General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has plenty of decisions ahead if Minnesota hopes to build a true contender in 2026. He began that process by handing out eight reserve/future contracts.

Eight Players Sign Contracts With Vikings

Every NFL team carries a 53-man active roster, along with a practice squad and injured reserve. Reserve/future contracts allow teams to retain and develop players without counting them against current roster limits. These players are essentially earmarked for offseason workouts and training camp. On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings signed eight players to those deals.

The #Vikings have signed the following players to reserve/future contracts

WR Dontae Fleming
S Kahlef Hailassie
LB Josh Ross
G Vershon Lee
T Caleb Etienne
WR Joaquin Davis
WR Jeshaun Jones
TE Bryson Nesbit pic.twitter.com/egL6JhzbVY

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) January 5, 2026

There are a few notable names in the group. Offensive lineman Caleb Etienne was added to the practice squad in mid-December as a depth piece, and Minnesota spent much of the season shuffling bodies along the offensive line due to injuries.

Guard Vershon Lee appeared in one game for the Vikings this season, logging snaps in the London matchup against the Cleveland Browns. That was also the same week Minnesota signed Matt Waletzko largely to provide emergency practice depth during the overseas trip.

Wide receiver Dontae Fleming is another intriguing addition. He enjoyed a productive senior season at Tulane in 2024, finishing with 598 receiving yards and a touchdown. Fleming joins Joaquin Davis and Jeshaun Jones as wideouts signing future contracts with Minnesota.

With their season now complete, the Vikings will watch the remainder of the postseason from the sidelines before the more consequential stages of the offseason truly begin.

Which UDFA’s can make an impact for the Minnesota Vikings?

Kevin O’Connell has already laid out the plan for his quarterbacks on Saturday. The Minnesota Vikings will start Sam Darnold. Rookie J.J. McCarthy will get a significant amount of run. 2023 draft pick Jaren Hall will see action as well. There are no UDFA’s at quarterback, but a few of them are looking to crack the 53-man roster. The Athletic’s Alec Lewis outlined a group that is definitely worth keeping an eye on.

Last year, the Vikings uncovered an undrafted free-agent gem in linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. This year, four players have impressed in camp. (Gabriel Murphy, edge; Jeshaun Jones, WR; Dwight McGlothern, CB; Owen Porter, edge). Murphy, an edge rusher from UCLA, has not practiced fully in recent days with an undisclosed injury. He has, however, earned rave reviews from Flores. McGlothern’s size and ball skills have excited coaches. Jones snags multiple passes a day and is likely to play major minutes Saturday. And Porter is a potential special teams contributor with defensive versatility. All of these players are vying for roster spots, and there hasn’t been a better opportunity for them to display their worth than Saturday against the Raiders.

Alec Lewis on Vikings UDFA’s to watch

Minnesota would love to unearth another version of Ivan Pace Jr. The crop they have at their disposal this season present a real opportunity to do that. The defense needs an influx of developed talent. Brian Flores will be looking for guys that can immediately step up and make plays.

#Vikings CB Dwight McGlothern with a nice interception here:

🎥: @SeanBormanNFL pic.twitter.com/YUpz4DWDxE

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) August 8, 2024

With the passing of Khyree Jackson, the Minnesota Vikings lost a player that could have factored in at the cornerback position. Dwight McGlothern possesses similar size traits. If he can show a quick learning curve, a position that sorely needs help could find it. The third wide receiver position is largely up in the air. That would present an opening for Jeshaun Jones to work his way up the depth chart as well.

Although preseason action is typically boring, Minnesota brings plenty of storylines to the table this weekend.

Related: Vikings Insider Projects Undrafted Rookie as Surefire 53-Man Roster Candidate