Minnesota Vikings working again Aaron Jones Sr. carries the ball towards the Los Angeles Rams throughout NFC Wild Card motion on Jan. 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Jones remained a central determine in Minnesota’s offense because the Vikings battled for postseason survival towards the Rams in a tightly contested playoff matchup below the nationwide highlight. Necessary Credit score: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photographs.
Shut your eyes for a couple of minutes as a result of the upcoming listing of Minnesota Vikings free brokers within the 2027 offseason is ugly. The membership has an unusually excessive variety of impactful gamers at a crossroads subsequent March. The Vikings higher hope to make a dent within the postseason this go-around as a result of the outlook past might be bleak.
These are the gamers slated to check free company when 2026 wraps up.
Minnesota’s Subsequent Contract Wave Will Change the Roster
Minnesota Vikings tight finish T.J. Hockenson celebrates after reaching the tip zone throughout a Thanksgiving matchup towards the New England Patriots. The play occurred on November 24, 2022, at U.S. Financial institution Stadium, the place Hockenson helped energy Minnesota’s offense in a high-scoring contest that grew to become one of many season’s most entertaining video games. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports activities
Offensive Free Brokers
The Vikings have oodles of “less important” free brokers like working again Zavier Scott and tight finish Bryson Nesbit (simply examples), however these males are restricted free brokers and could be simply re-signed.
These males are scheduled for unrestricted free company:
Blake Brandel (C)
T.J. Hockenson (TE)
Jauan Jennings (WR)
Aaron Jones (RB)
Jordan Mason (RB)
Kyler Murray (QB)
Brian O’Neill (RT)
Ryan Van Demark (OT)
Carson Wentz (QB)
There’s a world the place the Vikings are pressured to exchange half of the offensive beginning lineup if one assumes that everybody left, which received’t occur. Nonetheless, the listing is daunting. Minnesota may have a meaty determination at QB1, RB1, RT1, C1, TE1, and RB1.
Murray will clearly headline all 2027 offseason actions. If he performs properly in 2026 — there isn’t any motive to imagine that he is not going to — Murray can be eligible for an extension between $40 million and $55 million per season. That contract would rock the Vikings’ wage cap, however it is perhaps a champagne drawback if Murray is price it.
The weaponry is the opposite head-turner: Minnesota may have to exchange Hockenson, Jennings, Jones, and Mason — an enormous endeavor in a single offseason.
And SI.com‘s Will Ragatz noted on O’Neill in March: “O’Neill has always made sense as an extension candidate. The 2018 second-round pick — who will become the Vikings’ longest-tenured player if Harrison Smith joins C.J. Ham in retirement — has been a model of consistency for close to a decade now.”
“He’s played in 124 of a possible 133 regular season games in his eight-year career, has made two Pro Bowls, and hasn’t earned a PFF grade below 70 since his rookie season. O’Neill turns 31 in September and appears to have plenty of good football out in front of him. An extension this offseason could free up $14 million in cap space for the Vikings, according to Over The Cap. Frankly, it’s a little surprising that hasn’t happened just yet.”
Defensive Free Brokers
On protection, the noteworthy 2027 free brokers:
Blake Cashman (LB)
Theo Jackson (S)
Isaiahh Loudermilk (DL)
Ivan Tempo Jr. (LB)
Isaiah Rodgers (CB)
Andrew Van Ginkel (ED)
Jay Ward (S)
Cashman, Rodgers, Van Ginkel, and Ward/Jackson are on faucet to start out in September. That’s 36% of the beginning lineup. Harrison Smith may issue right here, too, as he’ll make a return-or-retirement determination earlier than too lengthy.
Van Ginkel, who turns 31 this yr, can be a precedence to re-sign for a yr or two, particularly with Jonathan Greenard now not on the crew. Rodgers’s impending free company is necessary as properly, because the Vikings will want a beginning cornerback if he departs.
Minnesota Vikings linebackers Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner, and Jonathan Greenard collect throughout coaching camp because the protection prepares for the upcoming season. The dialogue occurred on July 29, 2025, on the Minnesota Vikings Coaching Facility in Eagan, the place the veteran move rushers and younger expertise labored by summer season practices. Necessary Credit score: Matt Krohn-Imagn Photographs
The Viking Age‘s Adam Patrick on Tempo Jr.: “Pace will likely spend a bunch of time on special teams again in 2026. He’ll also probably be called upon to start at some point next season if Wilson or Blake Cashman are unable to play due to injury.”
“Will Pace use his 2025 season as motivation to prove people wrong in 2026 when he gets back on the field, or will it be more of the same from a guy who hasn’t ever been able to duplicate the unexpected success he had as a rookie with the Vikings?”
The security room may endure a full overhaul subsequent offseason: Smith, Jackson, and Ward are usually not assured to be on the crew in 2027. It’s why many believed Minnesota would draft Dillon Thieneman or Emmanuel McNeil-Warren in April.
Particular Groups
Lastly, particular groups:
Andrew DePaola (LS)
Johnny Hekker (P)
DePaloa is the oldest participant on the Vikings’ roster (38), and any yr could also be his final. Minnesota signed Hekker to exchange Ryan Wright, who joined the New Orleans Saints in free company, however that was earlier than it landed Georgia’s Brett Thorson in undrafted free company.
Los Angeles Rams punter Johnny Hekker heads towards the locker room following a street victory over the Seattle Seahawks. The second occurred on October 7, 2021, at Lumen Discipline in Seattle, the place the Rams secured a 26-17 win in a nationally televised NFC West matchup in the course of the common season. Necessary Credit score: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports activities
Hekker and Thorson will battle this summer season for the punting job. It doesn’t matter what, although, Hekker is slated without cost company in March 2027.
Dustin Baker is a novelist and political scientist. His second novel, The Invaders , is out now. So is … Extra about Dustin Baker
