Vikings Free Agency Begins in 5 Weeks. Get Ready.
On March 14, the NFL’s “legal tampering” phase of free agency begins, affording teams the ability to finagle deals in principle with new players.
The Minnesota Vikings don’t officially have a head coach yet, although Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell is expected to be named the next skipper soon after Super Bowl LVI when O’Connell’s Rams take on the Cincinnati Bengals.
The franchise also has a new general manager, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, hired to replace Rick Spielman, who wound up with the Jacksonville Jaguars in an Elwayian capacity.
Here’s the rule of the thumb for this Vikings free agency — and it’s somehow pretty straightforward — Minnesota is mostly set on offense (aside from some help needed at right guard and maybe center) and desperately requires defensive refortification.
And the paradox of that revelation is vivid. Mike Zimmer is four weeks removed from the Vikings, a coach who banked on defense and defense always. But the team he left is in profitable shape on the offense side of things. Meanwhile, the defense is in relative shambles. Minnesota needs defensive playmakers, starters, and depth players at every level — the trenches, linebacking, and the secondary.
These are the Vikings players currently slated for free agency:
Mackensie Alexander (CB)
Anthony Barr (LB)
Chad Beebe (WR)
Jordan Berry (P)
Mason Cole (C)
Tyler Conklin (TE)
Wayne Gallman (RB)
Everson Griffen (EDGE)
Chris Herndon (TE)
Rashod Hill (OL)
Greg Joseph (K)
Sean Mannion (QB)
Patrick Peterson (CB)
Sheldon Richardson (DT)
Nick Vigil (LB)
Dede Westbrook (WR)
Xavier Woods (S)
Eddie Yarbrough (EDGE)
Alexander, Barr, Griffen, Peterson, Richardson, Vigil, and Woods were on the field frequently in 2021, so the defensive rebuild is a gigantic undertaking. That’s seven starters amid a total of 11 available spots on a fieldable defense.
On offense, Minnesota must explore a TE2 as Tyler Conklin is likely to earn more money elsewhere. He was ultra-productive in the absence of Irv Smith Jr. Too, if Adofo-Mensah wants to fix the pass-protecting prowess of the offensive line once and for all — the Spielman-Zimmer combination never did — he must explore free-agent or rookie options at right guard and center. And that’s pretty much it for offense, unless Adofo-Mensah trades quarterback Kirk Cousins, marking a total franchise facelift from general manager to head coach to QB1.
Defensively, Adofo-Mensah, O’Connell, and a defensive coordinator to be named later must find new EDGE rushers, two linebackers, a safety, and 1-3 cornerbacks. In a single offseason — especially a maiden voyage like Adofo-Mensah’s — that’s a ton of needs.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”928532″ player=”26279″ title=”4%20ideal%20offseason%20Kirk%20Cousins%20trade%20destinations” duration=”81″ description=”It’s time for the Minnesota Vikings to start making plans for the future, one that includes a 2022 offseason with a Kirk Cousins trade and an organizational reset after another disappointing season.Cousins will enter 2022 in a contract year, a position he and the Vikings are very familiar with. While the 33-year-old quarterback is playing at a high level, it’s evident he and the Vikings aren’t close to competing for the NFC North title or a Super Bowl.With that in mind, we examine the best Kirk Cousins trades that would benefit both the star quarterback and his teams.” uploaddate=”2021-12-22″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/928494_s_1640136316410.jpg” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/928494/928494.m3u8″]
Additionally, the endeavor will shake down with limited cap space. At this point of every offseason for the last several years, the Vikings rub against the edge of cap space availability, forced to make tough decisions on aging veterans and single-out newcomers on one-year deals. This offseason is no different unless — wait for it — Adofo-Mensah trades Cousins.
Overall, expect a defensive overhaul in free agency and the draft because Minnesota’s offense is in suitable shape, particularly for an offense-first brain entering the building in Eagan with O’Connell.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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