If You Thought the Vikings Had a Lot of Free Agents in 2023, Just Wait Until 2024
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings saw 18 players enter free agency during this offseason. Of them, 16 players have come to agreements on new contracts either with the Vikings or a new team, with only Olabisi Johnson and Thomas Hennigan remaining on the open market.
While this is certainly a lot of free agents for one team in a single offseason, the 2024 offseason is scheduled to be an even bigger one in terms of whose contracts could be coming to an end following the 2023 season.
Currently, the Vikings are slated to have 30 players see their contracts in Minnesota end following the 2023 season, nearly doubling their total from this offseason. Here’s a look at the full list of them:
- QB Kirk Cousins
- OLB Danielle Hunter
- OLB Marcus Davenport
- ILB Jordan Hicks
- TE T.J. Hockenson
- WR Jalen Reagor
- OT Oli Udoh
- G Chris Reed
- K Greg Joseph
- DT Ross Blacklock
- G Ezra Cleveland
- DE Jonathan Bullard
- LB Troy Reeder
- WR Brandon Powell
- TE Johnny Mundt
- IOL Austin Schlottmann
- CB Joejuan Williams
- DE D.J. Wonnum
- CB John Reid
- TE Ben Ellefson
- DT James Lynch
- ILB Troy Dye
- CB Tay Gowan
- OT Blake Brandel
- WR K.J. Osborn
- DE Kenny Willekes
- DT Khyiris Tonga
- C Josh Sokol
- CB Theo Jackson
- S Josh Metellus
The trio in bold (Cousins, Hockenson, Hunter) have been named to Pro Bowls as members of the Vikings.
This offseason saw major changes to the roster as a result of all these free agents. Eric Kendricks, Patrick Peterson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Tomlinson are all in different uniforms for 2023, and that list of 18 free agents doesn’t even include Cam Dantzler, who was waived and claimed by the Washington Commanders.
Of course, there are potential events that could lower this number in 2024 as well. There are multiple extension candidates for the Vikings this year, including Ezra Cleveland, T.J. Hockenson, and Danielle Hunter. It wouldn’t be surprising to see any of them land new contracts in the coming months to stay in Minnesota for years to come.
It also remains to be seen what Minnesota’s plan for Kirk Cousins is following the 2023 season. His contract is set to expire, which would make him a free agent, but the Vikings are yet to put a solid plan in place after him unless either Nick Mullens or Jaren Hall blow the coaching staff away during the summer and fall. Perhaps, if nothing else, he could return to the Vikings on another one-year deal in 2024.
In all, 2024 has seemed like it could be a year of big change in Minnesota, and this group of free agents makes that all the more likely.
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.