The Vikings’ Offseason Priorities Are Clear — These Are the Ones That Matter
The Minnesota Vikings’ offseason begins in 15 days, and the franchise will be asked to improve its roster while operating with a budget about $36 million in the red. With plenty of priorities, we asked our writers to name the single most vital item the franchise should address.
The Vikings don’t need a full teardown — they need targeted wins: retain the right in-house guys, add speed and stability on defense, and plug the roster leaks that showed up every week.
These are their replies and recommendations, with less than three months before free agency begins.
Where the Vikings Have to Spend, Draft, And Retain in Offseason
The offseason is just around the corner for the Vikings, believe it or not.
Janik Eckardt: Re-Sign DT Jalen Redmond
The defensive tackle is in the midst of a Pro Bowl-caliber season and should be treated as a cornerstone of the defense for years to come. He’s on a cheap one-year contract and is an exclusive rights free agent, but he should get a long-term deal with a significant raise ahead of free agency.
Tony Schultz: Shore Up the Safety Position
The Vikings need to shore up the safety position either through the draft or in free agency. I know many devalue that spot. That’s until you lose your future Hall of Fame player. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s draft abilities, or maybe his luck, have been questionable, but I think you find a safety in the draft more easily than a cornerback. Corner is still a high priority, more for the number on the team than for straight-up talent.
Sean Borman: Determine the Team’s Actual Identity
We heard it this season from Kevin O’Connell — this team has an identity crisis. What sets them apart? What do they do best? Or better than other teams? To move onward and upward, this must be defined before the offseason begins. Establishing who you are is such an essential step for any team. This will allow Kwesi Adofo-Menah to assemble a roster of players who truly fit the team’s identity.
Kyle Joudry: Add an Elite Talent or Two
The top Vikings offseason priority is to add an elite talent or two. The team’s only elite player right now is Justin Jefferson, someone being tamed by a (slowly) improving quarterback. Inserting one or two elite players into the defense and/or offense would create a domino effect, making the roster considerably more dangerous, from good talent that isn’t great.
Ted Schwerzler: Figure Out the Sustainable Pieces
Minnesota has to figure out what added pieces are sustainable. Ryan Kelly, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen are all serious question marks moving forward. The franchise needs to understand how to create a sustainable path forward.
Wes Johnson: Get Personnel to Fix the Takeaway (Turnover) Problem
Flip the script on turnovers. The Vikings are on pace to finish with the second-worst turnover differential on the season. Good teams lead the league. It’s as simple as that. Cause turnovers and keep the offensive side clean, and you stack wins — imagine that. Outside of the obvious offensive caretaking, the defense could use some ballhawks. Pencil me in for Caleb Downs.
Ali Siddiqui: Getting a New RB1
Getting an RB should be the Vikings’ most significant priority. Aaron Jones won’t be back, and Jordan Mason is not a true No. 1 back. While RBs don’t matter as much as in years past, they are still important. They take pressure off the passing game, and if McCarthy is not able to take that next step forward, a better running game will help. Could they take love if he’s available in the draft? They should definitely consider it.
Dustin Baker: Draft a Rookie RB in Round 1, 2, or 3
Whether it’s Jeremiyah Love from Notre Dame in Round 1, his teammate Jadarian Price in Round 2-3, or Jonah Coleman from Washington in the mid-rounds, the Vikings desperately need a young running back.
They must end the experiments of old Dalvin Cookses, Alexander Mattisons, and Aaron Joneses. Some of those solutions worked to a degree, but Kevin O’Connell needs a dynamic young running back who has no choice but to feed 25+ times per game.
Minnesota’s offense will click when it finds a youthful and explosive tailback. The only way to find that is through the draft.
Josh Frey: Improve the Defensive Secondary
The Vikings desperately need to find at least one cornerback capable of playing on the boundary full-time. Furthermore, with Harrison Smith likely retiring, Theo Jackson not having the breakout year people hoped for, and now Josh Metellus having shoulder surgery, they need a starting-caliber safety as well. There are candidates in the draft to fill both positions early on, so don’t be surprised when at least one of the Vikings’ first two picks is used on a defensive back.
Henrique Gucciardi: Improve the Defensive Secondary
The Vikings’ defense must be better in the back end. They used a lot of resources in the front seven already; now the secondary needs some attention. With four picks in the Top 100, the Vikings must take a closer look at the defensive backs.
Adam New: Improve the Defensive Secondary
The Vikings’ offseason priority should be strengthening the secondary, with priority on a new starter at both cornerback and safety.
Cole Smith: Improve the Defensive Secondary
The top offseason priority will be revamping the secondary. Last year, the main goal was to improve the trenches. Although there were mixed results, the Vikings will turn their attention to a secondary that may have been exposed more if teams hadn’t leaned into heavier personnel to run on them this season.
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