10 Bold Predictions for Vikings Offseason

Dustin Baker |

Jan 11, 2024

Jan 11, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; A Minnesota Vikings fans holds a sign before the game against the San Francisco 49ers in a NFC Divisional Round playoff football game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports.

The Minnesota Vikings’ season ended in Week 18 at Detroit, losing a game to the Lions that only helped draft positioning. Minnesota will pick 11th at the end of April.

10 Bold Predictions for Vikings Offseason

So, the offseason has arrived, and we asked all VikingsTerritory writers to develop a bold prediction for the next few months. There were the responses

1. Kirk, Jefferson, Hunter All Stay

Bold Predictions for — Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) reacts with Detroit Lions safety Kerby Joseph (31) during the game at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction Maker: Kyle Joudry

Saying Jefferson, Hunter, and Cousins stick around isn’t that bold, so I’ll be more specific. The QB gets a two-year deal averaging $35 million per season, the EDGE gets a three-year contract averaging $25 million, and the WR receives a four-year agreement averaging $32.5 million per season.

2. Garrett Bradbury Gone

Nov 27, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings center Garrett Bradbury (56) gets ready to snap the ball against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.

Prediction Maker: Adam New

The season started with an injury for Bradbury. He came back and played well, but then his form tailed off. The Vikings still need to improve on the IOL, and significant savings can be made by parting ways with Bradbury. I predict Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will pull the trigger.

3. Tee Higgins Signed

Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins (85) warms up before the first quarter of the NFL Week 18 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in downtown Cincinnati on Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023. © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Prediction Maker: Nate Powalie

The Vikings go out and pick up Tee Higgins from the Bengals. This might be a bit of a stretch, considering Higgins wants a decent contract, and he really has been overlooked since the arrival of Ja’Marr Chase in Cincinnati. But he is a great No. 2 option at receiver, and I think he will nicely complement Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Kirk Cousins.

4. No QB Drafted in First 2 Rounds

The Deadliest Aspect — Oct 8, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on against the Kansas City Chiefs in the fourth quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Prediction Maker: Wes Johnson

While QB is a need for this team, the Vikings are thwarted in an attempt to jump into the Top 3 and grab one of the elite prospects. While McCarthy, Penix, and Nix showed some promise at the collegiate level, the Vikings aren’t willing enough to ignore other positional needs.

5. Trade up the Board for Drake Maye

Dec 28, 2022; San Diego, CA, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels quarterback Drake Maye (10) looks to pass against the Oregon Ducks during the first quarter of the 2022 Holiday Bowl at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports.

Prediction Maker: Dustin Baker

The trade partner is unclear right now, but the Vikings find a way to trade a king’s ransom to move up the board and secure the services of Drake Maye from North Carolina.

The man is perfect for the Vikings offense, intermixed with Josh Allen-like mobility and a wonderful arm. Kevin O’Connell gets his pocket passer, and the Vikings fan base gets a mobile quarterback.

This will cost a fortune, but such is life.

6. Vikings Trade into Top 3 for QB

Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on before the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Prediction Maker: Janik Eckardt

The Vikings trade up into the Top 3 to select their new franchise quarterback. GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must find someone to steer his ship for the time after Kirk Cousins, and he doesn’t want to risk losing his guy by staying put at the 11th overall pick.

7. Cousins Stays; Mullens Goes

Cousins to NFC — Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) signals his team against the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Prediction Maker: Ali Siddiqui

The Vikings will release Nick Mullens and save the $1,900,000. They’ll draft a QB and bring back Kirk Cousins.

8. Cousins Back + Trade into Top 5 for QB

Quarterback Jayden Daniels 5 runs the ball as the LSU Tigers take on Georgia State in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 18, 2023. © SCOTT CLAUSE/USA TODAY Network / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Prediction Maker: Cole Smith

Although the Vikings re-sign Kirk Cousins, they trade into the top 5 to draft their QB of the future.

9. Vikings Make All the Money Work

Jul 28, 2022; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on during training camp at TCO Performance Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

Prediction Maker: Ted Schwerzler

Jefferson gets his payday, and Danielle Hunter stays. Both of those happen with Kirk Cousins returning as well.

10. Sheldon Rankins Signed

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) eludes a tackle by New York Jets defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins (98) before completing a pass for a first down during the first half of their game on Sunday, Oct. 16, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay. © Mike De Sisti / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK.

Prediction Maker: Josh Frey

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah spoke with urgency on Wednesday when discussing the need to improve the Vikings roster this offseason during the end-of-season press conference. Minnesota needs to add a bit more oomph to their defensive line next year, especially with the uncertainty lingering with some of their pending free agents. Rankins is one of the league’s better pass-rushing defensive tackles, so Kwesi grabs him.

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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 Vikings 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.

By Dustin Baker

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily ... More about Dustin Baker