2025 Free Agency

StickierBuns wrote:
Not in love with this free agency class, quite honestly.

The pool of available players will increase as teams release players to get under the cap or make more cap $ available.

It's off the table. You can't argue he might get $20M from a team in need of a left tackle in one breath and then say returning to the Vikings isn't "off the table" in the next. He may not get $20M, but he'll get left tackle money to play left tackle, something that Vikings can't offer.

LT Cam Robinson could potentially earn $20M+ annually from a team looking for LT help this offseason, according to @JFowlerESPN. The Los Angeles and Kansas City are 2 potential suitors, and a reunion with Minnesota “isn’t totally off the table.”

“Robinson quite possibly played… pic.twitter.com/xIBCiTUimv

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) January 29, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:
It's off the table. You can't argue he might get $20M from a team in need of a left tackle in one breath and then say returning to the Vikings isn't "off the table" in the next. He may not get $20M, but he'll get left tackle money to play left tackle, something that Vikings can't offer.

Agreed...

Even if CD isnt ready for camp or even start of season, I cant see it happening. They'll shift the OL around first. Not ideal by any means.

Seek immediate medical help if you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours...

"I've heard steam that the Vikings are telling players we have cap space to play with... that we're going to use it to help build the roster and build this team up into a monster" ?
@PhilMackey about the #Vikings message to players

MaroonBells wrote:
Seek immediate medical help if you experience an erection lasting more than 4 hours...

"I've heard steam that the Vikings are telling players we have cap space to play with... that we're going to use it to help build the roster and build this team up into a monster" ?
@PhilMackey about the #Vikings message to players

Lol...

14/3 is something I am still wrapping my head around. It doesnt make-up for 1 and done, but it's a bit of a salve, least for me. 

If they can start getting a better pass rush with 4 lineman + a better running game? Then I think they are in much better position for post season wins. 

Not there yet, but hopefully this off-season is as impactful as last years was.

purplefaithful wrote:

Lol...

14/3 is something I am still wrapping my head around. It doesnt make-up for 1 and done, but it's a bit of a salve, least for me. 

If they can start getting a better pass rush with 4 lineman + a better running game? Then I think they are in much better position for post season wins. 

Not there yet, but hopefully this off-season is as impactful as last years was.

Agree, this free agency class will be a big tell on Kwesi. Did he just get lucky last year? That was the best free agency class in our history, and no other year even comes close. Especially when you consider we were eating $30M in Kirko dead money. 

If he can do it again, this time with $70M in his wallet, then they really could build a monster. 

We're going to have to get a little lucky though in terms of the right free agents becoming available. I feel pretty confident that with the money we have, and the well-known culture we've built, the Vikings will fare well in competition for free agents. But we also have to remember that half of these guys are going to re-up with their current teams.

Dan Graziano at ESPN just did an article on free agency. Of note;

- predicts Darnold to land a 3-year, 120 million dollar contract with 75 million guaranteed. Thinks franchise tagging to trade him will be difficult because another team is likely to offer him more.

- predicts Trey Smith to land a 5-year, 105 million dollar contract with 65 million guaranteed. That deal would tie him for first amongst average guard salaries.

supafreak84 wrote:
Dan Graziano at ESPN just did an article on free agency. Of note;

- predicts Darnold to land a 3-year, 120 million dollar contract with 75 million guaranteed. Thinks franchise tagging to trade him will be difficult because another team is likely to offer him more.

- predicts Trey Smith to land a 5-year, 105 million dollar contract with 65 million guaranteed. That deal would tie him for first amongst average guard salaries.

I think he's right...

supafreak84 wrote:
Dan Graziano at ESPN just did an article on free agency. Of note;

- predicts Darnold to land a 3-year, 120 million dollar contract with 75 million guaranteed. Thinks franchise tagging to trade him will be difficult because another team is likely to offer him more.

- predicts Trey Smith to land a 5-year, 105 million dollar contract with 65 million guaranteed. That deal would tie him for first amongst average guard salaries.

I do that deal if I am KAM.  In a blink.  26 year old,  played in big games,  never missed a start.  Yep!

JimmyinSD wrote:

I do that deal if I am KAM.  In a blink.  26 year old,  played in big games,  never missed a start.  Yep!

20 Mil a year? That is steep. I mean its on par with what we paid Hutchingson with the poison pill trade. In the sense of percentage of cap space used that is. I think we could get just as much production for a little less in FA IMO.

Canthony wrote:

20 Mil a year? That is steep. I mean its on par with what we paid Hutchingson with the poison pill trade. In the sense of percentage of cap space used that is. I think we could get just as much production for a little less in FA IMO.

You hate to spend that kind of money on a freaking guard, but I think the Vikings have to be in on him. You just don't know if you might miss on a couple of the others. That said, if we can get two IOLs for the price of Smith I might prefer to do that. 

