Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Ledger

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell continue to reshape and craft the Minnesota Vikings roster. With limited salary cap room, they’ve managed to retain several players and add a few players. With free agency less than 24 hours old, here’s a look at the roster ledger. 

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Ledger

Players re-signed:

Nick Mullens, QB

Alexander Mattison, RB

Garrett Bradbury, C

Ben Ellefson, TE

Blake Brandel, OT

Khyiris Tonga, DT

Kenny Willekes, DE

Greg Joseph, K

Andrew DePaola, LS

Players signed:

Josh Oliver, TE

Marcus Davenport. Edge

Byron Murphy Jr., CB

Players released/lost:

Eric Kendricks, LB

Adam Thielen, WR

Patrick Peterson, CB

Dalvin Tomlinson, DT

The Vikings started the offseason with about 4 restricted and 15 unrestricted free agents. Eric Kendricks and Adam Thielen were released and added to the list. All four restricted free agents have been re-signed. Eight of the unrestricted free agents remain unsigned.

Unsigned free agents:

Chandon Sullivan, CB

Irv Smith Jr., TE

Jonathan Bullard, DL

Duke Shelley, CB

Austin Schlottman, C

Olisaemeka Udoh, OT

Kris Boyd, CB

Olabisi Johnson, WR

Of those, Duke Shelley, Austin Schlottman, and perhaps Oli Udoh might be the most likely return. Special Teams coordinator Matt Daniels might bang the table for Kris Boyd’s return. 

The Vikings are still uncomfortably close to the salary cap. For that reason, they have significant decisions to make on the contracts of Dalvin Cook, Za’Darius Smith, and Harrison Smith. Depending on one’s perspective, the re-signing of Alexander Mattison either further complicates or makes easy the decision on Cook’s roster status. The same can be said of the signing of Marcus Davenport on Za’Darius Smith’s roster status. Harrison Smith has a giant cap hit. His contract needs to be renegotiated. Hopefully, he’s agreeable. The Vikings defense, and a very young secondary, need him. 

I’m expecting a trade or release of Za’Darius Smith and a renegotiation of Harrison Smith’s contract. I’m much more conflicted with Dalvin Cook’s situation. I hate the thought of losing him. I don’t think that he’s regressed anywhere near as much as many people seem to believe. The Vikings issues with the run game last season were a team-thing rather than a Cook-thing. In a couple of the most memorable games in a very memorable season, it was an explosive play by Cook that ignited comebacks. He’s also a team leader. The Vikings have lost enough of those this offseason. We should see a resolution with the Smiths and Cook soon. 

The offseason marches on.

Minnesota Vikings Tampering: Day 2

The Minnesota Vikings spent the first day of the “legal tampering” period agreeing to terms with two players from other teams.

Josh Oliver, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Marcus Davenport, Edge, New Orleans Saints

The Vikings spent the second day of the “legal tampering” period re-signing four of their own pending free agents. They also restructured the contract of Kirk Cousins. That opened up some of the salary cap space needed to do the things that they need to do. Yesterday was a busy day. It started with the re-signing of four of their own.

Garrett Bradbury, C

Nick Mullens, QB

Greg Joseph, K

Andrew DePaola, LS

Garrett Bradbury and Andrew DePoala signed three-year deals. Nick Mullens and Greg Joseph signed one-year deals. The re-signing of Bradbury insures that the Vikings will return all five of their starting offensive linemen. Continuity on the offensive line is a good thing. A first round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, Bradbury’s play was often rough over his first three years in the league. He was much better last season but the overall play of the interior of the offensive line must improve. Hopefully, another year together and another year in the same system with the same coaches will help them improve. With Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill, the Vikings have high level play on the outside. They need the interior of the offensive line to play much closer to that level. The re-signing of Joseph and DePaola reunites them with punter Ryan Wright. The Vikings will return their kicking battery. Continuity is important. Joseph had five game-winning field goals last season. One was from 61 yards. Despite those game-ending heroics, he had some very frustrating moments. He must stop missing extra points. He must make more of his kicks from beyond 50 yards. He has the leg for distance. He proved it with that 61-yarder. Nick Mullens played the bulk of the Week 18 game against the Chicago Bears. It was nice to see a competent, confident backup quarterback. I had no confidence in the previous quarterbacks that backed up Cousins. 

