5 NFL Free Agents That Fit the Minnesota Vikings Perfectly
Coming off one of their most successful regular seasons in franchise history, now the Minnesota Vikings have some work to do. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be busy, not only because almost half of the roster (24 players) is set to become a free agent.
Yet, he also needs to upgrade the roster in hopes of helping coach Kevin O’Connell win his first playoff game next season. The good news is that the Vikings are set to have some of the most cap space in the NFL, with roughly over $60 million to spend.
2025 NFL free agency fits – Minnesota Vikings
That means if Sam Darnold doesn’t return, the Vikings can potentially add several high-profile free agents this offseason. So, which Vikings free agency targets should be on the radar this offseason? Here’s a quick list of five Vikings free agent targets the front office could consider.
D.J. Reed, cornerback
Known as the New York Jets cornerback who plays opposite Sauce Gardner, D.J. Reed has received positive grades all seven seasons of his career. Though, like many other Jets players, Reed took a step back this past season, grading as the 47th-best cornerback in the NFL per Pro Football Focus.
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This is well below where he ranked last season, coming in as the 23rd-best CB in football. That’s more in line with where Reed has graded throughout his career. He may not be a shutdown, No. 1 corner, but he can be a high-end No. 2 option for years to come.
Top 32 CBs ranked using PFFs new advanced coverage grade
— Stat Acccount (@AcccountStat) December 27, 2024
Cov Grade = Advanced Coverage Grade
Run Grade = Run Defense Grade
Rush Grade = Pass Rush Grade pic.twitter.com/YB13BCUgi9
Considering the Vikings’ only cornerbacks under contract for next season are Mekhi Blackmon, NaJee Thompson, and Dwight McGlothern (the trio combined to play 19 snaps in 2024), Minnesota needs as much help as it can get. Sure, there are potential in-house solutions, such as re-signing Byron Murphy and/or Stephon Gilmore.
Yet, even if this position is addressed during the 2025 NFL Draft, the Vikings will need more experience too. That’s where a veteran like Reed or the two players below could help next season.
- Other Vikings free agency cornerback targets: Charvarius Ward, Carlton Davis
Darius Slayton, wide receiver
While receiver is far from the Vikings’ biggest needs this offseason, a case could be made that they need more consistent production out of their No. 3 wideout. Jalen Nailor has flashed potential, and his speed makes him a threat, but he had the NFL’s 12th-highest drop rate among receivers who saw 40 or more targets.
Meanwhile, adding a veteran could provide KOC’s offense a significant boost. There are always several capable receivers available, both in free agency and through the draft. Yet, adding a low-cost, proven option could be the most attractive solution to a team that wants to win now, like the Vikings.
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If the Vikings want to add a free agent receiver, then someone like Darius Slayton could make a lot of sense, especially if the team retains Daniel Jones as their backup quarterback. Slayton never had consistent QB play on the New York Giants, which undoubtedly hurt his production.
Darius Slayton v. Seahawks
— Bobby Skinner (@BobbySkinner_) October 7, 2024
8 catches 122 yards 1 TD
-3 3rd down conversions
-2 deep catches pic.twitter.com/4IySmsLN4H
Despite their flaws, Slayton was still productive for what he is, a secondary option that will never be a team’s No. 1 receiver, yet the Giants were using him like one for the bulk of his career. Slayton actually had a higher drop rate than Nailor at 15.2% (third-highest among WRs with 40 or more snaps), but he’s also gotten consistent results, topping 700 yards in four of his six seasons.
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Still just 28, it’s possible the 6-foot-1 receiver still has some untapped potential as a player who clocked a 4.39 40-yard dash coming out of college. He also had a 40.5-inch vertical jump. Both marks are better than Nailor’s pre-draft measurables. Yet, if Slayton lands a better opportunity as a No. 2 receiver elsewhere, why not consider a reunion with K.J. Osborn?
- Other Vikings free agency wide receiver targets: Brandin Cooks, K.J. Osborn, Rondale Moore, TuTu Atwell
Jevon Holland, safety
One of the team’s deepest positions for multiple years now, the Vikings could suddenly have a need. Harrison Smith will be entering the final year of his contract, and he’s turning 36 in February. Meanwhile, Camryn Bynum is a free agent, only leaving Joshua Metellus as a potential starter.
