Former New Orleans Saints offensive lineman Nate Wozniak signed with the Minnesota Vikings after being released recently, as first reported by Ben Goessling of The Star-Tribune. Wozniak joined the Saints practice squad last year as an undrafted free agent; New Orleans initially tried to convert the 6-foot-9, 260-pound tight end prospect to offensive tackle, seeing potential in his length as a blocker on the perimeter.
However, Wozniak struggled in the transition and didn’t get meaningful practice reps in training camp, spending most of his time on the third-string offense. His release suggested a lack of confidence by the Saints coaching staff that he’d make the move successfully.
Now, Wozniak gets a chance to play in front of his home crowd. He started four years at the University of Minnesota, albeit at tight end, and mainly handled blocking duties in the Gophers offense. He also got on the field with the special teams units. It’s likely the Vikings are expecting more of the same out of him, though they may continue to work on his development as an offensive tackle in the NFL.
