Few NFL teams will have more work to do during 2024 free agency than the Minnesota Vikings, who have their starting quarterback and a top-tier pass rusher hitting the market.
Oh, and the Vikings will also be trying to hammer out an extension with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, who likely wants to become the league’s highest-paid non-quarterback.
As general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell ponder their offseason agendas, which internal free agents will the Vikings consider re-signing in 2024?
Let’s run through Minnesota’s top decision points, beginning with arguably the most fascinating free agent on next year’s market.
Who Are the Minnesota Vikings’ Upcoming Free Agents?
QB Kirk Cousins
Kirk Cousins has played the NFL free agent game better than almost anyone in league history, leveraging consecutive franchise tags with the Washington Commanders into a fully guaranteed free agent deal with the Vikings in 2018. Only 10 players in the history of the sport have made more money than Cousins.
A torn Achilles in week 8 ended what had been one of the best seasons of Cousins’ career and complicated his upcoming free agency. A 35-year-old coming off a significant injury will give some teams pause, but Cousins is the best signal-caller on the market.
The Vikings can’t franchise tag Cousins, so they’ll likely need to give him fair market value to keep him in town. Given the league’s ever-growing quarterback market, a two-year, $80 million deal shouldn’t be out of the question.
EDGEs Danielle Hunter
The Vikings received plenty of interest in Danielle Hunter before the Oct. 31 trade deadline but ultimately held onto the veteran pass rusher, who finished fifth in the NFL with 16.5 sacks.
While Hunter has outperformed his underlying metrics, he still ranked 21st in pass-rush win rate and 27th in pressure rate, per PFF and Sports Info Solutions. And despite having played nine NFL seasons, Hunter won’t be 30 years old when free agency opens next spring.
Hunter should get paid next offseason, but his run with the Vikings could be nearing its end. While Minnesota has repeatedly reworked his contract to move money into current seasons, the team has been reticent to extend Hunter on a multi-year deal.
That’s probably fine by Hunter, who put up numbers at the right time and could now find $20 million annually on the open market.
WR K.J. Osborn
K.J. Osborn is a capable third receiver, and that’s worth somewhere between $8 million and $11 million in free agency. He’s posted at least 45 catches, 500 yards, and three touchdowns in each of the past three seasons.
A return to the Vikings seems unlikely, given that Minnesota might be paying Jefferson more than $30 million per year and invested a 2023 first-round pick in Jordan Addison. But Osborn shouldn’t have any trouble finding a new home.
Other Vikings 2024 Free Agents
- QB Josh Dobbs
- RB Cam Akers (restricted free agent)
- WR Brandon Powell
- TE Johnny Mundt
- OT Hakeem Adeniji
- OT Blake Brandel (RFA)
- OT David Quessenberry
- OT Oli Udoh
- G Chris Reed
- G Dalton Risner
- G Austin Schlottmann
- EDGE Marcus Davenport
- EDGE D.J. Wonnum
- DT Jonathan Bullard
- DT Sheldon Day
- DT James Lynch
- DT Khyiris Tonga (RFA)
- LB Anthony Barr
- LB Troy Dye
- LB Jordan Hicks
- LB Nick Vigil
- K Greg Joseph
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