to ongoing contract negotiations that stretch all the way back to this time last year. Related: Multiple Insiders Still See Kirk Cousins Landing Back in Minnesota Oddly enough, it sounds like the trip up in negotiations between Metellus and the Vikings is his position flexibility. Josh wants to be the highest paid safety in the league… but he plays more in the box than he does in the secondary. Should that work against him, though? 'On Josh Matelis I think there's been enough dialogue and [the Vikings] and [his agent] Drew Rosenhaus have worked out enough contracts: Christian Darrisaw, Aaron Jones, I mentioned Andrew Van Ginkel, go up and down the list…that I'd like to think eventually this gets done. But I'm telling you, I'm struggling to come up with what the numbers look like.' Darren Wolfson – Mackey & Judd Show (SKOR North) Advertisement Because linebackers and slot cornerbacks — where the former 6th round pick out of Michigan spends most of his time — are usually paid more than safeties. The problem with getting a Metellus deal done has nothing to do with lack of desire. He wants to be back in purple and, likewise, the Minnesota Vikings are motivated to bring him back. Related Headlines
San Francisco Chronicle
10-06-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Vikings agree to 3-year contract with tight end Josh Oliver
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with tight end Josh Oliver on Tuesday, enhancing their commitment to a key part of their running game. Oliver had career highs last season with 258 receiving yards and three touchdowns while expanding his involvement in the passing attack along with his role as a run blocker. Pro Football Focus analysts gave Oliver the best run-blocking grade among all NFL tight ends who played at least half of the blocking snaps in 2024. He also got the ninth-highest overall grade in the league at his position, after he was ranked fourth by PFF in 2023. The 28-year-old Oliver has entered his third season with Minnesota after signing as a free agent in 2023 following two years with Baltimore. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound Oliver was a third-round pick by Jacksonville in the 2019 draft out of San Jose State. ___
Hamilton Spectator
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Vikings agree to 3-year contract with tight end Josh Oliver
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with tight end Josh Oliver on Tuesday, enhancing their commitment to a key part of their running game. Oliver had career highs last season with 258 receiving yards and three touchdowns while expanding his involvement in the passing attack along with his role as a run blocker. Pro Football Focus analysts gave Oliver the best run-blocking grade among all NFL tight ends who played at least half of the blocking snaps in 2024. He also got the ninth-highest overall grade in the league at his position, after he was ranked fourth by PFF in 2023. The 28-year-old Oliver has entered his third season with Minnesota after signing as a free agent in 2023 following two years with Baltimore. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound Oliver was a third-round pick by Jacksonville in the 2019 draft out of San Jose State. ___ AP NFL:
Fox Sports
10-06-2025
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Vikings agree to 3-year contract with tight end Josh Oliver
Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to terms on a three-year contract extension with tight end Josh Oliver on Tuesday, enhancing their commitment to a key part of their running game. Oliver had career highs last season with 258 receiving yards and three touchdowns while expanding his involvement in the passing attack along with his role as a run blocker. Pro Football Focus analysts gave Oliver the best run-blocking grade among all NFL tight ends who played at least half of the blocking snaps in 2024. He also got the ninth-highest overall grade in the league at his position, after he was ranked fourth by PFF in 2023. The 28-year-old Oliver has entered his third season with Minnesota after signing as a free agent in 2023 following two years with Baltimore. The 6-foot-5, 259-pound Oliver was a third-round pick by Jacksonville in the 2019 draft out of San Jose State. ___ AP NFL: recommended in this topic
