Longtime Former Viking Signs with Cardinals

Offensive tackle Oli Udoh has been removed from the Minnesota Vikings’ roster orbit for three years, bouncing around the NFL since, and now landing with the Arizona Cardinals.

Udoh is headed to Arizona after spending most of his career in Minnesota.

Udoh experienced a quiet free agency out of the gate, but he’s in the house with Mike LaFleur’s team, probably on tap for OT3 or OT4 in 2026.

Arizona Adds Familiar Vikings Depth Up Front

Udoh originally played for the Vikings for five years, believe it or not.

Udoh to ARI

It’s official. Udoh is a member of Kyler Murray’s old team. Cardinals reporter Darren Urban wrote Friday, “The Cardinals still may use the No. 3 pick overall on an offensive lineman, but they continue to add depth to the roster for the unit and give themselves leeway for their first pick in April’s draft. On Friday, that came in the form of a one-year contract with veteran Olisaemeka’ Oli’ Udoh.”

“Udoh, 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds, has played 74 games in his NFL career since becoming a sixth-round pick of the Vikings in 2019. The Cardinals are expected to draft a tackle at some point, and there remains the possibility that it would come at No. 3; Miami’s Francis Mauigoa is mocked most often as the probable pick if that were to happen.”

Vikings fans, for the most part, remember Udoh in a positive light — and as an effective depth lineman.

The Cardinals’ OTs before the Draft

With Udoh in the house, the Cardinals’ OT group now looks like this:

• Paris Johnson Jr.
• Elijah Wilkinson
• Josh Fryer
• Oli Udoh
• Demontrey Jacobs
• Christian Jones

Wilkinson, the man on tap for starting RT duty, is a serviceable-to-decent OT. He can hold the job if needed in September. However, he’s not a dazzling solution, so the Cardinals are widely expected to draft a tackle with the third overall pick — probably the aforementioned Francis Mauigoa from Miami. The pick would put Odoh in line as OT4 or so.

Udoh’s Resume

Udoh served as a backup tackle throughout his rookie contract with the Vikings, playing in 43 games and starting 18 when injuries arose. Minnesota also tried Udoh at guard in 2021 and 2022, but penalties hampered his progress, preventing him from securing a consistent role.

Udoh started at guard full-time in 2021, holding the position for the entire season. His most productive period came in 2022 when he returned to a backup role and earned a 74.7 Pro Football Focus grade in 189 snaps.

His career stops through six seasons:

• Minnesota Vikings (2019–2023)
• New Orleans Saints (2024)
• Tennessee Titans (2025)
• Arizona Cardinals (2026-now)

Udoh played 341 snaps for the 2025 Titans, or about one-third of the time.

Our Janik Eckardt on Udoh: “It’s unlikely that Udoh is more than depth, but he has made a career out of providing an alternative as an injury replacement at offensive tackle. At 6’6″ and 323 lbs, Udoh had the size and the movement skills to be an intriguing tackle prospect, which is why Rick Spielman took a shot when he drafted the Elon project.”

“In his rookie year, Udoh made the 53-man roster and avoided any practice squad stints. His only rookie appearance came against all-world defender Khalil Mack and he looked surprisingly good against him. After another season of depth duties, Udoh’s breakthrough came in 2021 when Mike Zimmer’s squad deployed him as a starting guard, with inconsistent results, especially in the penalty category.”

All the Cardinals FA Moves

Arizona has been one of the busier teams in the NFL this offseason, adding these newcomers and re-signing these men:

• Tyler Allgeier (RB) ATL → ARI
• Andrew Billings (DL) CHI → ARI
• Kendrick Bourne (WR) NYJ → ARI
• L.J. Collier (DL) ARI → ARI
• Devin Duvernay (WR) CHI → ARI
• Simi Fehoko (WR) LAC → ARI
• Jack Gibbens (LB) NE → ARI
• Zonovan Knight (RB) ARI → ARI
• Casey Kreiter (LS) NYG → ARI
• Roy Lopez (DL) DET → ARI
• Gardner Minshew (QB) KC → ARI
• Matt Pryor (G/T) PHI → ARI
• Teagan Quitoriano (TE) ATL → ARI
• Isaac Seumalo (G) PIT → ARI
• Starling Thomas V (CB) ARI → ARI
• Oli Udoh (LT) TEN → ARI
• Andrew Wingard (S) JAX → ARI
• Elijah Wilkinson (G) ATL → ARI
• Jonah Williams (ED) NO → ARI

And the players who ventured elsewhere:

• Evan Brown (G/C) ARI → HOU
• Akeem Davis-Gaither (LB) ARI → IND
• Emari Demercado (RB) ARI → KC
• Greg Dortch (WR) ARI → DET
• Kyler Murray (QB) ARI → MIN
• Jalen Thompson (S) ARI → DAL
• Channing Tindall (LB) ARI → ATL
• Dalvin Tomlinson (DL) ARI → LAC

Udoh turned 29 last month on Valentine’s Day. The Cardinals are expected to win four or five games next season.