6 Vikings Players from 2023 Roster Remain Free Agents

Joejuan Williams, a former defensive back for the Vanderbilt Commodores, prepares for the NFL combine at the EXOS training facility in Phoenix, Ariz., on Monday, February 18, 2019. Joejuan Williams

Minnesota Vikings training camp kicks off this Sunday, with all rookies reporting to Eagan. Veterans arrive on Tuesday, July 23rd.

6 Vikings Players from 2023 Roster Remain Free Agents

The 2024 offseason is in the rearview, and the Vikings added about 40 new players. Over 23 from the 2023 roster left the team, and six remain free agents with the NFL’s regular season seven weeks away.

These are the six players awaiting 2024 marching orders.

1. Anthony Barr (LB)

Anthony Barr Again Linked to NFC Team
Feb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Anthony Barr. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY SportsFeb 10, 2022; Los Angeles, CA, USA.

The Vikings and Barr fired up a surprise reunion last November after Jordan Hicks was hospitalized with compartment syndrome. He ended up playing about 50 defensive snaps for his old team.

Now, he’s a free agent, even after four months on the open market. If Barr doesn’t retire, the Dallas Cowboys make sense as a landing spot because he played for the Cowboys in 2022, Mike Zimmer works there as defensive coordinator, and his lifelong pal, Eric Kendricks, is on Dallas’ depth chart.

2. Coy Cronk (OT)

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Jun 14, 2023; Jacksonville, Florida, USA; Jacksonville Jaguars offensive tackle Coy Cronk (64) participates in minicamp at TIAA Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports.

Originally added to the Green Bay Packers roster as an undrafted free agent a couple of years ago, Cronk found his way to Minnesota in 2023 as a practice squad member.

Minnesota dropped him in April, about a week before the draft.

3. Sheldon Day (NT)

Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) attempts to run as Minnesota defensive tackle Sheldon Day (52) goes to make the tackle during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Brian Flores’ defense needs nose tackle depth, so of all defensive players on the list, Day might be the most likely for a reunion.

Day played six games in 2023, a decent amount for a reservist player. The Vikings have one other nose tackle type on the roster after Harrison Phillips, an undrafted rookie named Taki Taimani.

4. William Kwenkeu (LB)

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Dec 4, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell and linebacker William Kwenkeu (47) react after the game against the New York Jets at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Kwenkeu played a little bit as an undrafted rookie in 2022 — six games and 13 defensive snaps — but was placed on injured reserve last August.

He’s 27 and likely hopes to latch on somewhere for a summer audition.

5. Nick Vigil (LB)

Sep 12, 2021; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Minnesota linebacker Nick Vigil (59) reacts after sacking Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (np) in the first half at Paul Brown Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports.

Vigil returned to Minnesota as a depth option in 2023. It was his second stint in the Twin Cities and reunion from the Zimmer era. Once a reputable starter for the Bengals about five years ago, Vigil’s career is nearing a conclusion, and he’ll turn 31 next month.

6. Joejuan Williams (CB)

Minnesota Vikings CB Joejuan Williams addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on Thursday, July 27, 2023. Williams joined the Vikings via free agency in April 23 and was a 2nd-Round draft pick by Bill Belichick and the New England Patriots four years ago.

A depth cornerback last year and former 2nd-Round pick by the New England Patriots, Minnesota said sayonara to Williams in May when it signed defensive tackle James Lynch back to the 90-man roster.

Williams could return this summer for depth, especially after Khyree Jackson’s tragic passing on July 6th.


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, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.