shots Sections Vikings 2018 SeasonVikings 2019 OffseasonU.S. Bank StadiumMinnesota Vikings PodcastsNFL Free AgencyMinnesota Vikings Free Agency 2019Vikings free agency: Minnesota to sign Shamar Stephen to three-year dealNew Armon Watts Jersey nfl draft ,73commentsGuess who’s back? Back again?CDTShareTweetShareShareVikings free agency: Minnesota to sign Shamar Stephen to three-year dealBob Donnan-USA TODAY SportsDuring NFL free agency at around this time last year, the Minnesota Vikings lost a pair of defensive tackles to the Seattle Seahawks, as both Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen signed with the team that we affectionately call “Vikings West.”Johnson returned to Minnesota early last season after the Seahawks cut him loose, and now the team is bringing Stephen back as well.Numerous sources are reporting that Stephen has agreed to a three-year deal with the Vikings, and will formally sign when free agency gets underway on Wednesday afternoon.Stephen was a seventh-round pick of the Vikings out of Connecticut in the 2014 NFL Draft, and managed to stick with the team for four seasons. He appeared in 37 games for the Vikings in those four years, and was a starter in all 16 games in 2016. In 2017, he was mostly a rotational player, but still appeared in 15 of 16 games, starting one. Stephen has been very solid against the run throughout the course of his career, and that’s a spot where the Vikings could use some help.Financial terms of the deal have not yet been disclosed.It remains to be seen whether or not this is a bit of foreshadowing as to whether or not the Vikings think they can keep Sheldon Richardson Replica Armon Watts Jersey , who they signed last offseason after he played a season in Seattle. I haven’t seen any buzz on social media or anything about Richardson to this point, but that doesn’t mean that nothing is happening.So, the Vikings have made a move in free agency. It’s not a particularly big or sexy move, but it’s a move. He got his first chance to talk with the Twin Cities media"Shortly after the Minnesota Vikings made him their second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Alabama tight end Irv Smith, Jr. got an opportunity to speak with the Twin Cities media for the first time. He had a conference call with reporters from the area, and thanks to the Vikings’ PR department, we have the full transcript to share with you to get the rookie’s thoughts on being drafted by the purple.Thanks to the Vikings’ Public Relations folks for sending out the transcript.I’m so excited to have this opportunity. I’m blessed the Vikings believed in me, and that they wanted to make me a Minnesota Viking. It’s an amazing opportunity, I can’t wait to get out there.Q: What was it like growing up in a football family?A: It was amazing. My dad doing all the things that he’s done, as a young man having him as a mentor and seeing all his footballs Stitched Armon Watts Jersey , his helmets, his trophies and everything around the house, just seeing all that motivated me to put myself in this position I’m in today.Q: What do you know about Kyle Rudolph, and how do you see the two of you working together?A: I see him as a player that I definitely looked up to playing football, especially as a tight end. He’s done so much, been a Pro Bowl player, and I can’t wait to work with him and learn from him.Q: Did you always want to play tight end, considering that was your dad’s position too?A: When I was younger I started out playing receiver. I started playing football in eighth grade, and my sophomore year I started playing tight end. After that I switched over to the position.Q: Did your dad try to steer you in that direction?A: He definitely did. At first he said, “You can be a receiver, and be slow receiver Armon Watts Minnesota Vikings Jerseys , or a fast tight end.” I wound up being a fast tight end and it worked out.Q: What kind of advice has your dad given you throughout this process?A: He’s helped me so much, honestly. Just telling me some of the things to do, some of the things not to do, learning from his mistakes. Just picking his brain. He’s helped me so much and he’s going to continue to help me throughout this.Q: Do you take pride in your versatility and your ability to play in the slot and out wide?A: Yes sir, that’s really what I pride myself in mostly. All the best tight ends in the NFL and all the greats, they were able to do both; run block and make plays in the passing game. It opens a lot for you and helps the team in all phases of the game. It’s something I pride myself on and I’ll continue to work on and improve as a player.Q: Talk about your ability to create mismatches.A: It’s something that I really pride myself on. I believe no linebacker or safety one-on-one can stay with me, and I’m going to keep proving to people [why] that’s how I feel.Q: What did you learn from O.J. Howard, playing behind him early in your career?A: I learned a lot from O.J. I was a freshman and he was a senior, and the way he carried himself as a player and a person, the way he treated everyone, that’s something that I really took from him. On the field he took no plays off Minnesota Vikings Jerseys Stitched , was a complete tight end, I believe, and it’s proven that he’s doing the same thing in the NFL today.Q: How do you feel you are as a run blocker? Do you think you’re still a work in progress in that area?A: Yeah, I definitely think I’m a work in progress. I went against what I feel like was the top competition in college, and I did a great job of it, but it’s definitely something that I can always improve on and it’s something that is going to be a main focus this coming year.Q: Have you ever been to Minnesota?A: Never. I can’t wait.Q: Have you seen snow?A: I’ve seen snow. I’ve never lived in it, but I’ve seen it. I’ll have to get used to it.Q: Are you going to go out and buy a car now? I heard yours broke down on the way back from Tuscaloosa.A: Yeah, I was driving from Alabama to New Orleans and it ran out on me. I had it since my sophomore year of high school, so yeah, it’s time for a new lift.