{"id":860495,"date":"2025-07-06T07:12:19","date_gmt":"2025-07-06T12:12:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/06\/vikings-offensive-starters-facing-contract-years\/"},"modified":"2025-07-06T07:12:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-06T12:12:19","slug":"vikings-offensive-starters-facing-contract-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/06\/vikings-offensive-starters-facing-contract-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Vikings Offensive Starters Facing Contract Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Football <\/p>\n

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\"FootballSep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_24150994.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=1180,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_24150994.jpg”>

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Minnesota Vikings\u2019 football isn\u2019t far away, with the first regular season game nine weeks from Monday<\/a>.<\/p>\n

A few offensive starters for the Vikings are entering contract years in 2025. Here\u2019s who\u2019s playing for a new deal and their roles in 2025.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The club will travel to Chicago for a meeting with Caleb Williams<\/a> and the Bears at Soldier Field. <\/p>\n

And throughout the 2025 campaign, a few Vikings offensive starters will encounter contract years<\/a> \u2014 their final seasons before hitting free agency. These are those players listed alphabetically.<\/p>\n

Football Starters in the Vikings Offense on Final Years of Contracts<\/h2>\n

This could be the swan song for the following players. <\/strong><\/p>\n

1. C.J. Ham<\/h3>\n

No one has mentioned it much \u2014 perhaps because the importance of fullbacks has dwindled to its lowest point ever \u2014 but Ham, a beloved Viking, is scheduled to depart the team after the 2025 campaign. <\/p>\n

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Oct 31, 2021; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Dallas Cowboys outside linebacker Micah Parsons (11) tackles Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_17071593.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_17071593.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/USATSI_17071593.jpg” alt=”Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons tackles Vikings fullback C.J. Ham.”>

Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons (11) wraps up Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) during a tackle on October 31, 2021, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

The Vikings found Ham in undrafted free agency nine years ago, and he became a bit of a staple in 2017 and beyond. Behind Harrison Smith, another cherished Viking, he\u2019s the longest-tenured player on the purple roster.<\/p>\n

Ham will likely retire before trying on a new team for size in 2026 \u2014 or general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could extend his deal. Fullbacks aren\u2019t very expensive.<\/p>\n

Overall, this is your warning: the upcoming season is scheduled as Ham\u2019s last, at least as of July 5th.<\/p>\n

Zone <\/em>Coverage<\/em>\u2018s<\/span> Matt Fries noted<\/a> on Ham this week, \u201cIn a league that\u2019s mostly moved away from them, fullbacks need to be versatile to survive. In NFL playbooks, there are five primary positions for skill players. You\u2019re probably familiar with \u2018X\u2019 and \u2018Z\u2019 WRs. \u2018Y\u2019 is for TEs, and \u2018H\u2019 is for RBs. Then there\u2019s the \u2018F\u2019 position, which means \u2018formation adjuster.\u2019 The F fills in the gaps depending on what personnel the offense is playing. If they have three WRs, the F is a slot receiver. With two TEs, the F is a second TE. With two RBs, the F is the FB.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/USATSI_25004194_168394844_lowres.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/USATSI_25004194_168394844_lowres.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/12\/USATSI_25004194_168394844_lowres.jpg” alt=”Vikings fullback C.J. Ham warms up before Bears game.”>

Vikings fullback C.J. Ham (30) gets loose before kickoff against the Chicago Bears on December 16, 2024, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cComing into C.J. Ham\u2019s first camp as a UDFA, no one would have believed you if you had told them Ham and Harrison Smith would be the only two players remaining on the roster after nine seasons. Now, it\u2019s impossible to imagine a Vikings roster without Ham filling in the gaps. He\u2019s the team\u2019s glue guy, willing to do all of the dirty work the team asks of him.\u201d<\/p>\n

