Fan-Favorite Target Could Actually Be in Play for Vikings Free Agency
Minnesota Vikings fans want the team to spend big on Kansas City Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith this offseason, and the franchise might just do it.
Fans’ Favorite Target Could Actually Be in Play for Vikings Free Agency
Smith’s Chiefs first play in the Super Bowl on Sunday, taking on the Philadelphia Eagles, but four weeks after that, any team can sign Smith, who is expected to command $20 million per season on the open free-agent market.
And according to Star Tribune‘s Ben Goessling, Smith in purple is actually realistic. KFAN’s Paul Allen asked Goessling about the realism of Smith signing in Minnesota this week, 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 $60 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.
Why is Smith a Vikings’ target? Minnesota surrendered 9 sacks to the Los Angeles Rams in the postseason’s Wildcard Round, setting a dubious NFL record and lifting up the team’s offseason need in plain national view. Of course, it didn’t help that quarterback Sam 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 onlookers took that as an omen 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 this season. As a comparison, he’s as steady as Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw per week-to-week performance.
The Vikings, evidently, per Goessling, could be in the Smith Sweepstakes — if they’re willing to spend $20 million on a guard. It’s also unclear if Smith would replace Blake Brandel or Dalton Risner on the offensive line.
Minnesota’s offensive line, overall, ranked 10th in the NFL this season, according to Pro Football Network.
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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