The 3 Deepest Spots on Vikings Roster Heading into Free Agency

Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Dallas Turner (15) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

The Minnesota Vikings embark on free agency this Monday, equipped with over $60 million to spend.

The 3 Deepest Spots on Vikings Roster Heading into Free Agency

It’s the most for Minnesota in eons, and many fans expect general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to be quite busy adding new players and re-signing in-house free agents.

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And with the free agency truly heating up, these are the three deepest parts of the depth chart as is, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = deepest).

3. Offensive Tackle

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The Group:
Christian Darrisaw
Brian O’Neill
Walter Rouse
Trevor Reid
Leroy Watson
Marcellus Johnson

Most NFL teams don’t have the offensive tackle as emphatically figured out as the Vikings. In fact, it wasn’t long ago that Minnesota employed players like Riley Reiff as the big OT solution from an offseason.

Nowadays, the purple team waltzed into offseasons carefree about offensive tackle because Darrisaw and O’Neill are so dependable.

It’s worth nothing that if Darrisaw isn’t ready for the start of the regular season — he tore his ACL last October — Adofo-Mensah could onboard a decent OT from free agency.

2. Wide Receiver

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The Group:
Justin Jefferson
Jordan Addison
Jalen Nailor
Jeshaun Jones
Lucky Jackson
Thayer Thomas

About 10 high-profile, aging veteran wide receivers will be available next week, but the Vikings just don’t need any, at least as an urgent roster request.

Make no mistake — Adofo-Mensah could sign Cooper Kupp, for example, or Amari Cooper, and no Vikings fan would be upset. It’s just that the wide receiver section of the depth chart isn’t in a state of disrepair.

Other WR3 candidates to monitor if Minnesota upgrades over Nailor include Keenan Allen, Diontae Johnson, and Hollywood Brown.

1. Outside Linebacker

Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.

The Group:
Jonathan Greenard
Andrew Van Ginkel
Dallas Turner
Bo Richter
Gabriel Murphy

One year ago at this time, Vikings fans rhetorically asked themselves, “What are we going to do if Danielle Hunter leaves?”

Hunter indeed left in free agency, but Minnesota responded by making outside linebacker its deepest roster spot. The position was so crowded in 2024 that some onlookers got mad about Dallas Turner watching and learning for much of the season.

Thankfully for the Vikings, EDGE rusher is a tremendous spot to showcase supreme depth, and not having it as a roster need in March is quite the luxury.

It’s worth mentioning that Minnesota could also re-sign a player like Jihad Ward to maintain veteran depth.


Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.

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