49ers, Vikings tried to claim Will Parks amid Broncos signing

The Broncos plucked former Eagles safety Will Parks off the waiver wire this week, but they weren’t the only club in the mix. The 49ers and Vikings also submitted claims for the veteran, according to Mike Kaye of NJ.com.

Both teams had their chance to snag Parks this past offseason. The Vikings were reportedly left at the altar, along with the Lions. Parks ultimately chose the Eagles, who offered him a chance to play a good deal of three-safety sets in front of a hometown crowd. The Vikings, meanwhile, saw Parks more as a special teams cog. Barring an injury to Anthony Harris or Harrison Smith, Parks would have been a long shot to see significant snaps.

The Niners apparently preferred Parks to their in-house options. With Parks headed back to Denver, SF promoted safety Kai Nacua from the practice squad and signed Chris Edwards to take his place on the reserve unit.

Ultimately, Parks found a good platform as he looks ahead to free agency. Given his familiarity with Vic Fangio’s system, Parks should have opportunities as a safety, slot man and a coverage linebacker in sub-packages.