The 4 Biggest Moves from Day One of Vikings Free Agency
All things considered — especially compared to teams like the Tennessee Titans and Las Vegas Raiders — the Minnesota Vikings conducted a quiet Day No. 1 of free agency. Many more are on the way, so let’s recap the first day of the festivities: a new defender, a re-signing, some tenders, and players who left.
Minnesota stayed measured, but the roster still changed just a little bit in meaningful ways.
The Vikings still await a verdict on the quarterback, with all hints pointing toward Kyler Murray.
The First Day of Free Agency Put Minnesota’s Secondary and Special Teams in Focus
Day One of Vikings free agency is in the books.
1. The Newcomer: CB James Pierre
When the Washington Commanders hired Daronte Jones as their new defensive coordinator in January, the Vikings tabbed Gerald Alexander, a secondary coach from the Pittsburgh Steelers, for Jones’s old job in Minnesota. One of his first orders of business? Bringing Pierre from the Steelers right along with him.
Pierre, believe it or not, is Lamar Jackson’s cousin and stands 6 feet 2 inches tall. Have a gander at his Pro Football Focus resume.
- 2020: 80.5 (38 snaps)
- 2021: 58.1 (415 snaps)
- 2022: 69.9 (260 snaps)
- 2023: 40.4 (28 snaps)
- 2024: 56.2 (207 snaps)
- 2025: 86.2 (408 snaps)
And this is the passer-rating-against viewpoint.
- 2020: 79.2 (38 snaps)
- 2021: 105.7 (415 snaps)
- 2022: 58.7 (260 snaps)
- 2023: 143.7 (28 snaps)
- 2024: 81.5 (207 snaps)
- 2025: 41.4 (408 snaps)
Pierre has never played more than 500 snaps in a season, and it might be odd for him to become a total workhorse at age 29, but the fact remains that he played quite well with Alexander’s tutelage in 2025.
You can pencil him as the Vikings’ CB3 behind Byron Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers.
SI.com‘s Will Ragatz on the Pierre signing: “This feels like a solid, sensible addition for the Vikings at a position of need. Pierre is coming off his best NFL season and remains in his prime as approaches 30 years old. It’s a two-year deal but with less than $4 million in guarantees, it can function more like a true one-year contract. The price is very reasonable for a player who has plenty of experience and can also contribute on special teams.”
“For the time being, Pierre slots in as CB3 on the Vikings’ depth chart behind Murphy and Rodgers. They won’t be done adding at that position, as the only other corners on the roster right now are recent UDFAs Dwight McGlothern and Zemaiah Vaughn. Fabian Moreau and Jeff Okudah are unrestricted free agents.’
2. The Tenders: LB Ivan Pace Jr., RB Zavier Scott, and OLB Bo Richter
Three men are on their way back — at least that’s Minnesota’s intention. Pace Jr., Scott, and Richer received restricted free-agent tenders, meaning the Vikings can match any offer sheet placed in front of each man.
Pace Jr. was especially noteworthy because no one knew if the Vikings would let him walk altogether. If so, Minnesota would need depth at off-ball linebacker. For now, a lane is open for Pace Jr.’s return, after the undrafted free agent from 2023 had a rocky 2025 campaign.
Richter projects as the OLB4 or so in 2026, and Scott, at least for now, is the RB2 on paper.
3. The Departures: WR Jalen Nailor to LV, P Ryan Wright to NO
The Nailor era in Minnesota is over. The Las Vegas Raiders lured him to his hometown with a contract worth $35 million over the next three years. Nailor has never accrued more than 500 yards in a single season, making $11.6 million too much for the Vikings’ splurge.
Too, no one knew that Wright would even consider departing the team that signed him in 2022. He notched a career-best year in 2025, and the New Orleans Saints noticed. Saints general manager Mickey Loomis decided to hand Wright a contract of $14 million over four years.
Minnesota will need a new WR3 — perhaps last year’s 3rd-Round rookie Tai Felton can step up — and a fresh punter from the open market or undrafted free agency in late April.
Silver and Black Pride‘s Bill Williamson on Nailor: “Nailor had been the third wide receiver for the Vikings. He will likely be a top of the rotation receiver for the Raiders after signing a three-year contract worth [35] million with $23 million in guaranteed money.”
“He is known for having great speed and he [has] good hands. The Raiders will also likely add to the position further in free agency and during the draft. There are still many available options at the position remaining in free agency for Las Vegas to explore.”
4. The Re-Signing: Eric Wilson
To lead off free agency, interim general manager Rob Brzezinski nailed down Wilson for three more years after the veteran linebacker posted numbers that should have been worthy of Pro Bowl kudos in 2025. It’s a three-year, $22.5 million deal. In essence, it’s a two-year agreement for Wilson with $12.5 million guaranteed.
Suddenly, Minnesota has the same ILB group on tap for 2026: Blake Cashman, the aforementioned Pace Jr., and Wilson.
The Vikings, too, could draft a young linebacker in April. The team has nine picks in the hopper as of March 9th.
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