Welcome to March Madness. While the college basketball brackets will eventually take center stage, the NFL has the spotlight this week with the beginning of free agency and the start of the 2026 league year.
The Minnesota Vikings are sure to be connected to numerous players in free agency as they look to fill holes across the roster, including needs at quarterback, cornerback, running back, wide receiver, center, defensive tackle, and safety.
They took care of one of those needs late Sunday night by reportedly agreeing to a three-year deal with linebacker Eric Wilson, who was one of their top defensive players in 2025 after signing as a free agent during last year’s free agency whirlwind. Meanwhile, the Vikings still sound like the frontrunners for quarterback Kyler Murray.
Check back throughout the day for the latest Vikings news and rumors.
Top headlines so far
– Jalen Nailor Leaves Vikings, Lands Three-Year Deal With Raiders
– Ryan Wright Signs With Saints, Leaving Vikings in Need of a Punter
– Vikings Signing Veteran Cornerback James Pierre
– How Daniel Jones Could Torpedo the Vikings’ Pursuit of Kyler Murray
1:13 p.m. — Jalen Nailor to the Raiders
Jalen Nailor is signing a three-year, $35 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders, according to Adam Schefter. Minnesota will now need to look for WR depth this offseason.
Raiders have agreed to terms with WR Jalen Nailor on a three year, $35 million deal including $23 million guaranteed, per Ken Sarnoff and Joe DiBenedetto of 1 Of 1 Agency. pic.twitter.com/1CGC4CcSLu
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
12:30 p.m. — Orlovsky predicts Murray to Minnesota
Murray can’t even talk to another team until the Cardinals officially announce plans to release him, but as quarterback dominoes continue to fall, NFL insider Dan Orlovsky predicts that “Kyler Murray is going to be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings.”
“Kyler Murray is gonna be the starting quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings..
That would make the most sense to me”@danorlovsky7 #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/aIKvNX93Gx
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) March 9, 2026
12:18 p.m. — Ryan Wright to the Saints
The Vikings need a new punter after Wright agreed to a four-year, $14 million deal with New Orleans. According to Adam Schefter, the deal includes $8 million guaranteed.
12:01 p.m. — Vikings sign CB James Pierre
According to Cameron Wolfe, the Vikings have agreed to a two-year, $8.5 million deal with cornerback James Pierre. He’s a 6-foot-2 outside cornerback who played 408 snaps last season, allowing 16 catches in 35 passes into his coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.
Here’s our analysis and instant grade in reaction to Pierre joining the Vikings.
Vikings have agreed to terms with CB James Pierre on a two-year, $8.5 million deal with $3.7 million guaranteed, per his agent Toney Scott. Pierre gets a $2.5 million signing bonus. pic.twitter.com/VcZnVJTxH2
— Cameron Wolfe (@CameronWolfe) March 9, 2026
10:33 a.m. — Falcons expected to land Tua
One of the first big quarterback dominos appears to have fallen. The Falcons are reportedly poised to land Tua Tagovailoa, who was released by the Dolphins. That would give Atlanta an all-lefty quarterback duo, with Michael Penix Jr. presumably backing up Tagovailoa. The Vikings never seemed to make much sense as a landing spot for Tua given his history with Brian Flores.
The Falcons are making a strong push to sign former Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa and a deal could come together soon, sources tell The Insiders.
No deal can be finalized until Tua is officially released Wednesday. But signs point to Atlanta. pic.twitter.com/zDAhPnQkSz
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 9, 2026
10:30 a.m. — Vikings make several moves official
The Vikings have officially confirmed some of the team’s pre-free agency moves. The Eric Wilson re-signing, Jalen Redmond’s ERFA tender, and Ivan Pace Jr.’s right-of-first-refusal tender are now all official — not that there was any real doubt.
Ready for another season with Red!
The #Vikings have placed the exclusive rights free agent tender on @jalen_redmond.
📰: https://t.co/CiuJkLA5LS pic.twitter.com/soAsR4O7Nw
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 9, 2026
9:23 a.m. — Vikings use ‘low tender’ on Ivan Pace Jr.
What is the low tender Adam Schefter referred to? It’s essentially a one-year contract worth $3.547 million, and it gives the Vikings the right to match any offer sheet Pace signs with another team. Pace made a little over $1 million last season, and he is a restricted free agent.
Vikings are using the low tender on restricted free agent LB Ivan Pace.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 9, 2026
8:31 a.m. — More trades before 11 a.m. CT?
We mentioned Greenard in the update below, and it feels noteworthy that Dianna Russinni is suggesting that more trades are coming before the legal tampering period officially opens at 11 a.m. CT today.
Expect more trades before we get to 12pm est.
Teams all shuffling and making moves this morning.
— Dianna Russini (@DMRussini) March 9, 2026
8:25 a.m. — Greenard is a name to watch
If the Vikings are going to trade linebacker Jonathan Greenard, it’s probably going to happen this week because it would free up money they could use to bolster the roster elsewhere.
Greenard has an $18.39 million base salary for the next two seasons. By trading him before June 1, Over the Cap says the Vikings would create $12.25 million in cap space while absorbing $9.9 million in dead money.
Vikings EDGE Jonathan Greenard is a name to watch this week. A lot of teams have been in on this one. Will likely involve a Day 2 pick if a trade gets done.
One variable: Teams know he wants a new contract as part of the deal. He’s got two years and $38M left on current deal. pic.twitter.com/itRSTJQQMs
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) March 9, 2026
8:02 a.m. — No contact until Cardinals announce something
Murray can’t have contact with the Vikings until the Cardinals announce that they plan to release him at 3 p.m. Wednesday. So far, it’s widely reported that Arizona is moving on from Murray, but nothing official has come from the team.
Tua Tagovailoa is in a similar situation in Miami, but the Dolphins have made a public announcement that he’s being released. According to The Athletic’s James Palmer, players under contract can speak with other teams during the legal tampering period if their current team has made an official announcement of their pending release.
Kyler Murray and Tua Tagovailoa can’t sign with a team until they are officially released at 4:00 PM ET on Wednesday. With an official announcement from a team on a release, a player still under contract can speak with another team before 4 on Wednesday. Tua can start doing that…
— James Palmer (@JamesPalmerTV) March 9, 2026
7:40 a.m. — Jalen Nailor is about to get paid
Recent speculation about Nailor’s coming payday as a free agent put him in the $12-$15 million-per-year window, which seems very accurate with Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer reporting that free agent receivers Rashid Shaheed and Romeo Doubs are likely going to get $20 million per year, while Wan’Dale Robinson could get $15 million.
“Another receiver likely to get more than people expect is Vikings free agent Jalen ‘Speedy’ Nailor, who did a lot with the limited opportunities he had playing alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison in Minnesota,” Breer says.
7:05 a.m. — Vikings favored to sign Kyler Murray
That’s been the word for a while now, but it gained more steam Sunday night with NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reporting that Minnesota has emerged as the favorite to land the 28-year-old former first overall pick.
“Heading to Minnesota has all the makings of a prime landing spot in the waning days of his career as a Cardinal,” Pelissero’s article on NFL.com reads.
Notably, Pelissero said a few days ago that Murray could take his time to decide. And don’t expect anything to happen today or tomorrow, because the Cardinals cannot officially release Murray until 3 p.m. CT on Wednesday.
From Sunday — Vikings players want Murray
With lots of momentum building towards the Vikings signing Murray, it sounds as if some players in Minnesota are in support of that idea.
“I can tell you from talking to some players there, they want Kyler there,” insider Dianna Russini said on Ryen Russillo’s podcast.
