5 Defensive Free Agents the Vikings Could Still Sign
The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the quieter teams in the entire NFL in this year’s free agent cycle, but at some point, they will have to acquire some new players.
Though most difference-makers have already been signed, and the Vikings are low on cap space, here are some players the club can still acquire to help Brian Flores’ unit.
Calais Campbell
In the middle of the defensive line, the Vikings have parted ways with starting linemen Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen, and now the position group is certainly thin and lacks experience. Calais Campbell, the 39-year-old defender, has 278 career games under his belt and despite his age, still has some gas left.
Last year, Campbell played for the Arizona Cardinals, starting all 17 games. He has not missed a game in three consecutive seasons. The Vikings could be his sixth professional team, as he provides both pass rush and run defense.
Christian Wilkins
Let’s continue with another former NFL star defensive lineman. Christian Wilkins was Flores’ first draft pick as the head coach of the Miami Dolphins and he signed a massive contract with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2024. After only five games, they released him.
It’s unclear whether the 30-year-old will ever return to the field after skipping the entire 2025 campaign, but he was considered one of the top free agents for a reason just two years ago and the Vikings have the Flores connection on their side. Wilkins recorded 9 sacks in 2023.
D.J. Wonnum
An old friend, D.J. Wonnum, is available. The former Vikings draft pick had a two-year stint with the Carolina Panthers and collected 7 sacks in 24 games. He’s far from a Pro Bowl edge rusher, but he could provide depth at a position that has some durability concerns after a season with both Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard missing time. Behind those two and Dallas Turner, the Vikings don’t have anyone else of NFL caliber.
Wonnum could fill that void. Last year, when Greenard was out, Flores moved linebacker Eric Wilson and interior lineman Jalen Redmond in his place. Having another natural rusher makes sense. Wonnum is 28 and scored 23 sacks in four Vikings seasons.
Jonathan Bullard
From 2022 to 2024, Jonathan Bullard helped the Vikings have one of the best ground defenses in the NFL, playing a rotational role along the interior defensive line. Last year, he departed for the New Orleans Saints, appearing in 15 games.
Bullard is not a playmaker, but he is willing to do the dirty work that helps others make those plays. In three years with the Vikings, Bullard played in 46 games and made 108 tackles and 3 sacks.
Kaiir Elam
A former first-round pick, Kaiir Elam has yet to live up to expectations in the NFL. His stops with the Buffalo Bills, Dallas Cowboys, and Tennessee Titans failed to produce the kind of consistency teams hope for from a cornerback drafted that high.
Still, the Vikings could view him as a reclamation project similar to Jeff Okudah last season. Elam has the prototypical size and athletic traits teams look for at the position, but he has struggled to translate those tools into reliable production on the field.
At just 24 years old, Elam could be a low-cost option with upside. With three starting-caliber corners already on the roster, Minnesota wouldn’t need to rely on him immediately. Instead, the Vikings could bring him in as depth and see whether their coaching staff can unlock some of the talent that made him a first-round selection.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Sports Reference helped with this article.