An Early Look at 2025 Free Agency Options for Vikings
A lot of football is left in the 2024 season, but with the bye week recently concluded, this is an early look at the Vikings’ 2025 free-agency options.
An Early Look at 2025 Free Agency Options for Vikings
For the first time in a while, the Vikings won’t go into the offseason with a salary cap headache. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has set the Vikings up for a big offseason next year, with the Vikings looking set to have around $76 million in cap space — per Over The Cap. The Vikings got Justin Jefferson, Christian Darrisaw, and Harrison Phillips signed up this year, and most of the players they’d want sealed for the long term. Camryn Bynum is the only player left who should be due a long extension.
Decisions will be made on the likes of Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones, Stephon Gillmore, Byron Murphy, Shaq Griffin, and others, but the Vikings should have plenty of cap space for some big moves. This week, Pro Football Focus released its early top 50 list of pending free agents, and several names on there should interest the Vikings. It’s a particularly good year to be looking for a guard, an area of the team the Vikings need drastic improvement.
Trey Smith (G) Kansas City
Trey Smith was highly rated going into the 2021 draft but fell to the Chiefs in the sixth round due to past medical issues. With 55 games, plus lots of playoff experience and two Super Bowl rings, there have been no injury problems for Smith.
His rookie contract finishes at the end of this season, and after three solid campaigns, he has started this one as the fifth-highest-ranked guard with a grade of 80.7. Playing at this level, he should command a contract of $20+ million annually. If the Chiefs are willing to let Smith hit the open market, then Adofo-Mensah should be on the phone immediately.
D.J. Reed (CB) New York Jets
The Vikings have just seen firsthand how good DJ Reed is as he went toe-to-toe with Justin Jefferson. His 90.8 coverage grade from PFF is the highest among CBs in the league. He is a genuine lockdown corner. Reed will get a huge contract, and the Jets have the cap space available to give him one. It would be a surprise if the Jets let him hit free agency.
If the two sides can’t agree on a deal, I expect the franchise tag to be used. Along with Sauce Gardner, the Jets have the best CB tandem in the league, and both are still young. They won’t want to break that up.
Charvarius Ward (CB) San Francisco
It’s not been a great start to the season for Charvarius Ward, and a knee injury kept him out of the 49ers’ most recent game. A second-team All-Pro last season in his seventh season, he has put enough on tape to be confident he will continue to play at a high level.
He will be 29 by the time next season starts, so he should have a few good years left. This one seems more likely than Reed and would be a good move.
Alim McNeill (IDL) Detroit
Alim McNeill is approaching the end of his rookie contract. He is developing into a good all-around interior defensive lineman. As part of a strong defensive front, I’d expect the Lions to want to keep him around, but if he became available, a move for McNeill, who is still only 24, would be a smart one.
Asante Samuel Jr. (CB) Los Angeles Chargers
Asante Samuel has struggled in the first year with new Chargers defensive coordinator Jesse Minter, which may lead to his free-agent availability. Samuel is good in coverage, but weak tackling has often reared its ugly head throughout his career. At just 25, there is plenty of room for growth, and he could be a good pickup that’s not overly expensive.
Teven Jenkins (G) Chicago
The Vikings have a pair of tackles as good as just about anyone in the league. However, they have to get better on the IOL, and Teven Jenkins would provide them with a guard who is both solid in pass protection and against the run.
He’s not elite, but at 27, when next season rolls around, he would be a good age to be a long-term answer while improving the Vikings at the position.
James Daniels (G) Pittsburgh
Over seven seasons, James Daniels has been a solid guard with the Chicago Bears and, more recently, the Pittsburgh Steelers. So far this season, Daniels has been a monster in the run game, posting a run-blocking grade of 92.5. His pass-blocking grade is significantly lower at 66.7, but that’s still a solid score and in a different ballpark from Vikings starting RG Ed Ingram’s 29.4. It’s safe to say Daniels would be an upgrade.
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