A Last Look at the Vikings’ 25 Free Agents
NFL free agency begins in four days, a period when rapid-fire movement happens around the sport.
A Last Look at the Vikings’ 25 Free Agents
The Minnesota Vikings have 25 free agents scheduled to test the open market, though 30%-40% will likely return in 2025.
And with mere days away, these are the 25 Vikings players scheduled to hit the open market.
Nos. 25-6:
The One-Year Contract Players
These players signed a one-year contract last offseason or are playing on a one-year deal from another team.
- 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)
- Harrison Smith (S)
- Jerry Tillery (DT)
- Jihad Ward (OLB)
Most Vikings fans are excited about the team’s forecast of $60+ million in 2025 cap space, but that will evaporate quickly if general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah wants many of the above-listed players back next year.
For example, if Minnesota re-ups with Sam Darnold for two years and $60 million, well, the cap space slices in half unless Adofo-Mensah backloads the deal.
Expiring Deals –> One-Year Deals
5. Ryan Wright (P)
The punter since the start of the Kevin O’Connell era, Wright is on tap to test the open market if Minnesota doesn’t include him in the 2025 plan.
Wright ranked 23rd of 34 qualifying punters per net average yards (40.6) this season.
He feels like a 50-50 to return.
4. Nick Mullens (QB)
Adofo-Mensah extended Mullens’ contract in the 2023 offseason, and the deal turned heads because it was longer than a one-year arrangement. Still, with Sam Darnold and J.J. McCarthy in the house, 2024 could be Mullens’ last in purple. Otherwise, Mullens could, in theory, back up McCarthy starting in 2025.
Adding Daniel Jones in November might’ve ended Mullens’ long-term future in the Twin Cities.
3. Patrick Jones II (OLB)
The Vikings unexpectedly have abundant outside linebacker depth, including Jones II, who was a prominent contributor for three-quarters of the 2024 regular season.
Few hints exist about a Jones II extension, so he could hit free agency in March, especially with rookie Dallas Turner ready for more action.
NFL Network‘s Mike Garafolo tweeted Wednesday, just five days before free agency gets underway: “Another guy who could surprise with a big-money deal next week: Vikings LB Patrick Jones II. Seven sacks last year. Now heads to a market with pass rushers that are deeper into their career or with some other question marks. The 2021 third-rounder could cash in nicely.”
2. Camryn Bynum (S)
After one year of deployment in Brian Flores’ defense (2023), Bynum ranked as one of the NFL’s best safeties per Pro Football Focus, checking it at No. 22 among peers at his position. This year, he ranked 64th.
He should command a decent contract extension before too long because of his high-profile persona, though it’s unclear if Minnesota will pay Bynum top dollar.
Instead, there’s a small chance Minnesota will spend its free-agent safety dollars on Jevon Holland of the Miami Dolphins. Or San Francisco 49ers safety Talanoa Hufanga.
1. Byron Murphy (CB)
Murphy could be back in 2025. He told KSTP’s Darren Wolfson last summer, “I gotta say, since I’ve been here since day one, I fell in love, so I don’t want to go nowhere. I want to stay here for the rest of my career. So I’m gonna try to work my ass off to stay here for sure.”
Otherwise, Murphy signed a two-year deal in the 2023 offseason, making 2024 his final season in Minnesota. He also earned his first Pro Bowl last year, along with 6 interceptions.
His 2024 Pro Bowl nod will do wonders for his next contract — in the Twin Cities or elsewhere. On the whole, Murphy and Bynum’s extensions may boil down to whether Adofo-Mensah hands Sam Darnold a boatload of dough. If he does not, well, he can afford Bynum and Murphy — but probably not all three.
Murphy is quintessential “toss-up” free agent this cycle. He’s about 50-50 to stay or go.
His estimated market value nears $20 million per year.
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.
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