A Trio of Vikings are Putting Their Best Foot Forward in Pursuit of an Extension
A trio of Vikings are putting their best foot forward for an extension. And, no, we’re not including Justin Jefferson. Leaving him unsigned — especially given the voluminous amount that was said about the topic — remains arguably the most concerning part of Minnesota’s current outlook.
Plus, I’ll avoid the temptation to swing around to Kirk Cousins, though the 35-year-old QB is playing like he belongs in Minnesota’s future plans. Apart from the Week 4 outing (ironically, a win), Cousins has been having a strong season within the Kevin O’Connell offense. The veteran quarterback may be the best option for Jefferson in 2024 and beyond.
Instead of focusing on the leading names, let’s step back to consider some less obvious options.
The Vikings are a team that’s working through a transitional phase. While the impact has already been obvious, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is still in the process of flipping the roster over from the Rick Spielman era. Part of the process involves deciding who gets to stick around as the team moves ahead with the new leadership structure. Consider this trio of players as ones who are doing their utmost to prove they belong.
A Trio of Vikings to be Extended
1) Camryn Bynum, Safety
Maybe we’re jumping the gun a touch since the safety is playing on the third year of his four-year rookie contract. As a result, the organization may not have a huge sense of urgency when it comes to getting a new deal together.
Nevertheless, there’s both context and precedent working in his favor, which is to say nothing of his excellent start to 2023.
Josh Metellus was going into the final season of his rookie deal but the Vikings opted to extend him before the year’s opening game. Doing so ensured the team could keep him around from 2023-25. With Bynum, a similar strategy could apply, inking him to a new deal that similarly involves ensuring he doesn’t get a chance to leave. Plus, the team is very likely going to cut Harrison Smith if there isn’t a major reduction in his nearly $20 million cap charge in 2024.
Brian Flores was complimentary of his safety in this week’s press conference, suggesting that he’s excelling as a leader, tackler, and communicator. He is up to 43 tackles, 1 PD, 1 FF, and 2 TFLs. Excellent stuff from the 25-year-old safety.
2) Greg Joseph, Kicker
Very quietly, Greg Joseph has been perfect.
His 14 kicking chances — 2 FGs, 12 XPs — have all involved a football sailing through the uprights. Admittedly, the lack of field goal chances does undermine the praise somewhat. Seeing him drill several from 50+ would inspire more confidence, and yet the basic reality is that Joseph can only respond to the chances that are available to him.
So far, Joseph hasn’t missed, a streak that everyone in Minnesota is hoping will continue for the foreseeable future.
Matt Daniels likes his kicker. “He’s always locked in,” Daniels explains. When the time comes, Daniels thinks Joseph will be capable of delivering: “We’re only in the Week 5 now, and there’s going to be many, many opportunities that are going to arise that we’re really going to lean on him and need him to come through in those pressure situations.”
Daniels is confident in his kicker. More importantly, Joseph is giving everyone reason to be confident in him. At 29, Joseph has several years of football ahead of him.
3) Ezra Cleveland, Guard
At 6’6″, 312, Ezra Cleveland certainly looks like an NFL offensive lineman. Partner that build with a quiet, workmanlike demeanor and it’s not difficult to see why he is well-liked in Minnesota.
The athletic left guard works well alongside Christian Darrisaw, someone who is careening toward a massive payday before too long. Locking in Cleveland would mean Kevin O’Connell gets to build his offense around a high-upside left side of the o-line for years to come.
At Boise State, Cleveland was a left tackle but has been kicked inside in the NFL. He handled a workload at right guard as a rookie, filling in admirably due the necessity that can follow an injury. More recent seasons have featured him slotting in at left guard, a more natural position for someone who played on the left side in college.
In 2023, Cleveland has been dinged with allowing 2 QB hits and 7 pressures. He has committed a pair of penalties, but there are no sacks allowed on his record.
Minnesota doesn’t want to be at the top of the LG market — Quentin Nelson signed a 4-year, $80M deal back in 2022 — but somewhere in the top 10 contracts seems about right. Something ranging from $7-$10 million a season wouldn’t be super surprising, but one has to think the team would be far more comfortable at that $7 million range.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference, PFF, and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
The Vikings Are Stuck In No Man’s Land
K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.