Former Northwestern star last played for Tampa Bay

By Todd Barin/Murphy News Service

The Minnesota Vikings are staying active in free agency by signing quarterback Mike Kafka out of Northwestern University.

Mike McCartney, Kafka’s agent, divulged that the ex-Buccaneer signed a contract with the Vikings Wednesday afternoon.

The Northwestern University alum will be one of four quarterbacks the Vikings have under contract.

“Feels good to be back in purple!!” Kafka said on his Twitter account, referring to his primary college uniform color.

Kafka was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2010. The fourth-round draft pick spent two seasons with the Eagles before being released. He spent the 2012 and 2013 seasons bouncing around on off-season rosters and eventually was signed by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2014.

Vikings scouts were in attendance last month to watch Kafka, 27, throw and run drills at the NFL veteran scouting combine.

“I’ve never seen him throw it as well as he did on the field here today,” NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah said of Kafka at the combine.

The 6-foot-3, 225-pound quarterback has his work cut out for him as he will compete against Shaun Hill and Pat Devlin to become one of the three QBs to make the team.

Reporter Todd Barin is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.