Minnesota Vikings Trade For New Backup QB

5 p.m. Wednesday — The Vikings have their new backup quarterback. The team is reportedly finalizing a trade with the Denver Broncos for Trevor Siemian.

Siemian was drafted by the Broncos in the seventh round of the 2015 draft. He started 24 games for the them during his two seasons there before suffering a shoulder injury in December.

The Broncos will send Siemian and a 2018 late-round pick to the Vikings for a pick in 2019 draft, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports.

1:30 p.m. Tuesday — Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, Teddy Bridgewater and Kirk Cousins are the top free agents making headlines Tuesday, day two of the NFL's "legal tampering period." Keenum is expected to sign with the Denver Broncos, while it look's like Kirk Cousins is headed to the Minnesota Vikings.

A handful of teams have expressed interest in Teddy Bridgewater as a potential starting QB, but there's no word yet on where he'll end up. The New York Jets are reportedly currently working on a deal for Bridgewater. "It is not his only option," says Ian Rapoport. "But it is their first choice."

Now what about Sam Bradford? The 30-year-old quarterback "intends" to sign with the Arizona Cardinals, ESPN's Adam Schefter reports. The Cardinals will be Bradford's fourth team since he entered the league in 2010.

1o a.m. Tuesday — Take a deep breaking, Minnesota Vikings fans. It looks like quarterback Kirk Cousins is destined to play in purple and gold next season, but it's not a done deal yet.

Here are the latest reports from NFL reporters on Cousins coming to the Vikings that vary slightly:

Free agent quarterback Kirk Cousins will sign with the Minnesota Vikings Wednesday," WCCO reported. A source told Mark Rosen that Cousins will sign with Minnesota for $28 million per year. WCCO did not report on how long the contract was for.

"Kirk Cousins plans to sign a three-year, fully-guaranteed contract from the Minnesota Vikings on Thursday," ESPN's Adam Schefter tweeted. Schefter's tweet contradicts the timeline in the WCCO report.

"Kirk Cousins got a 3-year, $86M or so fully guaranteed offer that he’ll likely sign after visiting the #Vikings," tweeted NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. "They believe they’ve got him."

Rapoport says Cousins will have dinner with Vikings coaches and top personnel Wednesday night before visiting the team's new headquarters and practice facilities in Eagan Thursday.

This is a breaking news story. Refresh this page for the latest details.

Monday, March 12

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The Minnesota Vikings are said to be in the driver's seat in the race to sign Kirk Cousins, which means it's good news for the team that Cousins doesn't plan on taking any team visits this week. The former Washington Redskins quarterback — now a free agent for the first time in his NFL career — has presumably made up his mind on where he'll play next.

With no new contract offers, the Vikings appear to have moved on from Case Keenum, Sam Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater as starting quarterback options and are all in on signing Cousins.

The NFL's legal tampering period begins Monday, which means teams are allowed to enter into contract negotiations with unrestricted free agents.

The three-day negotiating window ends Wednesday at 3 p.m. central when teams can start signing free agents. Teams won't officially announce who they're signing until then, but fans can look forward to plenty of leaks and rumors to make news beforehand.

Case Keenum Headed To Colorado

The Case Keenum era in Minnesota is coming to a close. The Denver Broncos are expected to sign the 30-year-old quarterback and make him their starter going forward.

Drew Brees To Stay With Saints

The New Orleans Saints and QB Drew Brees have agreed to a two-year deal worth $50 million with $27 million guaranteed, reports NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Updates from the Vikings

The Vikings announced Monday they have signed exclusive rights for free agents Mack Brown and Anthony Harris.

The latest from the NFL rumor mill

Kirk Cousins rumors

• NFL reporter Adam Caplan told Sirius-XM host Zig Fracassi Saturday that he's confident Cousins will go to the Vikings for at least $27 million per season.
• On March 5, the Burgundy Blog, which covers the Washington Redskins, reported that former Redskins tight end Chris Cooley said that an agent told him the Vikings are set to offer Cousins a three-year deal paying him $91 million in total guaranteed money.
• Ralph Vacchiano of theJetsBlog wrote March 3 the New York Jets "are worried" Cousins is already committed to signing with the Vikings.

