NFL free agency: Vikings sign Michael Floyd
By John Buhler
After being a free agent for several weeks, wide receiver Michael Floyd has found a new team in his hometown Minnesota Vikings, inking a one-year deal.
2016 was a trying year for veteran wide receiver Michael Floyd. He was arrested mid-season while with the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona would cut Floyd after five years with the team that drafted him in the first round out of Notre Dame in the 2012 NFL Draft.
Floyd would eventually sign with the New England Patriots for the rest of 2016, but was inactive for the Patriots’ Super Bowl LI win over the Atlanta Falcons in Houston. While the NFL Draft having come and gone, Floyd has finally found a new landing spot for him in 2017.
According to the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Floyd has inked a one-year deal with his hometown Minnesota Vikings. The St. Paul native will play in 2017 for $1.5 million plus incentives built into his contract.
Former #Patriots & #AZCardinals WR Michael Floyd is signing with the #Vikings, sources say.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2017
For the #Vikings and new WR Michael Floyd, it's a 1-year-deal worth roughly $1.5 million with incentives up to $6M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2017
New #Vikings WR Michael Floyd did his time and was training in AZ. Said to be in excellent shape -- mind and body -- for his hometown team
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 10, 2017
Though it is not a multi-year deal worth a lot of money, this is the best possible landing spot for Floyd by a wide margin. Minnesota needs help at wide receiver, so expect him to factor in the passing game. Floyd will have an accurate passer slinging him the football in quarterback Sam Bradford.
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Keep in mind that playing at home in the Twin Cities is probably a life-long dream of Floyd’s. The Vikings are everything in Minnesota. This season in Minnesota is a make or break one for Floyd. While he has 246 career receptions for 3,781 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns, he’ll be out of the league this time next year if he doesn’t get it right in Minneapolis. Hopefully it works out for the guy.