Minnesota Vikings free agency has showcased power moves, including the acquisitions of Ryan Kelly (C), Will Fries (G), Jonathan Allen (DT), Javon Hargrave (DT), and Isaiah Rodgers (CB). The club also re-signed Pro Bowl cornerback Byron Murphy Jr.
4 Big-Ticket Items Still Loom for Vikings
But big-ticket items are still lurking, with free agency just over a day old.
These are the big-ticket items, ranked in ascending order of importance (No. 1 = most important).
4. The Cooper Kupp Verdict
Cooper Kupp should be available to sign with a new team on Wednesday or Thursday. And, yes — that’s the same Kupp who won a Super Bowl with Kevin O’Connell in 2021 while winning the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year award.
Vikings fans have asked for a WR3 upgrade since the late 2000s. Kupp is the big hope.
Alongside Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, Kupp would utterly feast. And don’t forget that Addison could be suspended to start the 2025 campaign due to a 2024 legal infraction.
3. The QB2 Identity
Daniel Jones is out; he’s a new quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts.
Because J.J. McCarthy is so young and recovering from a torn meniscus, the Vikings are virtually guaranteed to sign an experienced QB2 insurance policy.
These are the candidates:
- Jacoby Brissett
- Joe Flacco
- Taylor Heinicke
- Mac Jones
- Drew Lock
- Gardner Minshew
- Cooper Rush
- Carson Wentz
- Russell Wilson
- Jameis Winston
2. Harrison Smith — Retirement or Back?
The Vikings appear to be operating this week as if Harrison Smith will be back for one last ride.
At some point, though, he’ll have to lock in the decision. Otherwise, without Smith, this is Minnesota’s safety room:
- Josh Metellus
- Theo Jackson
- Jay Ward
- Buddy Bolden
In theory, if Smith did retire, the Vikings could still sign a player like Juan Thornhill.
1. One More Cornerback
Here’s the CB state of play for the Vikings as of Tuesday morning:
- Byron Murphy Jr.
- Isaiah Rodgers
- Mekhi Blackmon
- Dwight McGlothern
- NaJee Thompson
- Reddy Steward
- Kahlef Hailassie
- Nahshon Wright
- Ambry Thomas
That group needs one more playable asset.
From free agency, these are the options:
- Jaire Alexander*
- James Braberry
- Rasul Douglas
- Stephon Gilmore
- Shaquill Griffin
- Mike Hilton
- Noah Igbinoghene
- Jeff Okudah
- Asante Samuel Jr.
- Ahkello Witherspoon
*if released
Rookies like Trey Amos (Ole Miss), Jahdae Barron (Texas), Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame), Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina), and Azareye’h Thomas (Flordia State) should be available in April’s draft, as well.
Vikings Go Nuts, Add Another Pro Bowler
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.