Other Vikings-related rumors

• The Minnesota Vikings made a call on QB Drew Brees Monday, NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported.
• ESPN's Adam Schefter says "at least a handful of teams" have expressed interest in Teddy Bridgewater as a potential starting QB.
• Sources tell Tom Pelissero that the Buffalo Bills — who traded QB Tyrod Taylor to the Cleveland Browns last week — have expressed interest in signing either Sam Bradford or Case Keenum.

What to know about the 2018 NFL free agency period

• When does the 2018 free agency signing period begin?
  • At 3:00 p.m. central on Wednesday, March 14.

• What are the categories of free agency?
  • Players are either “restricted free agents” or “unrestricted free agents.” A restricted free agent may be subject to a “qualifying offer.” A restricted or unrestricted free agent may be designated by his prior club as its franchise player or transition player.
• What is the time period for free agency signings this year?
  • For restricted free agents, from March 14 to April 20.
  • For unrestricted free agents who have received the May 8 tender from their prior club, from March 14 to July 23 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
  • For franchise players, from March 14 until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 13. For transition players, from March 14 until July 23.
  • After July 23 and until 3 p.m. central on the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season, November 13, the prior club has exclusive negotiating rights to unrestricted free agents and transition players. If the above-listed players do not sign by November 13, they must sit out the season.

• What is the difference between a restricted free agent and an unrestricted free agent?
  • In the 2018 league year, players with three accrued seasons who have received a qualifying offer become restricted free agents when their contracts expire at the conclusion of the 2017 league yearon March 14.
  • Unrestricted free agents have completed four or more accrued seasons. Upon expiration of his 2017 contract, an unrestricted free agent is free to sign with any club with no draft choice compensation owed to his old club.

• What constitutes an “accrued season”?
  • Six or more regular-season games on a club's active/inactive, reserved/injured or reserve/physically unable to perform lists.

• How do the free agency rules apply to restricted free agents?
  • If a player with three accrued seasons has received a “qualifying offer” (a salary tender predetermined by the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the league and its players) from his old club. He can negotiate with any club through April 20.
  • If the restricted free agent signs an offer sheet with a new club, his old club can match the offer and retain him because the qualifying offer entitles it to a “right of first refusal” on any offer sheet the player signs.
  • If the old club does not match the offer, it may receive draft choice compensation depending on the amount of its qualifying offer. If an offer sheet is not executed on or before April 20, the player’s negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club. In addition, prior to the start of free agency a player who would otherwise be a restricted free agent may be designated by his old club as its franchise player or transition player.

• What determines an unrestricted free agent?
  • A player with four or more accrued seasons whose contract has expired. He is free to sign with any club, with no draft choice compensation owed to his old club, through July 23 (or the first scheduled day of the first NFL training camp, whichever is later).
  • At that point, his negotiating rights revert exclusively to his old club if by May 8 the old club tendered the player a one-year contract for 110 percent of his prior year’s salary. His old club then has until the Tuesday following Week 10 of the regular season (November 13) to sign him.
  • If he does not sign by that date, he must sit out the season. If no tender is offered by May 8, the player can be signed by any club at any time throughout the season.

• How many franchise players and transition players can a team designate each season?
  • A club can designate one franchise player or one transition player among its potential restricted or unrestricted free agents.

• Can a club decide to withdraw its franchise or transition designation on a player?
  • Yes. A club can withdraw its franchise or transition designation, and the player then automatically becomes an unrestricted free agent, either immediately if the tender is withdrawn after the start of the 2018 league year, or when his 2017 contract expires if the tender is withdrawn before the start of the 2018 league year.

• What is the salary cap for 2018?
  • The salary cap is $177,200,000 per club.

• When must teams be in compliance with the salary cap?
  • At the start of the 2018 league year, which begins at 4:00 p.m. ET on Wednesday, March 14.

• If a team is under the salary cap at the end of a given season, can the team “carry over” room to the next season?
  • Yes. A team may carry over room from one league year to the following league year by submitting notice to the NFL prior to 3:00 p.m. central on the day following the team’s final regular-season game, indicating the amount of room that the club wishes to carry over.

• What is the maximum amount of room that a club can carry over?
  • A club can carry over 100 percent of its remaining 2017 room to its adjusted salary cap for 2018.

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