This version of the Vikings was supposed to be able to win many different types of fights.
That was the vision laid out by general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah this spring after spending in excess of $300 million in free agency. He tried to construct a roster that could do whatever it took to win any game on their schedule, regardless of whether the Vikings had to completely control the line of scrimmage on offense, pressure the passer without blitzing on defense, or anything in between.
The process started with the Vikings spending to retain some of their own talent before pivoting to the open market. They worked to fortify the trenches on both sides of the ball with a number of big investments.
The ultimate goal was building an infrastructure that made it so young quarterback J.J. McCarthy didn’t feel like the weight of the world was on his shoulders. It hasn’t gone according to plan as the Vikings currently sit in last place in the NFC North with a 3-4 record.
Let’s just say the production for the 2025 free agent class has left something to be desired. Here’s a breakdown of some of the new additions (ordered by average annual value) and how they’ve performed so far:
Will Fries
Position: Right Guard
Contract: 5-year, $88 million
Analysis: After fully recovering from a broken tibia suffered last season, Fries has played virtually every snap of consequence for the Vikings this season. His best ability has been his availability. The fact that has Fries has been a stalwart up front can’t be overstated considering the injuries across the board. The projected starting offensive line has yet to play together because every player other than Fries has missed at least a game. That makes it challenging to evaluate the impact Fries has made since joining the Vikings. He has an overall grade of 58.9, according to Pro Football Focus, putting him firmly in the middle of the pack among qualifying players at the position. He has graded out much better as a pass blocker than a run blocker. Essentially, Fries has looked much more like a single than a home run, which isn’t ideal given that the Vikings signed him to be elite.
Jonathan Allen
Position: Defensive Tackle
Contract: 3-year, $51 million
Analysis: The body of work that Allen has put together doesn’t line up with the amount of money the Vikings committed to him. He only has 1½ sacks to his name this season, looking nothing like the dominant pass rusher he was at the peak of his powers. To make matters worse, he has been below average against the run, playing a starring role in what has emerged as an issue for the defense. Though an argument can be made that the Vikings have constantly been playing from behind, which isn’t necessarily conducive to Allen having success, his production shouldn’t hinge on the game script. He was signed to dominate regardless of circumstance. He hasn’t done that to this point.
Javon Hargrave
Position: Defensive Tackle
Contract: 2-year, $30 million
Analysis: Similar to Allen, Hargrave has not come close to the expectations the Vikings had for him. After looking like he might be a revelation with a pair of sacks in the opener, he has slowly become nothing more than a rotational pass rusher. The emergence of young defensive tackle Jalen Redmond has steadily taken away from Hargrave’s playing time this season. Not only has it been a bad look for Hargrave, who looks well past his prime, it’s also been a bad look for the Vikings for thinking he could still produce at a high level.
Ryan Kelly
Position: Center
Contract: 2-year, $18 million
Production: Kelly’s future with the Vikings is unclear as he’s still on injured reserve while navigating the aftermath of his last concussion. To be fair, it was impossible to know that Kelly was going to suffer a pair of concussions nearly in succession. That said, the Vikings probably should have had a more viable backup plan for Kelly this season, especially when considering he has battled his fair share of injuries throughout his career. The extended absence of Kelly has forced both young center Michael Jurgens and reserve center Blake Brandel into action, and it has not gone very well for either of them.
Isaiah Rodgers
Position: Cornerback
Contract: 2-year, $15 million
Production: Rodgers gives the Vikings something to hang their hat on when looking back on free agency. He’s been pretty impressive this season, the highlight being a game in which he scored a pair of defensive touchdowns while also forcing a pair of fumbles. As impressive as that performance was, though, he also has been beaten in coverage a number of times. The price point already makes Rodgers a bargain; he needs to level up even more, however, to make up for some of the Vikings’ misses elsewhere.
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