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News | Minnesota Vikings – vikings.com

Vikings Sign CB Duke Thomas and S Derron Smith

View images of Vikings new S Derron Smith from his days with the Browns and the Bengals.

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings have added a pair of defensive backs to their roster in safety Derron Smith and cornerback Duke Thomas.

Both players recently played for the San Antonio Commanders in the Alliance of American Football.

Minnesota announced the roster additions on Friday.

Smith had 21 total tackles and three interceptions in seven games with San Antonio.

The 27-year-old was a sixth-round pick by Cincinnati in 2016 out of Fresno State. He played 31 games in two-plus seasons with the Bengals before appearing in seven games with Cleveland in 2017 after the Browns snagged him from Cincinnati's practice squad.

Smith was a three-time First-Team All-Mountain West selection for the Bulldogs in college.

View images of Vikings new CB Duke Thomas from his days in the AAF, with the Dallas Cowboys and the Houston Texans.

Thomas had a team-high 22 tackles with an interception and a fumble recovery for the Commanders.

Thomas went undrafted out of Texas in 2016 and spent that offseason with the Houston Texans. He was then on Philadelphia and San Francisco's practice squad in 2016.

Thomas missed the 2017 season with an injury and spent time in the Canadian Football League on Toronto's practice squad in 2018. He then joined San Antonio in the AAF.

He was a two-time All-Big 12 Honorable Mention for his play with the Longhorns. Thomas played in 51 games with 35 starts and had seven collegiate interceptions.

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