3 Vikings Stars Are Due for Extensions
The Minnesota Vikings may not have to be in a rush to lock extensions down, but a handful of players will need new deals before too long: Jordan Addison (WR), Jonathan Greenard (OLB), and Brian O’Neill (RT).
Rob Brzezinski has a few major money decisions to line up.
Now’s the natural time for each man to knock on interim general manager Rob Brzezinski’s door to talk about new money.
Minnesota’s Next Extension Wave Could Start Soon
The deals can come together as early as now.
1. Jordan Addison | WR
Addison averages 52 receiving yards per game and has banked 22 touchdowns in 46 career games. He basically hits paydirt every other game. The man is electric, with many holding out hope that he’ll bust into a new tier of stardom, assuming the Vikings have competent quarterback play in 2026 and Addison stays out of trouble.
With the May 1 deadline looming for Addison’s fifth-year option, the Vikings face a critical decision. This date carries significant weight, especially given the persistent trade rumors surrounding Addison, whether substantiated or not.
The rumors likely stem from a series of off-the-field incidents that have plagued Addison since he entered the league. In 2023, he was stopped near the Twin Cities for driving 140 mph in a 55-mph zone, citing a dog emergency. Although the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, it generated concern both within and outside the Vikings organization.
The following year, Addison was found intoxicated and asleep in his car on a Los Angeles freeway. This deed cast a shadow over the team for months and ultimately resulted in probation and a three-game suspension.
In 2025, the issues continued when Addison missed a walkthrough in London, leading Kevin O’Connell to bench him for a quarter the following week. More recently, reports surfaced that he was removed from a casino in Florida and briefly detained for trespassing.
These behaviors, viewed together, suggest a concerning pattern. The Vikings must now determine whether Addison’s talent outweighs the associated risks.
Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $26m — $30m
2. Jonathan Greenard | OLB
After signing Greenard to a four-year contract in the 2024 offseason, the Vikings’ next move appears clear: capitalize on their existing investment. Having already paid his guaranteed money, Minnesota can create cap space and secure Greenard long-term by extending his contract at market value.
While his sack totals in 2025 sparked debate — 3 in 12 games — largely due to a decreased pressure-to-sack conversion rate, his overall performance remained robust, and such fluctuations typically even out over time.
Following ESPN’s Adam Schefter’s suggestion that Greenard was a player to watch in a trade earlier this month, rumors emerged that the Philadelphia Eagles and Indianapolis Colts were interested. However, trading a quality EDGE rusher runs counter to the conventional approach for building a playoff contender, especially when that player is already on the roster.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on the Greenard trade sweepstakes last week, “The Vikings know they have a budding edge rusher in Dallas Turner waiting in the wings. They could also add more depth at the position with their nine picks in late April.”
“Neither makes it likely that the Vikings part with Greenard for anything less than a significant return. Anything other than a Day 2 pick would presumably be a non-starter. But the precise ask depends on a multitude of factors like player availability, pick swaps and the willingness of opposing teams to part with future picks.”
Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $27m — $35m
3. Brian O’Neill | RT
There’s no controversy or trade smoke for O’Neill; he’s not that kind of guy.
But the extension he signed five years ago — can you believe it’s been that long? — is nearing an end, and 2026 is actually the final year of his deal. His cap hit this season is $23.1 million, and Minnesota could extend him, lower that number for 2026 if it needs more cash to spend on newcomers, and connect O’Neill to the franchise for the rest of his career.
O’Neill has represented a beacon of offensive line consistency, even when OL operations were at a low point during the end of the Mike Zimmer era, when that regime just could not figure out how to find good interior linemen. There was always O’Neill on the right edge, holding down the fort while a revolving door of turnstile guards struggled — mightily.
The longtime Viking will turn 31 this September, and good offensive tackles can play well into their 30s. There’s no reason to believe Minnesota would offload O’Neill or let him depart in 2027 free agency for a younger option.
Approximate Price per Year for Next Deal: $20m — $25m
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