4 Biggest Losers from Vikings Free Agency

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Mar 23, 2025
Made a Statement
Aug 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sean Mannion (14) hands off to running back Ty Chandler (32) during the second quarter against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.

While NFL free agency is still ongoing, most Minnesota Vikings fans have turned their attention to the 2025 NFL Draft, which is less than five weeks away.

4 Biggest Losers from Vikings Free Agency

The team has not disappointed in free agency, adding about a dozen new players and building the trenches along the way.

vikings
Nov 20, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah talks with head coach Kevin O’Connell prior to the game against the Dallas Cowboys at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports.

And as the depth chart takes shape, these are five big losers from Vikings free agency — players who did “nothing” in free agency but watched as their 2025 stock fell. They’re listed alphabetically.

1. Ty Chandler (RB)

The Vikings traded for Jordan Mason one week ago, a move to stabilize the 2025 running back room.

Vikings Free Agency
Dec 16, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Ty Chandler (32) warms up before the game against the Chicago Bears at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.

The move added intense, unforeseen running back depth to the purple roster after the club re-signed Jones to a two-year extension in early March. As of March 19th, these halfbacks are under contract for 2025:

  • Aaron Jones
  • Jordan Mason
  • Ty Chandler
  • Zavier Scott

It also signaled a guaranteed RB3 post for Chandler, who might’ve personally sized up the RB2 job without a Mason trade.

The Mason trade, for better or worse, made Chandler a 2025 offseason “loser.” He could be released during roster trimdowns in August.

2. Dwight McGlothern (CB)

McGlothern isn’t flat out of luck or anything of the sort.

It’s just that the Vikings signed two cornerbacks, Isaiah Rodgers and Jeff Okudah, that may keep him stationary on the depth chart. Before free agency, McGlothern was actually the second cornerback on the depth chart.

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Dwight McGlothern (29) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Now, he’s CB4 or CB5. Had Minnesota not added Rodgers or Okudah, McGlothern would’ve emerged from March as a free agency “winner.”

No cigar.

3. Jalen Nailor (WR)

Minnesota signed another speedy wide receiver — just like Nailor — this week in Rondale Moore.

Aug 10, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jalen Nailor (83) warms up before the game against the Las Vegas Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports.

Unless Moore totally underwhelms this summer at training camp and in the postseason, he’ll battle Nailor for the WR3 job in 2025. Until the Moore free-agent addition, Nailor’s job security sat pretty. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did not sign any big-name pass-catchers like Amari Cooper, Cooper Kupp, or Stefon Diggs.

But via free agency’s second tier, Moore turned purple, and Nailor must now look over his shoulder.

4. Jalen Redmond (DT)

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive lineman Jalen Redmond (61) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

An ex-UFLer, Redmond enjoyed a mini-breakout campaign with the 2024 Vikings, morphing into a sudden tackle-for-loss savant and showing enough sample to prove his production wasn’t accidental.

Yet, in free agency, Adofo-Mensah added Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, two men who will directly cut into Redmond’s would-be playing time.

Redmond will likely still make the 53-man roster, but it would be quite odd for him to outsnap Allen or Hargrave.

The Full Group

These players joined the Vikings in free agency:

  • Isaiah Rodgers (CB, Eagles) — 2 Years, $15 Million
  • Bubba Bolden (S) — 1Year, $840 Thousand
  • Ryan Kelly (C, Colts) — 2 Years, $18 Million
  • Jonathan Allen (DT, Commanders) — 3 Years, $60 Million
  • Will Fries (G, Colts) — 5 Years, $88 Million
  • Javon Hargrave (DT, 49ers) — 2 Years, $30 Million
  • Tavierre Thomas (CB, Buccaneers) — 1 Year, $2 Million
  • Justin Skule (OT, Buccaneers)
  • Eric Wilson (LB, Packers)
  • Jeff Okudah (CB, Texans)
  • Rondale Moore (WR, Falcons)

And these men left for new teams:

  • Nick Mullens (QB) to Jaguars (2 Years, $6.5 Million)
  • Sam Darnold (QB) to Seahawks (3 Years, $100.5 Million)
  • Camryn Bynum (S) to Colts (4 Years, $60 Million)
  • Johnny Mundt (TE) to Jaguars (2 Years, $5.5 Million)
  • Patrick Jones II (OLB) to Panthers (2 Years, $20 Million)
  • Daniel Jones (QB) to Colts (1 Year, $14 Million)
  • Trent Sherfield (WR) to Broncos (2 Years, $8 Million)
  • Jerry Tillery (DT) to Chiefs (1 Year, $2.75 Million)
  • Garrett Bradbury (C) to Patriots (2 Years, $12 Million)
  • Cam Robinson (OT) to Texans (1 Year, $14.5 Million)
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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.