5 Players the Vikings Can Sign This Very Minute
Three days remain until NFL free agency, as the “legal tampering” phase kicks off on Monday, March 10th.
5 Players the Vikings Can Sign This Very Minute
But some players have already been released by their 2024 employers, and those men are free to sign anywhere in the sport as early as now. In theory, the Minnesota Vikings wouldn’t have to wait until next week.
Listed alphabetically, these are the five players that Minnesota could ink right now.
1. Davante Adams (WR)
The New York Jets formally said sayonara to Adams this week, a continuation of his post-Green Bay Packers fall from grace.
Of course, the Vikings won’t be in the market for a receiver of Adams’ caliber, but stranger things have happened than Minnesota opting to get insanely wealthy on offense.
There’s also the Aaron Jones connection in play, especially if Jones re-signs during free agency week.
2. Tyler Lockett (WR)
Lockett is emphatically on the backend of his sweet career, but if Minnesota chooses to onboard a more dependable WR3 than Jalen Nailor, well, Lockett is that and then some.
In fact, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah — along with 31 other GMs — will have about 10 high-profile + old wideouts on the open market. If the Vikings ever wanted to sign a big-name WR, now is the time. They’ll be available and affordable.
Lockett, though, can be signed right now.
3. Darius Slay (CB)
Slay could be “this year’s Stephon Gilmore” for Minnesota if Adofo-Mensah has a plan to draft a corner like Jahdae Barron, Shavon Revel Jr., or Benjamin Morrison in seven weeks while not making a significant splash in free agency.
The Eagles have cornerback all squared away with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell, so Slay is the odd man out and a player who can be signed right now.
4. Sione Takitaki (ILB)
Every offseason since his arrival, Adofo-Mensah has signed a veteran off-ball linebacker. Troy Reeder, Jordan Hicks, Blake Cashman, and Kamu Grugier-Hill can attest.
Takitaki — what a sweet last name, huh? — is on the open market, cut loose by the New England Patriots before the start of free agency.
It’s worth noting that both Vikings linebackers (Ivan Pace Jr. and Blake Cashman) missed games due to injury in 2024.
5. Juan Thornhill (S)
Here’s Thornhill’s Pro Football Focus resume to date:
- 2024: 65.5
- 2023: 66.5
- 2022: 72.7
- 2021: 70.1
- 2020: 59.0
- 2019: 71.8
Thornhill could work for a team that might lose Harrison Smith to retirement and Camryn Bynum to free agency.
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.
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