Minnesota Vikings Sign Top Special Teamer

The Minnesota Vikings have already been busy this offseason. They got help for their defensive line, signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, while simultaneously beefing up the offensive line with Ryan Kelly and Will Fries. They also retooled the secondary, bringing back Byron Murphy Jr. and signing Isaiah Rodgers.

But football isn’t decided with offense and defense only. In 2024, The MN Vikings were one of the best in the league on special teams, grading out at an 85.7 according to PFF. A large part of their success in punt coverage came thanks to top gunner Trent Sherfield, who signed with the Broncos on Tuesday, leaving a huge hole in Minnesota’s special teams personnel.

Vikings get special teams help with signing of Tavierre Thomas

On Wednesday, though, the Vikings found Sherfield’s replacement. Welcome new Minnesota Vikings defensive back Tavierre Thomas, formerly of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he proved to be one of the best special teamers in the NFL.

Adding more pieces.

The #Vikings have agreed to terms with DB Tavierre Thomas.

📰: https://t.co/tbzozPFxON pic.twitter.com/mgk081BBNX

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) March 12, 2025

Last year, Sherfield posted a 90.1 PFF grade on special teams,which ranked fifth among those who played at least 200 snaps of special teams this past season. His 386 snaps, as a part of the Bucs special teams unit, ranked third-most in the entire league.

As a DB, Tavierre Thomas’s numbers are not eye-popping. He played just 45 snaps on defense this past year, totaling 14 tackles. In 2021, he was a solid nickel for the Texans, starting eight games with 86 tackles and a pick-six. He followed that up with a decent 2022 as well, so he provides some DB depth should the Vikings need it.

Related: Reports: Vikings Seriously Considering Aaron Rodgers at QB

Before his three years in Houston, Thomas briefly overlapped with Minnesota Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in Cleveland. He went undrafted in 2018 out of D-II Ferris State, signing with the Browns a week before the season started. The majority of his time on the field has been spent on special teams, as he’s totaled over 1,800 snaps in the third phase.

Tavierre Thomas, Nickel CB, has been a bright spot for the #Texans

In 9 games, 4 starts and 240 coverage reps, he's been targeted 11 times, allowed just 5 catches for 40 yards at 45.5% comp%.

He has 3 PBUs, 1 INT and 50 tackles. He's a physical and dependable run defender too pic.twitter.com/WlKGf1fM0B

— Jordan Pun (@Texans_Thoughts) December 3, 2021

The signing of Tavierre Thomas gives the MN Vikings special teams unit some added experience to try and repeat their performance from last year. While losing Sherfield is big, Thomas’s track record shows he will fill in just fine. The rest of the team’s top special teamers should be back, so expect a similar performance from the group this season.