Vikings Sign Tight End With 4 NFL Starts After Releasing Linebacker

The Minnesota Vikings offense will look a little bit different in 2025, and that’s due in large part to the team replacing Sam Darnold with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy at the quarterback position. For the most part, McCarthy’s supporting cast on offense is already looking pretty solid, but earlier this week, the front office added another tight end for him, while releasing one of their linebackers in a corresponding move.

Ahead of their mandatory minicamp, Minnesota rewarded their No. 2 tight end Josh Oliver with a three-year, $23.25 million contract extension. Add in T.J. Hockenson, who is one of the top players at the position in the league, and this is a pretty solid spot for the Vikings. However, the front office thought otherwise, and it led to an intriguing set of roster moves.

Vikings Sign Giovanni Ricci, Release Matt Harmon

Shortly after Oliver’s extension was announced, the Vikings signed another tight end, Giovanni Ricci, to their roster. After going undrafted in the 2020 NFL draft, Ricci latched on with the Carolina Panthers, initially playing as a fullback. He stuck around with the Panthers for four seasons, playing in 36 games for them from 2021-2023, catching nine passes for 102 yards during those three seasons.

Since then, Ricci has spent time with both the Cleveland Browns and New England Patriots, but he did not take the field for either team. After getting cut by the Patriots back in April, Ricci waited for his next opportunity, and it ended up presenting itself when the Vikings came calling on Tuesday.

When one player walks through the door, though, another one has to head the other way, and in this case, the guy being shown the exit was rookie linebacker Matt Harmon. After spending seven seasons with the Kent State Golden Flashes in college, Harmon earned an invite to rookie camp before eventually signing with the team after going undrafted in the 2025 draft. Unfortunately, his time with Minnesota has been cut short.

Harmon turned in his best season with Kent State in 2024, as he racked up 56 tackles, seven of which went for a loss, two sacks, and one pass batted. He may not have stuck with the Vikings, but teams across the league could have taken note of Harmon, so he’s a player whose name is worth watching over the next few days, as he could get scooped up by another team.

Giovanni Ricci’s Fit With Vikings

GettyGiovanni Ricci has latched on with the Vikings, while Matt Harmon has been released

While Ricci is likely thrilled to have found a new home in the NFL, his path to sticking around with the Vikings is complicated. Hockenson and Oliver are roster locks, and 2025 sixth-round pick Gavin Bartholomew is ahead of him on the depth chart for the time being. At this point, it seems like Ricci’s best shot at sticking around is by latching on with Minnesota’s practice squad.

Of course, if Ricci puts together a strong body of work ahead during training camp and preseason action, that could be subject to change, as you can never have too many playmakers on offense, and with his experience at fullback, Ricci offers upside as a blocker. It’s not the flashiest move, but this goes to show that the Vikings front office is continuing to work on upgrading their roster, even if they are only making small moves like this.