Vikings Get Smacked with a 2 Scary Words
The Vikings want to add a strong linebacker and promising running back, at least in their ideal world. Benjamin Solak’s update from the NFL Combine may therefore hit as bad news.
The ESPN analyst passed along a short video of what he learned in the event that’s ostensibly about draft prospects but is often about free agency deals. Solak’s belief is that there are some NFL talents who are soon to earn beefy paydays, with LB Quay Walker alongside RB Kenneth Walker III getting looped into the mix.
Vikings Hit with 2 Scary Words: “Bidding War”
Part of the problem is there aren’t a ton of options, at least per Solak. The running back demand doesn’t meet a proportional supply.
Lots of teams would welcome an improved ground game. Minnesota, to be sure, would benefit from at least pretending that the rushing attack matters. Consider, as well, that Aaron Jones is soon to be shown the door. Add it all up and there was some merit to the idea of adding the speedy, elusive Seattle running back.
Pump the brakes a touch. Or, at least, take the foot off the gas.
Consider the insight from Solak: “Walker’s the best free agent running back available in terms of like juice and explosive play ability. And this draft class really does not have a lot of fans. So, I think there’s going to be a bidding war for Walker and I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s like a top 5 paid running back by the time it’s all said and done.”
At the top of the RB market is Saquon Barkley. Very reasonable since he’s elite and will someday be in the Hall of Fame. He’s pulling down north of $20 million per season (OTC).
Working down the list means seeing Christian McCaffrey ($19M), Derrick Henry ($15M), Jonathan Taylor ($14M), and then Alvin Kamara ($12.25M). All great runners but ones who are older (some by quite a wide margin). Does the 25-year-old Walker break the bank by getting into the mid-teens for a per-year average? If so, the Vikings likely need to rally around Jordan Mason while bringing in cheaper talent. Side note: does a rugged fullback make sense?
The 2025 regular season saw Kenneth Walker offer up 221 carries for 1,027 yards and 5 touchdowns. He then went nuclear in the playoffs, proving to be Seattle’s best weapon even through the dry spells for Sam Darnold and Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
Shifting the conversation to the other Walker creates more uncertainty.
The Vikings need help at off-ball linebacker. Some early momentum existed for signing Green Bay’s ‘backer for modest money, but that’s looking like a mirage.
In an NFL where contracts are contextual, Solak establishes a link between Quay Walker and Devin Lloyd. Since Lloyd is going to gobble up huge money, Walker is going to see his deal raised, as well.
“Quay Walker, who’s the second best three-down, still-young middle linebacker, sort of a prospect” Solak argues, “he’s just going to get pulled up by the Devin Lloyd’s gravity.” He then insists that “15 million dollars” is the baseline and that Walker is going to “be above that.” If so, the Vikings will be looking elsewhere.
LB1 Blake Cashman is a strong defender. He thinks the game at a high level, allowing him to wrangle Brian Flores’s play call before then communicating it to the defense. What’s needed is a young, physical running mate to gobble up runners and to get sent on blitzes aplenty.
Ivan Pace Jr. was supposed to be that player, but he’s coming off a demotion, largely due to missed tackles and struggles in coverage. Much likelier, it seems, that the Vikings scoop up someone else for that LB2 spot.
Per Solak, the other free agents who are going to drain the ATM are guard Zion Johnson, DT John Franklin-Myers, and corner Cor’Dale Flott. In theory, the DT and CB could be nice Vikings fits, but the word about price does encourage caution.
On Monday, March 9th, the insider insight gets put to the test as NFL teams arrive at verbal agreements with free-agent talent. Pen can get put to paper on Wednesday, March 11th.
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