The Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 season ended 15 days ago with a sorrowful showing against the Los Angeles Rams.
Vikings Free Agents: Ranking Players by Priority to Re-Sign
Minnesota’s offseason is now formally underway, and free agency kicks off in six weeks.
The Vikings must decide on Sam Darnold’s free-agent status, find a top CB, enhance the trenches (offense and defense), and probably get better at running back.
And to kickstart the offseason, these are 25 players already in-house set to hit free agency — listed by priority. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important to re-sign, per VikingsTerritory).
Counting Down …
25 to 21 —
25 — Cam Robinson (LT)
24 — Dan Feeney (G/C)
23 — Fabian Moreau (CB)
22 — Jihad Ward (OLB)
21 — Ryan Wright (P)
Most of these men are expendable in NFL-speak, though Wright could be nice to have back for special teams continuity.
Robinson isn’t needed with Christian Darrisaw returning around the bend. Feeney, Moreau, and Ward are depth pieces.
Counting Down …
20 to 16 —
20 — Nick Mullens (QB)
19 — Brandon Powell (WR)
18 — Dalton Risner (OG)
17 — Sam Darnold (QB)
16 — Stephon Gilmore (CB)
Minnesota already re-signed Brett Rypien at quarterback, and he can fill the QB3 job. No need for Mullens. Powell is a fine returner but underwhelmed as a WR4 in 2024. Risner can’t run block. Darnold will get $40+ million for some other team. Gilmore is elderly per NFL terminology, and the Vikings must focus on youth at cornerback.
Counting Down …
15 to 11 —
15 — Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB)
14 — Patrick Jones II (OLB)
13 — Jerry Tillery (DT)
12 — Johnny Mundt (TE)
11 — Cam Akers (RB)
Grugier-Hill would be sweet on a second contract as a backup to Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. Jones II is probably gone with Dallas Turner waiting to break out. Tillery is a serviceable DT. Mundt is a role-playing tight end and one of the best at that specific craft. The Vikings should sign Akers outright so they don’t have to waste a late-round draft pick via trade in September or October.
Counting Down …
10 to 6 —
10 — Trent Sherfield (WR)
9 — David Quessenberry (OT)
8 — Theo Jackson (S)
7 — Jonathan Bullard (DT)
6 — Shaquill Griffin (CB)
Sherfield is the Vikings’ new special teams weapon; bring him back. Minnesota will need Quessenberry as Darrisaw recovery insurance. Theo Jackson could play a prominent role at safety if Harrison Smith retires. Minnesota loves it some Jonathan Bullard. And Griffin would be fantastic as a depth CB and spot starter.
Counting Down …
5 to 1 —
5 — Aaron Jones (RB)
4 — Daniel Jones (QB)
3 — Harrison Smith (S)
2 — Camryn Bynum (S)
1 — Byron Murphy (CB)
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should re-up with Jones while also drafting a rookie halfback in April. Daniels Jones is 2025’s Sam Darnold per contractual price. Smith is ageless, and if he doesn’t retire, he owes it to himself to cross paths with J.J. McCarthy for Vikings’ history sake. Bynum might be too expensive, but he’s critical in a secondary that will undergo massive change.
Murphy is Minnesota’s top in-house free agent. He really arrived on the scene in 2024 after a decent but not great 2023 to the tune of a Pro Bowl and 6 picks.
For context, this is the full list of Vikings free agents listed alphabetically.
- Cam Akers (RB)
- Jonathan Bullard (DT)
- Sam Darnold (QB)
- Dan Feeney (G/C)
- Stephon Gilmore (CB)
- Shaquill Griffin (CB)
- Kamu Grugier-Hill (LB)
- Theo Jackson (S)
- Aaron Jones (RB)
- Daniel Jones (QB)
- Fabian Moreau (CB)
- Johnny Mundt (TE)
- Brandon Powell (WR)
- David Quessenberry (OT)
- Dalton Risner (OG)
- Cam Robinson (LT)
- Trent Sherfield (WR)
- Jerry Tillery (DT)
- Jihad Ward (OLB)
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 MIN 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.