Vikings UFA Profile: WR/PR Brandon Powell
With the 2023 season in the books, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 22 of Minnesota's pending unrestricted free agents over the next couple weeks. We'll examine their past and speculate about their future, particularly the likelihood that they could be re-signed by the Vikings this offseason. We'll start from the least important (Hakeem Adeniji) and work our way up to the big fish (Kirk Cousins).
Vikings UFA profile: WR/PR Brandon Powell
- Age: 28
- 2023 stats: 34 touches, 341 yards, 1 TD, 7.8 yards per punt return
- 2023 contract AAV: $1.23 million
Last offseason, the Vikings signed Brandon Powell to a one-year deal to compete with Jalen Reagor for their punt returner role and add depth to their wide receiver room. He went on to have a career year in Minnesota. Not only was Powell the Vikings' punt returner all year (averaging a modest 7.8 yards per return), he set a new personal best with 29 catches and 324 receiving yards.
Called upon when Justin Jefferson got hurt, Powell had multiple receptions in all but one game from Week 5 to Week 12. He had over 30 receiving yards in five of those eight games, including 64 in Minnesota's win over the 49ers. Powell's presence was important as the Vikings navigated life without Jefferson — and then without Kirk Cousins, too. His biggest play of the year was catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Josh Dobbs in Atlanta.
Powell, 28, went undrafted out of Florida in 2018. The 5'8" receiver played for the Lions and Falcons and spent time with the Bills and Dolphins before landing with Kevin O'Connell and the Rams in 2021, returning a punt for a touchdown against the Vikings that season. After a solid 2022 as a returner and gadget player for the Rams, he signed with Minnesota.
Coming off a career year, Powell could be in line for a raise in 2024. He provides value in multiple phases of the game and proved this season that he's capable of taking on a decent role in the passing game if his number is called. With K.J. Osborn presumably heading elsewhere in free agency, perhaps the Vikings will look to keep Powell around for another year or two.
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