If Brian Flores returns, he frequently used three safeties on the field, so even if Smith returns, the Vikings may need to add another safety. If so, someone like Jevon Holland could be a strong fit.
The Miami Dolphins’ starting safety was selected 36th overall in the 2021 NFL Draft, which was Brian Flores’ final season in South Beach. So, we already know he’s a plug-and-play solution in Minnesota’s current defensive scheme.
📈 PFF have ranked Jevon Holland as the third best player set to hit free agency
— FinsXtra (@FinsXtra) December 23, 2024
"Holland ranked among the five highest-graded safeties in two of his first three seasons in the league… his previous body of work more than speaks for itself." (@PFF) #GoFins pic.twitter.com/cyNRawdXt0
He’ll also be just 25 years old, which means he could be a perfect long-term replacement for Smith. Holland is coming off a down season, arguably the worst of his career, so the Vikings could get a bit of a discount for a player who graded as the third-best safety per PFF in 2023. This included him having the ninth-best grade on run defense and the third-best coverage grade among safeties.
- Other Vikings free agency safety targets: Talanoa Hufanga, Justin Simmons
Related: Minnesota Vikings Bringing Back Young Interior Defensive Lineman
Milton Williams, defensive tackle
It’s time to address arguably the Vikings’ biggest weakness: the defensive interior. There aren’t many top-notch interior defenders available in free agency, but like the Vikings found last year, there could be a few hidden gems. One of them is Philadelphia’s Milton Williams.
Milton is far from a household name, but Williams is excellent at what he does, which is generate pressure. He finished with PFF’s second-highest pass-rush grade among defensive linemen last season after generating a ridiculous 40 pressures.
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That’s more than all three of the Vikings’ defensive line starts combined (39 pressures among Harrison Phillips (16), Jerry Tillery (17), and Jonathan Bullard (6). Admittedly, Williams didn’t grade as well as a run defender, ranking 167th among interior defenders, but that’s where other run stoppers can be subbed in on short-yardage situations.
How often DTs are doubled and how productive they are as pass rushers
— Stat Acccount (@AcccountStat) January 17, 2025
x = Double Team %
y = Pressure %
Sacks = 3 pressures
QB Hits = 2 pressures
Hurries = 1 pressure pic.twitter.com/4dSD57FDWy
If Williams can’t be signed, then picking up a two-time Pro Bowler like Javon Hargrave could be a better option, but he’s also set to turn 32, compared to Williams being just 26 next season.
- Other Vikings free agency defensive line targets: Javon Hargrave, Jarran Reed
Top Minnesota Vikings free agent target – Trey Smith, right guard
Lastly, anyone who had to witness the Vikings lose to the Rams in the NFL Playoffs, saw that the offensive line didn’t hold up when the game mattered most. While the loss of Christian Darrisaw and for a bit, Brian O’Neill didn’t help, the Vikings’ offensive interior has long been a big weakness.
Dalton Risner is a free agent. Odds are, Ed Ingram won’t suddenly come back after the summer and turn into the second-coming of Steve Hutchinson, which means it’s finally time to address the offensive interior. If the Vikings don’t want to risk spending another high draft pick on another offensive lineman who doesn’t develop the way they like, why not sign a proven solution?
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The best offensive lineman available this offseason is the Kansas City Chiefs’ right guard Trey Smith. If the plan is to keep Blake Brandel at left guard, then Smith would immediately help fix this offensive line’s biggest weakness. Smith has not only started every game while helping the Chiefs win two Super Bowls, he’s coming off his first Pro Bowl season.
Trey Smith blocking through the whistle 😤
— NFL (@NFL) October 8, 2024
📺: #NOvsKC on ESPN
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lLoeQ2khA2
His accolade was well-deserved, considering Smith ranked 14th among all guards, which included respectably being the 33rd-best pass blocker and the 10th-best run blocker. That also included allowing zero sacks. Despite being a former sixth-round pick, the 25-year-old has never graded worse than 22nd among guards.
Yet, of course many teams, likely including the Chiefs, will be looking to sign Smith to a massive contract this offseason. So if the Vikings can’t land Smith, perhaps robbing Kevin Zeitler from the Lions or Teven Jenkins from the Bears would be ideal backup plans.
- Other Vikings free agency guard targets: Kevin Zeitler, Teven Jenkins
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