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EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have added to their defensive backs room.
Minnesota announced the signing of safety Bubba Bolden on Monday.
Bolden participated in Minnesota’s 2024 rookie minicamp on a pro tryout basis last May. He originally entered the NFL in 2022 with Seattle as an undrafted free agent out of the University of Miami. Bolden also spent time with Cleveland on the Browns practice squad in 2022 and during the 2023 and 2024 offseasons but has not yet played an NFL regular-season game.
At Miami, Bolden played in 23 games with 17 starts for the Hurricanes (2019-21). He recorded 127 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, five forced fumbles, eight passes defensed and two interceptions.
Bolden began his college career at USC in 2017 after teaming with Vikings fourth-year receiver Jalen Nailor in high school at Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas.
He was named to the 2016 Parade All-American First Team, as well as USA Today’s All-Nevada Defensive Player of the Year after recording 27 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, seven interceptions (one returned for a TD), a fumble recovery he returned for a TD and a blocked field goal to help Bishop Gorman win its eighth consecutive state title.
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Vikings sign former UFL safety Bubba Bolden for offseason depth
The Vikings have made their second addition of Day 1 of NFL free agency, but it’s not the kind of notable move their fans are hoping for.
They announced that they’ve signed safety Bubba Bolden, a camp-body type who will look to compete for a spot on the 53-man roster or practice squad this offseason. He reportedly worked out for Minnesota on Friday, and now he lands a spot on the 90-man offseason roster.
Bolden, 25, has never played a snap in the NFL. He spent three years at Miami after beginning his college career at USC, then went undrafted in 2022. Bolden had stints with the Seahawks and Browns before winding up in the UFL, where he spent time with the San Antonio Brahmas and Birmingham Stallions. It’s not totally clear if he ever actually played in UFL games.
Bolden has good size and athleticism for the safety position. The Vikings were already familiar with him, as he competed at their rookie minicamp last offseason. Despite being a football journeyman on the NFL fringe, perhaps he still has a bit of upside. Minnesota had success last year in signing Jalen Redmond, a former UFL defensive tackle.
More significant moves for the Vikings are coming sooner or later.
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Will Ragatz is a senior writer for Vikings On SI. 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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