It was a busy Day 2 of the “legal tampering” period. The Vikings got some important internal stuff done. Then they addressed perhaps their biggest offseason need: Cornerback. The Vikings agreed to terms with Arizona Cardinals corner Byron Murphy Jr. He was one of the best man-to-man defenders available in free agency. At 25, he was also one of the youngest. Put mildly, the Vikings defense wasn’t very good last year. They had to get faster and younger. Adding Marcus Davenport and Murphy is a welcome step in that direction. New Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores likes to bring pressure and rely on his corners in single coverage. Murphy is a perfect fit for that aggressive play. A former Cardinal replaces a former Cardinal as the leader of the Vikings cornerback group. Murphy will also likely take on Patrick Peterson’s #7 jersey. 

On Day 2, the Vikings retained some of their own free agents and a cornerback that the defense desperately needed. Despite the ridiculous number of players across the league that have changed teams over the last two days, free agency actually starts today. Josh Oliver, Marcus Davenport, and Byron Murphy Jr. can actually become Vikings today. It should be an interesting day. With the restructure of Cousins’ contract, the Vikings were briefly under the salary cap. They need to do some more maneuvering to remain under the salary cap when the new league year starts at 4pm eastern. A trade of Za’Darius Smith? A Harrison Smith contract restructure? We’ll see. The past two days have been eventful. That should continue with the actual start of free agency. 

Minnesota Vikings Tampering: Day 1

When you’re sitting on the wrong side of the salary cap, there isn’t much room for tampering. The Minnesota Vikings eked out a little room as they did a little tampering. After what they accomplished on Day 1, the Vikings will be adding to new players to the roster when they are legally allowed to do so tomorrow.

Josh Oliver, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Marcus Davenport, Edge, New Orleans Saints

Immediately targeting a tight end in free agency was a surprise to pretty much everyone. With T.J. Hockenson and Johnny Mundt, the position was hardly considered a pressing need. The Vikings targeted Josh Oliver because of one thing the offense didn’t do very well last year. Run the ball. Oliver is arguably the best blocking tight end in the league. With Hockenson and Oliver on the field together, the Vikings offense will become more versatile and less predictable. The biggest offensive problems last season came when defenses took Justin Jefferson out of the game. The Vikings didn’t run the ball well enough to force the defense out of two high safety looks. With two tight ends on the field, one of which can effectively move and remove one of the box defenders, the Vikings should get more single high safety looks. Kirk Cousins and Jefferson should feast. At least on paper, in March, the Vikings offense will be dictating things to the defense this season. Last season, too often, the defense did the dictating. 

When looking over this year’s potentially available free agents, Marcus Davenport repeatedly caught my eye. His freakish natural talent often triggered discussion in the lead-up to the 2018 NFL Draft. In his five years with the New Orleans Saints, it’s only been a parade of injuries, none lingering, that’s kept him from living up to the hype and talent. When he’s been on the field, Davenport has been a very disruptive edge rusher and run defender. I’m surprised that the Saints let him hit free agency, especially with Cameron Jordan getting older. They even chose Davenport over Trey Hendrickson a couple years ago. Now, they’re letting him go. It’s the Vikings gain. Anyway, Davenport’s addition to the Vikings roster likely marks the end of Za’Darius Smith’s time in Minnesota. Judging from his recent actions, it sounds like Smith prefers it that way. After a single productive season with the Vikings, he’s looking for a big payday on the open market. It might not be as open as he hopes as he could be traded rather than released. The Vikings edge rushing, and defense, gets younger and better. With a one-year, prove-it deal, signing Davenport is a low risk with a possibly huge reward. He turns 27 in September. He’s in his best years if he can stay on the field. His next deal could be a big one and the Vikings will have the first shot at it. As for this year, I look forward to Marcus Davenport and Danielle Hunter terrorizing quarterbacks. 

Day 1 of tampering brought a couple surprise additions. Now, it’s on to Day 2. 

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Dreams

The “legal tampering” phase of NFL free agency starts today at noon eastern. Seeing as they are still about $7 million over the salary cap, the Minnesota Vikings still have some internal moves and decisions to make. The silly thing about the “legal tampering” period is that the Vikings don’t have to be under the salary cap to be active over the next couple of days. They just have to be under the salary cap at the start of the new league. That’s Wednesday at 4pm eastern. The wild times start soon. Now, is the time for some free agency dreams. Here’s a look at some potential dreamy additions for the Minnesota Vikings.

