Geoff Burke-Imagn Pictures.
We’re simply days away from the beginning of NFL free company, and for the primary time in years, the Minnesota Vikings have numerous wage cap house to work with — over $60 million. Basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will need to re-sign a few of the Vikings’ out-of-contract gamers. Therefore, it’s not so simple as splurging $60 million on new expertise, however with doable restructures and releases, the sources so as to add new expertise in Minnesota ought to stay vital.
High 5 Vikings Free Agent Choices at iDL
A number of positions ought to be a precedence for Adofo-Mensah to deal with, and I’ll take a look at them individually. We begin right here with a take a look at the choices for the Vikings at IDL, the place the Vikings haven’t been dominant sufficient in latest seasons and have fully lacked any constant move rush.
There are numerous good choices on the place of fine gamers who’re nonetheless younger and have been enjoying on rookie or low-cost contracts that may very well be tempted to Minnesota with a superb payday. At a vital place that wants a long-term resolution, gamers with numerous years left in that tank and the chance for additional enchancment are what I need the Vikings to have a look at, fairly than gamers over 30 whose careers are winding down.
5. Tershawn Wharton
Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Pictures.
Tershawn Wharton could be a move rush specialist, as he lacks the scale and energy to be constantly efficient in run protection. An undrafted free agent who has spent 5 seasons with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs amassing 13.5 sacks, Wharton had his finest season up to now in 2024 with profession highs in sacks (6.5) and tackles for loss (7) whereas enjoying a career-high 62% of defensive snaps for the Chiefs.
Displaying he can keep a major position on the line of defense, Wharton could be a youthful and extra productive substitute for Jerry Tillery if the Vikings have been to deliver him in — with the price prone to be related.
4. Teair Tart
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Teair Tart was a reputation floated round to affix the Brian Flores-led protection this time final 12 months. Tart signed for the Miami Dolphins however was launched in August when the Los Angeles Chargers then picked him up. Undoubtedly a gifted participant, Tart put collectively a superb 12 months in opposition to each the move and run as a rotational participant within the Chargers’ protection.
One other rotational participant, Tart gained’t clear up all of the Vikings’ issues on the inside by himself, however he’ll give the purple and gold crew depth and a very stout run defender within the rotation at a superb worth if they’ll get him to related cash than he acquired final season.
3. Levi Onwuzurike
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Kevin O’Connell’s offense has seen loads of Levi Onwuzurike, who the Detroit Lions drafted within the second spherical again in 2022. Onwuzurike has flashed at any time when he’s been wholesome over his first 4 seasons, however accidents have been the unfavorable – significantly a very missed 2020 season with a again harm.
Onwuzurike is the penetrating three-technique inside move rusher that each crew covets, together with his 12.5% move rush win charge in 2024 rating as a top-15 mark on the place. Although having by no means tallied greater than 1.5 sacks in a season, he wants to show these wins into extra sack manufacturing. Staying wholesome would assist him proceed to develop as a participant, presumably leaving his finest soccer in entrance of him.
2. Osa Odighizuwa
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Osa Odighizuwa is an inside pass-rusher with very sturdy underlying metrics that haven’t fairly translated to main sack manufacturing by way of practically 4 seasons. Placing collectively a superb season on the final 12 months of his rookie deal whereas all the pieces round him collapsed in Dallas ought to make him extremely wanted.
Professional Soccer Focus made him their highest-ranked inside defender within the free-agent rating. Odighizuwa got here in at 15 within the total rankings and could be a formidable get for the Vikings if they’ll pull it off.
1. Milton Williams
Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Pictures.
The prized asset on the place on this 12 months’s free company is Milton Williams. A rotational inside defender with critical pass-rush juice is the profile of participant the Vikings ought to be on the lookout for, and Williams matches the invoice. His inventory is rising after a formidable season, serving to Philadelphia develop into the Tremendous Bowl champions. Williams had a career-high 5 sacks in 2024, with an additional two sacks within the postseason.
With a number of expertise on the Eagles’ defensive entrance, Williams has by no means managed to eclipse 50% of defensive snaps performed in a season, regardless of enjoying not less than 36% yearly since his debut. The promise of a extra sustained position and an enormous chunk of money may persuade him out of Philadelphia and land the Vikings one other signing within the Jonathan Greenard and Blake Cashman mildew from final 12 months.
