Free Agency Is 3 Weeks Away. Here’s What the Vikings Need.
The Minnesota Vikings are three weeks away from free agency and 9.5 away from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Free Agency Is 3 Weeks Away. Here’s What the Vikings Need.
The offseason is here, highlighted by head coach Kevin O’Connell’s multi-year extension so far and Brian Flores’ return essentially locked in.
And with a Super Bowl window cracking open, assuming quarterback J.J. McCarthy is legitimate, these are the Vikings’ top six offseason needs, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most urgent need).
6. WR3
Jalen Nailor performed well some of the time in 2024 but did not consistently cook as WR3. In fact, when tight end T.J. Hockenson returned in Week 9, Nailor’s production floundered for about 7 games until a late-season revival.
Minnesota should have at least one rookie wideout or veteran fallback waiting in the wings.
Possible Draft Candidates:
(Round 5 estimates)
Nick Nash (San Jose State)
Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville)
Antwane Wells Jr. (Ole Miss)
Will Sheppard (Colorado)
Elijah Badger (Florida)
Pat Bryant (Illinois)
Free-Agent Options:
Amari Cooper
Stefon Diggs
Keenan Allen
Brandin Cooks
Mike Williams
Cooper Kupp (if released by LAR)
5. QB2
In consecutive seasons, Minnesota has discovered the value of a dependable QB2, narratives that can be told by Sam Darnold, Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Hall, Nick Mullens, and Kevin O’Connell.
Thankfully for Minnesota’s sake, it might’ve already scripted the QB2 plan when it added Daniel Jones off waivers from the New York Giants. Jones can be “the guy” at QB2 for Minnesota in 2025, as some expect Darnold to cash in on a lucrative free-agent contract elsewhere.
And if it’s not Jones, well, Minnesota will have to roll with Nick Mullens or comb the free-agent market for a different QB2. The position will need attention with a rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, returning from a meniscus tear that nullified his 2024 campaign.
Possible Draft Candidates:
n/a
Free-Agent Options:
Daniel Jones
Nick Mullens
Justin Fields
Jimmy Garoppolo
Jameis Winston
Jacoby Brissett
4. RB1
The only running backs under contract for the 2025 purple team are Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott.
Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are tentatively scheduled for free agency. So, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah must extend Jones for a year and draft a rookie tailback somewhere in April’s draft. That — or spend a high-to-mid-round pick on a new running back if Jones walks.
Chandler won’t earn the RB1 outright, so Minnesota needs some RB beef, probably Jones and a youthful halfback.
This is Minnesota’s rushing efficiency per DVOA from the last three seasons, dating back to the dawn of the O’Connell era:
- 2022: 27th
- 2023: 27th
- 2024: 20th
Drafting or signing a running back seems likely. Those above-listed stats are not exemplary.
Draft Candidates:
Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)
Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)
TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)
Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)
Devin Neal (Kansas)
Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
Free-Agent Options:
Aaron Jones
Javonte Williams
Najee Harris
Jaylen Warren
Rico Dowdle
J.K. Dobbins
3. iDL
Harrison Phillips, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are under contract next season — and then that’s it for playable DTs. No one else.
From free agency or the draft, the Vikings should add another defensive tackle, the spot currently manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings fans request this every offseason and usually end up with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Perhaps the purple front office will finally splash for an impact interior defensive lineman.
The 24th pick, currently owned by Minnesota, could be a prime spot for this roster need.
Draft Candidates:
Derrick Harmon (Oregon)
Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)
Deone Walker (Kentucky)
Free-Agent Options:
Javon Hargrave
Milton Williams
Poona Ford
B.J. Hill
Osa Odighizuwa
Levi Onwuzurike
Jarran Reed
2. iOL
Although Sam Darnold held the football way too long in the pocket during the season’s final two games, the offensive line’s interior did not bail him out.
Identifying offensive line problems was glaringly obvious, but O’Connell was sure to call out the trenches. “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 after the playoff loss.
Interior offensive line tribulation has been a frequent scourge of Vikings football for over 10 years.
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.”
Fixes are on the way.
Draft Candidates:
(all guards)
Tyler Booker (Alabama)
Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)
Armand Membou (Missouri)
Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
Free-Agent Options:
Drew Dalman (Center)
Ryan Kelly (Center)
Trey Smith (Guard)
Mekhi Becton (Guard)
Kevin Zeitler (Guard)
Will Fries (Guard)
Brandon Scherff (Guard)
Teven Jenkins (Guard)
1. CB
Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern are the CB solutions on the books, at least per possible playing time, right now for 2025, so, yes, cornerback is the top offseason need.
Pro Bowler Byron Murphy may return, which is fantastic, but adding one more impact corner will be vital if Minnesota has Super Bowl visions in 2025 and beyond.
The franchise is painfully overdue to nail a CB draft pick from Round 1 or 2. That last somewhat successful example occurred a decade ago — Trae Waynes.
It’s worth noting that Adofo-Mensah has about $60 million in cap space to rectify all positions if he doesn’t hand Darnold a contract worth $40+ million per season.
Draft Candidates:
Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)
Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)
Jahdae Barron (Texas)
Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
Free-Agent Options:
Byron Murphy
D.J. Reed
Mike Jackson
Charvarius Ward
Asante Samuel Jr.
Rasul Douglas
Paulson Adebo
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 MIN 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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