Best Free Agent Guard Fits for Vikings Depending on Budget
With the Super Bowl behind us, the offseason has officially started for every NFL team. For the Minnesota Vikings, there are some pressing questions that need to be answered following a 27-9 defeat in the Wild Card round.
One of those questions surrounds their guards. Dalton Risner is a free agent, but after the line gave up nine sacks in the playoffs his services might not be retained. Ed Ingram, who was replaced by Risner in Week 11, is a potential cut candidate. Blake Brandel held down left guard all year, but he struggled in his first season as a starter. As a unit, the offensive line ranked 27th in the league in pass blocking efficiency.
This combination of factors may lead to a complete overhaul of the Vikings’ interior linemen. Below, I offer some options the Vikings could consider picking up in free agency at different price points. All contract projections are from Spotrac and are listed in Average Annual Value (AAV).
Top Shelf NFL Guard Free Agents for Minnesota Vikings
The “Top Shelf” guys are a little pricey, but they are the most elite options on the market right now. The Minnesota Vikings have the seventh-highest cap space but might not want to spend it all on guards. That’s a decision for general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to make. If he does, these are the players he should look at.
Trey Smith – $19.7M AAV
When thinking about top-of-the-line free agent guards this offseason, Trey Smith is the headliner. The 25-year-old sixth-round pick turned in the best year of his short career in 2024. He was elected to his first Pro Bowl and didn’t allow a sack the entire regular season. He was also a top-10 guard on PFF among those who played at least 16 games. You won’t find many other guys his age putting up those numbers.
Related: Vikings Have Plethora of Free Agent Guards to Choose From
Smith’s skill is the reason for his only downside: his contract. Spotrac projects a 4 year, $78.8 million deal in his future, with other experts saying he’ll garner $20 million or more per year. There’s a good chance he will depart Kansas City because of his price tag, and Minnesota could be the landing spot with their nearly $60 million in cap space.
Will Fries – $14.1M AAV
Fries was putting up elite numbers before fracturing his tibia in Week 5 and missing the rest of the season. He had a PFF grade of 86.9, which was fourth among his position. He’s started 27 games for the Colts over the past three seasons and is only 26, making his price tag higher than most.
The tibia fracture could lead to some hesitance in signing him. A typical tibia fracture takes four to six months to heal, which means Fries would be ready in time for training camp. However, there’s no guarantee it heals up in that time. There’s also the re-injury risk to take into account. Despite that, acquiring another young lineman to suit up next to Brian O’Neill would go a long way.
The Will Fries film is actually very good, my brand is thriving right now pic.twitter.com/DQdnX7I7rF
— Zach Hicks (@ZachHicks2) September 9, 2024
Smart Investment NFL Guard Free Agents for Vikings
Getting someone for less than the market max might be a smarter idea for the Minnesota Vikings. That’s where the “Smart Investment” comes in. These guys are a little cheaper and could end up being better than the top shelf players this season.
Teven Jenkins – $10.3M AAV
The Bears may have given up the most sacks this season, but most of that did not fall on Jenkins. He ranked top 20 in both run and pass protection and will only be 27 years old in 2025. He moved from left tackle to guard early in his career, so he could bring some versatility if the line gets banged up.
Some of the line’s lack of availability might be because of him, however. Jenkins’ downside is that he hasn’t played a full season since entering the league in 2021. He maxed out at 14 games this past season while dealing with calf, ankle and knee injuries. In the past, he’s also dealt with hip, neck and rib injuries as well as a concussion.
Related: Re-Signing Top DB is High Priority for Vikings but There’s a Catch…
Despite his fragility, getting Jenkins for $10 million a year wouldn’t be a bad option for the Vikings. He is a force to be reckoned with at 6-foot-6, 321 pounds and is getting more comfortable being an interior lineman.
To see how much Jenkins could be worth, look towards fellow 2021 second-round pick Sam Cosmi. The guard signed a four-year, $74 million extension with the Washington Commanders before last season. This means Jenkins’ price may be higher than Spotrac projects.
Vikings fans…
— Phil Mackey 🎙 (@PhilMackey) January 19, 2025
This absolute BUS of a right guard — Mekhi Becton — is an unrestricted free agent… pic.twitter.com/8mBJNP6wtN
Mekhi Becton – $10.2M AAV
Perhaps the biggest guard in the free agent class at 6-foot-7, 363 pounds, Becton is coming off a career season. He helped the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX and helped Saquon Barkley lead the league in rushing. It was his first year in Philadelphia and his first year as a guard after spending four seasons at left tackle for the Jets.
The Eagles actually started training camp with Becton on the bench, electing to roll with third-round pick Tyler Steen instead. Steen went down with an ankle injury a few days into camp, so Becton moved over to guard and never looked back.
With the Eagles’ success in developing offensive lineman, there’s a chance they won’t want to pay Becton the kind of money he’s commanding. That gives a team like the Minnesota Vikings a chance to swoop in with a better offer.
Related: Former Minnesota Vikings Starting Lineman Looks Like a Cap Casualty
Becton’s 75.2 PFF grade was 21st among all guards, so at 25 years old he’s a fairly solid option. It’s the highest grade of his career following lackluster seasons with the Jets, two of which he missed due to a knee injury. Maybe the move to guard was what he needed to maintain consistency, and maybe the Vikings can take advantage.
On Sale NFL Guard Free Agents for Minnesota Vikings
“On Sale” doesn’t mean bottom of the barrel. These players are just offered at an even cheaper price than the “Smart Investment” guys while still being good options. There’s a few veterans who could make this list, but in the interest of playing to the Vikings’ strengths, keeping the age of the offensive line low is the best bet.
James Daniels – $7.8M AAV
Daniels is similar to Fries, as he was also putting up elite stats before an injury sidelined him for the season. In fact, Daniels’ 92.9 PFF grade was second among guards before he tore his Achilles in Week 4. He’s only 27 but has spent seven years as a starter, experience that will be fruitful if the Vikings end up starting the young J.J. McCarthy.
He’s one of the more highly touted free agent guards, but who knows how he will look coming back from a serious injury. It does make his price tag a little less compared to some of the other options, so it might be worth a look from the Minnesota Vikings.
Evan Brown – $4.7M AAV
Brown’s had some inconsistency throughout his career, but that could be because he’s been on five teams in six years. Going undrafted in 2018, Brown came into the league as a center but started all 17 games at left guard with Arizona this season.
Related: Failing to Tag Sam Darnold Would Be Organizational Malpractice by Vikings
That resulted in him putting up his best PFF grade (65.9) since 2021, so maybe the move to guard was what he needed. Time will tell if he can maintain those numbers. The Cardinals offense didn’t jump off the page this season, but they were still second in yards per carry (5.3) and fifth in sacks allowed (30).
Brown’s numbers were pretty average on their own, but he keeps the age of the offensive line down and is offered at a relatively cheap price. His experience and versatility would make him a nice fit for the Vikings.
More About:Minnesota Vikings
You Might Like:
