Nov 3, 2019; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Minnesota Vikings helmet during the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
Entering the 2024 offseason, the Minnesota Vikings had a tall task involving players scheduled to test the open market. The list of Vikings free agents topped out at 27 — and has now dwindled to 25.
On February 21st, Minnesota re-upped with Theo Jackson, a depth safety who turned heads in 2023. He’ll compete for a roster spot this summer but won’t be alone from the extensive list of 27.
Nick Muse re-signed with the Vikings on Tuesday, another depth transaction to help hedge the bet against T.J. Hockenson’s injury. Hockenson may or may not be ready for Week 1 in September, and most Vikings fans believe he’ll rejoin the club sometime in October or so.
So, if you’re keeping score at home, as of March 5th, this is the impending list of Vikings free agents:
The list is not small. If you listened to Vikings-themed analysts talk about “all kinds of cap space in 2024” last summer, well, it was all derived from the sheer number of upcoming free agents. Indeed, Minnesota has more cap space than usual, but that’s because nearly half the team is scheduled to test the NFL’s marketplace.
As a sophomore in purple, Theo Jackson banked 21 total tackles, a QB hit, a pass defended, and a memorable interception at the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. The Vikings’ 2023 safety room was incredibly deep per most teams’ standards, showcasing Harrison Smith, Josh Metellus, Camryn Bynum, Jay Ward, and Lewis Cine, so Jackson standing out, in general, was quite noteworthy.
Muse saw action in two regular season games after Hockenson’s injury, tallying a single catch, which ultimately netted a touchdown. Because of his preseason output, Vikings fans have labeled Muse an up-and-comer to watch, and the Tuesday transaction only strengthens their resolve.
And the big-ticket free agents will dominate all things Vikings next week. Kirk Cousins’ decision is a true coinflip, and as of late Monday night, it may be more likely that Cousins heads to the Atlanta Falcons for his career’s third chapter. On Hunter, well, if Cousins departs, Minnesota should have the funds to re-sign the veteran defender.
Vikings faithful will also intently monitor the free-agent statuses of Jordan Hicks, Greg Joseph, and Dalton Risner, among others.
Minnesota has around $36 million in available cap space.
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.