Introducing the 9 New Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings had a bunch of holes to fill entering free agency, and they surely have done that. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been pretty aggressive in his fourth offseason. Prior to free agency, he extended the contracts of pending free agents Aaron Jones and Theo Jackson.
Introducing the 9 New Vikings
Since the legal tampering window opened on Monday, the club has hired nine new players, and here they are, in alphabetical order.
1. DL Jonathan Allen
Vikings fans wanted some more juice on their defensive line, watching Harrison Phillips next to low-end starters Jonathan Bullard and Jerry Tillery. The interior pass rush has been non-existent for years.
Jonathan Allen has the talent to change that, recording 42 sacks in his career. He is a two-time Pro Bowler and, if healthy, will be a massive upgrade along the defensive line.
He turned 30 in January and should still have some gas left in the tank.
2. S Bubba Bolden
From one established NFL player with a long career to someone who wants to make that dream happen, safety Bubba Bolden has yet to appear in an NFL game. He went undrafted in 2022 and has spent time with the Seahawks and Browns.
The defender was part of the XFL last season. Minnesota doesn’t have the deepest safety room, and if he can show some special team prowess, there’s a chance he can make some noise.
3. OG Will Fries
For years, Vikings fans have begged two different front offices to sign a decent guard, and he is finally here. Former Colts guard Will Fries signed a five-year contract worth $88 million.
Coming off a strange season, Fries was viewed as the top interior lineman on the market, and the Vikings had to edge out five other teams to lure him to the Twin Cities. He played at a Pro Bowl level early, but an injury cut his season short.
Skol Nation will love him if he can return to his 2024 play.
4. DL Javon Hargrave
There hasn’t been a pass-rushing interior defensive lineman in Minnesota in years, so folks were happy with Allen filling that void. A couple of hours later, news broke about Javon Hargrave joining him on the line.
He is 32 years old and missed most of last season. However, between 2021 and 2023, Hargrave was one of the elite defenders in the league, which shows his potential if healthy. Having not only one but two guys who can tabulate 50 QB pressures from the inside is a significant boost.
5. Ryan Kelly
The Vikings started Garrett Bradbury for six seasons at the center position. He has always been an average center at best, so upgrading the spot makes sense.
Ryan Kelly is a four-time Pro Bowler who is past his prime but should still be an upgrade unless he completely falls off a cliff. His veteran presence will help J.J. McCarthy set the protections, and he is an excellent pass protector. The center position should be solidified until he calls it a career.
6. CB Isaiah Rodgers
Cornerback Isaiah Rodgers just won a Super Bowl with the Chiefs. He was a backup on the strong depth chart but still played a rotational role and contributed.
He could compete for the starting cornerback role next to Byron Murphy Jr. and is a signing with some upside. A speedy cornerback with aggressive ball skills, Rodgers is a much more explosive defender than Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin, last year’s corners.
7. OT Justin Skule
David Quessenberry’s contract has expired, so the Vikings needed a new swing tackle. Justin Skule has started 17 games in his career and brings position flexibility, having the ability to play left tackle and right tackle.
Starting left tackle Christian Darrisaw suffered a gruesome knee injury last October. If he isn’t healthy for Week 1, it’s Skule’s job to lose.
8. CB Tavierre Thomas
Another cornerback, Tavierre Thomas, has been a rotational corner throughout his career, but he is more known for his special teams brilliance.
He currently slides in as the CB4 or CB5 in the cornerback rankings and will provide solid depth.
9. Eric Wilson
Once a Vikings starting linebacker in 2020, Eric Wilson then departed and explored a few teams in the league. The Packers ended his practice squad duties in 2022 to be a key special teamer and backup linebacker.
He now returns to his first NFL team, where he spent four seasons (2017-2020). The Vikings needed a new third linebacker and signed one who played a ton of football in the last three campaigns.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt