5 free agents who could fill immediate needs for the Vikings in 2022
By Dean Jones
David Njoku – TE
This would obviously depend on how Irv Smith Jr. is recovering from a serious meniscus injury that ruled him out for the entire 2021 season. But even though Tyler Conklin did flash some promise last time around, it might be worth the Minnesota Vikings acquiring another talented tight end to further assist in the passing game.
At the moment, there could be some hugely productive players set to hit the market. Although that will obviously change when extensions are agreed and even tags slapped on some veterans to prevent them from testing the market.
One individual who could be a hot commodity is David Njoku. The former first-round pick has dealt with some injury problems throughout his career, but there are few better at catching the ball at its highest point and this is something the Vikings undoubtedly missed without Smith or Kyle Rudolph in the lineup last season.
Njoku’s opportunities were somewhat limited on the Cleveland Browns in 2021 thanks to their run-first offense, Baker Mayfield’s struggles, and others demanding the lion’s share of targets. There was talk of a potential trade before the deadline which didn’t materialize, so the player might welcome the opportunity of additional involvement elsewhere.
The Vikings haven’t given up on Smith just yet. However, Njoku could be an upgrade if the money is right for all parties.