Vikings' 2025 Free Agents, Targets and Draft Needs After NFL Playoff Loss
The Minnesota Vikings were one of the NFL's biggest surprises in 2024. Kevin O'Connell had already established himself as a good head coach, and everyone could see that general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah had assembled a strong roster. However, no one expected Sam Darnold to turn the Vikings into a powerhouse.
Darnold, a former draft disappointment of the New York Jets, thrived under O'Connell's direction this season. and the rest of the team followed. While Minnesota couldn't secure a division title or the NFC's No. 1 seed, it finished with a 14-3 record and entered the playoffs as the league's scariest wild-card team.
Now that the Vikings' postseason run has ended, O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah have some serious work ahead of them. Darnold's future will be one of the biggest storylines of the entire offseason, and Minnesota has other contracts to address and needs to fill.
Here's a look at what's ahead for the Vikings as their 2025 offseason officially begins.
Free Agents
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Unrestricted Free Agents
RB Cam Akers
DE Jonathan Bullard
S Camryn Bynum
QB Sam Darnold
G Dan Feeney
CB Stephon Gilmore
CB Shaquill Griffin
LB Kamu Grugier-Hill
RB Aaron Jones
LB Patrick Jones
CB Fabian Moreau
QB Nick Mullens
TE Johnny Mundt
CB Byron Murphy
WR Brandon Powell
OT David Quessenberry
G Dalton Risner
OT Cam Robinson
QB Brett Rypien
WR Trent Sherfield
S Harrison Smith
DT Jerry Tillery
Edge Jihad Ward
Restricted/Exclusive-Rights Free Agents
CB Theo Jackson
P Ryan Wright
The Vikings should be commended for what they put together in 2024. However, keeping the proverbial band together could prove difficult. Minnesota is projected to have $73.3 million in available cap space. However, it also has a number of key contributors slated to hit the market.
Guard Dalton Risner and tackle Cam Robinson are currently starters along the offensive line—though Robinson could be expendable if left tackle Christian Darrisaw returns quickly from his season-ending knee injury. Aaron Jones and Cam Akers are Minnesota's top two running backs.
A huge portion of the secondary—including cornerbacks Stephon Gilmore, Byron Murphy, Shaquill Griffin and Fabian Moreau, plus safeties Camryn Byron and Harrison Smith—is slated to hit the open market. So are front-seven contributors like Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard.
Of course, the biggest question will come at quarterback. Darnold played extremely well in 2024, but Minnesota just used a first-round pick on Michigan's J.J. McCarthy. McCarthy also missed his entire rookie season with a knee injury, so the Vikings can't know what to expect from him moving forward.
A difficult decision looms. The Vikings could hand the keys to McCarthy, franchise-tag Darnold to give McCarthy another developmental season or sign Darnold to a multi-year deal and have McCarthy as a backup plan and/or QB of the future.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, a "slight majority" of league executives believe that Minnesota will keep Darnold in some form or fashion. Doing so, however, could cut into the team's cap space significantly.
Quarterbacks are never cheap on the open market, and the tag value will be higher than the $38.3 million it was in 2024.
Potential Free-Agent/Trade Targets
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Realistically, Adofo-Mensah will probably prioritize impending free agents over external talent. The Vikings know what they have in players like Bynum, Jones, Murphy and Bullard. However, Minnesota should have an opportunity to upgrade a few positions.
If Minnesota can land a premier guard like Trey Smith of the Kansas City Chiefs, it should. Targeting a high-end cornerback like Charvaius Ward or DJ Reed would also be logical. Even if Bynum is retained, adding a safety like Justin Simmons or Jevon Holland would be sensible.
Harrison Smith is under contract for another season but will turn 36 in February.
Minnesota should also be interested in bolstering its defensive front. The Vikings were stout against the run in 2024 (fourth in yards per carry allowed) but they could stand to generate more pressure on the interior.
Expect defensive linemen like B.J. Hill, Milton Williams and Levi Onwuzurike to be on Minnesota's radar.
The Vikings have shown that they're willing to trade to acquire talent. They dealt for T.J. Hockenson two years ago and added Akers ahead of this year's trade deadline. If a player like cornerback Greg Newsome II or edge-rusher Maxx Crosby becomes available this offseason, Adofo-Mensah will almost certainly consider making a play.
If Darnold departs, a veteran quarterback like Jacoby Brissett or Taylor Heinicke may be added to provide leadership and insurance to the quarterback room. Aside from that—and the offensive line—Minnesota probably won't make many offensive moves in free agency.
Finding a clear upgrade over Jones at running back isn't likely, and the Vikings are well-stocked with pass-catchers.
Draft Targets
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Minnesota's approach to the draft will hinge on who they retain and add during the early offseason. The Vikings had one of the NFL's most complete rosters in 2024, and they'll look to keep that going in 2025.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department paired Minnesota with Georgia guard prospect Tate Ratledge in its post-regular season mock draft. Rateledge is an entirely logical target if Minnesota doesn't grab a top-tier guard before the draft.
"Minnesota will have a hole at right guard this offseason, and Ratledge is a three-year starter in the SEC at the same position with incredible anchor and grip strength as his superpowers," Brandon Thorn of the B/R Scouting Department said.
A defensive lineman or defensive back would also be sensible in Round 1, so expect prospects like Marshall edge-rusher Mike Green, Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison, Oregon defensive lineman Derrick Harmon and Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts to garner consideration.
Adofo-Mensah will need to hit and hit big on his first-round selection because he won't have much else with which to work in the upcoming draft.
In all, the Vikings are projected to have only three total selections, their first-rounder and two in Round 5. Minnesota paid heavily to acquire Dallas Turner in last year's draft and owes sixth- and seventh-round picks to the Cleveland Browns as part of the Za'Darius Smith trade.
Minnesota will look to fill a position of need in Round 1, but it must also find a prospect who carries limited bust potential.
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