The Minnesota Vikings enter Super Wild-Card Weekend with one of the NFL’s healthiest and most air-tight rosters, led by six NFC Pro Bowl selections.
That’s a credit to the work GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has done, especially in regards to the team’s recent free agent classes. He’s managed to bring in a number of quality players on short-term contracts, and it’s helped cover for some misses in the draft, especially his mostly failed rookie class from 2022.
The Vikings do, however, have some potential roster landmines, should a key starter get injured during this upcoming playoff run. The offensive line depth is extremely thin, which is why Adofo-Mensah had little choice but to swing a trade after left tackle Christian Darrisaw’s season-ending knee injury in Week 8.
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Minnesota is also weak on the defensive line. The Vikes got gashed by Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions for 139 yards and three touchdowns in Week 18, and 40 of their 49 sacks on the season have come from either EDGE defenders or inside linebackers.
The interior defensive line figures to be a spot the Vikings look to upgrade in 2025, with running back, safety and cornerback also on the list due to the team’s rash of soon-to-be expiring contracts. With that in mind, Matt Holder of Bleacher Report predicts Minnesota will make a bold move in free agency, signing stud defensive tackle Milton Williams away from the Philadelphia Eagles.
Here was Holder’s take on Williams potentially switching from one NFC contender to another:
It seems highly likely that Byron Murphy Jr. and/or Stephon Gilmore will get re-signed ahead of free agency. With that assumption, adding an interior pass-rusher should be Minnesota’s biggest priority in the offseason as the position group could use a boost. Also, Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery and Jihad Ward are impending free agents. Williams should be the club’s top target on the open market. The 25-year-old has five sacks (11.5 in four seasons) and 39 total pressures through Week 17 this season, earning an elite 90.6 pass-rush grade from Pro Football Focus that ranks second at the position.
The Vikings will be an intriguing team to watch when they get to the 2025 offseason. Major decisions on key players like QB Sam Darnold, CB Byron Murphy Jr., RB Aaron Jones, safety Cam Bynum, CB Stephon Gilmore and potentially franchise icon Harrison Smith loom over Monday night’s playoff opener against the Los Angeles Rams. Adofo-Mensah will have to get his own house in order before landing a highly-touted free agent like Williams from an NFC contender.
Eagles GM Howie Roseman will have his own long to-do list, likely starting with Pro Bowl linebacker Zack Baun. Other big contract decisions loom with right guard Mekhi Becton and EDGE Josh Sweat.
An extension for Williams is also very much on the table, but the Lions did Philly no favors by signing Alim McNeill to a $97 million deal over four years this season. The 25-year-old Williams figures to get a bag of money in free agency, and time will tell if that money comes from Philadelphia.
While the majority of Minnesota’s 2024 free agent acquisitions were brought in on short-term deals, there was one ringer: EDGE Jonathan Greenard for four years, $76 million. The former Houston Texans star has been a game-changer with 12 sacks, and it’s feasible the Vikings look to make another big swing in 2025 with the sixth most projected cap space in football.
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