2025 Free Agency

supafreak84 wrote:

Well that's just it, I think we are all tired of "mid tier solutions" that never end up being solutions when it comes to the offensive line. That strategy hasn't worked for us. We aren't competing with Philly, Detroit, or even the Rams by trying to tinker on the cheap. Spend the money and fix the problem.

MaroonBells wrote:

Love Williams, but I wish he were a little better against the run.

Depending on the year you look at, he was.

Knucklehead wrote:

That's it right there. There is a concern that Williams largely benefited from the amount of talent on the Philly DL.

You do make a great point that given how hard Kwesi went after Christian Wilkins last offseason, Williams or another IDL could be a priority signing this year.

Not happy losing on Wilkins last year...I think that would have made an even bigger diff with Gink/Greenard. 

As far as the talent on the DL, few teams field what Philly does. I just dont see that as rationale not to potentially pursue Williams. 

The Vikes will have to set their priorities. All the needs wont get addressed in FA, just doesn't happen. From a personnel grouping need, I would list priorities as DB, IOL then DL.

https://ftw.usatoday.com/lists/top-nfl-free-agents-2025-tee-higgins-daniel-jones

We have 9 of the top 101 free agents according to usatoday.

Reports are the Vikings could release Josh Oliver with a post June 1st designation and save 8 million in cap.

I never really understood this signing and imagine we can fill his production with a cheaper contract.

The #Vikings could create an additional $14.7 million by cutting Ed Ingram, Brian Asamoah, and extending C.J. Ham, Josh Metellus, and Josh Oliver.

These moves would give Minnesota $78,110,749 in effective cap space, which would be the 4th most in the NFL.pic.twitter.com/VujAquo1ox https://t.co/50OkU9Jyjz

— 𝑻𝒚𝒍𝒆𝒓 𝑰𝒓𝒆𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅 🍀 (@TylerTalksBall) February 19, 2025

Restructure Hock. Get us over $82 or so million.

JustInTime wrote:
Restructure Hock. Get us over $82 or so million.

I keep hearing about Hock as a restructure target, and maybe he is, but he was restructured in September. Not sure how much flexibility is left in that contract.

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/2025-nfl-free-agency-primer-projected-free-agents-top-needs-cap-space-for-all-32-teams-this-offseason/

StickierBuns wrote:

I wouldn't if I were Hock. Minnesota has other restructure targets. Hock will be 100% healthy and I expect a big bounce back year.

Why not? If I get more dollars now, there's literally no downside. Time value of $$$$.

Some pretty logical pairings here IMO.

https://drafthuddle.com/2025/draft-round/first-round/nfl-qb-carousel-predictions-2025/

Cleveland Browns —Kirk Cousins & Jaxson Dart
Cousins played for Kevin Stefanski in 2018 and 2019 with the Vikings before Stefanski took the big job in Cleveland. He’ll be an affordable commodity — for the first time ever — this offseason when the Atlanta Falcons finally release him. He’ll sign in Cleveland for cheap while the Browns also scoop Jaxson Dart after Round 1.

Indianapolis Colts —Aaron Rodgers
Colts owner Jim Irsay said earlier in the offseason that Anthony Richardson may not enter 2025 as the sole QB1 solution. So, insert Rodgers. The Colts employ a fairly decent roster to effectuate a playoff push in 2025, which Rodgers will have as a personal prerequisite. Richardson can watch and learn for one more year, with Rodgers conducting his final hurrah.

Las Vegas Raiders —Russell Wilson & Quinn Ewers
Russell Wilson has to go somewhere, and why not have a reunion with Pete Carroll, the new boss in Las Vegas? The Raiders need a QB1, RB1, and WR1 this offseason, meaning they can hang onto their draft picks and choose playmakers to complement Wilson. In Round 3 or so, Las Vegas will take a flyer on Ewers to marinate behind Wilson for a year.

Los  Angeles Rams —Sam Darnold
Matthew Stafford will be traded to a different team on this list in the next couple of weeks or months, leaving the Rams’ QB1 job vacant. Free-agent-to-be Sam Darnold would absolutely thrive in Los Angeles, not skipping a beat from Kevin O’Connell’s offense to Sean McVay’s. Darnold can continue his “Baker Mayfield reclamation” story with McVay. It’s tailor-made.

New York Giants —Shedeur Sanders
The Giants will trade up the board to No. 2 in a deal with the Browns. Joe Schoen and Brian Daboll must win now, and Sanders should be somewhat game-ready in 2025. It’s Shedeur Sanders and Malik Nabers in New York for at least the next four years. Too bad Saquon Barkley skedaddled.

