Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fabian Moreau stands on the sector throughout an NFC Wild Card matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. On Jan. 13, 2025, Moreau contributed to Minnesota’s secondary throughout postseason motion because the Vikings tried to advance deeper into the playoffs underneath head coach Kevin O’Connell. Obligatory Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
A number of waves of free company have come and gone, and in NFL communicate, the wire is all the way down to slim pickings, aside from some growing old, as soon as noteworthy stars like Tyreek Hill. All of the productive younger gamers have discovered new employers. For the Minnesota Vikings’ sake, seven gamers from the 2025 roster stay unsigned.
The productive departures are gone. These names stay in limbo.
Right here’s a peek at these males in alphabetical order.
Acquainted Vikings Veterans Nonetheless Ready for Their Subsequent Shot
Who’s the most definitely participant to rejoin the Vikings, maybe on the apply squad?
Notre Dame offensive lineman Zeke Correll participates within the faculty’s annual Blue-Gold spring soccer sport at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend on April 22, 2023. Correll developed into a gradual presence alongside the Preventing Irish offensive line throughout his collegiate profession, bringing expertise, versatility, and management to one in every of school soccer’s most tradition-rich packages. Obligatory Credit score: Greg Swiercz / USA TODAY NETWORK / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Zeke Correll | C
Merely talked about for full disclosure, Correll was a Vikings apply squad candidate final summer season. He then suffered an harm in August and spent your entire season on injured reserve.
Minnesota waived him on March thirteenth and now has Blake Brandel, Michael Jurgens, and rookie Gavin Gehardt lined up for the middle spot in 2026.
Fabian Moreau | CB
As a CB3, Moreau quietly had a stable 2025 season. He allowed a 54.2 passer ranking in 11 video games, a efficiency that largely went unnoticed attributable to his lack of title recognition. Minnesota ought to take into account bringing him again as a CB4-CB5, particularly if he stays a cheap possibility.
Matt Nelson | OT
Nelson stays largely nameless within the NFL, usually occupying a apply squad position, offering swing depth, or filling in throughout emergencies. Unsurprisingly, he stays unsigned after the preliminary wave of free company. He’ll seemingly have to attend till a group requires extra personnel for coaching camp.
Jeff Okudah | CB
Okudah had a tough stint as Minnesota’s CB3, hampered by concussions and poor play. When on the sector, opposing quarterbacks ceaselessly focused him, exploiting his struggles. The previous third general choose seems to be within the later levels of his profession, with the “2020 draft bust” label now firmly hooked up.
Los Angeles Chargers huge receiver Ladd McConkey breaks free from Minnesota Vikings cornerback Jeff Okudah for a landing reception in the course of the second half at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California, on Oct. 23, 2025. McConkey continued his speedy rise as one of many NFL’s most reliable younger receivers, showcasing his route-running precision and separation capability towards Minnesota. Obligatory Credit score: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Photos.
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick on Okudah final month: “Unfortunately, multiple concussions resulted in Okudah only appearing in six games with the Vikings last season, but even when he was able to get on the field, his performance wasn’t anything close to what Minnesota was hoping to see from him.”
“Now that concussions could potentially be a lingering issue, and the fact that he just hasn’t been good during his tenure in the league, his career in the NFL could already be nearing the end, despite it beginning just six years ago.”
Brett Rypien | QB
In Might 2025 — so, a 12 months in the past presently — Rypien was the Vikings’ QB2, consider it or not. The speedy change in circumstances now sees him looking for a QB3 position elsewhere, seemingly with a group searching for an affordable veteran for camp within the coming months.
Harrison Smith | S
The Vikings “released” Smith in March, however his tenure in Minnesota just isn’t essentially over. Smith carried out properly late in 2025, making a 2026 return appear believable, even when just for situational play.
Can one really think about the Vikings successful a Tremendous Bowl in 2026 with Kyler Murray underneath middle, whereas Smith watches from dwelling? The thought ought to be unsettling for each followers and Smith himself.
The Athletic‘s Alec Lewis noted on rookie safety Jakobe Thomas as a possible Smith replacement this week, “Can Jakobe Thomas be the new Harrison Smith? In 2025, Thomas entered the transfer portal. He had played safety at Tennessee, mostly in a role that asked him to focus on deep coverage. The University of Miami’s workers kicked the movie over to defensive coordinator Corey Hetherman.”
“He believed the Hurricanes could weaponize Thomas’ all-around abilities more powerfully. Thomas took to the idea. Part of the intrigue, for him, was the fact that one of his heroes, a fellow product of the state of Tennessee named Harrison Smith, was asked to play multiple roles in the Vikings’ defense.”
Minnesota Vikings security Harrison Smith speaks throughout a press convention at Sport Eire Campus in Dublin, Eire, on Sep. 26, 2025. Smith remained one of many Vikings’ most revered veteran leaders coming into one other worldwide showcase sport, persevering with a protracted tenure outlined by versatility, intelligence, and constant defensive manufacturing all through his achieved NFL profession. Obligatory Credit score: Kirby Lee-Imagn Photos.
Thomas was direct fruit of the Jonathan Greenard commerce.
Lewis added, “Thomas is now playing for Smith’s longtime NFL team. Smith’s status remains up in the air, but O’Connell said Friday that one of the elements of Thomas’ pre-draft visit was watching film of Smith.”
“The reps Thomas takes with the full roster will be telling. The Vikings selected him in the third round, but he was one of the team’s priorities when the draft began.”
John Wolford | QB
Wolford served because the Vikings’ emergency QB3 final season, when accidents and crappy play hit the quarterback room. He is not going to return in 2026. At greatest, Wolford would possibly safe a apply squad place or function emergency quarterback insurance coverage for a brand new group.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