Needs:

Pretty much everywhere on defense

-linebacker

-cornerback

-defensive tackle

-edge

Center

Receiver

Dream Additions:

Linebackers:

David Long Jr, Tennessee Titans

Azeez Al-Shaair, San Francisco 49ers

Devin Bush, Pittsburgh Steelers

T.J. Edwards, Pittsburgh Steelers 

Tremaine Edmunds, Buffalo Bills

Cornerbacks:

Cameron Sutton, Pittsburgh Steelers

Rock Ya-Sin, Las Vegas Raiders

Nik Needham, Miami Dolphins

Isaiah Oliver, Atlanta Falcons

Tavierre Thomas, Houston Texans

Emmanuel Mosley, San Francisco 49ers

Greedy Williams, Cleveland Browns

Jamel Dean, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Defensive Tackle:

-re-sign Dalvin Tomlinson

Center:

-re-sign Garrett Bradbury

Receiver:

DJ Chark, Detroit Lions

Mecole Hardman, Kansas City Chiefs

JuJu Smith-Schuster, Kansas City Chiefs

Parris Campbell, Indianapolis Colts

Darius Slayton, New York Giants

There was a time when my free agency dreams for the Vikings started with Jamel Dean and Tremaine Edmunds. That was shooting way too high. Both could be among the big winners of free agency. Vikings salary cap guru Rob Brzezinski would have to work some minor miracles to afford one, let alone both. Now, my free agency dreams for the Vikings start with David Long Jr. With the release of Eric Kendricks and potentially Jordan Hicks, it’s a new linebacker day in Minnesota. 2022 third-round pick Brian Asomoah is penciled in as one of the starters. I’d prefer a more experienced player with some starting experience next to him. Long could be that linebacker. He’s had a steady career progression during his four years with the Titans, culminating in a very productive 2022 season. He was arguably more productive than Edmunds last season. I like the thought of Asomoah and Long in the middle of the Vikings defense. I don’t think backs, receivers, and tight ends will be running past and from those two linebackers like they did so easily last season. As for cornerback, perhaps the help will come from a re-signing of Patrick Peterson. If the Vikings want to go younger, adding Cameron Sutton, Rock Ya-Sin, or Nik Needham to the team’s very young group would be a good thing. Greedy Williams could be an interesting addition. He hasn’t been the same player since a training camp injury wiped out his 2020 season. Maybe a change of scenery will bring out the talent that made him one of the top corners in the 2019 NFL Draft. 

As for defensive tackle and center, the best options could be re-signing Dalvin Tomlinson and Garrett Bradbury. Tomlinson might be a priority re-signing. As for Bradbury, he’s had difficulties since the Vikings selected him in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft. His best season was last season. Perhaps future seasons in the same offense will be even better. Of the free agent centers, the familiar Bradbury might be the best option. A better option at center might be found in the draft. There are several centers at the top of the 2023 NFL Draft with the talent and potential to start immediately. As for receiver, Parris Campbell is an intriguing option. He was an explosive player in college at Ohio State. He was a second-round pick of the Indianapolis Colts in the 2019 NFL Draft. Last season was his first relatively injury-free season. He caught 63 passes. He has terrific speed. A deep threat would be a nice thing for the Vikings to have with so much attention paid to Justin Jefferson on an every down basis. 

So, my Minnesota Vikings free agency dreams, at the moment, probably start with the additions of:

David Long Jr., LB

Cameron Sutton

Parris Campbell

The free agency fun starts soon. 

Flea Flicker Mock Draft 2.0: Post-Scouting Combine

The top of the draft is now a bit different. The Carolina Panthers made their move in trading up from #9 to #1 to hopefully grab the quarterback of their dreams. The Panthers sent #9 and #61 picks this year, a first in 2024, a second in 2025, and receiver D.J. Moore to the Chicago Bears for the #1 pick this year. The trade wasn’t a surprise. Everyone knew that the Bears were shopping the pick. The timing is the surprise. It’s so early. Here’s a post-Scouting Combine, post-big trade stab at the first round of the 2023 NFL Draft. 

1.   Carolina Panthers: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama

2.   Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, QB, Ohio State

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia

4.   Indianapolis Colts: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida

5.   Seattle Seahawks (via Denver): Will Anderson, Jr., Edge, Alabama

6.   Detroit Lions (via Los Angeles Rams): Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

7.   Las Vegas Raiders: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky

8.   Atlanta Falcons: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern

9.   Chicago Bears: Tyree Wilson, Edge, Texas Tech

10. Philadelphia Eagles: (via New Orleans): Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson

11. Tennessee Titans: Paris Johnson, Jr., OT, Ohio State

12. Houston Texans (via Cleveland): Quentin Johnston, WR, TCU

13. New York Jets: Broderick Jones, OT, Georgia

14. New England Patriots: Brian Branch, DB, Alabama

15. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Addison, WR, USC

16. Washington Commanders: Christian Gonzalez, CB, Oregon

17. Pittsburgh Steelers: Dalton Kincaid, TE, Utah

18. Detroit Lions: Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Lukas Van Ness, Edge, Iowa

20. Seattle Seahawks: Will McDonald IV, Edge, Iowa State

21. Los Angeles Chargers: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas

22. Baltimore Ravens: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

23. Minnesota Vikings: Bryan Bresee, DT, Clemson

24. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michael Mayer, TE, Notre Dame

