Seven free agents the Vikings should consider

Minnesota has a lot of big decisions to make this offseason.

Author:
Nolan O'Hara
Publish date:
Jan 29, 2024 7:01 PM EST

The 2023-24 NFL season is drawing to a close, with a Super Bowl matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs just under two weeks away.

As one season comes to an end, another one will begin with the offseason quickly ramping up after a Super Bowl champion is crowned. On Feb. 20, teams can begin designating franchise or transition players, the scouting combine begins just a week later and free agency is set to begin in March.

The Vikings have entered the offseason with a number of question marks, particularly at the quarterback position, after a disappointing 2023 campaign.

On top of that, Minnesota will have just $25 million in cap space to work with, according to overthecap.com, meaning some more tough decisions will have to be made this offseason.

All that considered, here are seven free agents the Vikings should consider pursuing this offseason:

Kirk Cousins

There’s no doubt addressing what to do at the quarterback position will be the biggest decision Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will have to make this offseason. Cousins has been the Vikings’ starting quarterback for the last six seasons and was in the midst of a career year in 2023 before a season-ending Achilles tear.

He threw for 2,331 yards, 18 touchdowns and just five interceptions in eight games. His Pro Football Focus grade of 86.1 ranked ninth among all of the 38 quarterbacks graded. The organization ranks Cousins as the No. 2 free agent this offseason.

But not only is Cousins coming off an Achilles tear, he’ll also be 36 years old when he steps onto the football field for the first time in 2024. Sooner or later, the Vikings do need to address life after Cousins, and it would behoove them to select their quarterback of the future in this year’s NFL draft.

That being said, the draft comes after free agency, so if the Vikings decide to let Cousins walk and don't take a swing on another free agent quarterback, they'd essentially be banking on a rookie quarterback to lead the team in 2024. There’s also no guarantee the Vikings will land their desired QB with the No. 11 pick or find a willing trade partner to move up in the draft.

If the Vikings can re-sign Cousins to a two-year, $60 million deal, PFF’s current projection for his contract, that would give the team the best chance to win now, and the Vikings would still be able to take a chance on a quarterback with the No. 11 pick in the draft, allowing the QB of the future to sit behind an established veteran for a year or two. If the Vikings deem Cousins’ price tag too high, they could sign a cheaper veteran QB in free agency, but Cousins is certainly a more attractive option than the likes of Ryan Tannehill or Baker Mayfield.

Oct 23, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) passes against the San Francisco 49ers in the first quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium.
© Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

Danielle Hunter

Like Cousins, Hunter is also set to hit free agency. And like Cousins, Hunter is another player Adofo-Mensah should look to bring back into the fold.

Hunter and the Vikings were in a contract dispute before the season, but after reaching an agreement on a one-year, $20 million deal, Hunter was far and away the Vikings’ most effective pass rusher and more than likely earned himself another raise.

Hunter was fourth in the NFL with 16.5 sacks, and he also recorded 83 tackles — 23 for loss — and four forced fumbles in 2023. No one on the team was close to replicating his production. D.J Wonnum was second on the team with eight sacks; after that, Harrison Smith and Harrison Phillips were tied for third with three apiece.

The Vikings defense was much improved under first-year defensive coordinator Brian Flores in 2023, and if they want to build on that in 2024, they'll need to bring Hunter back. He fits Flores' scheme perfectly, and re-signing Hunter should be at the top of Adofo-Mensah's list of priorities. The challenge will be the money. PFF projects a three-year, $65 million contract, one Hunter is certainly deserving of, but one that may be difficult to work out depending on what the Vikings do with their other impending free agents, such as Cousins, not to mention an upcoming extension for star receiver Justin Jefferson that's likely to make him the highest paid at his position.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Jake Browning (6) throws under pressure from Minnesota Vikings linebacker Danielle Hunter (99) in the third quarter of a Week 15 NFL football game between the Minnesota Vikings and the Cincinnati Bengals, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati. The Cincinnati Bengals won 27-24 in overtime.
© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

Dalton Risner

After some early-season pass protection issues, the Vikings signed Risner to a one-year, $4 million deal, and he made an immediate impact. Risner was thrust into the starting left guard position after Ezra Cleveland got injured and he never gave it back. In fact, his impressive play allowed the Vikings to ship Cleveland to the Jacksonville Jaguars midway through the season.

