The Unsigned Free Agents That Make Sense for the Vikings
Perhaps a little-known fact about the 2025 Minnesota Vikings, the club still has about $24 million to spend on free agents, use for a trade or two, or roll over to the 2026 salary cap.
These unsigned free agents could be logical additions to the Vikings before the 2025 season kicks off. A look at the best remaining fits and the realism.
And $24 million is enough to sign about 3-5 semi-prominent free agents if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in the mood, though the roster may be pretty well set with the regular season 37 days away.
But if the Vikings do sign any more players, these three men, listed alphabetically, make the most sense.
Free Agents to Monitor for the Vikings
These three men would fit well on Minnesota’s 2025 depth chart.
1. Gus Edwards — RB
These are the Vikings’ running backs:
- Aaron Jones
- Jordan Mason
- Ty Chandler
- Zavier Scott
- Tre Stewart
The RB3 spot needs more beef, especially if Chandler, who doesn’t pass-block efficiently, gets waived in three weeks. Edwards is the perfect RB3 for this Minnesota team, showcasing a knack for short-yardage situations, including touchdowns, which Minnesota has struggled with since the dawn of the Kevin O’Connell era.
Edwards is 30 years old, but Minnesota doesn’t need him a bellcow capacity. He can be the goal-line guy and depth behind Jones and Mason. He might be perfect for the purple rushing offense.
2. Stephon Gilmore — CB
Based on operations at Vikings training camp — the defense looks absolutely fantastic — the cornerback room doesn’t need much help. The usual suspects, Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, and Jeff Okudah, are standing off the page. All is well.
But what happens if one of those men gets hurt? Remember Mekhi Blackmon’s injury last year? It was the event that prompted Adofo-Mensah to sign Gilmore in the first place.
Gilmore makes the cut on this list because Minnesota is one cornerback injury away from the fanbase muttering, “Uh oh.” Like it did last year.
In fact, most Vikings position groups, outside of quarterback, don’t have this fear. Other spots are deep. Cornerback is a little shakier. Signing Gilmore would be the response to an injury that beset Murphy Jr., Rodgers, or Okudah.
Gilmore is also in the Miami Dolphins’ rumor mill. SI.com‘s Dante Collinelli wrote this week, “There hasn’t been much noise around the Dolphins potentially adding Gilmore, but he does make a good bit of sense relative to the other options.”
“Despite the fact that he’ll be 35 on Sept. 19, Gilmore has played in at least 15 games in each of the last three seasons. Last year with the Vikings, he had one interception, nine passes defended, and a passer rating allowed of 94.1. It’s clear Gilmore isn’t the same player who made four straight Pro Bowls from 2018 to 2021 and won the Defensive Player of the Year in 2019, but he’s a high-floor option.”
Gilmore will turn 35 in September.
Collinelli added, “If the Dolphins want to lean even more on zone coverage this season (they probably should, given the cornerbacks they have), then Gilmore will fit in nicely. He still has good instincts and is competitive at the catch point. His tape from last year is better than Douglas’, and he’s far more durable than Samuel.”
A team will probably snatch the five-time Pro Bowler before too long.
3. Carson Wentz — QB
Sam Howell has not produced a memorable camp to date. Well, it might be memorable — but not in a good way.
Wentz is curiously available on the free-agent wire, and if Howell doesn’t turn the corner to a productive QB2 during three preseason games, the Vikings could call upon the former Philadelphia Eagle as a QB2 alternative.
Teddy Bridgewater and Tyler Huntley are also on the market, but Wentz seems more like the type of quarterback who Kevin O’Connell would tab for reclamation.
This one is all up to Howell. If he rebounds, great. If he does not, Wentz is ready.
Lions-themed media decided Friday that Wentz could be an option in Detroit after Hendon Hooker’s stinky performance at the Hall of Fame Game.
A to Z Sports‘ Mike Payton opined, “Back in 2016, Lions quarterback Jared Goff was the first pick in the draft. Wentz was the guy taken right after him. He had some good looks early in his career and made a Pro Bowl and helped the Eagles win a Super Bowl, but he has dissolved into a career backup in the last three seasons. He’s shown to be a decent one, too.”
“Like a lot of these guys, the Lions wouldn’t get someone who is going to come in and shock the world. This is just hand on the wheel and probably one that doesn’t jerk the wheel and drive into a bridge abutment. Wentz can play. At this point, I wonder if he wants to, though.”
Wentz is 32.
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