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Earl Bostick Jr. #68 of the Kansas Jayhawks tackles Jaylon Hutchings #95 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders after a fumble recovery.
The Minnesota Vikings have already been busy tweaking their roster. That is despite their season coming to an end in Week 18. They continued their efforts on Tuesday.
There will be plenty of time to make further changes, as the 2026 draft and free agency are still upcoming. But like the 18 other teams that got an early start to their offseason, the Vikings are being proactive.
Their latest additions are highly acclaimed.
Vikings Add Ex-Bears DT in Roster Shakeup
GettyJaylon Hutchings #95 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders celebrates after tackling Ean Beek #2 of the Houston Baptist Huskies.
After a flurry of roster activity on Monday, the Vikings remained in that mode on Tuesday. This time, they made a pair of additions. Rather than agreeing to deals with players from their practice squad, the Vikings went outside of the NFL entirely.
“The Minnesota Vikings have signed Calgary Stampeders defensive lineman Jaylon Hutchings to an NFL futures contract, per sources,” 3 Down Nation’s John Hodge wrote on January 6.
“Hutchings recorded 39 defensive tackles, eight sacks, and one forced fumble over 17 regular-season CFL games in 2025, his first season as a starter with the Stamps. The six-foot, 304-pound pass rusher was named All-CFL and was the top-graded defensive player in the league, according to Pro Football Focus (PFF).”
The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman ranked Hutchings 63rd on his 101-player “Freaks List” in 2024.
“A 6-0, 295-pound strong man who was once a nifty high school running back,” Feldman wrote in August 2024. “He’s got a 500-pound bench, a 700-pound squat, but he has been clocked at 18 miles per hour.”
The Vikings’ defensive line is deep. That could make it difficult for Hutchings to make a strong impression. Hutchings also spent time with the Chicago Bears during the 2024 preseason.
Jaylon Hollings’ Stampeders Teammate has ‘Starter Potential’
GettyJaylon Hutchings #95 of the Texas Tech Red Raiders gestures during a game against the Houston Cougars.
The outlet later announced that the Vikings also snagged one of Hutchings’ teammates for their offseason roster.
“The Minnesota Vikings have signed Calgary Stampeders linebacker Jacob Roberts to an NFL futures contract, per sources,” 3 Down Nation’s Justin Dunk wrote. “The Charlotte, N.C. native led the team with 93 defensive tackles in 2025, while adding nine special teams tackles, four sacks, and one forced fumble in his first year as a CFL starter.”
Dunk added that the Vikings were the only NFL team to work out Roberts during the offseason. The 6-foot-1, 233-pound lineman was set for CFL free agency, and will be one in both leagues if the Vikings move on.
NFL Draft Diamonds’ Justyce Gordon projected Roberts as a “Mike/Sam” for 4-3 defense.
Teams play nickel at a high rate in the NFL, though. So, Roberts’ ability to cover in the passing game will be critical.
“Although not the most physically gifted, Jacob Roberts fits the mold of today’s modern LB and is a very well-rounded player,” Gordon wrote in a “power statement” in 2023. “Roberts possesses legit starter potential at the next level and even has the potential to develop into one of the better LBs on his team and maybe even the entire league.”
Hutchings and Roberts will now look to stick through the rest of the Vikings’ roster changes this offseason. The Vikings face significant questions at multiple position groups amid looming financial hurdles.
Josh Buckhalter covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter
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