National Football League

Vikings bolster defense with free agents Matthews, Mays

Published Mar. 24, 2015 7:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) The Minnesota Vikings have agreed to terms on contracts with linebacker Casey Matthews and safety Taylor Mays.

Matthews played the past four seasons with Philadelphia, starting 15 of 65 games for the Eagles. The former fourth-round draft pick from Oregon had a career-high 62 tackles last season. He's the younger brother of Green Bay Packers standout Clay Matthews.

Mays was a second-round draft pick out of USC by San Francisco in 2010 and traded by the 49ers the following year to the Cincinnati Bengals, where he played three seasons under defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer. Zimmer has started his second year as coach of the Vikings.

Mays will likely compete with incumbent Robert Blanton for a starting spot next to Harrison Smith.

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