2. Jalen Nailor <\/h3>\n

Make no mistake \u2014 the Vikings coaching staff has big plans for Nailor. They basically pound the table for his emergence every summer. And in 2024, the speedy wideout remained healthy for a full season, his first time doing so since turning pro in 2022.<\/p>\n

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Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Jalen-Nailor-1.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=898,height=465,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Jalen-Nailor-1.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Jalen-Nailor-1.jpg” alt=”Vikings wideout Jalen Nailor in action during wild card game vs. Rams.” >

Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) lines up against the Rams during the NFC wild card showdown on January 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

But with Minnesota drafting Maryland\u2019s Tai Felton in Round 3 at the end of April, Nailor\u2019s days in Minnesota feel numbered. It would be a little strange to draft Felton with noteworthy draft stock \u2014 and turn around to extend Nailor, which could demote Felton to a full-time WR4 for the duration of his rookie contract.<\/p>\n

There could be a path where Nailor and Felton switch jobs \u2014 Felton swipes the WR3 gig while Nailor re-signs as an affordable WR4 \u2014 but Nailor testing free agency next March feels like the most probable outcome.<\/p>\n

3. Justin Skule*<\/h3>\n

*Possibly a starter at the beginning of the season.<\/em><\/p>\n

No, Skule is not the Vikings\u2019 full-time solution at left tackle. That\u2019s Christian Darrisaw\u2019s bread and butter. <\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s a more than decent chance that Skule starts in September for a handful of games, and if he performs well \u2014 holds down the fort until Darrisaw\u2019s return \u2014 he could be auditioning for a starter\u2019s job elsewhere in 2026.<\/p>\n

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Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (left) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Justin Skule (77) talk after the game at Levi\u2019s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports.<\/p>\n

” data-medium-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_21958452.jpg” data-large-file=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_21958452.jpg” src=”https:\/\/vikingsterritory.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/USATSI_21958452.jpg” alt=”Trent Williams and Justin Skule chatting in 2023. “>

Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers offensive tackle Trent Williams (left) and Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive tackle Justin Skule (77) talk after the game at Levi\u2019s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n

Life for Vikings fans will be exponentially easier if Darrisaw is fully healed by Week 1, but Skule cannot be ruled out as the September starter at LT. He fired up a 69.2 grade from Pro Football Focus<\/em><\/a> last season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, playing 361 offensive snaps. Not bad. <\/p>\n

Buccaneers offensive tackle heaped praise<\/a> on Skule earlier in the offseason: \u201cYou\u2019ve got to learn from stuff too as the game goes on. Like what have you got and what is he giving you? And that\u2019s what\u2019s great with Justin Skule. Like we would come off the field and talk about that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019d be like, \u2018This is what I saw. What did you see? What did you get?\u2019 It\u2019s good to talk about it and be like, \u2018He\u2019s giving me these moves. Here\u2019s what I\u2019ve gotten so far. What\u2019s he going to go back to? What worked for him? How can I be better, you know? It\u2019s all in game adjustments.\u201d<\/p>\n

Skule is in the prime of his career at age 28. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhat you are seeing from a rusher. And what you are getting. Skule did that for both me and Luke Goedeke. If we are on the close side of the field, whoever is closest to him, that\u2019s who he would be watching. He would get his eyes to somebody late,\u201d Wirfs added.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he\u2019s trying to watch both of us and help us both out. Skule\u2019s the best because he could, for some reason, he could replicate damn near all of the moves. They wouldn\u2019t be as fast as like some guys, but he could do them. So, I\u2019m like getting a good look all week from him.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\"Football<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily … More about Dustin Baker<\/a><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Read More<\/a> Dustin Baker<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Sep 14, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports Minnesota Vikings\u2019 football isn\u2019t far away, with the first regular season game nine weeks from Monday. A few offensive starters for the Vikings are entering contract years in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":860496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3790,28079,3516],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-860495","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football","8":"category-offensive","9":"category-vikings"},"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=860495"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/860495\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/860496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=860495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=860495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/newsycanuse.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=860495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}