Free agency began a week ago. The Minnesota Vikings started slowly, then cranked the dial to 10.
They’ve added interior players. They’ve acquired stealthy contributors at plenty of positions. There are still some questions, and none is more important than whom the Vikings add to their quarterback room.
Even though the Vikings still have about $30 million in cap space for 2025, according to Over The Cap, it feels like a good time to take stock of the Vikings roster. What has changed? How are things shaping up?
Here is a position-by-position update:
Quarterback
Potential starter: J.J. McCarthy
Other: Brett Rypien
Last summer, McCarthy excited the Vikings staff with his preseason performance against the Raiders. The Vikings planned to give him more first-team reps during joint practices with the Browns, but McCarthy’s torn meniscus ended his season. He was never likely to start in 2024. The Vikings signed Sam Darnold as a way to keep the pressure off McCarthy until he was absolutely ready for it.
Minnesota viewed Daniel Jones as a Darnold-adjacent player to McCarthy, but Jones joined the Colts in free agency. Nick Mullens also unexpectedly signed with the Jaguars. That leaves the Vikings in a bit of a gray area. Add a QB capable of inspiring confidence for a team configured to compete in the present? Or hand the job to McCarthy with no competition or stopgap in the form of a backup such as Joe Flacco, Ryan Tannehill, Aidan O’Connell or Sam Howell?
Running back/fullback
Potential starters: Aaron Jones, C.J. Ham
Others: Jordan Mason, Ty Chandler, Zavier Scott
The significant development here is the addition of Mason. Minnesota prefers a platoon. Pairing Jones, an explosive and versatile back, with Mason, who can be a downhill thumper, should help maximize the production of both. Mason’s youth gives the team a potential running back of the future.
Possessing both also prevents any draft desperation. The Vikings like multiple running backs in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they did not want to have to reach to select any of them. They can be selective, knowing any potential draftee will join a room structured perfectly for minimal first-year pressure.
This move — and pairing Jordan Mason with Aaron Jones — doesn’t eliminate team from drafting RB. It does, though, give them max flexibility. Don’t have to force anything if what they’d prefer isn’t there for them. https://t.co/LBnRPZPIuy
— Alec Lewis (@alec_lewis) March 16, 2025
Wide receiver
Potential starters: Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Jalen Nailor
Others: Lucky Jackson, Jeshaun Jones, Thayer Thomas
Will Minnesota sign a receiver who is a known run blocker and/or special teams contributor? The Vikings wanted to re-sign Trent Sherfield Sr., who accepted a two-year deal with the Broncos. Jefferson, Addison and Nailor are willing blockers. However, none of the three provides much advantage in the ground game. Nor do they make sense as returners.
Last week, the Vikings brought in former Falcons receiver Rondale Moore for a visit, but Moore is still recovering from a season-ending knee injury. Plenty of run-blocking/return options remain available.
Tight end
Potential starters: T.J. Hockenson, Josh Oliver
Wanted: depth. The Vikings did not anticipate losing tight end Johnny Mundt in free agency to the Jaguars. He wasn’t flashy, but he was reliable.
The 2025 season will be massive for Hockenson, whose contract becomes less definitive in future seasons. Oliver continues to be an extension candidate. The Vikings value his presence as an in-line run blocker. Confidence in those two won’t sway Minnesota from adding another player here, potentially even via the draft in a well-regarded tight end class.
Offensive line
Potential starters: Christian Darrisaw, Blake Brandel, Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Brian O’Neill
Others: Walter Rouse, Michael Jurgens, Justin Skule, Garrett Bradbury, Trevor Reid, Henry Byrd, Marcellus Johnson, Leroy Watson
Darrisaw underwent surgery to repair his torn ACL in November. Ten months removed from that point is September. If he’s not ready, the Vikings will turn to Skule, a 28-year-old who filled in admirably last year in Tampa Bay.
Elsewhere, Brandel is not a shoo-in at left guard. Rouse could move over. The Vikings could also draft an interior player. Bradbury is still a release candidate, and while this position group is revamped, health will be critical across the board.
Interior defensive line
Potential starters: Jonathan Allen, Javon Hargrave, Harrison Phillips
Others: Jalen Redmond, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Taki Taimani, Jonathan Harris, Travis Bell
What happens when you go from Jerry Tillery and Jonathan Bullard to Allen and Hargrave? We’ll find out this fall. Availability will be critical here, too, but the Vikings’ interior pass rush has the chance to improve significantly.
Phillips is a trusted run defender who will play a meaningful role in short-yardage situations, but the Vikings might use a much higher rate of four-man fronts. How Redmond, Rodriguez and Taimani have improved after a season will be worthwhile questions to ask come training camp.
To summarize: Few, if any, of the Vikings’ positions are more improved on paper.
Edge rusher
Potential starters: Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, Dallas Turner
Others: Gabriel Murphy, Bo Richter
How about this luxury? The Raiders are paying Maxx Crosby about $35.5 million in 2025. Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner cost less than that combined. Expecting the first two to duplicate their impressive 2024 seasons would be faulty, but Turner will likely receive more playing time and opportunity. Also, improvement from the interior pass rush should strengthen what Greenard, Van Ginkel and Turner can do on the edge.
The Vikings could benefit from another big body at this spot — a player with a locker room presence like Jihad Ward from last season — but it’s another exceptional group.
Linebacker
Potential starters: Blake Cashman, Ivan Pace Jr.
Others: Eric Wilson, Brian Asamoah II, Max Tooley
Bringing back Wilson was a priority. First, he is a special teams ace, and in the Vikings’ reflections on last season, they wanted to enhance the talent on Matt Daniels’ unit. Second, Wilson filled in admirably in Green Bay.
Cashman and Pace are the surefire starters. Injuries have plagued both in recent years. Wilson’s experience gives the communication hub of the Vikings defense more insurance to manage the 17-game season.
Cornerback
Potential starters: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Mekhi Blackmon
Others: Dwight McGlothern, Nahshon Wright, Reddy Steward, Ambry Thomas, NaJee Thompson, Kahlef Hailassie
Cornerback is one of the more interesting positions on the roster. Murphy is experienced and trustworthy, but the others are question marks. The Vikings staff pinpointed Rodgers as a potential high-upside signing. He’s slight, though, and so is Blackmon, who is coming off a torn ACL.
Expect a healthy competition here involving McGlothern and even potentially Jeff Okudah, whom the Vikings have had their eyes on. Okudah has had an up-and-down beginning to his career since the Lions drafted him with the No. 3 pick in 2020. His man coverage ability and physicality would make for some fun matchups with Jefferson and Addison during training camp.
Safety
Potential starters: Harrison Smith, Joshua Metellus, Theo Jackson
Others: Jay Ward, Tavierre Thomas, Bubba Bolden
The staff and players have felt strongly about Jackson for years. He impresses in practice and throughout training camp when the team gives him meaningful reps. He’ll likely have many of them this fall, occupying the deep safety spot next to Smith. Flores prefers Metellus in his versatile, in-and-around-the-box role. The Vikings would like Ward to spend more time with the defense this year, and Thomas’ addition should support that plan as he is an exceptional gunner.
Specialists
Potential starters: Will Reichard, K; Ryan Wright, P; Andrew DePaola, LS
There aren’t any changes here … for now. The Vikings won’t be shy about seeking competition for Wright in the draft or among the undrafted free agents. DePaola’s consistency speaks for itself, and Minnesota believes Reichard will thrive this spring after an eventful rookie season.
(Photo of Andrew Van Ginkel: Brace Hemmelgarn / Getty Images)
