This Is the Vikings’ Offseason Schedule

Dustin Baker   |  

Feb 12, 2024

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The Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl on Sunday night — what else is new? — and the NFL offseason formally arrived Monday morning.

This Is the Vikings’ Offseason Schedule

The next stop via player movement is free agency, kicking off in one month.

And as the Vikings hope to eliminate the “rebuild” noun for their competitive rebuild mantra, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will need a bold offseason along the way.

“The point of that was to still provide ourselves a chance in the tournament every year while regaining financial flexibility, finding the next generation of great Vikings players, incorporating our systems that we value so much. I think when you look back at it, I think we’ve done a lot of positives. We gained some of our financial flexibility, we have competed to be in the tournament last year as the division champions, and this year, through adversity, we had a lot of meaningful games late,” Adofo-Mensah explained with O’Connell at his side at the team’s year-end press conference in January.

Adofo-Mensah added, “And there are some things we need to be better at, no question. I think you want to get to a point, from a depth, from a top-end standpoint, where you can overcome the adversity. Right now in the competitive rebuild, we want to get to a place where there’s no rebuild. It’s just competitive in a window. And I think we’re close to that, it’s gonna take a big offseason, it’s why we’re gonna be here a lot. I think it’s important, it’s key, and I’m excited for the challenge.”

So, these are the dates to monitor in the next few months, a roadmap of the Vikings and 31 teams’ offseason:

Minnesota’s offseason begins with one almighty domino: Kirk Cousins’ free-agent status. The Vikings can extend Cousins for a year or two, let it ride with offensive continuity, and hope Cousins’ Achilles is in tip-top shape. They could also draft a quarterback with the 11th pick in April’s draft or trade up the board for a blue-chip prospect like Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina), or Jayden Daniels (LSU). Or Minnesota can do both: extend Cousins and draft the next guy at quarterback.

Meanwhile, 2022 Offensive Player of the Year Justin Jefferson is due for a contract extension. The Vikings’ front office and Jefferson’s representation have discussed the matter for about a year, and sooner or later, the rubber must hit the road on Jefferson’s long-term status in purple.

Then, Danielle Hunter is seeking a large extension, as well. He’ll bank between $20-25 million annually via his next contract, and Hunter has stated a few times he wants to remain in Minnesota. We shall see if the Vikings and Hunter find a path to an agreement.

For roster building, these are the Vikings’ needs with the 2024 regular season seven months away:

• Quarterback
• Outside Linebacker
• Defensive Tackle
• Running Back
• Cornerback

The club could also use an off-ball linebacker, although Jordan Hicks may be a no-brainer to re-sign, or Brian Asamoah could be promoted.

If the Vikings ultimately spring for a quarterback in Round 1, it’ll be a first-of-its-kind arrangement in 10 years. Teddy Bridgewater was the last guy. Minnesota has never used a Top 10 draft pick on a quarterback, something to keep in mind if Adofo-Mensah trades up on draft night.

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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.