3 Last-Minute Free Agents Vikings Should Explore for Playoff Push
The Minnesota Vikings need one more win or a Seattle Seahawks loss to clinch a playoff spot. If neither scenario occurs in Week 15, the same situation would apply in Week 16, along with a Los Angeles Rams loss.
3 Last-Minute Free Agents Vikings Should Explore for Playoff Push
The purple team is cruising through the regular season, a rather unexpected development based on summer projections from oddsmakers.
As always, the team could add a free agent or two, especially if more injuries arise. So, these are three last-minute options Minnesota could explore, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = wisest free-agent addition).
3. Patrick Peterson (CB)
Peterson joined The Zach Gelb Show in October and opined on his playing future: “I’m still leaving the book open, Zach. I’m still training. I’m still working out because, you know, my mind is still in it. It’s not like I cannot physically play, or I feel like I can’t physically give my best. I feel like I still have, you know, enough in the tank to help a team win. But, you know, that decision is out of my hands, so for the most part doing everything that I need to do just in case the phone do ring.”
The eight-time Pro Bowler last played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and is curiously unsigned at the moment. Peterson turned 34 in July — the same age as current Vikings CB1 Stephon Gilmore.
Gelb then pressed Peterson on destinations, asking if the Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions, and Vikings would move the needle for his prospective employment.
Peterson replied, “Exactly,” and specifically said about Minnesota, “Oh yeah, I would like to be there too, man. I love the coaching staff there. Me and Coach Kevin O’Connell] had the opportunity to build a solid relationship over the nine months that I was with him. And it’s just a great feel and a great organization to be around, great guys to be around and show up to go to work with every day.”
If more injuries beset Minnesota’s cornerback room, Peterson might get the call. He has the experience and will probably reach the Hall of Fame.
2. Odell Beckham Jr. (WR)
The Dolphins waived Beckham on Friday, and wouldn’t you know it? The Vikings could stand to upgrade at WR3.
What’s more, Beckham won a Super Bowl with Kevin O’Connell in 2021 as a member of the Los Angeles Rams. That — and one might assume Beckham will want to latch onto a playoff team. Minnesota is 11-2.
If he still has the juice — that’s a big if for the Vikings to determine this weekend — why not OBJ in Minny?
He and Justin Jefferson also share the LSU brotherhood; they’re not shy about it.
1. Mason Cole (C)
Cole lived on the Vikings’ roster in 2021 and is actually a dependable backup center — or could be for Minnesota. He’s started 34 games in 2022 and 2023 for the Pittsburgh Steelers, but Mike Tomlin and Co. had other plans in 2024, drafting Zach Frazier in April. Not for nothing, Frazier is already a total stud.
Adofo-Mensah should explore Cole’s free agency because Garrett Bradbury has encountered injury issues in the last three years. Cole is a better football player than Bradbury’s current backup, Dan Feeney.
Cole is 28 and would be really sweet depth, an insurance policy for Bradbury.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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