And don't forget the Vikings are already paying Darrisaw and O'Neill big money. I'm not sure a big, long-term contract makes a lot of sense at guard. Also, I think there is a pretty sizable distance between what would be recognized as an "upgrade" and the kind of money we're going to have to pay Smith.

MaroonBells wrote:

You hate to spend that kind of money on a freaking guard, but I think the Vikings have to be in on him. You just don't know if you might miss on a couple of the others. That said, if we can get two IOLs for the price of Smith I might prefer to do that. 

And don't forget the Vikings are already paying Darrisaw and O'Neill big money. I'm not sure a big, long-term contract makes a lot of sense at guard. Also, I think there is a pretty sizable distance between what would be recognized as an "upgrade" and the kind of money we're going to have to pay Smith.

I agree, and I also believe that there are some G's this year coming out of the draft that could start week 1. I know you have to be in on Smith, but that is a load of money for that position. We have to come away with one G in FA. That is a must. Who you spend the money on is the story. 

I want to go all in on Fries. Off an injury that shouldn't hinder him long term. Broken leg is much different than an ACL or ligament injury for that position. His height at 6'6 is a bit taller than I would like, but with that injury I think we should focus on him in FA.

Canthony wrote:

I agree, and I also believe that there are some G's this year coming out of the draft that could start week 1. I know you have to be in on Smith, but that is a load of money for that position. We have to come away with one G in FA. That is a must. Who you spend the money on is the story. 

I want to go all in on Fries. Off an injury that shouldn't hinder him long term. Broken leg is much different than an ACL or ligament injury for that position. His height at 6'6 is a bit taller than I would like, but with that injury I think we should focus on him in FA.

I think I'd prefer Fries too. He actually grades better than Smith.  The Colts have plenty of cap space and I've read that Fries is a guy they want to keep. BUT.... the Colts have $20M/year Quenton Nelson on the other side and Ryan Kelly at center, who is also a free agent. They may have to decide between Kelly and Fries.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think I'd prefer Fries too. He actually grades better than Smith.  The Colts have plenty of cap space and I've read that Fries is a guy they want to keep. BUT.... the Colts have $20M/year Quenton Nelson on the other side and Ryan Kelly at center, who is also a free agent. They may have to decide between Kelly and Fries.

I would be in on either Fries or Kelly. For some reason I think they will keep Kelly if it came down to those two.

A little surprised Spotrac is estimating Bynum at a higher salary than Holland, but their numbers and grades are remarkably similar. 

If you’re the #Vikings, which option would you go with:

Option A: Re-sign S Cam Bynum to a multi year deal, with an average yearly salary of $17.7M.

Option B: Sign S Jevon Holland to a multi year deal, with an average yearly salary of $15.1M.

Numbers taken per @spotrac pic.twitter.com/ebRAmWBykt

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) February 6, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:
A little surprised Spotrac is estimating Bynum at a higher salary than Holland, but their numbers and grades are remarkably similar. 

If you’re the #Vikings, which option would you go with:

Option A: Re-sign S Cam Bynum to a multi year deal, with an average yearly salary of $17.7M.

Option B: Sign S Jevon Holland to a multi year deal, with an average yearly salary of $15.1M.

Numbers taken per @spotrac pic.twitter.com/ebRAmWBykt

— VikingzFanPage (@vikingzfanpage) February 6, 2025

If I were to pay that money, I would rather pay it to Holland. THe issue is there, it would be easier to obtain Bynum being that he played for us. There is no guarantee that Holland would want to play here. WIth that said, Flores did draft Holland. So, I will assume that we would sign Holland if there was mutual interest.

Canthony wrote:

If I were to pay that money, I would rather pay it to Holland. THe issue is there, it would be easier to obtain Bynum being that he played for us. There is no guarantee that Holland would want to play here. WIth that said, Flores did draft Holland. So, I will assume that we would sign Holland if there was mutual interest.

There's also the culture issue. I know nothing about Holland's character, but I know Bynum is popular in the community and locker room. Now, if there were a big difference in talent, that might not factor in, but their numbers are remarkably similar. Bynum is better in coverage, but Holland is a better blitzer. Holland is also a good year and a half younger. That might actually be the most significant factor.

MaroonBells wrote:

There's also the culture issue. I know nothing about Holland's character, but I know Bynum is popular in the community and locker room. Now, if there were a big difference in talent, that might not factor in, but their numbers are remarkably similar. Bynum is better in coverage, but Holland is a better blitzer. Holland is also a good year and a half younger. That might actually be the most significant factor.

Give me Moooooooviiiiiiiie for similar money.

KOC on the radio today stated that he'd love to have Aaron Jones back in Minnesota next season. The RB spot is going to be one of the more interesting positions to monitor for the Vikings this offseason

supafreak84 wrote:
KOC on the radio today stated that he'd love to have Aaron Jones back in Minnesota next season. The RB spot is going to be one of the more interesting positions to monitor for the Vikings this offseason

Jones > Mattison

Koc luvs Jones > I do