Report: Nick Easton not re-signing with Vikings, joining Saints instead

The free agent offensive lineman has reportedly decided not to return to the Minnesota Vikings and he will instead play for the New Orleans Saints in 2019.

Offensive line depth was already a big question mark heading into the 2019 offseason for the Minnesota Vikings. And thanks some recent news, the depth of the position group for the Vikings just took another step backwards.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Sunday, free agent guard Nick Easton has decided to not re-sign with Minnesota after agreeing to a new deal with the New Orleans Saints. Easton was able to land a four-year contract worth up to $24 million.

Schefter also added that the Saints plan to use their newest free agent signing at center for the 2019 season.

He didn’t step on the field for the Vikings last season due to a neck injury he suffered in August. But Easton did start in a total of 17 games at both guard and center for Minnesota since 2016.

With Easton’s departure, the Vikings’ only player under contract who is listed as a guard on their roster now is Danny Isidora. Other current members of Minnesota’s offensive line could be shuffled around before next season, but their guard depth definitely took a hit with Easton deciding to sign with New Orleans on Sunday.

Most assumed that the 26-year-old interior blocker would just remain with the Vikings for 2019, especially after missing all of last season with an injury. But the Saints clearly gave Easton an offer that he couldn’t pass up.

For a position group that is arguably the weakest on their team, Minnesota now has even more work to do when it comes to improving their offensive line this year. Still with very little salary cap space (around $2 million), the Vikings best strategy now may just be to load up on young blockers in the upcoming 2019 NFL Draft.