Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy
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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - JANUARY 04: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium on January 04, 2026 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
The Minnesota Vikings have seen a lot of departures in free agency this season.
Ty Chandler, Ben Sims, Ryan Wright, Javon Hargrave, Jalen Nailor, and Jonathan Allen all have news homes.
The Vikings themselves haven’t made a ton of moves. While the acquisition of QB Kyler Murray has been the talk of the offseason, not much else has happened. Minnesota has only brought in two other external free agents in Johnny Hekker and James Pierre. The team also has an offer sheet out for Bills T Ryan Van Demark. Buffalo has until Monday to match the offer.
Another former Viking from years past has now also jumped to an NFC North foe.
Ex-Vikings Draft Pick Signs With Bears
Minnesota Vikings James Lynch
GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 05: James Lynch #97 of the Tennessee Titans during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 05, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. The Titans defeated the Cardinals 22-21. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
According to Pro Football Talk, former Vikings fourth-round selection has agreed to a deal with the Chicago Bears.
“The Bears are set to add a defensive lineman to their roster.
According to multiple reports, they have agreed to a deal with James Lynch. It’s a one-year deal in Chicago for the veteran lineman. Lynch spent the last two seasons with the Titans and appeared in all 34 of the team’s games. He had 45 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
The move to the Bears will be a return to the NFC North for Lynch, who entered the league as a Vikings fourth-round pick in 2020. He had 53 tackles, two sacks and a fumble recovery while playing for Minnesota.”
Lynch was a fourth-round selection in the 2020 NFL Draft out of Baylor to the Vikings. He was in Minnesota until 2023, before joining the Titans for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. The details on his one-year deal has not yet been revealed.
Minnesota’s De’Von Achane Hopes Dashed Away
Minnesota Vikings; De'Von Achane
GettyORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK – SEPTEMBER 18: de’von Achane #28 of the Miami Dolphins in action during the NFL 2025 game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium on September 18, 2025 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)
ESPN’s Adam Schefter sent out an X post on Wednesday morning that mostly shut down the dreams of Achane in purple.
“Sources: Teams that have called the Miami Dolphins to inquire about trading for Pro-Bowl RB De’Von Achane have been told that he is not available.”
Schefter would repost some confirmation from ESPN colleague Marcel Louis-Jacques, who covers the Dolphins for the sports media giant.
“There are a few players Jon-Eric Sullivan has mentioned (unprompted) as building blocks for this team moving forward. Achane is one of them. He’s eligible for an extension and Sullivan hinted at one possibly coming this summer.”
It is possible that the Dolphins may be throwing this out as a smoke screen. Perhaps, teams have been calling about Achane and the compensation their offering aren’t up to snuff for the Fins.
GM of the Dolphins, Jon-Eric Sullivan, had interesting comments after completing the Jaylen Waddle trade.
“My job as the general manager is if the phone rings, I have to listen. Any player is tradeable at a certain price, but there are certain guys that we definitely want to be part of the long-term future that are on this roster currently that we think are the right kind of guys.”
This could all be smoke, as this is a common tactic used by teams to drive up the price of a player. However, Sullivan himself blatantly confirmed that they will trade any player on the roster for the “right price”.