Tight end Nick Muse has been around the league in his wandering NFL career. The 2022 Vikings draftee has earned his next gig by becoming a Lion in Michigan.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter sent along the news, writing, “Lions signed TE Nick Muse and released WR Tarik Black.” Landing in Detroit means functioning as (at best) the TE2 since Sam LaPorta is the top option. What’s in store for Mr. Muse?
In fairness, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was always scratching a lottery ticket with the tight end. 7th-Round selections seldom work out over a long-term time horizon — think decade-long careers — so the former GM can’t get too much criticism for missing on the Muse pick.
In fact, there’s a case to be made that the GM didn’t miss. Nick Muse played in the Twin Cities for a pair of full years (albeit in a modest job, often on the practice squad) and then part of a third before getting shown the door. The No. 227 selection did well to be involved in the capacity that he was given his modest draft slot.
Pulling up the list of best Vikings 7th-Round picks from team history — Levi Drake Rodriguez, Jamarca Sanford, Pete Bercich, and so on — won’t mean highlighting Muse. Still, the 27-year-old pass catcher helped across several seasons, meaning he represents a modest success. He’s now looking to find a lasting home in Michigan. He’ll be looking to distinguish himself among these players:
Muse is going to do battle from within the immediate context of the tight end position. Proving better than all combatants (excluding LaPorta, of course) would mean finding some job security. Truth be told, though, that’s an unlikely occurrence.
— READ MORE: Vikings Add a Young Corner — So, how to shine?
Muse is going to need to prove better than some receivers, some of the depth safety talent, maybe some running backs, linebackers, and even defensive ends. How so? Well, depth guys at those spots are going to attempt to hang around due to being monstrous on special teams. Muse will be looking to prove better and more promising.
Catching passes is exciting but the Lions already employ several guys who have proven better than Muse at that specific task. He therefore will be looking to prove terrific at blocking and tackling on specials. Ironically, doing that could then lead to earning a catch (or two) from within the offense.
In an odd twist of fate, the Vikings are sorting through a peculiar situation at tight end.
The player who is most secure in his spot in the lineup is TE2 Josh Oliver. A blocking bully, Mr. Oliver is going to get featured due to his brawn and underrated athleticism. TE1 T.J. Hockenson is looking for a bounce back season, doing so after getting his contract trimmed back in March. Is he a trade candidate?
There are then a cluster of young lads — Gavin Bartholomew, Ben Yurosek, etc. — trying to get onto the final roster. Rookie fullback Max Bredeson happens to be alright at moonlighting as a tight end, further enhancing the competition at what is going to be a more important position than a lot of people realize. The Vikings and Lions play in Week 8 and Week 15. Maybe Nick Muse will get some revenge on his former team.
Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD . Twitter & Bluesky: @VikingsGazette. Email: k.joudry[at]vikingsterritory[dot]com. Canadian. Jude 1:24-25.
Vikings Draftee Nick Muse Now with the Lions
— READ MORE: NFC North Team Rankings 2026 —
— READ MORE: Vikings Fans Get the Update They’ve Been Waiting For —
