In what feels like a lifetime ago (but was only a few weeks back), the Vikings roster saw C.J. Ham depart for retirement. Does the fullback position get filled? If so, note the presence of Patrick Ricard in free agency.
The veteran stands at an imposing 6’3″ while weighing 300 pounds. Ricard is built like a lineman but plays a skill position, albeit the one that’s best known for functioning as a bulldozer. Combine Ricard’s size with some surprisingly silky mitts and maybe there’s a role for the burly blocker who has put in work for Baltimore since 2017.
Vikings Have a Huge Fullback to Consider
Lost in the shuffle a touch has been Minnesota’s desire to get meaner.
Start off with the decision to add Josh Oliver into the mix. He, too, did good things with the Ravens, distinguishing himself as a blocking specialist due to his physicality, competitiveness, and unusual size. Prying him away from the AFC North team wasn’t cheap, but he has done good things since coming over to Minnesota, even landing an extension to continue working in the Twin Cities.
Next, consider that Trent Sherfield got added as the WR4 in 2024 to function as a blocker. Underrated and competitive, Sherfield was more important than most realize.
Right guard Will Fries and running back Jordan Mason got added in 2025. Neither is known for being the world’s greatest athlete (Mason is sneaky in this area, possessing more wiggle than most realize). Rather, they’re in town to push around defenders, grinding out tough yards as a complement to the all-world skill that’s present in Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and T.J. Hockenson.
Even retaining Ham from 2022 to 2025 spoke to the desire to be capable of playing physical ball instead of only high-flying ball. Does that desire for ruggedness lead to employing a fullback?
If so, then Patrick Ricard is a name to monitor. At 32, he’s closer to the end of his career than the beginning, but he’s still a handful. Last season, Ricard was honored as a second-team All Pro and sent to the Pro Bowl. PFF gave him a 68.6 grade, good for a second-place finish in the NFL (for reference, Ham finished fourth with a 61.4 grade).
Baltimore is moving ahead with a new coaching staff, creating uncertainty for the behemoth of a blocker. Plus, Picard is coming off just 274 snaps in 2025, a sizable step back from recent workloads.
Otherwise, note that Reggie Gilliam — someone who stands at 6’0″ and 244 — is moving toward free agency. Most notable for the Bills fullback is that he offered a fantastic 89.5 pass blocking grade on PFF, a sizzling number.
Ted Nguyen, a film analyst for The Athletic, saw these two fullbacks as free agents before commenting, “No one is talking about this FA class of fullbacks but there are a couple of juggernauts at the top.”
The Vikings commonly fail to put actions alongside their words. What is professed is a desire for balanced, physical football before reality delivers passing, passing, and then some more passing. Does landing a “juggernaut” help push the Vikings toward committing to the run?
As for cap charges, somewhere around $2 to $4 million per season generally does the trick.
Free agency begins in less than a week.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.