A Look at All 28 Vikings Free Agents with 50 Days Remaining until Free Agency Begins
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings saw some big changes to their roster in the 2023 offseason.
Now, the 2024 offseason could bring even more change to the team as a whopping 28 Vikings are set to enter free agency this spring. With free agency officially opening 50 days from now on March 13th, here is a look at every single one of those pending free agents. Contractual information was found via Over the Cap.
NOTE: Players with an asterisk (*) by their name are restricted free agents.
Offense
Quarterback
- Kirk Cousins
- Josh Dobbs
For the first time since Kirk Cousins signed with the Vikings in 2018, he is set to hit unrestricted free agency in March. Cousins will turn 36 years old in August and is coming off an Achilles tear suffered in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. As for Josh Dobbs, there has been very little discussion of his free agency, but his stint in Minnesota likely is over, especially if the Vikings are in the market for a quarterback in the NFL Draft.
Running Back
- Cam Akers*
Cam Akers was brought in by the Vikings via trade prior to Week 3 of the regular season. The deal with the Rams to acquire Akers came as an attempt to bolster Minnesota’s rushing attack. The 24-year-old did just that by totaling 38 carries for 138 yards and a touchdown over six games. Unfortunately, his season also came to an end after his own Achilles tear in Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons. He is a restricted free agent, though, so the Vikings could match any offer to bring him back if desired.
Wide Receiver
- K.J. Osborn
- Brandon Powell
Of course, the Vikings are set at the top of their wide receiver room with Jordan Addison and Justin Jefferson (assuming Jefferson gets his long-awaited contract extension). However, the depth at WR could be a concern this offseason. Both K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell were among the top five Vikings in terms of receiving yards in 2023.
Tight End
- Johnny Mundt
- Nick Muse*
Tight end could prove to be a sneaky need for the Vikings this offseason, depending on the timeline for T.J. Hockenson’s recovery from his torn ACL and MCL. Johnny Mundt was a major part of the offense following the injury, and if both he and Muse were to sign contracts elsewhere, that would leave Josh Oliver as the only healthy tight end on Minnesota’s roster. Of course, Muse is a restricted free agent, so it will be easier to retain him.
Offensive Line
- Hakeem Adeniji
- Blake Brandel*
- David Quessenberry
- Chris Reed
- Dalton Risner
- Austin Schlottmann
- Oli Udoh
As expected, the largest chunk of free agents for the Vikings regards their offensive line. All of Blake Brandel, David Quessenberry, Dalton Risner, Austin Schlottmann, and Oli Udoh made starts on the o-line this season, so Minnesota will either need to find ways to retain these depth pieces or find other players to replace them.
Most notably, Risner finished the season at left guard after Ezra Cleveland injured his foot and was traded to the Jacksonville Jaguars. He is projected to get a rather large contract this offseason, so it will be interesting to see what happens with the veteran this spring.
Defense
Interior Defensive Line
- Jonathan Bullard
- Sheldon Day
- James Lynch
- T.J. Smith*
- Khyiris Tonga*
Much like the offensive side of the ball, the trenches will also be a major focus for the Vikings on defense this offseason. Both T.J. Smith and Khyiris Tonga are restricted free agents, but Jonathan Bullard, Sheldon Day, and James Lynch will be free to sign anywhere without Minnesota being able to do anything about it. Bullard was a starter throughout the year, so his position on the defensive line is a puzzle the Vikings must solve.
Outside Linebacker
- Marcus Davenport
- Danielle Hunter
- D.J. Wonnum
The Vikings managed to retain Danielle Hunter in 2023 by giving him a larger one-year deal, but it was a temporary solution to the problem that they now need to figure out at outside linebacker. Both Hunter and Wonnum were the main pass-rushers for Minnesota this season while Marcus Davenport simply couldn’t stay on the field because of his lingering ankle injuries. Davenport could be brought back for his potential, but the Vikings now need to find their long-term solutions at this position.
Off-Ball Linebacker
- Anthony Barr
- Troy Dye
- Jordan Hicks
- Nick Vigil
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. Ivan Pace was a great surprise for Minnesota this year, but the task of replacing Hicks’ production could be a daunting one.
Cornerback
- none
Safety
- Theo Jackson*
The Vikings don’t have a ton to worry about in terms of free agents in their secondary this year. The young group performed well in Flores’ defensive scheme this year, but they could look to add another playmaker to the group, especially considering the coverage struggles when Mekhi Blackmon and Byron Murphy were dealing with injuries down the stretch of the season. As of now, though, Theo Jackson is the only defensive back set to hit free agency, and he is a restricted free agent.
Special Teams
Kicker
- Greg Joseph
And finally, the Vikings will need to figure out their kicker position for 2024. Minnesota could opt to bring back Greg Joseph in free agency, and they would be justified in doing so after he went a perfect 14-for-14 on his kicks over the final four weeks. However, the struggles from 2022 could certainly linger in the back of their minds as free agency approaches.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.
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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.