David Yankey spurns Vikings, signs futures deal with Panthers

David Yankey will continue his career with the Carolina Panthers after signing a reserve/futures contract with the team.

The Minnesota Vikings wanted to bring back former fifth-round draft pick David Yankey on a reserve/futures contract but Yankey reportedly turned down the offer (per St. Paul Pioneer-Press), instead signing a futures deal with the Carolina Panthers.

Yankey was taken in the fifth round of the 2014 draft out of Stanford and spent his first season sitting on the bench. The slow-developing Yankey was expected to be in the mix at guard in 2015 but never showed the coaches enough and wound up on the practice squad after being waived at the end of camp.

Yankey spent the entire 2015 season on the practice squad and apparently came to the conclusion that a change-of-scenery was necessary for him to progress in his career.

Of the ten players selected by the Vikings in the 2014 draft, eight now remain with the franchise. Yankey was the only offensive lineman drafted by the Vikings that year.

Next: Jeff Davidson fired as O-line coach

After taking only one offensive lineman in 2014, the Vikings drafted three in 2015. Two of the three made the roster and one, T.J. Clemmings, was pressed into starting service.

The Vikings enter the 2016 offseason looking for a new offensive line coach after firing Jeff Davidson. They have lots of question marks at various offensive line spots.