The 4 Key Players to Pursue in Vikings Free Agency
NFL free agency is five weeks away, and the Minnesota Vikings currently boast about $60 million to spend, the most in years for the purple team.
The 4 Key Players to Pursue in Vikings Free Agency
Because general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has that sizable piggybank at his disposal — he offloaded expensive contracts of aging veterans over the last three offseasons to get here — Vikings fans can dream big about keynote free-agent possibilities.
Per the open market and increasing fan-driven sentiment, these are four high-profile free agents to-be that Minnesota can pursue, assuming the players’ current teams don’t re-sign them. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = best and most realistic free agent to pursue).
Note: The Vikings won’t sign all of these players.
4. Trey Smith (OG)
Smith is probably the most popular free agent among Vikings fans. Those folks watched as Minnesota allowed 9 sacks during its playoff loss in the Wildcard Round, the most in the history of the NFL playoffs. Smith is the best guard on the open market if the Chiefs don’t re-up for his services. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion — maybe three later this weekend — and reached his first Pro Bowl this season.
As a comparison, he’s as steady as Brian O’Neill per week-to-week performance.
Brace yourself, however — he’ll be spendy. His next deal will likely check in around $20 million per year. The only reason Smith doesn’t top this list is because a dozen other teams might pursue him.
3. Jevon Holland (S)
Jevon Holland might be the best safety in the NFL, and he’ll somehow hit free agency in 1.2 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.
Holland has mentioned his positive relationship with Flores. He tweeted two years ago when Flores landed Minnesota’s defensive coordinator job: “Flo was apart of the reason I got drafted making my lifelong dream come true. I got nothing but love for him!”
That’s a fantastic starting point for Vikings free agency if Adofo-Mensah is interested in Holland.
2. D.J. Reed (CB)
Reed told Go Long‘s Tyler Dunne this a couple of weeks ago, “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. Above all else, Minnesota must address cornerback for the long term this offseason. It’s mandatory.
1. Drew Dalman (C)
Garrett Bradbury could become a salary cap casualty if the Vikings are serious about upgrading the offensive line’s interior.
Dalman is the best center available in free agency, accounting for a 78.8 Pro Football Focus grade this season. And he’s not like Bradbury, who specializes in run blocking while struggling with pass protection. Dalman does both.
The only drawback? Several teams will covet Dalman.
Dalman earns top placement on this list because it would be pretty fantastic to start the J.J. McCarthy era at quarterback with one of the league’s best centers. Letting Bradbury or a rookie handle the assignment doesn’t feel ideal.
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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