Vikings sign young WR to reserve/futures contract

The Vikings are signing wide receiver Daylen Baldwin to a reserve/futures contract, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. He joined their practice squad in November. Baldwin, 24, played at FCS schools Morgan State and Jackson State before spending his final season at Michigan. At Jackson State, he led the SWAC with a 27/540/7 line across six games in the spring 2021 season. He caught 17 passes for 256 yards and two touchdowns as a Wolverine. After going undrafted in 2022, Baldwin attended the Giants’ rookie minicamp before eventually signing with the Browns. He spent a year in Cleveland, mostly on the practice squad. He appeared in one regular season game as a rookie, catching two passes for 25 yards against the Ravens in Week 15. He was waived prior to the 2023 season. Baldwin is a bigger receiver at 6’2″, 218 pounds, with a strong upper body and above-average leaping ability. His 4.3 Relative Athletic Score was weighed down by poor marks in speed (4.71 40) and agility. Baldwin joins Trishton Jackson, N’Keal Harry, and Thayer Thomas as wide receivers who have signed futures deals with the Vikings this offseason. That group, along with Lucky Jackson, provides some depth beyond Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Jalen Nailor. K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell are free agents. These are the other Vikings (excluding the four WRs) who have signed futures deals: CB Joejuan Williams T Coy Cronk G Tyrese Robinson CB Jaylin Williams LB Abraham Beauplan G Henry Byrd RB DeWayne McBride RB Myles Gaskin

Report: Taulia Tagovailoa Makes Decision on Transfer Portal, Seeking NCAA Waiver

Former Maryland quarterback Taulia Tagovailoa entered the transfer portal on Friday as he explores the options for his future, The Athletic’s Max Olson reports. After transferring initially from Alabama, Tagovailoa played at Maryland for four seasons, and he would go on to play in 41 games for the Terrapins while totaling 76 passing touchdowns and 13 rushing touchdowns. His 11,256 passing yards with Maryland are the most in Big Ten history, as he broke Purdue great Curtis Painter’s record during the 2023 season. Tagovailoa has already used up five years of eligibility between Maryland and Alabama, so he would need the NCAA to give him a waiver in order to play a sixth season in 2024. It is unclear whether the NCAA will be willing to grant Tagovailoa the sixth year exception.

Maryland coach Mike Locksley implied Tagovailoa was considering all options when speaking with the media last month when Tagovailoa chose to sit out of the bowl game. “When he came to sit down and then he made the decision that he didn’t want to play in the bowl game in an effort to pursue future opportunities, whether it be the NFL, whether it be transferring, if in fact there were more time available, it was a pretty easy conversation because the mutual respect was there,” Locksley said. At the time, Jeff Ermann of Inside MD Sports mentioned Miami as a logical target for Tagovailoa if he could transfer, which would allow him to play closer to his brother, Tua.