Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
The Minnesota Vikings are three weeks away from free company and 9.5 away from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Free Company Is 3 Weeks Away. Right here’s What the Vikings Want.
The offseason is right here, highlighted by head coach Kevin O’Connell’s multi-year extension to this point and Brian Flores’ return primarily locked in.
And with a Tremendous Bowl window cracking open, assuming quarterback J.J. McCarthy is professional, these are the Vikings’ prime six offseason wants, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most pressing want).
6. WR3
Minnesota large receiver Jalen Nailor (83) celebrates scoring a landing with teammates throughout their soccer recreation in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Sunday, December 29, 2024, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. @ Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Photos.
Jalen Nailor carried out properly some of the time in 2024 however didn’t persistently prepare dinner as WR3. In reality, when tight finish T.J. Hockenson returned in Week 9, Nailor’s manufacturing floundered for about 7 video games till a late-season revival.
Minnesota ought to have no less than one rookie wideout or veteran fallback ready within the wings.
Doable Draft Candidates:(Spherical 5 estimates)Nick Nash (San Jose State)Ja’Corey Brooks (Louisville)Antwane Wells Jr. (Ole Miss)Will Sheppard (Colorado)Elijah Badger (Florida)Pat Bryant (Illinois)
Free-Agent Choices:Amari CooperStefon DiggsKeenan AllenBrandin CooksMike WilliamsCooper Kupp (if launched by LAR)
5. QB2
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
In consecutive seasons, Minnesota has found the worth of a reliable QB2, narratives that may be advised by Sam Darnold, Joshua Dobbs, Jaren Corridor, Nick Mullens, and Kevin O’Connell.
Fortunately for Minnesota’s sake, it’d’ve already scripted the QB2 plan when it added Daniel Jones off waivers from the New York Giants. Jones will be “the guy” at QB2 for Minnesota in 2025, as some anticipate Darnold to money in on a profitable free-agent contract elsewhere.
And if it’s not Jones, properly, Minnesota must roll with Nick Mullens or comb the free-agent marketplace for a distinct QB2. The place will want consideration with a rookie quarterback, J.J. McCarthy, getting back from a meniscus tear that nullified his 2024 marketing campaign.
Doable Draft Candidates:n/a
Free-Agent Choices:Daniel JonesNick MullensJustin FieldsJimmy GaroppoloJameis WinstonJacoby Brissett
4. RB1
The one operating backs underneath contract for the 2025 purple staff are Ty Chandler and Zavier Scott.
Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are tentatively scheduled free of charge company. So, basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah should prolong Jones for a 12 months and draft a rookie tailback someplace in April’s draft. That — or spend a high-to-mid-round decide on a brand new operating again if Jones walks.
Chandler received’t earn the RB1 outright, so Minnesota wants some RB beef, most likely Jones and a youthful halfback.
That is Minnesota’s speeding effectivity per DVOA from the final three seasons, courting again to the daybreak of the O’Connell period:
2022: twenty seventh
2023: twenty seventh
2024: twentieth
Drafting or signing a operating again appears seemingly. These above-listed stats are usually not exemplary.
Draft Candidates:Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)Kaleb Johnson (Iowa)Quinshon Judkins (Ohio State)TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State)Ollie Gordon II (Oklahoma State)Devin Neal (Kansas)Dylan Sampson (Tennessee)
Free-Agent Choices:Aaron JonesJavonte WilliamsNajee HarrisJaylen WarrenRico DowdleJ.Okay. Dobbins
3. iDL
MIN Leisure Community’s Tatum Everett talked just about with 2024 Seventh Spherical Draft Decide defensive lineman Levi Drake Rodriguez from Texas A&M – Commerce. The younger defender has turned heads at Vikings coaching camp and could possibly be on deck for taking part in time as a rookie.
Harrison Phillips, Jalen Redmond, Taki Taimani, and Levi Drake Rodriguez are underneath contract subsequent season — after which that’s it for playable DTs. Nobody else.
From free company or the draft, the Vikings ought to add one other defensive sort out, the spot at the moment manned by Jerry Tillery. Vikings followers request this each offseason and normally find yourself with a Shamar Stephen or Jonathan Bullard. Maybe the purple entrance workplace will lastly splash for an impression inside defensive lineman.
The twenty fourth decide, at the moment owned by Minnesota, could possibly be a chief spot for this roster want.
Draft Candidates:Derrick Harmon (Oregon)Kenneth Grant (Michigan)Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)Tyleik Williams (Ohio State)Deone Walker (Kentucky)
Free-Agent Choices:Javon HargraveMilton WilliamsPoona FordB.J. HillOsa OdighizuwaLevi OnwuzurikeJarran Reed
2. iOL
Though Sam Darnold held the soccer manner too lengthy within the pocket through the season’s last two video games, the offensive line’s inside didn’t bail him out.
Figuring out offensive line issues was manifestly apparent, however O’Connell was positive to name out the trenches. “There’s no question that we got to be able to find a way to give a quarterback time. Especially with players like Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson, we got to find a way to solidify the interior of the pocket, starting first and foremost,” O’Connell advised reporters after the playoff loss.
Inside offensive line tribulation has been a frequent scourge of Vikings soccer for over 10 years.
O’Connell added, “There can be a thousand excuses made. But, for me, it’s the foundation of the interior of the pocket that we’re going to have to take a long look at.”
Fixes are on the way in which.
Draft Candidates: (all guards)Tyler Booker (Alabama)Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)Armand Membou (Missouri)Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
Free-Agent Choices:Drew Dalman (Heart)Ryan Kelly (Heart)Trey Smith (Guard)Mekhi Becton (Guard)Kevin Zeitler (Guard)Will Fries (Guard)Brandon Scherff (Guard)Teven Jenkins (Guard)
1. CB
Mekhi Blackmon and Dwight McGlothern are the CB options on the books, no less than per attainable taking part in time, proper now for 2025, so, sure, cornerback is the highest offseason want.
Professional Bowler Byron Murphy could return, which is incredible, however including yet another impression nook shall be very important if Minnesota has Tremendous Bowl visions in 2025 and past.
The franchise is painfully overdue to nail a CB draft decide from Spherical 1 or 2. That final considerably profitable instance occurred a decade in the past — Trae Waynes.
It’s price noting that Adofo-Mensah has about $60 million in cap house to rectify all positions if he doesn’t hand Darnold a contract price $40+ million per season.
Draft Candidates:Shavon Revel Jr. (East Carolina)Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)Jahdae Barron (Texas)Trey Amos (Ole Miss)
Free-Agent Choices:Byron MurphyD.J. ReedMike JacksonCharvarius WardAsante Samuel Jr.Rasul DouglasPaulson Adebo
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options visitors, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple staff, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.
