Vikings Fetch Sweet Free Agency Ranking from ESPN

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Mar 26, 2025
Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries (75) and center Ryan Kelly (78) enter the field before the game against New Orleans, Sunday., Oct 29, 2023, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK.

The Minnesota Vikings added about a dozen new players in free agency and through trades in the last few weeks, positioning themselves to make a run in 2025 and beyond.

Vikings Fetch Sweet Free Agency Ranking from ESPN

General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had money to spend heading into the 2025 offseason, and that’s exactly what he did.

Aug 13, 2022; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries (75) prior to the game against the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gregory Fisher-USA TODAY Sports.

And he disbursed the cash so wisely that ESPN ranked Minnesota at No. 3 in its recent rankings of NFL free-agent classes.

What ESPN Liked about Vikings Free Agency

Nominating Adofo-Mensah’s 2025 free-agent class as the league’s third-best, ESPN’s Benjamin Solak wrote: “I loved: The investment in the offensive line. Fries was one of my top free agent gems — he’s one of the best players nobody knows about, and he should make a big push for a Pro Bowl spot at guard if he fully recovers from his tibia injury.

“The need at guard was obvious; the need at center was far more subtle. I thought the Vikings would happily play out another year with Garrett Bradbury at the pivot, surrendering his pass protection issues for his running game value.”

Jan 5, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Indianapolis Colts center Ryan Kelly (78) leaves the field after defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-23 in overtime at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Grace Hollars/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images.

After years of fan requests, Minnesota finally addressed the offensive and defensive trenches across the board. Onlookers rejoiced.

Solak added, “Instead, they did what true contenders do and tried to upgrade not just at the needy positions, but also the average ones. I’m not sure it will work — Kelly (31) is older than Bradbury (29) — but it’s a good risk to take.”

The Cons per ESPN

But ESPN didn’t love everything.

Solak decried the free-agent addition of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen: “I didn’t love: Just how much Jonathan Allen cost. In general, double-dipping at 3-technique opposite Harrison Phillips is a shrewd approach, and both Allen and Javon Hargrave can provide an immediate impact.”

“I did not, however, expect Allen to tip the financial scales at $17 million per year. The entire defensive tackle market came in above my expectation, so perhaps this was just the cost of doing business.”

Sep 29, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Washington Commanders defensive tackle J. Allen (93) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.

Purple fans mostly disagreed with Solak’s assessment, instead relishing Allen’s upside within Brian Flores’ defense. And for good measure, Adofo-Mensah signed another veteran defensive tackle, Javon Hargrave.

“Allen is now the league’s 15th-highest paid defensive tackle, and Hargrave ($15 million per year) is the 18th. While Allen might have been more expensive than I expected (and Hargrave too, for that matter), the theory behind the approach is sound. I just wish it came at a smaller price tag,” Solak added.

Can’t please ’em all.

The Vikings’ Additions and Subtractions

Minnesota has added these players since the start of free agency:

  • Jonathan Allen (DT, Commanders)
  • Bubba Bolden (S)
  • Will Fries (G, Colts)
  • Javon Hargrave (DT, 49ers)
  • Ryan Kelly (C, Colts)
  • Jordan Mason (RB, Trade, 49ers)
  • Rondale Moore (WR, Falcons)
  • Jeff Okudah (CB, Texans)
  • Isaiah Rodgers (CB, Eagles)
  • Justin Skule (OT, Buccaneers)
  • Tavierre Thomas (CB, Buccaneers)
  • Eric Wilson (LB, Packers)

And the players who exited the franchise:

  • Garrett Bradbury (C) to Patriots
  • Camryn Bynum (S) to Colts
  • Sam Darnold (QB) to Seahawks
  • Daniel Jones (QB) to Colts
  • Patrick Jones II (OLB) to Panthers
  • Nick Mullens (QB) to Jaguars
  • Johnny Mundt (TE) to Jaguars
  • Cam Robinson (OT) to Texans
  • Trent Sherfield (WR) to Broncos
  • Jerry Tillery (DT) to Chiefs

The Best and Worst

Solak name-dropped these five teams as the NFL’s winners of free agency:

  1. Buffalo Bills
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. Minnesota Vikings
  4. Detroit Lions
  5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
vikings
Minnesota General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah joined Paul Allen to talk about a variety of topics, including previewing the Week 8 matchup with the Los Angeles Rams. October 22nd, 2024. MIN finished 14-2 in the 2024 regular season.

And his naughty list — the bottom of his rankings:

28. Houston Texans
29. Cleveland Browns
30. San Francisco 49ers
31. Seattle Seahawks
32. Atlanta Falcons

The next step in the offseason? The NFL Draft, which is 29 days away.

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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.