The Vikings Need to Re-Sign These 5 Players
Josh Frey
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The Vikings have a whopping 28 players set to hit free agency this offseason.
It will be next to impossible to bring them all back while also adding more talent to their roster, but Minnesota would be smart to bring back at least a few of these veterans. Here are five players the Vikings need to re-sign this offseason.
OLB Danielle Hunter
After struggling with injuries during the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Danielle Hunter has proven that he is still plenty capable of being an elite pass rusher in the NFL.
The 29-year-old defender put together career-high numbers almost across the board this season. Hunter’s 23 tackles for loss tied for the league-lead with Maxx Crosby, and his 16.5 sacks came in fifth across the NFL.
Hunter has been one of the premier defenders in the league this season, and at times, he almost single-handedly carried Minnesota’s pass rush to success. The Vikings need to retain him this offseason while finding him a consistent partner across from him to help out off the edge.
LB Jordan Hicks
Another sneaky need for Minnesota is at the off-ball linebacker spot. Of course, Anthony Barr, Troy Dye, and Nick Vigil were rarely utilized on defense throughout the season, but Jordan Hicks put together a fantastic season in Brian Flores’ defense.
Hicks had some struggles during the 2022 season in Ed Donatell’s system, but he proved to be fantastic linebacker this season after Flores decided to use him as a blitzer again. This is an area where he has thrived throughout his career, and it proved to be exactly what he needed to rejuvenate his career.
The linebacker totaled 107 tackles, four tackles for loss, a sack, five passes defended, an interception, and a pair of fumble recoveries, including one for a touchdown. Replacing Hicks’ production at the linebacker spot will be a daunting one, and Minnesota should bring the 31-year-old back for one more season to help Ivan Pace.
WR Brandon Powell
Brandon Powell was brought in last offseason by the Vikings to be a depth receiver and returner on the special teams. He performed both roles beautifully during his first season in a Vikings uniform. He played a crucial role on the offense when Justin Jefferson went down with his hamstring injury.
Powell totaled 29 receptions for 324 yards and a touchdown with the offense while also returning 37 punts for 289 yards, an average of 7.8 yards per return. A capable punt returner is an underrated part of an NFL roster to help flip field position, and Powell has proven to be exactly that.
TE Johnny Mundt
The tight end position is a bit of an underrated need for the Vikings this offseason. Both Johnny Mundt and Nick Muse are entering free agency in March, and with T.J. Hockenson on the mend from his torn ACL and MCL suffered in Week 16, that leaves Josh Oliver as the only healthy tight end under contract for next season.
Over the final two weeks of the season without T.J. Hockenson in the lineup, Mundt caught nine passes for 97 yards and a touchdown. There is a very high chance that Hockenson won’t be ready to go by Week 1 next year, so in order to ensure that Minnesota continues to get reliable production from the tight end spot, Mundt should be brought back in March
IOL Blake Brandel
A large chunk of Minnesota’s free agents this season reside on the offensive line. This isn’t necessarily a surprise considering many depth pieces in that area are signed to one-year contracts. However, one piece of that depth who should absolutely come back in 2024 is Blake Brandel.
The offensive lineman has shown the capabilities of playing both guard and offensive tackle at a reasonably high level, and while Minnesota’s tackle duo of Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill have been fantastic, they are also liable to miss a couple games every year. Additionally, Dalton Risner, the starting left guard, is set to hit free agency in March, so depth needs to be retained on the interior wherever possible. Considering Brandel is a restricted free agent, Minnesota should be able to bring him back fairly easily.
Editor’s Note: Information from Over the Cap and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
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Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.