NFL free agency hit a fever pitch.
 jogs on the field before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports.</p>
<p>” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_16873752.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=786,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_16873752.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/USATSI_16873752.jpg” alt><figcaption> Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports.<span></span></figcaption></figure>
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<p><em>NFL </em><span><em>Network</em>‘s</span> <a href=)
Tom Pelissero tweeted Tuesday, “Veteran TE Robert Tonyan signed with the Chiefs.”
Tonyan will join this Chiefs TE room:
- Travis Kelce
- Noah Gray
- Jared Wiley
- Peyton Hendershot
- Robert Tonyan
- Baylor Cupp
And here’s Tonyan’s NFL resume to date:
- Detroit Lions (2017)
- Green Bay Packers (2017–2022)
- Chicago Bears (2023)
- Minnesota Vikings (2024)
- Kansas City Chiefs (2024-)
Tonyan joined the Chiefs’ roster just before Christmas last season, and he’ll prolong the relationship this offseason, hoping to earn a roster spot in the summer. Last spring and summer, the Vikings required tight end depth because TE1 T.J. Hockenson faced a long ACL recovery, so the purple team signed Tonyan, a man on deck for tentative TE2 or TE3 duty in the Twin Cities. The plan never panned out, and Tonyan exited stage left in October.
Tonyan played 33 special teams snaps and 13 on offense in 2024 for Minnesota, and the Vikings ran out of practice squad elevations for the 30-year-old. A player can only be called up from the practice squad thrice before needing to join the 53-man roster.
Aaron Jones — and Tonyan.
The Chiefs disappointingly lost Super Bowl LIX to the Philadelphia Eagles and are using the offseason to rebound, perhaps to their dynastic form. They’ve signed offensive tackle Jaylon Moore, running back Elijah Mitchell, and cornerback Kristian Fulton so far in free agency.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
