All the Players Who Can Leave the Vikings in 2026
It’s time to start contemplating the Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 offseason, because the 2025 regular season is effectively toast. And when the club gets there, per usual, a litany of current players is scheduled to depart the organization.
All the players who can leave the Vikings in 2026, including Jalen Nailor and Eric Wilson, with roster decisions looming across key positions.
Here’s a look under the hood at the purple team’s 2026 free agency.
Preview of 2026 Vikings Free Agency: In-House
These men can leave if they please.
Unrestricted Free Agents
The Vikings must decide “yea or nay” on the following players in February and March:
- Ty Chandler (RB)
- Andrew DePaola (LS)
- CJ Ham (FB)
- Jalen Nailor (WR)
- Jeff Okudah (CB)
- Rondale Moore (WR)
- Justin Skule (OT)
- Harrison Smith (S)
- Tavierre Thomas (CB, S)
- Carson Wentz (QB)
- Eric Wilson (LB)
- Ryan Wright (P)
This is actually a small list by typical offseason standards, and possibly deadly departures don’t headline the group. For example, last offseason, Minnesota had to ponder the futures of Byron Murphy Jr., Aaron Jones, Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, etc. This offseason isn’t like that. There are no players like Danielle Hunter from the 2024 offseason.
Most fans probably want to see extensions for Ham, Nailor, Wilson, and perhaps Wright.
Smith, a franchise legend, will almost certainly retire.
The rest of the players will be considered expendable in the court of public opinion. Nailor will be especially fascinating as quarterback J.J. McCarthy has built on-the-field with rapport with him, and McCarthy has struggled to build rapport with the rest of the pass-catchers, on the whole.
Restricted Free Agents
Here’s the skinny on restricted free agents:
- Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
- Ben Sims (TE)
RFAs are defined like this by the NFL: “A player with three accrued seasons and an expired contract. RFAs are free to negotiate and sign with any team, but their original team can offer them one of various qualifying offers (“tenders”) that come with the Right of First Refusal and/or draft-pick compensation. If the tender is withdrawn by a team, the RFA becomes an unrestricted free agent.”
“Teams must submit these tenders before the start of the 2026 League Year. These amounts change annually but the following numbers are for the 2025 season (players can choose either (a) or (b) regardless of which is greater in the applicable tenders below).”
That basically means the Vikings can keep Pace Jr. and Sims somewhat easily if that is their decision.
Three months ago, handing Pace Jr. an extension would’ve been considered a meaty, important topic. Now, though, Eric Wilson has taken Pace Jr.’s starting job, and there may be no rush to afford the young off-ball linebacker a large extension.
There’s still a path for Pace Jr. to regain his 2023 and 2024 ways, but his stock is at its lowest professional point right now.
The man might need a change of scenery.
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
What’s an ERFA?
Per Pro Football Network‘s Dallas Robinson: “An exclusive rights free agent is a player with two or fewer accrued seasons and an expired contract. This contrasts a restricted free agent (three accrued seasons) or an unrestricted free agent (four or more accrued seasons). To accrue a season, a player must have been on a team’s roster for six or more regular-season games during that year.”
“However, the player does not need to be active for games to accrue a season. Players on injured reserve and the physically unable to perform list also get credit toward an accrued season. Conversely, a player on a practice squad, non-football injury list, or the commissioner’s exempt list does not get credit for an accrued season if they are not on the roster for six or more games. Additionally, a player under contract must report to his team’s training camp on his mandatory reporting date to earn an accrued season.”
These are the candidates this offseason:
- Jalen Redmond (DT)
- Bo Richter (OLB)
- Zavier Scott (RB)
Redmond will be the key prize in this category, as the unsung defensive lineman has transformed into arguably the defense’s best player in 2025.
Minnesota would be foolish to let him walk, so expect a handsome extension in February or March.
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