Minnesota Vikings coaching camp will arrange the remainder of the season, partly by resolving a lot of place battles. The decision of these battles will information the course of the Vikings’ season, however they could additionally arrange some Minnesota 2024 free brokers for giant paydays.
Having gamers earn these sorts of contracts could be large for the Vikings and their long-term prospects as a franchise. It will additionally assist outline what the franchise would possibly appear like going ahead and provides followers a sign about whether or not or not 2024 is a yr they will count on a playoff run or a rebuilding mission.
With that in thoughts, it’s vital to check out which gamers will hit free company for the Vikings in 2024 and who they should flip in an extension-worthy season.
Who Are the Minnesota Vikings’ 2024 Free Brokers?
QB Kirk Cousins (Void)
WR Ok.J. Osborn
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Blake Proehl
WR Trishton Jackson
WR Brandon Powell
TE T.J. Hockenson
TE Johnny Mundt
TE Nick Muse
OT Oli Udoh
OT Blake Brandel
OT Sam Schlueter
G Ezra Cleveland
G Austin Schlottmann
G Chris Reed
C Josh Sokol
EDGE Danielle Hunter (Void)
EDGE Marcus Davenport (Void)
EDGE D.J. Wonnum
EDGE Benton Whitley
EDGE Curtis Weaver
DT Khyiris Tonga
DT Jonathan Bullard
DT Ross Blacklock
DT Sheldon Day
DT James Lynch
DT T.J. Smith
LB Jordan Hicks
LB Troy Dye
LB Troy Reeder
CB Joejuan Williams
CB John Reid
CB Tay Gowan
S Josh Metellus
S Theo Jackson
Ok Greg Joseph
This consists of three gamers whose contracts void, in addition to restricted free brokers and unique rights free brokers.
Which means a great chunk of the group — together with 9 starters – received’t be below contract. Essentially the most impactful ones embody the beginning quarterback, the star edge rusher, and the Professional Bowl tight finish, although shedding a kicker or the opposite beginning edge rusher additionally has a huge impact.
Which Minnesota Vikings 2024 Free Brokers Want To Have a Large 12 months
There are just a few gamers who will possible be prolonged or have their contract conditions in any other case resolved earlier than the top of the 2024 league yr. Danielle Hunter and T.J. Hockenson are nearly actually going to search out some decision for his or her contracts earlier than the yr is up, and the Vikings are in talks with each so as to make that occur.
Kirk Cousins
The Vikings haven’t prolonged Kirk Cousins regardless of a suggestion from the QB’s camp. He’s since indicated that the negotiations between the 2 have been placed on pause, making this a little bit of a make-or-break yr for him. He’s at all times been on the cusp of changing into nice however is extra of a high-floor, low-ceiling quarterback.
The Vikings are within the uncomfortable place of being simply adequate to make the playoffs however not adequate to do something as soon as they’re there. An enormous a part of that’s Cousins, who is an effective sufficient quarterback to maintain them out of competition for drafting a excessive decide on the place. That is likely to be sufficient to half methods, although if Cousins has a giant yr — doubtlessly with playoff wins — they might select to increase him.
Marcus Davenport
The Vikings signed Marcus Davenport to a one-year deal. It’s a little bit of an costly deal, however a number of the cap accounting has been offloaded to 2024 by a void yr. Davenport has good underlying numbers — he has a excessive profession pass-rush win charge and stress charge — however hasn’t put collectively a high-level season as a cross rusher and completed 2022 with half a sack.
His availability points and fluctuating enjoying weight additionally present issues, and Davenport received’t come out of 2024 with a great contract except he produces at a excessive degree.
Ok.J. Osborn
Osborn has had an ideal trajectory. He went from a participant who didn’t even see offensive snaps his rookie yr to an everyday contributor as a 3rd huge receiver for the group. His manufacturing didn’t enhance in his third yr by a significant margin, but it surely could possibly be the case that whereas his abilities developed, the yards weren’t there as a result of it’s not troublesome for gamers to hit cliffs whereas their enchancment seems invisible within the field rating.
Nonetheless, if the Vikings need to subject a group with three high quality receivers, they’ll need to maintain on to a participant like Osborn. If Osborn doesn’t carry out nicely, the 2 would possibly simply half methods as he seeks a greater atmosphere for manufacturing, and so they search for a extra dependable third receiver. His story has been nice, however contracts are about greater than that.
Ezra Cleveland
The Vikings would possibly see Cleveland as precious sufficient to increase with out seeing the extent of the 2023 season. They worth chemistry, and Cleveland is an above-average guard in a league the place it’s been more and more troublesome to search out expertise on the place. However he’s not a pure match there as a former deal with.
The Vikings have had points throughout the inside, and so they might look to improve on the place, particularly as Cleveland will not be nearly as good of a cross protector as he’s a run blocker.
But when he breaks out and has a high-level season as a pass-blocking guard, he might safe a pleasant payday and assist the Vikings set up their offensive line.
Jordan Hicks
The Vikings haven’t seen good play from Jordan Hicks and won’t have good linebacker play in any respect. It’s not a essential place typically, however given the emphasis the Vikings have placed on nickel and dime personnel, linebacker is likely to be extra vital than it often is. Hicks has had wonderful seasons within the NFL, however they’re a bit additional again in his previous than the rest.
If he can flip his large athleticism into high-level linebacker play, the Vikings might resolve the issues they’ve at this place with out having to spend draft capital or costly free agent {dollars} at linebacker. Hicks might flip issues round within the new Brian Flores protection and turn into an asset worthy of an extension.
D.J. Wonnum
Barring a shock yr from one of many backups, the Vikings would not have loads of potential alongside the sting. D.J. Wonnum has been with the group for 4 years however hasn’t impressed. Although he has had some good uncooked statistics, his day-to-day functionality has been a query mark for the group.
He might flip right into a viable third cross rusher — a essential part to many trendy defenses — and be a giant a part of their third-down package deal. That alone would produce near-immediate dividends for the Vikings, and it will permit them to make any edge rusher acquisition in 2024 much more precious.
Khyiris Tonga
The Vikings have made some investments alongside the inside defensive position, however exterior of Harrison Phillips, they haven’t made large strikes. Late-round picks like Esezi Otomewo and Jaquelin Roy have paired with flier free brokers like Dean Lowry and Jonathan Bullard to fill out the unit. Curiously, it was a signing from one other group’s observe squad which may maintain essentially the most promise.
Khyiris Tonga has flashed in video games for the Vikings at nostril deal with and is scheduled to be a restricted free agent. Consequently, Tonga received’t be due for a payday, but when he performs nicely sufficient for the Vikings to supply a second-round tender so as to maintain him, that may be a sign that they’ve one thing in him. Given the dearth of spectacular depth on the place, this could be large for the franchise.