5 Free Agents the Vikings Should Call
Dustin Baker
|
The Minnesota Vikings witnessed 16 veterans depart the organization this offseason, 14 came aboard, seven rookies were drafted, and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah added 17 undrafted free agents after the draft.
5 Free Agents the Vikings Should Call
The team finished 7-10 in 2023 and will hope to improve on that mark with some combination of Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy at quarterback.
In the draft, Minnesota added these players:
- R1: J.J. McCarthy (QB, Michigan)
- R1: Dallas Turner (EDGE, Alabama)
- R4: Khyree Jackson (CB, Oregon)
- R6: Walter Rouse (OT, Oklahoma)
- R6: Will Reichard (K, Alabama)
- R7: Michael Jurgens (C, Wake Forest)
- R7: Levi Drake Rodriguez (DT, Texas A&M University-Commerce)
Meanwhile, the roster could still use some tweaks, and these are five free agents the team should explore. Of course, Adofo-Mensah won’t add all five, but these are the best options, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best option).
5. Linval Joseph (DT)
Yes, The Big Goon is up there in age — he’ll be 36 in October — but the man has latched onto a couple of teams in back-to-back seasons, including the Philadelphia Eagles in 2022 and Buffalo Bills in 2023. Joseph wouldn’t necessarily have to start for the 2024 Vikings, but he’d provide nose tackle depth, which Minnesota lacks entering May.
Joseph spent six seasons in Minnesota, so he knows the destination quite well.
In March, ESPN’s Kevin Seifert tweeted about lessening Harrison Phillips’ snap count in 2024, “Vikings also hope that added depth will help them manage DT Harrison Phillips’ playing time as well, per Kevin O’Connell. Phillips played a career-high 839 snaps last season.”
We’re not sure where that added depth might be. The team has several DTs but few NTs.
4. Hunter Renfrow (WR)
Renfrow tabulated 1,038 receiving yards in 2021 and then just under 600 combined from 2022 to 2023. His career has stalled, and at age 28, he needs a change of scenery for an attempt at reclamation.
Conveniently, Renfrow is a free agent, and many wonder why no team has taken the plunge for his services as a WR3 or WR4. Adofo-Mensah selected zero wide receivers during the draft, even though the event was filled with promising WR3 types.
In theory, Renfrow should have a few seasons left, so why not in purple as a WR3 on a one-year deal? It’d be affordable.
3. Greg Van Roten (OG)
This journeyman is well into his 30s and has played 110 NFL games.
Some reports suggested that Van Roten signed with the Buffalo Bills last month, but those turned out to be false. He’s also up there in age, as he turned 34 in February. But offensive linemen can often excel well into their 30s.
Minnesota is on tap to start Blake Brandel — especially if Dalton Riser doesn’t return — and some fans are shaky on that idea. Van Roten fired up a marvelous 75.3 Pro Football Focus grade last year with the Raiders while playing over 1,000 snaps.
Put plainly, the former Green Bay Packer is still quite good.
2. Tyler Boyd (WR)
VikingsTerritory’s Adam New opined on Boyd to Minnesota this week: “After eight seasons in Cincinnati and amassing 6000 receiving yards and 31 touchdowns, Tyler Boyd is one of the best players still on the free-agent market. The 29-year-old former Bengal should have enough left in the tank to be a team’s WR3, working primarily out of the slot. K.J. Osborn vacated the role, and this hasn’t been appropriately addressed. Brandon Powell was re-signed, and Trent Sherfield was brought in, but they should be taking the WR4/5 roles. The Vikings need a genuine WR3, and Boyd fits the bill.”
There’s also this rumor from Vikings Central:
1. Calais Campbell (DT)
This man is a machine that never ages. He was drafted the year after Adrian Peterson — if that can be believed — and is still one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles.
Minnesota didn’t sign Christian Wilkins, Leonard Williams, or Arik Armstead, so the clock is ticking on adding an impact interior defensive lineman. In fact, Campbell could be the last chance this offseason at defensive tackle.
Campbell produced an 80.0 Pro Football Focus grade last season — at age 37. He’s eternal.
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 MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, Basset Hounds, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.