Risner is particularly effective as a pass blocker — he didn't allow a sack all season. He wasn't as effective in the run game, but there's no question he established himself as a quality starting left guard in 2023. PFF projects Risner to get a three-year, $24 million deal, and he's certainly worth that money. And the Vikings will need somebody to play left guard next season. Coincidentally, Cleveland is also a free agent and could be another option the Vikings could pursue. He's projected to get a similar contract.

Dalton Risner (66) prepares to block Kenny Clark (97)
Image Courtesy of the Minnesota Vikings

Antoine Winfield Jr.

There’s no need to wonder whether the name Winfield looks good in purple. Antoine Winfield Sr. was a standout cornerback for the Vikings from 2004-12, and his son has certainly followed in his footsteps as a premier safety in the NFL.

While the former Gophers standout is likely to be franchise tagged by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, if he did hit the open market, he'd be an ideal replacement for Smith, who seems to be on his way out of Minnesota one way or another.

Winfield was the No. 2-ranked safety in 2023 by PFF and had 122 tackles, 12 passes defended and three interceptions last season, not to mention six sacks, six forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.

While it is fun to imagine Winfield in purple and working in Flores' scheme, it's probably a long shot that he ends up back in Minnesota. But if he did, the Vikings should consider making some sacrifices to sign the star safety as there couldn't be a more ideal replacement for Smith.

Antoine Winfield Jr. celebrates — Tampa Bay Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr. (31) reacts after recovering a fumble against the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth quarter at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Dec. 24, 2023.
Nathan Ray Seebeck / USA TODAY Sports

Kendall Fuller

The Vikings could use some help in the secondary, and adding a No. 1 cornerback into the fold would certainly go a long way. While Byron Murphy Jr. was solid last season, the corners behind him struggled, and adding a player like Fuller, the lone bright spot on a bad Washington Commanders secondary who was ranked the No. 7 cornerback in 2023 by PFF, would certainly improve the outlook of the secondary.

Fuller had 79 tackles, nine passes defended, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions in 2023. He'd be an excellent pick-up for Minnesota, depending on the team's decisions elsewhere. Fuller is projected by PFF to get a fairly sizable three-year, $40 million deal.

Nov 5, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Washington Commanders cornerback Kendall Fuller (29) tackles New England Patriots receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (7) during the second half at Gillette Stadium.
© Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports

DJ Reader

Another area the Vikings haven't solidified is their interior defensive line. They signed Dean Lowry to a two-year, $8.5 million contract last offseason, but Lowry had just 14 tackles and no sacks in nine games. Outside of Phillips, the Vikings' defensive tackles were pretty ineffective this season.

Reader could be an attractive option for Minnesota. When healthy, he's been a dominant force on the interior, having recorded 277 tackles and 9.5 sacks across his eight-year NFL career. But the one thing that has been able to slow him down are injuries, including a season-ending quad tear in 2023.

Because of the injury history, signing Reader could be a bit of a risk, but that also could see him come at a bit of a discount, particularly with other premier defensive tackles like Chris Jones, Christian Wilkins and Leonard Williams also hitting free agency. If the Vikings were able to sign Reader on a discount, he'd certainly be worth the risk based on his effectiveness when on the field.

Nov 16, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) runs as Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle DJ Reader (98) defends during the game at M&T Bank Stadium.
© Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Carl Lawson

Lawson is another high risk, high reward player the Vikings should consider taking a chance on. For one, whether they re-sign Hunter or not, the Vikings could certainly use another pass rusher. And they won't be able to afford the best available.

That brings us to Lawson, who was actually a healthy scratch for the New York Jets for most of the season. But the year previous, his first season back from a torn Achilles tendon, he recorded 49 pressures and eight sacks. While injuries have played an unfortunate role in his career to this point, he'd be a relatively cheap option — PFF projects a one-year, $3.15 million deal — with some upside.

That being said, the Vikings could also play it safe and re-sign Wonnum, who was fairly effective until suffering a torn quad. He similarly isn't expected to garner a large contract, and he's already familiar with the Vikings' system.