Rosemount native OT Tom Compton to sign with Minnesota Vikings
By Adam Carlson
The Minnesota Vikings are reported to be signing offensive tackle and guard Tom Compton, who is a native or Rosemont, MN and good friend of Kirk Cousins.
The Minnesota Vikings may not have a lot of salary cap left after signing quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, but that doesn’t mean the franchise is done looking for players in free agency.
As a matter of fact, the Vikings are reported to be bringing an offensive tackle to Minnesota who grew up in the Rosemount, Minnesota area according to a post from Alex Marvez of The Sporting News.
The report is that Tom Compton will be signing a contract with the team pending the results of a physical. While the duration or financials of the deal were not revealed by Marvez, that information should be available when the deal is done.
Minnesota Vikings
Compton was a sixth-round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Washington Redskins out of South Dakota. He stayed there until the 2016 season when he signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
During 2017, he spent time with the Chicago Bears before being expected to join the Vikings.
The Pioneer Press reveals that Compton was a good friend of new Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during their time in Washington and got to know each other well according to Compton’s mother.
"“They were in the same draft class. They were roommates and best friends in Washington. The two of them always talked about their dream would be the two of them back together again.”"
Listed as an offensive tackle, Compton can also play guard. He has appeared in 71 games during his career, starting 16 of them. 5 of those starts came last year in 11 games played with the Bears, and he saw action in both contests between Chicago and Minnesota.
Next: Realistic free-agent options for the Vikings' offense in 2018
Hopefully, the physical can go off without a hitch and Tom Compton will sign a contract with the Minnesota Vikings. His relationship with Kirk Cousins is a great story, but his ability to be a solid offensive lineman is what could earn him a spot on the team’s 53-man roster.