EAGAN, Minn. -- For just the second time since the start of the 2015 season, the Minnesota Vikings might begin 2023 with holdovers at kicker, punter and long snapper.
The Vikings on Tuesday reached agreements to re-sign free-agent kicker Greg Joseph and long snapper Andrew DePaola. They are in line to join forces next season with punter Ryan Wright, who remains under contract.
“I’m just excited to have a little bit of continuity from last year to this year,’’ DePaola said. “The gang’s back.”
Since the start of 2015, the only time all three Minnesota specialists have returned was in 2020, although that actually did not go well. Long snapper Austin Cutting was waived midway through the season, and kicker Dan Bailey struggled and hasn’t played in the NFL since.
Agent Brett Tessler announced that Joseph would return. It’s a one-year, $2 million deal that could be worth as much as $2.5 million with incentives and includes $1.7 million guaranteed.
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The Vikings announced they had agreed to terms with DePaola, and he said it is a three-year, $4.025 million deal that includes $2.265 million guaranteed. That’s the largest guarantee ever given to an NFL long snapper.
“It’s hard to realize that this is the largest guarantee for a long snapper with all those megadeals being thrown around (the NFL),’’ DePaola said. “I’m truly grateful the Vikings were willing to work with us on that. I just couldn’t be more excited about coming back.”
DePaola is the owner of DePaola’s Bagel and Brunch in Stevenville, Md. He was asked how many bagels his new contract might buy.
“Probably a lot,’’ he said. “I can’t do the math right now. But it’s a good amount.”
DePaola, who was signed in 2020 when Cutting was waived, will return for his fourth Minnesota season. With his big contract and having made first-team all-pro and the Pro Bowl Games, he was asked if he’s the NFL’s best long snapper.
“I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can be,’’ he said. “That’s how I judge myself. … I’m happy to be a Viking.”
Joseph will return for a third Minnesota season after making 26 of 33 field-goal attempts and 40 of 46 extra points. His team-record 61-yard field goal beat the New York Giants 27-24 on the final play on Dec. 24 at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“That’s awesome,’’ DePaola said about Joseph joining him in re-signing. “I’m really happy for Greg.”
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