Inside The Vikings

Vikings UFA Profile: OL Hakeem Adeniji

Adeniji only appeared on special teams for the Vikings in 2023.
Vikings UFA Profile: OL Hakeem Adeniji
Vikings UFA Profile: OL Hakeem Adeniji

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With the 2023 season in the books, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 22 of Minnesota's pending unrestricted free agents over the next couple weeks. We'll examine their past and speculate about their future, particularly the likelihood that they could be re-signed by the Vikings this offseason. We'll start from the least important (sorry, Hakeem Adeniji) and work our way up to the big fish (Kirk Cousins).

Vikings UFA profile: Hakeem Adeniji

  • Age: 26
  • 2023 stats: N/A
  • 2023 contract AAV: $1.01 million

Adeniji was drafted by the Bengals in the sixth round back in 2020. He played over 1,400 offensive snaps for Cincinnati over three seasons, making appearances at both tackle spots and right guard. During that time, he started seven playoff games, including two AFC championships and a Super Bowl. However, he never graded particularly well and mostly seemed to play due to his versatility and the Bengals' lack of better options.

After being waived last August, Adeniji signed with the Vikings' practice squad. He was signed to the 53-man roster in October and remained there, but he was a healthy scratch most weeks. Adeniji played 17 total snaps on special teams for Minnesota across four games, with no appearances on offense.

Adeniji doesn't have much of a track record of NFL success, but his size, versatility, and experience will land him a deal worth the veteran's minimum somewhere this offseason. He's a solid backup to have at the bottom of the 53 or on the practice squad. Maybe that'll be in Minnesota, but probably not.


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Will Ragatz
WILL RAGATZ

Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI, who also covers the Twins, Timberwolves, Gophers, and other Minnesota teams. He is a credentialed Minnesota Vikings beat reporter, covering the team extensively at practices, games and throughout the NFL draft and free agency period. Ragatz attended Northwestern University, where he studied at the prestigious Medill School of Journalism. During his time as a student, he covered Northwestern Wildcats football and basketball for SB Nation’s Inside NU, eventually serving as co-editor-in-chief in his junior year. In the fall of 2018, Will interned in Sports Illustrated’s newsroom in New York City, where he wrote articles on Major League Baseball, college football, and college basketball for SI.com.

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