3 Free Agents the Vikings Should Seriously Consider
The Minnesota Vikings have roughly $16 million in cap space remaining in 2025. They can spend it now or roll it over to the 2026 budget, a ledger that looks pretty brutal from an August 2025 standpoint.
These are three free agents the Vikings should consider signing, as roster depth and injuries create opportunities heading into the 2025 season.
The team, too, could stand to upgrade just a few spots on the current depth chart after roster cuts this week. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is unfraid to onboard newcomers.
So, ranked ascendingly, these are the free agents Minnesota should target, with the regular season nine days away.
3 Free Agents Who Actually Make Sense for the Vikings
Minnesota should explore these three men in free agency.
3. Yannick Ngakoue | OLB
Most recommendations on this list lean heavily into the “What happens if a starter gets injured?” argument. Ngakoue is no different.
Ngakoue worked for the Vikings in 2020 — for just a few weeks — and the current regime should consider onboarding him as outside linebacker depth. Vikings fans thought the OLB room was set when Gabriel Murphy rose to prominence during the preseason, but then Minnesota waived and stashed him on the practice squad a day later.
Behind Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner, the Vikings should sign one more veteran EDGE, “just in case.”
The 30-year-old Ngakoue, a pure pass rusher — don’t ask him to stop the run — checks some boxes.
2. Cam Akers | RB
The New Orleans Saints preferred running backs Alvin Kamara, Kendre Miller, and Devin Neal over Cam Akers. Akers is a free agent and can sign anywhere in the league.
In 2023 and 2024, Adofo-Mensah traded for Akers, sending late-round draft picks to the Los Angeles Rams and Houston Texans for his services when the club needed a better RB2-RB3 option. Well, to get out in front of the inevitable trade, Adofo-Mensah should simply sign Akers now and release Ty Chandler.
As recently as last season, the Vikings opted to use Akers instead of Chandler. What changed? Sign Akers and call it good.
Vikings Wire‘s Andrew Harbaugh mentioned Akers on Friday: “When the report surfaced that the New Orleans Saints were releasing Cam Akers, the Vikings were immediately discussed. The team retained four running backs on the depth chart, with Aaron Jones and Jordan Mason serving as the two key starters.”
“However, the back end of the depth chart consists of Zavier Scott and Ty Chandler, with the latter being the most likely to be released when some players return to health. If that were to happen, that could open the door for Akers to potentially return if the team wants to keep four running backs on the roster. Of course, he could sign somewhere else before then. In that case, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have a late-day three pick ready to fire away to make sure he gets his guy, right?”
1. Mike Hilton | CB — or — Shaquill Griffin | CB
It’s Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Jeff Okudah, and Dwight McGlothern at cornerback for the 2025 Vikings.
Will that foursome work? Maybe. But maybes shouldn’t be sufficient for a team with Super Bowl dreams.
Therefore, like Minnesota did last summer when Mekhi Blackmon tore his ACL, Adofo-Mensah should sign one veteran cornerback for insurance. Last year, that man was Stephon Gilmore. The plan worked.
This go-round, he should add Mike Hilton, freshly released by the Miami Dolphins amid roster cuts. Or — Minnesota could call an old friend, Shaquill Griffin, who played for the 2024 squad as well.
Neither man will be very expensive, and there’s no downside to hedging the bet at cornerback. In fact, because of Hilton’s blitz-happy ways, he might be perfect for Brian Flores’ system.
Janik Eckardt wrote about the Vikings CB situation this week after roster cuts: “He signed Dalton Risner during the 2023 campaign, and something like that could be possible at corner. There are still some guys who are unsigned or on the practice squad. Asante Samuel Jr. could be an intriguing candidate, but he won’t be available until October due to an injury recovery. Stephon Gilmore is still unsigned after a solid season in the Twin Cities. He’s long past his prime, but could be a sweet insurance.”
“The Seahawks released Shaq Griffin and can be signed. Mike Hilton, another veteran in his 30s, was cut by the Dolphins. An elite blitzer from the slot position could be a fit for Brian Flores’ blitz-heavy scheme. Beanie Bishop was a star rookie for the Steelers last year, but somehow didn’t make their 53-man roster. He’s currently on Pittsburgh’s practice squad, and the Vikings could take a look.”
One more corner would hurt no one. If a single cornerback gets hurt for the Vikings, Adofo-Mensah will have to sign on anyway. The team should think proactively.
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