3 Free Agents the Vikings Would Be Crazy to Ignore
The Minnesota Vikings have about $18 million in cap space as of June 22nd, more than enough to spend on a free agent or two if they see fit.
The Vikings still have extraneous options. These three free agents remain on the open market and might be too fitting to pass up for the current roster.
Generally speaking, the roster is in sweet shape, with fans hoping a Super Bowl window opens for the club after general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s competitive rebuild over the last four offseasons.
But if Adofo-Mensah wants to make the roster bulletproof, these free agents should grab his attention.. The following players are noted alphabetically.
1. Gus Edwards (RB)
Have you watched Vikings football in the last two seasons, only to be frustrated by the team’s struggles to score rushing touchdowns in the redzone, and in particular, inside the 3-yard line?
You’re not alone.
Kevin O’Connell’s offense has a hell of a time punching in the rock from a few yards out. Signing Gus Edwards could do the trick in those situations, especially if something happened injury-wise to Aaron Jones or Jordan Mason.
Edwards is 6’1,” 240 pounds, and 30 years old. He’s scored 30 rushing touchdowns in six seasons, while rarely receiving an RB1 workload.
RotoBaller wrote about Edwards a month ago, “Not many teams need a running back, and there’s no way a team will sign two running backs at this point in free agency. Still, Edwards will almost certainly be signed in the next few months before training camp begins. The 30-year-old can be that bruiser-type back for a lot of teams this upcoming season.”
“Although he only rushed for 365 yards and four touchdowns last year with the Chargers, he totaled 810 yards and 13 touchdowns in his final season with the Ravens in 2023. Given his 6-foot-1, 238-pound build, teams like the Bears and Cincinnati Bengals could be the perfect fit for the veteran running back.”
Minnesota, with very few debates, could use a powerful tailback.
RotoBaller added, “The Bears are surely in the market for a running back to complement Swift out of the backfield. New head coach Ben Johnson is likely looking for a running back who can get those tough yards — similar to how he used David Montgomery in that Lions offense over the past few years. Edwards would immediately be the short-yardage back for the Chicago offense. We also shouldn’t rule out the Bengals potentially signing Edwards at some point in free agency.”
“There’s no doubt that Chase Brown is the clear RB1 in that offense, but the team doesn’t have a bigger back on its roster. With Cincinnati only adding one running back through the draft in 5-foot-9 Tahj Brooks, Edwards could be an upgrade over Zack Moss as the RB2.”
2. Gerald Everett (TE)
A free-agent tight end, Gerald Everett crossed paths with Kevin O’Connell in Los Angeles. And last summer, the Vikings signed tight end Robert Tonyan for TE3 insurance. The year before that? N’Keal Harry.
The Vikings may be set with rookie tight ends Gavin Bartholow, Ben Yurosek, and Bryson Nesbit, but if not, a veteran like Everett really makes sense. The man was hardly used in Chicago last year by the Bears, but before that, the Los Angeles Chargers featured Everett in a semi-prominent role.
Earlier this offseason, SI.com‘s Brock Vierra mentioned Everett as an option for the Kansas City Chiefs. He explained, “Everett is a nightmare on the football field. He’s faster than he looks, he has great strength and balance, plus longtime fans remember him scoring two touchdowns in the fourth quarter during the Chiefs 54-51 Monday Night Football loss to the Rams in 2018.”
“Everett is cheap, a scheme fit, and a thorn in the side of defensive coordinators. He automatically provides Patrick Mahomes a safety valve in the passing game as Everett knows how to manipulate and exploit coverages, plus he is a handful to bring down. There are things in life that exist yet are unable to be seen with the human eye.”
If Everett would mesh with the Chiefs, he’d fit just fine with the Vikings.
Vierra concluded. “Like an atom or a single grain of salt. Gerald Everett being tackled by one defender can be added to that list. Everett is a younger, faster Travis Kelce. He opens up the outside and when defenses focus their attention on the wide receivers, Everett eats linebackers up for breakfast. A smart move for all.”
Quite the endorsement.
3. Mike Hilton (CB)
Mike Hilton is known for one characteristic above all else — blitzing quarterbacks from the cornerback spot.
The Vikings employ one defensive coach known for one characteristic above all else — Brian Flores, who blitzes quarterbacks. It’s a match made in heaven, particularly if the Vikings decide one more above-average cornerback is required.
Hilton is also an inhabitant of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ rumor mill, where he spent his rookie contract.
The 31-year-old banked a 75.9 Pro Football Focus score in Cincinnati last year. In some ways, it’s a little bit weird that the Vikings haven’t pounced on Hilton. Why not?
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