Justin Skule

Current Contract

Contract Value Index (CVI)

The Vikings secured a solid depth piece at a reasonable price, landing Justin Skule on a one-year, $2.0M deal that earns a C+ CVI — a fair market transaction for a backup offensive tackle. While Skule's production sits in the replacement-to-below-average tier for NFL tackles, Minnesota is paying appropriately modest money ($2M AAV) for what amounts to insurance along the offensive line. The minimal guaranteed money ($0.8M of $2M total) gives the Vikings flexibility to move on if Skule doesn't perform up to expectations, making this a low-risk flyer on a player who has starting experience but projects as a quality reserve. At 28 years old, Skule isn't a long-term building block, but he provides the kind of veteran depth that championship contenders need when injuries inevitably strike the trenches. This signing reflects smart roster construction — Minnesota identified a specific need for tackle depth and filled it without overpaying for production that likely maxes out as a capable fill-in starter.

Performance Analysis

Justin Skule is a replacement-level tackle whose current performance grade reflects the ceiling of a late sixth-round pick who has spent six seasons carving out a roster existence on the margins of NFL depth charts. The most charitable thing you can say about his production is durability — appearing in 16 games demonstrates he can hold a roster spot and stay healthy — but availability only matters if the player occupying that spot can meaningfully contribute when called upon, and the evidence here does not support that case. His 6-foot-6 frame gives him the measurables of an NFL tackle, but as the media framing makes clear, that size has never translated into legitimate starting-caliber play, leaving him perpetually in the role of depth insurance rather than a genuine option in the starting lineup. At 29, Skule is firmly in the back half of a journeyman career with no realistic upside trajectory remaining — this is what he is, and Tampa Bay's front office almost certainly knows it. The Buccaneers are bringing back a familiar face to fill a specific, limited function: backup tackle duties and special teams depth, which is exactly the kind of low-risk, low-cost roster management that makes sense this far from the regular season. For a team sitting at 8-9 and outside the playoff picture, rostering Skule is not a statement about ambition — it's basic organizational maintenance. As a long-term contract investment, however, this signing earns a Contract Value Index (CVI) grade trending upward, which speaks more to the presumed cost efficiency than to any meaningful on-field contribution.

Fan Sentiment

A familiar depth reunion, but Skule is strictly a roster-filler signing for Tampa Bay. All five headlines confirm a straightforward reunion with a previously released tackle. The key signal is his prior starting experience, offering more upside than a typical camp body. Fans appreciate the familiarity but have modest expectations for a player who never locked down a permanent role. Skule projects as a swing tackle and emergency starter, unlikely to crack the first-team lineup.