5 free agents who could fill immediate needs for the Vikings in 2022

Jabrill Peppers – S

With Harrison Smith entering the twilight of his career and Xavier Woods out of contract, finding some potential long-term solutions at the safety position should be among the Minnesota Vikings’ top priorities this offseason. This is unlikely to be cheap in free agency, but something those in power could do providing restructures are agreed and sacrifices made elsewhere.

There’s just no telling what Kevin O’Connell and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah could be thinking when it comes to player evaluation. Both have encouraging backgrounds and few could deny a fresh approach wasn’t needed, but what that means for free agents and veteran players remains to be seen.

Although the New York Giants won’t be letting Jabrill Peppers go without a fight, he could be a superb addition to a Vikings defense that is still loaded with talent across the board. Things didn’t go according to plan overall at MetLife Stadium, but the former Michigan star certainly looked the part before suffering an ACL rupture and a high ankle sprain that forced him on season-ending injured/reserve.

Peppers would need to prove that his rehabilitation is going well to get a large financial commitment from the Giants or elsewhere. The Vikings would also be cautious committing a lot of resources to a player that might not be fit enough to start the campaign.

However, Peppers is a top performer at the peak of his powers and someone who would make Minnesota’s defense better from the moment he stepped onto the field.