Vikings Could Add One of the NFL’s Best Defenders
The Minnesota Vikings might need safety help in a hurry.
Vikings Could Add One of the NFL’s Best Defenders
Long-time defender Harrison Smith could retire, and his teammate, Camryn Bynum, is scheduled to hit free agency in March.
If both men depart, Minnesota would be left with the prospect of starting Josh Metellus and Jay Ward. However, because Smith and Bynum could vanish, the Vikings are a common-sense option to add Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland via free agency.
Holland’s contract is up, and after a down year by his standards, the Dolphins may not oblige his soon-to-be large asking price. And that’s where the Vikings enter the chat. Holland began his career in Miami when Brian Flores was in charge.
Therefore, Holland could join the purple team for two main reasons:
- The Vikings might have a dire safety need.
- Flores drafted Holland in Miami four years ago.
Moreover, Holland has mentioned his positive relationship with Flores, bordering on adoration. 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 general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is interested in Holland.
It’s also worth noting that depth safety Theo Jackson will likely return for 2025 and beyond, but it’s unclear if he’s a starting-caliber commodity.
Holland’s next contract will likely fetch around $15 million per season, money well spent by Minnesota if Smith and Bynum depart. Here’s Holland’s Pro Football Focus resume through four seasons:
- 2024: 63.0
- 2023: 90.4
- 2022: 65.5
- 2021: 84.7
Holland is a versatile safety who can do it all, not outwardly displaying many weaknesses. And if Flores returns to Minnesota for Year No. 3 — he probably will — Holland’s versatility is just what the doctor ordered in Flores’ system.
The 24-year-old might even be the best safety in the NFL when he’s playing at the top of his game. No exaggeration.
If Minnesota does not show interest in Holland but still needs a safety, another veteran to monitor might be San Francisco 49ers defensive back Talanoa Hufanga.
But because of the relationship between Holland and Flores, the 24-year-old makes all the sense in the world as a Viking. In fact, Minnesota could invest the money it might’ve spent on Bynum — in Holland, a better overall safety.
Free agency is six weeks away.
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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