Making the Band: Vikings Post-Draft FA Edition
The draft is over and done. The teams are putting them in place on their rosters and moving others out.
Making the Band: Vikings Post-Draft FA Edition
The Vikings addressed several key spots on the first few days of free agency and hit on others with their draft picks. Unfortunately, that means some players already on the roster have to go, but most of those cuts won’t be until after teams fully evaluate their 90-man roster that they are building this week.
Until the major cuts start happening around training camp in August, some players will be signed now that teams can snatch up after they evaluate their drafted and undrafted free agent (UDFA) haul from the weekend.
Some players are sitting by the phone waiting for a team like the Vikings to sign them right now to add depth to positions. They could also become starters by the time the season rolls around. Who could they target and why?
Think of it as a band looking for that final piece to make them the best, like a bass player or rhythm guitarist, someone on keyboards, or that backup singer that brings a little more vocal juice. Here are a few targets that could lend more than a hand to improve the band.
Hold the Linebacker
The Vikings run a 3-4 defense, and edge is not somewhere they need immediate help or veteran presence to support a rookie. However, it gets a bit questionable at the middle linebacker spots after Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr., and backup Eric Wilson. Brian Asamoah is not expected to make the team this year. After that, it goes to rookie Kobe King, who needs some refinement. Kyzir White could be a player to bring in to really shore up the linebacker position.
He is very stout against the run with a 73.0 PFF grade and had three sacks last season. While his coverage skills are pretty bad (PFF grade of 32.0), he could be a solid rotational player in the middle and help in goal-line situations. He is also 2 years younger than Kamu Grugier-Hill, who played well when asked last year. He’s not being asked to be the team’s savior, but being part of a unit that could be stronger with him in it.
Running It Back Depth
While Aaron Jones had his best year toting the rock for the Vikings and the offensive line is greatly improved, he does have a knack for getting injured. Last year, there were just some nicks, but they slowed him down a few times during the season.
The Vikings added Jordan Mason as a great complementary back to Jones. After them is Ty Chandler, who can’t seem to get going after a few flashes over the years. Who should the team add? How about our old friend Cam Akers? The funny thing is he’s not old, at only 26, and is one of the youngest free agent running backs available. With that, we know he can produce when called upon. Surprisingly, the Vikings didn’t draft a running back in a deep draft class this year, and he appears to be the best solution to stabilize the position and add a different flair when in the game.
I would say J.K. Dobbins if the Chargers still didn’t have the UFA tag on him, which counts against the compensatory pick formula. Akers is free and clear.
Safety Dance
I wish Harrison Smith could play at a high level forever, but he has to retire at some point, which might be at the end of this year. The team has faith in Theo Jackson and the other safeties on the roster, but they didn’t draft one this weekend. It says a lot when the best safety in the draft class, Malaki Starks, was sitting at 24 and they passed on him.
There aren’t many safeties to choose from under 30, but one guy sticks out at 28 years old: former Buccaneer Jordan Whitehead. His strength is in the run game, but he has accumulated 11 interceptions in his career and 45 pass breakups. While his coverage skills are lacking, he might be a great rotational guy and a bridge between Smith retiring and a new addition in a few years.
I don’t think the fans on social media would make the Internet quake with good or bad reactions. He would just be a guy who jumps in to take the wear and tear off “The Hitman” and could be a good special-teams addition.
Look at This Cornerback
There’s an old saying in the NFL: You can never have too many cornerbacks. The Vikings added Isaiah Rodgers to team up with Byron Murphy Jr., and it’s a better signing than most give it credit for. After that, it is an absolute crapshoot about who could come in on a rotation, in nickel or dime packages, or in case of an unimaginable injury.
Mekhi Blackmon is coming off an injury, and newly signed Jeff Okudah could be looking at his final opportunity to be a player in the NFL and go down as a 1st round draft bust. Corner could have also been a pick for the Vikings in the draft this weekend at number 24. The position has been a hot topic in the offseason with a giant rumor about Asante Samuel Jr. already having a handshake agreement with the team to be activated after the draft.
That would be a great signing if it weren’t for the story that developed in the last few days, that the real reason he hasn’t signed with anyone is a serious neck and shoulder injury. Darren Wolfson said Tuesday on Skor North that the Vikings were out on him because of that, per his sources. That’s why Jack Jones, formerly of the Raiders, should be their target. Jones is a steady defender in the backfield who can cover but is also very adept at rushing the passer off the far edge. He graded with an 83.2 pass rush per PFF last year, with 2023 being his best overall statistical year.
Jones would fill a great role in Brian Flores’ defense and could be the one to fill that defensive backfield rusher in the future to take over when Smith retires. Jones immediately adds something to the defense that others would only bring as backups. If he starts with Murphy and Rodgers, the depth at corner is pretty well off for the 2025 season.
If Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is still looking for a few improvements to the team, he could snag a few right now without waiting for roster cutdowns this summer.
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