Vikings Have 2 “Risky” Free Agents
The Minnesota Vikings and 31 NFL teams will embark on free agency in five weeks.
2 “Risky” Players Evidently Highlight Vikings Free Agency
Minnesota has about $60 million in cap space as of early February and is on tap to concoct a Super Bowl-contending roster for 2025 and beyond, assuming quarterback J.J. McCarthy morphs into a franchise quarterback.
Meanwhile, the purple team has about 25 free agents scheduled to hit the open market, and according to The 33rd Team, two of the Vikings’ free agents represent the most risky assets in the free-agent pool.
These are the risky free agents.
Sam Darnold (QB)
The 33rd Team‘s Tyler Brooke outlined six free agents to be who fit the “risky” criteria, and Darnold began the festivities for Minnesota’s representation.
“Despite looking like a starting-caliber quarterback, Darnold’s implosion in the playoffs presents a significant risk for a quarterback-needy team in free agency,” Brooke wrote.
“The problem for teams in need of a quarterback is that this is a bad year to need one. Two quarterbacks are considered first-round prospects in Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, and the other QBs likely to be free agents include an aging Kirk Cousins and unproven players like Justin Fields.”
Darnold produced 36 total touchdowns in 2024, along with 4,319 passing yards, guiding the purple team to an impressive 14-3 record.
But Brooke is correct: Darnold imploded in the postseason, and that’s all there is to it. No Vikings fan will debate it.
Brooke added, “Because of the value of the quarterback position, whoever takes Darnold will likely have the fate of their franchise resting on the shoulders of someone with a lot to prove. Darnold could return to form and light up the rest of the league, or he could fold after such a disappointing playoff loss.”
Aaron Jones (RB)
And Darnold wasn’t alone.
His pal Aaron Jones, the Vikings’ RB1 in 2024, made the cut, too. “At 30 years old with an extensive NFL workload, there will be questions about Jones’ longevity going forward. He played in every game this year for the Vikings but started to slow down significantly by the end of the season and into the postseason,” Brooke argued.
“Jones is seventh among active running backs in career rushing attempts, with 1,432 carries in his NFL career. He’s also on the smaller end among those top RBs, listed at just 5-foot-9 and 208 pounds.”
Minnesota could quite realistically re-sign Jones this offseason and possibly pair with a rookie running back from a rather deep RB class. The Vikings will earn a 3rd-Round compensatory pick thanks to Kirk Cousins’ free-agent departure 10 months ago, which could be prime territory to draft a tailback.
Brooke concluded about Jones, “While he could still play at a high level in 2025, his tires might not have enough tread left to be a sustainable workhorse back going forward.”
Minnesota, indeed, tabbed Jones as its version of a workhorse in 2024. But he’ll turn 31 in December — probably why he made The 33rd Team list.
Other risky free agents, as defined by Brooke, included Asante Samuel Jr. (CB, Los Angeles Chargers) and Dre Greenlaw (LB, San Francisco 49ers), to name a couple.
There’s a New Sam Darnold Plot Twist
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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