In a surprising move just days before their mandatory minicamp, the Minnesota Vikings have shaken up their 90-man roster by signing veteran tight end Giovanni Ricci and releasing rookie outside linebacker Matt Harmon, the team announced Tuesday.
Ricci, a 28-year-old journeyman, brings a wealth of experience to Minnesota’s tight end room. The 6’3”, 240-pound Western Michigan product entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Carolina Panthers in 2020, following an impressive senior season where he recorded 51 receptions for 642 yards and eight touchdowns. After spending his rookie year on the practice squad, Ricci earned a spot on the Panthers’ 53-man roster in 2021. His standout year came in 2022, when he hauled in eight of his nine career receptions for 100 yards.
The #Vikings have signed TE Giovanni Ricci (@G_Ricci10) and released OLB Matt Harmon. pic.twitter.com/1SVOw0idVS
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) June 10, 2025
While Ricci logged 339 offensive snaps for Carolina from 2021-23, occasionally lining up as a fullback, his primary value lies on special teams, where he contributed 644 snaps over three seasons. His versatility and grit have kept him in the league, with stints in Cleveland last offseason and a brief stop with the New England Patriots this spring. Now, Ricci joins a Vikings tight end group headlined by star T.J. Hockenson and reliable Josh Oliver, alongside rookies Gavin Bartholomew (a sixth-round pick), Ben Yurosek, and Bryson Nesbit (both undrafted). Ricci’s special teams prowess could be his ticket to securing a roster spot or a practice squad role.
On the flip side, the Vikings parted ways with Matt Harmon, a 25-year-old rookie outside linebacker they signed just a month ago after he impressed as a tryout player at their rookie minicamp. Harmon’s seven-year college career at Kent State, extended by injuries and a COVID year, saw him play in 49 games. His release leaves Morgan State defensive tackle Elijah Williams as the sole remaining tryout player from that rookie camp still on the roster.
The Vikings’ three-day mandatory minicamp, running June 10-12, will provide the first glimpse of how Ricci fits into Minnesota’s plans and whether this roster shakeup sparks further changes. For now, the team is betting on Ricci’s experience to outweigh Harmon’s potential as they gear up for the 2025 season.