The Vikings’ Cheat Code May Be Kaput for a Year
In recent offseasons, the Vikings’ cheat code has involved moving through free agency in a manner that involves picking up draft capital.
No, the approach hasn’t involved trading away players to gain picks. Instead, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has been willing to let other teams outbid him for his own players, resulting in compensatory selections being put into Minnesota’s pocket. One wonders if the same opportunity will arise next offseason.
The Vikings’ Cheat Code: Comp Picks
A major part of the issue is the 2022 NFL Draft.
Yes, I know there are many out there who are tired of throwing more gasoline onto that tire fire, but stick with me on this one. The Vikings’ ten-person draft class should be getting to the end of their rookie contracts in Minnesota. Theoretically, that could be ten players going into contract years, ten players capable of signing lucrative second contracts next March so that the Vikings could gain a comp pick or two.
Instead, only a trio of players remain; even worse, a pair of those players — Brian Asamoah and Ty Chandler — could very reasonably get cut in August. The last man standing could be Jalen Nailor, someone who has proven to be an excellent pick as a 6th-Round receiver.
Recently, Janik Eckardt discussed Nailor, noting that the young pass catcher has been building his body as he moves into a contract year.
“As previously mentioned,” Eckardt writes, “Nailor is entering a monster year. In 2026, teams will look at the available wideouts and put price tags on them. Another 400-yard season might make him a few million, but nobody is breaking the bank for a 27-year-old with 1,000 career receiving yards.”
Envision, instead, a different outcome: a season where Nailor continues his ascent, picking up explosive yards while proving to be excellent at scoring touchdowns (he snagged 6 last year, a strong amount given his role). Any chance he could demand a contract large enough to generate a compensatory pick?
Look around a bit more to see who else is coming up to the end of their contract.
Josh Oliver, for instance, is entering the final season of his contract. He will turn 29 next March, meaning he’s likely nearing the end of his career but not ready to head into the geriatric unit. Conceivably, a team could send a medium-sized deal to the blocking bully who is a better athlete than people realize.
Other options are Josh Metellus, Jeff Okudah, Justin Skule, and Rondale Moore (among possibly a few others). Start with the most obvious issue: Metellus is a near certainty to get extended, taking a free-agent departure off the table.
The other players are all operating on single-season deals. The key uncertainty rests in whether those guys can elevate their play in a major manner. If so, then they could very plausibly demand good money on the open market since they each have some youth left in them (Skule is a bit older — late 20s — but lineman often age differently than skill guys).
Minnesota, of course, would also need to be willing to let those guys walk away, something that remains to be seen.
Otherwise, the players who are getting to the end of their deals don’t seem likely to command large deals, such as Asamoah, Chandler, and C.J. Ham (among others). Keep in mind, as well, that players who get cut don’t factor into the compensatory picks mix, so it’s not as if Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can go on a cutting craze in an effort to give him more chances at comp picks.
The Vikings’ cheat code has been very helpful lately. Kirk Cousins left behind a 3rd-Round pick for leaving. The best guess is that Sam Darnold, Cam Robinson, and Trent Sherfield are going to lead to a 3rd, 5th, and 7th arriving next year (see OTC).
Minnesota doesn’t appear likely to go on a spending spree in next year’s free agency. Even still, the shot at getting comp picks isn’t super high due the lack of strong talent moving into the final year of their deals.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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 Bluesky (@VikingsGazette). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.
