On March 13 — the same day Gov. Tim Walz declared a “peacetime emergency’’ that started to dramatically reshape life in Minnesota — the Vikings released Xavier Rhodes and Linval Joseph. Three days later, they signed Kirk Cousins to a new three-year deal. That night they traded Stefon Diggs after the wide receiver tweeted “it’s time for a new beginning” in the wake of Cousins’ contract extension.
Since then, as other sports lurched to a halt, the Vikings haven’t stopped making news.
They used the franchise tag for the first time in nine years and signed former Ravens defensive tackle Michael Pierce to a three-year, $27 million contract.