The Minnesota Vikings are filling out their roster and adding more talent at wide receiver by announcing the signing of Tavarres King.
Rumors were swirling that the Minnesota Vikings were interested in picking up a free agent with the last name of King this offseason, but fans had to be a little surprised when news of the transaction came through.
Many fans were hoping that punter Marquette King would be joining the Vikings for the 2018 NFL season. Instead, the former Oakland Raiders special teams player reportedly agreed to a 3-year deal with the Denver Broncos. Meanwhile, Minnesota signed wide receiver Tavarres King.
The official website of the Minnesota Vikings announced the transaction on Thursday, April 5, 2018 without revealing the duration, salary, or other details.
Minnesota Vikings
Tavarres King was a 5th round draft pick in the 2013 NFL Draft by the Denver Broncos out of Georgia. Since then, he’s bounced around the league a bit during his 5 seasons in the NFL, landing with the Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Giants before signing with Minnesota for 2018.
He notched 3 starts during the 2017 season with the Giants and has played in 17 games during his career, catching 22 of the 44 passes thrown his way for 303 yards and 3 touchdowns according to Pro Football Reference.
King should be seen as a depth signing and a motivator for any rookies or undrafted free agents the team brings in. Considering Adam Thielen, Stefon Diggs, Kendall Wright, and Laquon Treadwell are all likely to be ahead of him on the depth chart, he should be considered a fringe player.
This is one of those signings that should neither excite nor disappoint fans. You can’t blame the Vikings for wanting a veteran in camp and the preseason to push for a roster spot, but it will be difficult to determine if he can beat out the competition for a spot on the 53.
Next: Which remaining 2018 free-agents could the Vikings sign?
What do you think of the signing of Tavarres King? Do you think he will make the 53 man roster of the Minnesota Vikings? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.