New York Jets —Justin Fields & Jalen Milroe
New York will be somewhat left out in the cold compared to other carousel participants, but it will snag Milroe in Round 2 or so. Jets front office advisor Rick Spielman had his eyes on Justin Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft when he worked for the Vikings. He’ll get his man this time. The Jets will feature the Fields-Milroe combo and may the best man win the summer quarterback competition.

Pittsburgh Steelers —Matthew Stafford
Pittsburgh will send a 2nd- or 3rd-Round draft pick to the Rams for Stafford’s services. Los Angeles will turn around and sign Sam Darnold, detailed above. Mike Tomlin and friends will have two or three seasons to win it all with Stafford before he hits the age-40 hump.

Tennessee Titans —Cam Ward
Perhaps the least exciting or conspiratorial on the list, Tennessee will draft Ward with the first overall pick, and that’ll be that. Pondering anything else for the Titans’ pick seems like overthinking. Tennessee could also trade Will Levis to the highest bidder.

MaroonBells wrote:
Some pretty logical pairings here IMO.

https://drafthuddle.com/2025/draft-round/first-round/nfl-qb-carousel-predictions-2025/

Cleveland Browns —Kirk Cousins & Jaxson Dart
Cousins played for Kevin Stefanski in 2018 and 2019 with the Vikings before Stefanski took the big job in Cleveland. He’ll be an affordable commodity — for the first time ever — this offseason when the Atlanta Falcons finally release him. He’ll sign in Cleveland for cheap while the Browns also scoop Jaxson Dart after Round 1.

That pairing makes a lot of sense. I thought we had an opportunity to trade Cousins to Cleveland a couple years ago for draft picks and in hindsight that would have been an astute move. In typical Viking fashion we held on to him too long while playing chicken every offseason with his agent. I'm beyond ecstatic to finally be off that rollercoaster. I've heard Kirk to Cleveland several times this offseason

MaroonBells wrote:
Some pretty logical pairings here IMO.

https://drafthuddle.com/2025/draft-round/first-round/nfl-qb-carousel-predictions-2025/

Tennessee Titans —Cam Ward
Perhaps the least exciting or conspiratorial on the list, Tennessee will draft Ward with the first overall pick, and that’ll be that. Pondering anything else for the Titans’ pick seems like overthinking. Tennessee could also trade Will Levis to the highest bidder.

Levis to the highest bidder? A small fry and 6-piece chicken nugget that they open and it only has 5 in it?

I have Ward going 3 to Gmen with Titans making Abdul Carter #1 and Cleveland taking Hunter at 2 after signing a FA Qb. Thats a hell of a DL Titans would field.

KC to Cleveland makes a bunch of sense in so many ways. Can they make the cap work??? I suspect there would be a lot of dead $ to eat with Watson getting booted to the curb.

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6119321/2025/02/24/nfl-2025-free-agent-rankings-best-available/?source=user_shared_article

I've been reading about this free agency class for the last few days and it's making me even more fired up for the NFL Scouting Combine. Not a lot of excitement on the used car lot this year. It's a good year to buy new.

— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 24, 2025

DJ is poaching me…again.

StickierBuns wrote:

Overpaying for mid-range talent will be at an all-time high next month. Bad year to have a lot of cap room.

I’ll say it again, louder for those in back, Trey Smith will be getting OT money. Not a hot take but one based in history.

JustInTime wrote:

I’ll say it again, louder for those in back, Trey Smith will be getting OT money. Not a hot take but one based in history.

It will be OT money....until the next OT comes due....who will get QB money...until the next QB comes due...and so on and so on. Prefer to diversify our spending than spend the biggest chunk of it on the least impactful position in football.

StickierBuns wrote:

I'm not sure about that. Watching very little run game and inside pressure against the QB all year, I'll take IOL for $800, Alex.

Yeah, we're definitely in need of a serious upgrade there. Not saying it's not important. Just that it's not AS important as positions like WR, CB, DT, OT, C, and on down the list. In fact, I'll dig it up if I can find it, but a few years ago, someone did a study and ranked positions by importance or impact on the outcome of a game. Guard ranked ahead of only nose tackle in terms of importance. Obviously scheme changes this for some teams, and some positions (RB for example)--evolve based on trends.

Byron Murphy reportedly will not take a "hometown discount" and is looking for a contract that pays him between $19 and $21 million per year annually.

supafreak84 wrote:
Byron Murphy reportedly will not take a "hometown discount" and is looking for a contract that pays him between $19 and $21 million per year annually.

See you later!!! Will get paid like a 1 and perform like a 3. I believe he is your definition of a FA bust capitalizing on a one year wonder big INT year.