Vikings Free Agency Should Focus on 2 Players
The Minnesota Vikings will possess about $60 million in available cap space to spend on in-house and external free agents in seven weeks, the seventh-most in the NFL as of January 22nd.
Vikings Free Agency Should Focus on 2 Players
Dead money from the contracts of Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter will fall off the books this offseason, so unlike years past, the Vikings can become big spenders in free agency if they see fit.
The franchise has long-term roster needs at cornerback, interior offensive line, interior defensive line, and running back, meaning a productive offseason is required to prepare for 2025.
And above all else, Minnesota should primarily target these two free agents if their existing teams allow them to hit the open market.
D.J. Reed (CB)
New York Jets
Like the next man on the list, Reed is considered the top free agent at his position scheduled to hit the open market.
Grabbing him in March won’t be easy, but 25 other teams also don’t have the same spending power as Minnesota. Reed told Go Long‘s Tyler Dunne last month, “I’m ready to go to free agency, bro. I’m ready to see what’s next for me.”
Here’s his Pro Football Focus resume:
- 2024: 70.7
- 2023: 77.9
- 2022: 72.5
- 2021: 78.6
- 2020: 75.2
- 2019: 75.1
- 2018: 66.5
It’s worth mentioning that these are the Vikings’ cornerbacks scheduled to be under contract in 2025:
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
Minnesota may re-sign Pro Bowler Byron Murphy, which will ease the pain, but creating a CB room headlined by Murphy and Reed might just be the special sauce for the future.
Approximate Next Contract Terms: 3 Years | $50 Million
Trey Smith (OG)
Kansas City Chiefs
This guy is the current darling for Vikings fans — and almost every team that needs interior offensive line assistance.
Minnesota allowed 9 sacks to the Los Angeles Rams in the postseason’s Wildcard Round, setting a dubious NFL record and lifting up the team’s offseason need in plain national view. Of course, it didn’t help that quarterback Sam Darnold held the football woefully too long in the pocket, but the interior offensive line also did Darnold no favors.
So, most Vikings enthusiasts decided the purple team should go guard shopping with all the cap space.
Here’s Smith PFF skinny:
- 2024: 78.8
- 2023: 72.2
- 2022: 71.5
- 2021: 72.3
Smith specializes primarily in run-blocking — that’s his primary strength. He does not, however, flounder via pass protection. The guy does it all but is merely a bit more skilled at plowing lanes for running backs. He’s a two-time Super Bowl champion and reached his first Pro Bowl this season. As a comparison, he’s as steady as Brian O’Neill per week-to-week performance.
Only two possible obstacles prevent Smith from joining the Vikings in March: 1) Several other teams will pursue his free agency. He’s the best guard on the market beyond the shadow of a doubt. 2) His price tag will likely check in the neighborhood of $20 million per season, which could be a bit expensive.
Approximate Next Contract Terms: 3 Years | $60 Million
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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