4 Popular Vikings Who Could Play Final Home Game on Sunday
The Minnesota Vikings are heading to the playoffs — no matter what.
4 Popular Vikings Who Could Play Final Home Game on Sunday
The next step is determining if Minnesota enters the dance as a Wildcard combatant or division winner. The Vikings can clinch homefield advantage throughout the postseason if it wins the next two games (vs. Green Bay Packers, at Detroit Lions).
Meanwhile, gobs of Vikings players — more than 35 — will be free agents in March, and four prominent players could be in their final days with the franchise.
So, these are four high-profile players who could be playing their game at U.S. Bank Stadium as a member of the Vikings if the purple team doesn’t secure homefield advantage. They’re listed alphabetically.
1. Camryn Bynum (S)
The Vikings’ front office and Bynum had time to wrap up an extension in the summer but never finalized an agreement. The parties can still reach a deal in February or March, but it’s a little odd that they failed before his final season.
There’s a chance that Bynum’s asking price is too rich for the Vikings.
Minnesota would turn to Josh Metellus, Jay Ward, Theo Jackson, and perhaps a rookie or free agent to be named later at safety if Bynum bolts.
If that scenario comes to fruition — it’s a real possibility — Packers at Vikings could be Bynum’s final as a Viking at U.S. Bank Stadium if Minnesota doesn’t secure a home playoff game in the next eight days.
2. Sam Darnold (QB)
Minnesota signed Darnold in March for one year and $10 million.
All he’s done is lead his men to the brink of homefield advantage throughout the postseason. That — and he’s on pace to account for 37 touchdowns.
But because Minnesota has J.J. McCarthy waiting to take over the QB1 job, Darnold and his soon-to-be hefty asking price for 2025 and beyond may not be the Vikings’ budgetary plans. That means Sunday could be his final game at U.S. Bank Stadium on Kevin O’Connell’s roster.
3. Byron Murphy (CB)
This one may be merely in spirit. Murphy could be back in 2025. He told KSTP’s Darren Wolfson in the summer, “I gotta say, since I’ve been here since day one, I fell in love, so I don’t want to go nowhere. I want to stay here for the rest of my career. So I’m gonna try to work my ass off to stay here for sure.”
Otherwise, Murphy signed a two-year deal in the 2023 offseason, making 2024 the final season in Minnesota. All signs, though, point to his return. He’s nibbling at a Pro Bowl season, which will up his asking price for the Vikings or another team.
The 2024 version of Byron Murphy is significantly better than 2023 Byron Murphy.
Murphy, though, will probably earn a Pro Bowl honor, and if his price is too high early in the offseason, this could be his last season in the Twin Cities.
4. Harrison Smith (S)
Smith is 35 years old, and based on his hard-hitting playing style, it’s a gridiron miracle that he’s still playing at a relatively high level.
Nonetheless, any new season could be his last. His actions have proved he wishes to remain a Viking for life. So, unlike others on this list, Smith’s “final season” chatter isn’t about impending free agency; it’s about retirement. The Pioneer Press claimed in July that this year is Smith’s last.
It’s worth noting that Smith has played quite well this season, and his performance doesn’t seem like a guy nearing retirement. He still has the juice.
Yet, strictly to cross Ts and dot Is, Sunday could be Smith’s last hurrah at U.S. Bank Stadium.
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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