{"id":899108,"date":"2026-05-23T13:57:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-23T13:57:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/899108\/"},"modified":"2026-05-23T13:57:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-23T13:57:24","slug":"old-friends-the-vikings-could-bring-back-this-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/899108\/","title":{"rendered":"Old Friends the Vikings Could Bring Back This Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Vikings\u2019 roster is fully stocked in late May, but before the end of the summer, the club could swap a few players, depending on what happens at training camp<\/a>. As always, the team could call on some former Vikings, and here\u2019s a look at the most likely candidates.<\/p>\n

Minnesota\u2019s roster may still have room for old friends at running back, cornerback, center, and safety.<\/p>\n

Ranked in ascending order of likelihood, here\u2019s who makes sense for reunions (No. 1 = most likely reunion candidate).<\/p>\n

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Familiar Names Who Could Reenter the Mix for Vikings<\/p>\n

To get the band back together \u2026<\/p>\n

\"Cam<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings running back Cam Akers (27) carries the football against the Green Bay Packers on Dec. 29, 2024, during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Akers contributed valuable depth to Minnesota\u2019s backfield late in the season, providing steady rushing production as the Vikings battled Green Bay in a pivotal NFC North matchup. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

4. Cam Akers | RB<\/p>\n

Akers wouldn\u2019t find an easy path to playing time in Minnesota. The Vikings\u2019 current running back room includes Aaron Jones, Jordan Mason, Demond Claiborne<\/a>, Zavier Scott, and Kejon Owens. With Jones, Mason, and Claiborne appearing to be solid roster locks, Akers would likely compete with Scott for the RB4 position if he were to return.<\/p>\n

Despite the apparent limited opportunity, Akers has a history of securing roster spots against expectations. The Seahawks released him earlier this month, and while the Vikings don\u2019t have an urgent need for him, Akers has previously landed in Minnesota even when not an obvious priority. It\u2019s kind of a running joke \u2014 Minnesota cannot quit Akers.<\/p>\n

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Despite being only 26, Akers\u2019 six-season career includes 2,044 rushing yards on 507 carries, 17 total touchdowns, and 52 receptions for 388 yards. His most compelling story is his bouncebackability. Two Achilles tears typically derail a running back\u2019s career, yet Akers has consistently fought his way back onto NFL rosters.<\/p>\n

In short, the Vikings don\u2019t need Akers, but his potential return shouldn\u2019t come as a surprise. They always find a way to get him.<\/p>\n

3. A Garrett Bradbury Trade<\/p>\n

The Vikings\u2019 center position presents a clear choice: either Blake Brandel<\/a> solidifies his role, or the team seeks a more familiar option. Brandel is poised to be the starting center in 2026 if the Vikings maintain their current roster. He stepped in last season following injuries to the starting center and steadily improved throughout his tenure.<\/p>\n

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Minnesota also has Michael Jurgens, a late-round selection from the 2024 NFL Draft<\/a>, and Gavin Gerhardt, a 7th-Round rookie whom the Vikings reportedly view as more than just a developmental prospect. They specifically scouted Gerhardt as a potential center solution, opting for him over other prospects like Logan Jones and Jake Slaughter.<\/p>\n

Which brings us to Bradbury.<\/p>\n

Chicago acquired him in March, sending a 5th-Rounder to New England. However, the Bears\u2019 subsequent drafting of Logan Jones last month significantly altered their plans. Jones\u2019 age and draft position indicate he was likely selected to contribute sooner rather than later, potentially even starting in 2026. He\u2019s 25 as a rookie.<\/p>\n

This move diminished Chicago\u2019s leverage with Bradbury. The Bears cannot realistically expect to trade Bradbury for more than they paid only months later. A team in dire need of a center could likely acquire him for a 5th or 6th-Round pick, a consequence of Chicago signaling its intentions in the draft.<\/p>\n

\"Garrett<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) lines up against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Wild Card game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Bradbury anchored the middle of Minnesota\u2019s offensive line during the playoff matchup while continuing his longtime role as the Vikings\u2019 starting center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

For the Vikings, the decision is straightforward: send a late-round pick from a potentially deep 2027 draft class to Chicago for a player they know intimately, or proceed into the season with Brandel, Jurgens, and Gerhardt. The only significant hurdle is the NFC North<\/a> rivalry; Minnesota would need to overcome the unusual hurdle of trading within the division.<\/p>\n

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2. Fabian Moreau | CB<\/p>\n

Last season, the Vikings didn\u2019t require Moreau to be a star; they simply needed him to stabilize a skimpy secondary. Why? Minnesota\u2019s shaky cornerback depth. Byron Murphy Jr.<\/a> was a known quantity, Isaiah Rodgers offered upside, and Jeff Okudah was a reclamation lottery ticket. Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn<\/a> were largely unproven, meaning a single injury could have created weekly headaches at the position.<\/p>\n

When Okudah suffered an early concussion, followed by another, and struggled, in general, Minnesota turned to Moreau over McGlothern, a move that proved successful. Moreau earned a 70.9 Pro Football Focus grade and allowed a mere 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets. The performance was precisely what the Vikings needed: a disciplined, veteran outside corner capable of preventing breakdowns and stabilizing the entire cornerback unit.<\/p>\n

The question for 2026 is whether Minnesota wants to bring him back as a depth piece.<\/p>\n

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At 32, Moreau isn\u2019t a long-term solution, nor does he need to be. A dependable CB3 or CB4 still holds significant value, particularly for a team acutely aware of how quickly cornerback depth can erode. If the Vikings seek one more outside corner behind Murphy, Rodgers, James Pierre, and rookie Charles Demmings, Moreau\u2019s proven reliability is undeniable. They can even sign Moreau to the practice squad. He\u2019s used to that.<\/p>\n

1. Harrison Smith | S<\/p>\n

This one is as straightforward as it gets: Will Smith return or retire?<\/p>\n

\"Harrison<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) prepares before the snap against the Los Angeles Rams during the NFC Wild Card game on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Smith continued serving as the veteran centerpiece of Minnesota\u2019s secondary while leading the defense in another postseason appearance for the franchise. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Vikings treated his final game in 2025 as a retirement send-off, but then Smith hasn\u2019t expressly retired. If he wants to play one more year<\/a>, that will be in Minnesota, making him the most obvious reunion candidate for the summer of 2026.<\/p>\n

Smith Watch has lasted over four months.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Minnesota Vikings\u2019 roster is fully stocked in late May, but before the end of the summer, the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":899109,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2073],"tags":[6912,3971,12782,8761,51147,7,6303,120790,21433,9714,5856,3974,53909,58,9737,55152,233,259,2529,6,238,234],"class_list":["post-899108","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-minnesota-vikings","tag-aaron-jones","tag-blake-brandel","tag-byron-murphy-jr","tag-cam-akers","tag-fabian-moreau","tag-football","tag-garrett-bradbury","tag-gavin-gerhardt","tag-harrison-smith","tag-isaiah-rodgers","tag-james-pierre","tag-jordan-mason","tag-logan-jones","tag-los-angeles-rams","tag-mandatory-credit","tag-michael-jurgens","tag-minnesota","tag-minnesota-vikings","tag-minnesotavikings","tag-nfl","tag-seahawks","tag-vikings"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/116624244649044932","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/899108","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=899108"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/899108\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/899109"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=899108"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=899108"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=899108"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}