Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks with head coach Kevin O’Connell prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.
You need a one-stop shop for all of the Minnesota Vikings 2023 free-agent doings — and this is that, with NFL players soon to be on the move in about two weeks.
In this first annual handbook, we’ll explain existing free agents who are free to sign anywhere, players theorized as cap casualties, men that could be traded, others who could be targeted for contractual restructuring, and realistic external free agents the Vikings could pursue.
With free agency’s “legal tampering” period just 16 days away, Minnesota remains about $24 million over the cap, meaning various players will exit the franchise. Others will experience contract finagling. One or two could be traded.
Players will double up on this atlas; that’s just the nature of the beast. Cap-casualty guys could ultimately be traded — or some could expect restructures.
Alas, follow the atlas.
These are men who played for the 2022 Vikings now able to sign anywhere beginning the week of March 13th.
Bradbury, Peterson, Shelley, and Tomlinson headline the list for most implications about the Vikings 2023 roster. If those individuals don’t re-sign in Minnesota, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must seek wise replacements. That foursome started games in 2022, and all of them performed wonderfully, especially Peterson, Shelley, and Tomlinson. Bradbury markedly improved, and it felt like a big deal because his pass protection wasn’t woeful.
Mattison, too, is interesting because he could theoretically return at an affordable price and be the Vikings RB1 — if Dalvin Cook departs.
Overall, you should expect about half of the players listed above to leave the team.
These are players under contract in 2023 but wouldn’t inspire utter shock if released.
News broke a week ago that Za’Darius Smith put his house for sale on the market, but he actually did that about a month ago. That tidbit should not be considered a precursor to leaving Minnesota. Perhaps he wants a different house in the Twin Cities.
Still, the Vikings have seven honest-to-goodness cap-casualty candidates, as Adofo-Mensah effectuates his slide under the NFL’s salary cap.
Jordan Hicks is likely a goner. C.J. Ham is too expensive for a fullback not utilized much in a Kevin O’Connell offense. Big questions surround the futures of Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen. And then it’s anybody’s guess on the Vikings preferences regarding Eric Kendricks and Za’Darius Smith.
Chris Reed is only a possibility because he’s a backup offensive line on tap for a $2.75 million cap number. Is that necessary for a guard who may not play?
The only “serious” or realistic trade nominees above are arguably Cook and Thielen. In theory, contract talks involving Cousins or Hunter could sour, later resulting in a trade. But such trades are doubtful.
The Smiths are on the list because folks don’t know the mindsets of new defensive coordinator Brian Flores or the aforementioned Adofo-Mensah. There is a world where one or both could be traded.
For clarity, if Cousins were on the trade block, it would probably be out in the open by now, and it is not.
Again — names double up here; that’s just how it works in the offseason. These are players who Adofo-Mensah wants on the 2023 roster but targets for moving money into the future when the salary cap inevitably inflates.
Cousins is the number-one-with-a-bullet elephant in the room. Extending his contract could create north of $23 million in 2023 cap space. If Minnesota isn’t interested in letting Cousins play on the final year of his deal in 2023, he should kick off the contractual restructures.
Don’t get spooked by O’Neill on the list — he’d be an example of “moving money around.” He’s not going anywhere.
The rest are fundamental questions of how much do the Vikings want these players back?
Consider these players already under contract but looking to secure their next big contract. Cousins is listed because he’s obviously-and-maybe in line for a one or two-year extension.
Cousins will seek between $35 and $40 million per year — if the Vikings indeed want more years from the QB1. Hockenson should fetch around $15 million annually, perhaps a bit more. And Jefferson will set the market for wide receivers, sitting on $30 to $35 million per season arrangement for the next four to five years.
Admittedly, this is a crapshoot because one must hijack Adofo-Mensah’s psyche to know his wishlist. But keep these names in mind. Relatively obscure names are excluded.
**The Vikings have the third-least cap space leaguewide as of February 25th.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.