Vikings Explode in Free Agency on Tuesday with 3 Moves
The Minnesota Vikings embarked on free agency Monday, on deck to spend over $60 million in available cap space.
Vikings Explode in Free Agency on Tuesday with 3 Moves
The fireworks started that day with the re-signing of cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and the free-agent addition of Philadelphia Eagles corner Isaiah Rodgers.
But as folks woke up on Tuesday morning, Vikings free agency utterly exploded. Monday was just an appetizer.
Here’s what happened.
1. Jonathan Allen (DT) to Vikings
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport tweeted Tuesday, “Former Commanders Pro Bowl DT Jonathan Allen is signing with the Vikings on a 3-year $60M per me and Tom Pelissero. Huge. Deal done by Blake Baratz of Team IFA.”
Allen instantly replaces last year’s primary defensive tackle, Jerry Tillery, and represents the most serious interior defensive line upgrade in over a decade.
Minnesota hasn’t employed a truly impactful, quarterback-menacing defensive tackle since Kevin Williams, who left 12 years ago.
Allen to Minnesota proved the Vikings were serious about upgrading the defensive trenches.
2. Will Fries (OG) Next
But the defensive trenches weren’t the only priority. Minnesota stacked improvements onto the offensive line, too.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler tweeted, “Guard Will Fries is headed to the Vikings for five years and $88 million, sources told ESPN. One of the top interior linemen on the market is now off the board.”
Fries will swipe Ed Ingram’s job, and in fact, Ingram could be released this offseason.
In a period of hours, Minnesota fundamentally fixed its interior trenches. The Vikings signed the guy next to Fries in the trenches, center Ryan Kelly, on Monday.
Here’s Fries’ tale of the tape from Pro Football Focus:
- 2024: 86.9
- 2023: 61.2
- 2022: 58.4
- 2021: 54.8
His 2024 campaign was cut short by a broken leg.
The 2025 offensive line could resemble this:
LT: Christian Darrisaw
LG: Blake Brandel
C: Ryan Kelly
RG: Will Fries
RT: Brian O’Neill
3. Javon Hargrave (DT) as the Cake Topper
Following the Allen addition detailed above, most fans assumed that Minnesota was finished with defensive line enhancement.
That was wrong.
NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero tweeted, “The Vikings aren’t done: They’re also closing in on a deal with two-time Pro Bowl DT Javon Hargrave and plan to sign him after his release from the 49ers is official Wednesday, sources say. So Jonathan Allen heads to Minnesota and now another huge D-line move in the works.”
The 2025 defensive line will look like this, barring any last-minute contractual hiccup for Hargrave:
DT: Javon Hargave
DT: Jonathan Allen
OLB: Dallas Turner
DT: Harrison Phillips
OLB: Andrew Van Ginkel
OLB: Jonathan Greenard
Most fans have never seen anything even remotely this talented from head to toe on the purple team. One might have to travel back to the 1970s for a comparison.
It’s worth noting that the frenzied section of free agency isn’t even done. Minnesota could, for example, sign wide receiver Cooper Kupp. Stay tuned.
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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 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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