After hitting on so many free agents last offseason, there’s a lot of pressure on general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to do it again this offseason.
You honestly can’t do much better than the Vikings did last season.
There were a number of success stories on both sides of the ball as the Vikings signed quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Aaron Jones on offense, while also adding edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel, linebacker Blake Cashman, cornerback Stephon Gilmore, and cornerback Shaq Griffin on defense.
There were also a number of other players who flew under the radar but made their presences felt this season, including defensive tackle Jerry Tillery, edge rusher Jihad Ward, and linebacker Kamu Grugier-Hill, among others.
“We had a really thorough process,” Adofo-Mensah said. “I’m so grateful that it worked out the way it did.”
With $70 million in salary cap space to hunt for free agents this spring, Adofo-Mensah can only hope to do it again for a team that won 14 regular-season games and aims to be even better in 2025 after a first-round playoff loss.
Teams can begin negotiating with potential free agents on March 10, and start signing them on March 12. In the meantime, here are grades for the top players from the Vikings’ 2024 free agency class:
Sam Darnold
Contract: 1-year, $10 million
Grade: A
Analysis: This signing couldn’t have worked out much better for the Vikings. The only reason it doesn’t get the highest grade possible is because of how overwhelmed Darnold looked in the playoffs. Still, he exceeded pretty much everybody’s expectations this season, proving that he has what it takes to play quarterback at a high level. It’s still unclear if he will be back next season. If the Vikings decide to move on, it was a hell of a ride.
Aaron Jones
Contract: 1-year, $7 million
Grade: B+
Analysis: The impact that Jones had on the offense can’t be overstated. He was effective in both the running and passing games, racking up more than 1,500 yards of total offense. The only issue with Jones was that he slowly started to wear down. Although he didn’t miss any games, he battled through his fair share of injuries, and that seemed to make him less effective down the stretch.
Jonathan Greenard
Contract: 4-year, $76 million
Grade: A+
Analysis: When the Vikings signed Greenard, they were hoping he could be a viable replacement for former star edge rusher Danielle Hunter. Not only did Greenard do his part to match that level of production with 12 sacks, he established himself among the top edge rushers in the NFL. You can’t play the position much better than Greenard did this season. Now, the only thing the Vikings have to worry about is if he’s going to want a raise at some point.
Andrew Van Ginkel
Contract: 2-year, $20 million
Grade: A+
Analysis: Similar to Greenard, Van Ginkel absolutely balled out this season. He finished with 11½ sacks, a forced fumble, and a pair of interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns. You could argue that Van Ginkel was the most important player on the defense with how much he impacted the game on a weekly basis. It’s safe to say the Vikings are in a good spot moving forward with Van Ginkel and Greenard rushing the passer.
Blake Cashman
Contract: 3-year, $22.5 million
Grade: A
Analysis: The hometown kid returned to Minnesota and made a himself an indispensable piece for the Vikings. You can’t write a better script. Though he missed a few games due to injuries, Cashman still put up some big numbers, finishing with 112 tackles in total. He also served as the main communicator on the field, relaying the play calls from defensive coordinator Brian Flores on the sidelines. There’s no doubt that the Vikings have a star at the position for the foreseeable future.
Stephon Gilmore
Contract: 1-year, $7 million
Grade: B
Analysis: As important a player as Gilmore was this season, there were times where he started to look his age. That said, the Vikings would have been in a tough spot had they not been able to sign Gilmore toward the end of training camp.
Shaq Griffin
Contract: 1-year, $4.55 million
Grade: B
Analysis: Similar to Gilmore, Griffin looked overmatched at times this season, and he saw his playing time ebb and flow because of it. Nonetheless, the experience that Griffin provided at the position helped the Vikings stay effective on defense.
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