Vikings Mentioned as Landing Spot for Top Free Agent
The Minnesota Vikings vowed to improve the offensive line’s interior this offseason after a playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams in January.
Vikings Mentioned as Landing Spot for Top Free Agent
Accordingly, free agents like Kansas City Chiefs guard Trey Smith could be in play for the purple team, and ESPN’s Mina Kimes connected him to the Vikings’ rumor mill last week.
Speaking with Kevin Clark, Kimes opined, “You mentioned the Bears, by the way, who I think are a really good name for Trey Smith. I’m gonna throw out another one to you and introduce a hypothetical. They both have a lot of salary cap space. They’re both comfortable right now. If you’re the Vikings, do you rather go on to J.J. McCarthy but improve the interior of the offensive line, which is a problem, or do you rather pay Sam Darnold?”
Smith’s OL spot, right guard, was manned by Ed Ingram and Dalton Risner for the Vikings in 2024. Ingram is under contract for another season in Minnesota, though some expect him to be released, while Risner is scheduled to hit free agency.
“Darnold is gonna cost way more than Trey Smith, which is hilarious because one player is obviously near the top of the position, one is not. I’m pretty sure if I’m the Vikings, I’d rather pay Trey Smith,” Kimes added.
And earlier this month, Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling called Smith a realistic free-agent target for the Vikings. KFAN’s Paul Allen asked Goessling about the realism of Smith signing in Minnesota a couple of weeks ago, and he replied, “I think they’ll be pretty aggressive for players like that. He’s probably at the top of the guard market, which will be expensive. But I think they are going to make a big priority of going after a guard.”
One-third of the league may chase Smith in free agency, so the Vikings must use their $63 million in available cap space to box everyone out.
“And I think they would have a lot of interest in getting a guy like him in here. So I would expect they’d be involved if he makes it to the market, which he might, because the Chiefs have other guys to sign. I think it’s very possible that they get in the mix for him,” Goessling added.
Minnesota surrendered 9 sacks in the loss to the Rams six weeks ago, setting a dubious NFL record and lifting up the team’s offseason need in plain national view. Of course, it didn’t help that Darnold held the football too long in the pocket, but the interior offensive line also did Darnold no favors.
Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell was sure to call out the trenches after the loss. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell told reporters.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Most listeners took that as a prophecy that Minnesota would add one, two, or three new interior offensive linemen in the offseason. Therefore, the Smith-to-Vikings theories immediately picked up steam.
Here’s Smith Pro Football Focus tale of the tape:
- 2024: 78.8
- 2023: 72.2
- 2022: 71.5
- 2021: 72.3
Smith specializes primarily in run-blocking — that’s his keynote strength. He does not, however, struggle via pass protection. The guy does it all but is merely a bit more skilled at plowing lanes for running backs. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion and reached his first Pro Bowl in 2024. As a comparison, he’s as steady as Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw per weekly performance.
Per Mina Kimes, Minnesota should be in the Trey Smith free-agent dialogue.
Smith will turn 26 this summer.
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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