25. New York Giants: Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia

26. Dallas Cowboys: Zay Flowers, WR, Boston College

27. Buffalo Bills: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida

28. Cincinnati Bengals: Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh

29. New Orleans Saints (via SF thru Miami): Cam Smith, CB, South Carolina 

30. Philadelphia Eagles: Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Adetomiwa Adebawore, Edge, Northwestern

Due to dirty deeds, the Miami Dolphins forfeited the 21st pick in the first round pick of the 2023 NFL Draft. So, there will only be 31 picks in the first round. 

RIP Coach

I thought that I was going to write something about the sad release of Adam Thielen. Then I learned about the heartbreaking passing of Bud Grant. 

Harry Peter “Bud” Grant lived 95 years. It was a long, full 95 years. We should be celebrating that. Right now, that’s hard to do. I knew that I should be prepared for this day but I also knew that I never would be. There was always something so reassuring about Bud Grant’s presence. It started when he was standing, stoic on those snowy Met sidelines. With that vision, this California kid fell for the Minnesota Vikings. Those Vikings teams were other-worldly and he guided them with assured, confident silence. I never knew that a simple look could do and say so much. Despite losing four Super Bowls, it always felt like he had the answers. 

Even after his retirement, both retirements, Bud Grant provided a strong, assured presence. He was provided with an office in the team’s facility. Winter Park and TCO Performance Center. That was reassuring. He wasn’t there often and really had no role. That was reassuring as well. His presence was his role. He was usually with his family or hunting. Maybe both. That was also reassuring. Bud Grant in this world was reassuring. 

I never met the man and I already miss him so damn much. My thoughts and condolences are with his family, friends, and all Vikings and football fans. RIP Coach. 

Compensatory Picks

The NFL announced on Thursday the awarding of 37 compensatory picks to 16 teams for the 2023 NFL Draft. These extra picks used to be limited to a strict 32 for the net loss of free agents from the previous season. The five “extra” picks this year were awarded at the end of the third round to teams that have had a minority employee hired as a head coach or general manager by another club. The San Francisco 49ers have really been cashing in on their practice of hiring strong candidates no matter their race. Three of the five “extra” picks went their way. In total, the 49ers raked in seven compensatory picks. Seven! That’s a complete draft class. They added more compensatory picks than the Minnesota Vikings have draft picks (4). The Vikings gained a sixth round compensatory. Their total draft pick tally is now 5. Some day, maybe the league can boast 32 teams, more importantly 32 owners, that routinely hire people simply because they are the most qualified rather than being rewarded for doing so. Imagine that, a league as diverse in the buildings as it is on the fields. 

Here are the 37 compensatory picks (“extra” compensatory picks denoted by an *)

Round 3

96.   Arizona Cardinals

97.   Washington Commanders

98.   Cleveland Browns*

99.   San Francisco 49ers*

100. Kansas City Chiefs*

101. San Francisco 49ers*

102. San Francisco 49ers*

Round 4

135. New England Patriots

Round 5

167. Los Angeles Rams

168. Arizona Cardinals 

169. Dallas Cowboys

170. Green Bay Packers

171. Los Angeles Rams

172. New York Giants

173. San Francisco 49ers

174. Las Vegas Raiders

175. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

176. Dallas Cowboys

177. Los Angeles Rams

Round 6

210. New England Patriots

211. Minnesota Vikings 

212. Dallas Cowboys 

213. Arizona Cardinals

214. Las Vegas Raiders

215. Washington Commanders

216. San Francisco 49ers

217. Kansas City Chiefs 

Round 7

250. Kansas City Chiefs 

251. Los Angeles Rams 

252. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

253. San Francisco 49ers

254. New York Giants 

255. San Francisco 49ers

256. Green Bay Packers 

257. New Orleans Saints 

258. Chicago Bears 

259. Houston Texans

Total 2023 Compensatory Picks by Team

San Francisco 49ers	7
Los Angeles Rams	4
Arizona Cardinals	3
Dallas Cowboys	3
Kansas City Chiefs	3
Green Bay Packers	2
Las Vegas Raiders	2
New England Patriots	2
New York Giants	2
Tampa Bay Buccaneers	2
Washington Commanders	2
Chicago Bears	1
Cleveland Browns	1
Houston Texans	1
Minnesota Vikings	1
New Orleans Saints	1