4 Free Agents for Vikings to Explore in 2025: An Early Peek

Oct 27, 2024; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) enters the field before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at Hard Rock Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings have one regular season game remaining, and the playoffs are around the bend.

4 Free Agents for Vikings to Explore in 2025: An Early Peek

Folks are very much invested in the current season, as one should when the club owns a 14-2 record.

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Oct 7, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah looks on from the sidelines before the game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Michigan Wolverines at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports

But no matter what, the offseason will arrive in the next month or so, and Minnesota should pursue these four players (or at least some). They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best free agent to pursue).

4. Amari Cooper (WR)

Nov 27, 2022; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Amari Cooper (2) makes a first down reception against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during overtime at FirstEnergy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Galvin-USA TODAY Sports.

Cooper will be 31 by the time 2025 rolls around, and he’ll probably know his role as a high-end WR3 at this age.

Minnesota has a decent WR3 in Jalen Nailor, but Nailor might be best served as a WR4.

Cooper is scheduled to hit free agency and won’t utterly break the bank. The Vikings should dangle a decent contract for him to finish his sweet career in purple. As recently as 2023, Cooper tallied 1,250 yards in a single season.

3. Charvarius Ward (CB)

Sep 29, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; New England Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson (38) is tackled by San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images.

Ward experienced a quiet season in 2024 by his usually lofty standards, which may have driven his price tag down.

Still, not too many proven veteran cornerbacks will hit the open market, and if Minnesota wants a battle-tested option, it’s Ward (if not the last guy on this list).

Before 2024, Reed routinely produced 80.0+ PFF seasons and acted as one of the NFL’s top defensive backs. The man was 2nd-Team All-Pro and a Pro Bowler in 2023.

2. Jevon Holland (S)

Jul 24, 2024; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland (8) juggles with footballs during training camp at Baptist Health Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports

Jevon Holland might be the best safety in the NFL, and he’ll somehow hit free agency in 2.5 months.

Right now, Minnesota doesn’t need any safeties — it has Harrison Smith, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus. But Smith could realistically retire, and Bynum is a free agent who is not guaranteed to return.

Thereafter, in that scenario, the Vikings would need a new starting safety and defensive coordinator Brian Flores has ties to Holland from the 2021 Dolphins draft and season.

1. D.J. Reed (CB)

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Nov 10, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed (4) raises his fist during the national anthem before the game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.

Reed told Go Long’s Tyler Dunne this week, “I’m ready to go to free agency, bro. I’m ready to see what’s next for me.”

That sounds like a man ready to leave, and Minnesota needs a cornerback.

Reed habitually produces seasons with PFF scores north of 70.0 and 75.0. Minnesota can afford him, and he should be the primary free-agent target.


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.