Which 2021 free agents would be amazing additions to the Minnesota Vikings?
For a team that didn’t qualify for the playoffs in the 2020 season, the Minnesota Vikings don’t have a ton of glaring needs this year.
The Vikings need to improve the overall depth of their roster before the 2021 campaign. But with all of the guys they have coming back from injury, a bunch of their needs are expected to be filled with these returning players.
Still, Minnesota will need to eventually turn to free agency to fill some of the remaining holes on their roster. The Vikings aren’t expected to have very much cap space this year, so they probably won’t be able to add any of the high-priced free agents.
But what if the salary cap didn’t exist? What if Minnesota had unlimited funds to spend on whoever they wanted to in order to improve the weakest parts of their roster?
With this in mind, who are some of the free agents the Vikings would target to improve their chances of getting back to the playoffs in 2021?
JuJu Smith-Schuster – WR
- Age: 25
- 2020 Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
The Vikings already have Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen as their top two receivers. But after these two is where things begin to get a bit dicey on Minnesota’s wide receiver depth chart.
Adding JuJu Smith-Schuster to the mix would not only give the Vikings the best trio of receivers in the NFL, but it would also give them a modern-day version of “Three Deep”.
Smith-Schuster is an impressive talent who is coming off of a 2020 season in which he hauled in 97 passes for 831 yards and nine touchdowns. The young receiver would not only be a great weapon to add to Minnesota’s offense, but he would likely make it easier for the Vikings to part ways with Thielen whenever that time comes.
Brandon Scherff – OG
- Age: 29
- 2020 Team: Washington Football Team
It’s no secret that Minnesota is always in need of upgrading their offensive line. Brandon Scherff is someone that Vikings fans have had their eyes on for quite some time now.
Scherff has certainly lived up to his first-round pick status and he’s currently one of the best interior offensive linemen in the entire NFL. Minnesota adding Scherff to their offensive line would definitely make life a little less painful for Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins during each matchup.
Patrick Peterson – CB
- Age: 31
- 2020 Team: Arizona Cardinals
Minnesota’s cornerback group is full of youth with Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, and Mike Hughes all being under the age of 25. What the Vikings really need in their defensive backfield is some experience and leadership.
At 31-years-old, Patrick Peterson can provide both of those. Peterson is not the All-Pro that he used to be, but he still has plenty to offer both on and off of the field. Just think of him assuming the role that Terence Newman had during his recent tenure with Minnesota.
Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB
- Age: 38
- 2020 Team: Miami Dolphins
This whole not having a capable backup quarterback thing needs to stop for the Vikings. Minnesota has been extremely lucky during the last two seasons that Kirk Cousins didn’t get hurt bad enough that it resulted in him missing some games.
If Cousins did have to miss time, the Vikings would’ve had to rely on Sean Mannion to lead them from under center. It’s hard not to scream in pain even when one just thinks about that possibility.
So instead of bringing back Mannion or signing some other terrible quarterback who won’t pose as a threat to Cousins, how about Minnesota adds someone to be their backup signal-caller who has actually thrown a touchdown in his career?
Ryan Fitzpatrick would be a perfect choice to be the Vikings’ new No. 2 quarterback. Fitzpatrick could offer his knowledge from being in the NFL for more than 15 years to Cousins and Minnesota’s stress level could slightly decrease due to them knowing they would have a backup who is actually capable of winning a few games if needed.
Taylor Moton – OT
- Age: 26
- 2020 Team: Carolina Panthers
The Vikings will never ever have enough offensive line help, so there is no reason for them to not try and upgrade at offensive tackle in addition to the interior this offseason.
After just four seasons in the NFL, Taylor Moton will be one of the best young offensive linemen available in free agency this year.
Moton is at his best when he lines up at right tackle, so in order to make this move work, Minnesota would have to shift Brian O’Neill over to left tackle. But don’t worry, the transition shouldn’t be that difficult since O’Neill excelled at left tackle during his college career at Pitt.
Trey Hendrickson – DE
- Age: 26
- 2020 Team: New Orleans Saints
Watching the Vikings defense in 2020 without a pass rush was incredibly strange. Minnesota’s defense under Mike Zimmer has become known as a unit that typically makes life miserable for opposing quarterbacks with their defensive line and this just wasn’t the case this past season.
In addition to getting Danielle Hunter back from injury, the Vikings can add Trey Hendrickson to their roster to be their other starting defensive end. Hendrickson was able to get more snaps on defense in 2020 and he took full advantage of his new opportunities by generating 32 pressures and 13.5 sacks.
Justin Simmons – S
- Age: 27
- 2020 Team: Denver Broncos
Anthony Harris is likely gone this offseason and even if money wasn’t a factor in bringing him back, the Vikings would still be better off upgrading with someone else to be one of their two starting safeties.
Justin Simmons is someone who is expected to be the top safety available in free agency this year. Adding Simmons to their secondary would certainly help Minnesota’s defense quickly get back to being ranked among the NFL’s best.
Plus, Simmons would eventually be able to take over as the Vikings’ top safety whenever Harrison Smith decides to call it a career.
Cordarrelle Patterson – WR/KR
- Age: 29
- 2020 Team: Chicago Bears
Don’t worry, Cordarrelle Patterson is not on here for his skills as a wide receiver. However, the former Minnesota first-round pick should be someone the team has in mind to bring back in 2021 to improve their kick return production.
Patterson was one of the best kick returners in the league during his four years with the Vikings and he’s kept this title in the four seasons since he left the Twin Cities.
4 Vikings players that could be traded during the 2021 offseason
As they look for ways to get back into contention next season, which current Minnesota Vikings players might be dealt in 2021?
For a team in Minnesota that ranked last in the NFL in 2020 in starting field position, adding Patterson this year would be an underrated move that could help the team tremendously.