Vikings Host Former Chiefs Lineman C.J. Hanson
Minnesota brought in the seventh-round 2024 pick for a workout as the NFL trade deadline approaches later this month.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Football
The Minnesota Vikings hosted former Kansas City Chiefs offensive lineman C.J. Hanson for a workout on November 3, 2026. Aaron Wilson reported the visit in a post to his official Twitter account the same day.
Why it matters
The workout gives Minnesota a look at a lineman with four NFL game appearances as it weighs its depth options. Hanson is expected to draw interest from other teams in free agency ahead of the trade deadline.
Hanson appeared in four games over two seasons after the Chiefs selected him in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Whether Minnesota plans to pursue him after the workout has not been disclosed.
The players
C.J. Hanson
A former Holy Cross standout and seventh-round Kansas City Chiefs pick who spent two seasons with the team and appeared in four games.
Minnesota Vikings
The NFL franchise based in Minneapolis that conducted the November 3 workout with Hanson.
Aaron Wilson
An NFL insider who reported the Vikings' visit with Hanson on his official Twitter account.
The details
Hanson, a Holy Cross product who earned first-team FCS All-American and first-team All-Patriot League honors in 2023, worked out for the Vikings on November 3. The visit was reported by Aaron Wilson, and a signing with Minnesota does not appear to be imminent.
Timeline
2023: Hanson earned FCS All-American and All-Patriot League honors at Holy Cross.
2024 NFL Draft: The Kansas City Chiefs selected Hanson in the seventh round.
November 3, 2026: The Vikings hosted Hanson for a workout.
Later in November 2026: The NFL trade deadline arrives.
Season Trajectory
Mid-season workouts like this one reflect how teams look to the free-agent pool for offensive line depth before the NFL trade deadline. Hanson's seventh-round background and limited game experience place him in the category of depth options teams evaluate during this window.
For Vikings fans tracking depth, a signing or non-signing of a veteran lineman would shape the offensive line rotation heading into the stretch run. Fantasy players are unlikely to be affected, since linemen do not generate standard fantasy points.
The takeaway
Mid-season workouts show how quietly teams fill depth spots before deadlines, often without a signing following. Readers tracking the Vikings should watch the roster around the trade deadline for any move that follows the visit.
What happens next
The NFL trade deadline falls later in November 2026, which will determine whether Hanson's market develops further.
Further reading
For more on the league's roster moves, see Football coverage on Wisevoter.
