You can’t do much better than the Vikings did in free agency last offseason. Everything that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah touched turned to gold.
The masterclass was headlined by veteran quarterback Sam Darnold, who signed a 1-year, $10 million deal, then went on to completely revitalize his career while leading the Vikings to a 14-3 record.
Now it appears that Darnold is in position to cash out this offseason.
After trading franchise quarterback Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders last week, the Seattle Seahawks have been reported as the most likely landing spot for Darnold. It wouldn’t surprise anybody if an agreement is in place on Monday when the legal tampering period opens up.
Though the Vikings had interest in keeping Darnold around for the right price, they will shift their focus to veteran quarterback Daniel Jones or maybe even future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers. They also have young quarterback J.J. McCarthy waiting in the wings.
New Orleans Saints cornerback Paulson Adebo (29) watches the passer as he defends during an NFL football game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Oct.. 13, 2024, in New Orleans, LA. (AP Photo/Peter Joneleit)
Some other players the Vikings could potentially lose this week include cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. and safety Cam Bynum, among others. With so many areas of need on the roster, they can’t afford to get into a big bidding war for those players.
As the Vikings parse their options on the open market, they will do so with more than $60 million of cap space.
Here are five players the Vikings should target:
Will Fries, guard
Not the sexiest name out there by any means, Fries might be the best interior offensive lineman available.
Though he started his career as a backup, Fries slowly worked his way into a starting role with the Indianapolis Colts. He’s still only 26 years old and took the next step last season, getting off to an impressive start before a fractured tibia landed him on injured reserve.
After missing out on star offensive guard Trey Smith, franchise tagged by the Kansas City Chiefs, the Vikings would still feel pretty good if they could walk out of free agency with Fries under contract.
Indianapolis Colts guard Will Fries (75) lines up on the sideline before an NFL football game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Sunday, Oct. 6, 2024, in Jacksonville, Fla. Jaguars defeated the Colts 37-34. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough)
Teven Jenkins, guard
Even if the Vikings sign Fries, they would be wise to add somebody like Jenkins to the mix, as well.
The interior of the offensive line was arguably the biggest reason the Vikings struggled in their playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The putrid performance in the trenches was enough for head coach Kevin O’Connell to voice his displeasure in the immediate aftermath, saying, “The interior of the pocket … we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
It doesn’t seem as if the Chicago Bears will be retaining Jenkins, who recently turned 27, after acquiring a pair of interior offensive linemen this week. That should give the Vikings a chance to swoop in and sign Jenkins to fix some of their issues up front.
Javon Hargrave, defensive tackle
There’s some risk associated with Hargrave considering he’s 32 years old and coming off a torn triceps. The flip side is the fact that Hargrave could likely be had without needing to break the bank. This is a bet the Vikings should be willing to make.
Though he’s probably past his prime at this point, Hargrave has proven himself as a pass rusher throughout his career, something the Vikings need from the interior of the line. If the Vikings go this route, they could also look to add a defensive tackle early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
D.J. Reed, cornerback
In the event that Murphy ends up costing too much, the Vikings should do everything in their power to convince Reed, who’s still in his prime at 28 years old.
The most intriguing part about Reed is his prowess in man coverage. That makes him a good fit for the Vikings, even if he might be a little bit smaller than defensive coordinator Brian Flores would like.
The other benefit of signing Reed is that he won’t cost as much as Murphy. That would give the Vikings more money to work with as they attempt to sign other players.
Paulson Adebo, cornerback
After signing edge rusher Jonathan Greenard last offseason, then immediately signing edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel to complement him, the Vikings could look to do the same thing on the back end with somebody like Adebo.
Not only does he have the prototypical size that Flores gravitates to at the position, Adebo also plays with the necessary aggression to produce at a high level. He’s still only 25 years old, so there could be another leap coming from him if he lands in the right situation.
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