The NFL experienced fast and furious roster movement in the last two weeks, and now free agency is winding down, with all eyes starting to peer toward April’s draft.
4 Prominent Former Vikings Still Need New Teams
The Minnesota Vikings have onboarded about 12 new players, while nine members of the 2024 roster have already signed elsewhere.
And around the league, a handful of prominent former Vikings — players attached to the purple team’s roster before last season — still need NFL homes. These are those men listed alphabetically.
1. Stefon Diggs (WR)
Diggs met with the New England Patriots this week, and Fox Sports‘ Jordan Schultz said about the meeting: “The Patriots visit with WR Stefon Diggs has ended, and while there is no deal in place as of now, both sides intend to remain in contact. As it was described to me, this was more of a ‘get to know you’ and ‘where you’re at medically’ type of meeting.”
Diggs may not be on the market for long. He’s recovering from a torn ACL that he suffered as a member of the Houston Texans last season.
Until further notice, though, he’ll remain on the open market.
2. Case Keenum (QB)
Keenum suffered a season-ending foot injury last season as a backup quarterback for the Houston Texans.
He turned 37 this offseason, and the end is near. However, because the NFL has recently emphasized high-end QB2s, Keenum might have another run in him.
Keenum could even be a side-eye backup quarterback option for the Vikings if they continue their lull of adding a passer behind J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota and Keenum created magic in 2017, and folks would enjoy a sequel if he became “the guy” behind McCarthy for a year or two.
It’s also worth noting that Keenum and Kevin O’Connell crossed paths in Washington five years ago.
3. Eric Kendricks (LB)
Kendricks, entering his 11th season, remains a free agent.
Minnesota said goodbye to Kendricks in March 2023 amid an offseason of change, including the departures of Dalvin Cook, Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Irv Smith, Za’Darius Smith, Cameron Dantzler, Duke Shelley, and Adam Thielen, among others. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers, a relationship that lasted one season, and later the Dallas Cowboys in 2024.
Kendricks logged 575 total tackles with the Vikings from 2015 to 2022, the most of any Vikings player during the timeframe. Minnesota drafted Kendricks in the 2nd Round of the 2015 NFL Draft, the same event that netted Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs. It took a couple of seasons for Kendricks to metamorphize into an otherworldly defender, but when he did, he was an All-Pro contributor.
The veteran defender earned a Pro Bowl and 1st-Team All-Pro nod in 2019, coincidentally the last time Minnesota won a playoff game. He played most of his career in purple with college teammate Anthony Barr — also a linebacker — before Barr bolted for the Dallas Cowboys in 2022.
Kendricks probably has a year or two left in the tank and should sign somewhere before the start of the 2025 regular season.
4. Za’Darius Smith (OLB)
Smith played for the Lions last season and helped Detroit end the Vikings’ homefield advantage dream back in January.
But he’s a free agent at the moment and will turn 33 in September. Like Kendricks above, Smith probably has a season or two left, likely to latch onto a playoff-contending team as a situational pass-rushing mercenary.
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.