8 remaining free agents the Vikings can sign for the 2022 season
By Adam Patrick
Za’Darius Smith – LB
2021 Team: Green Bay Packers
After it appeared that Za’Darius Smith was going to sign with the Baltimore Ravens, it was reported on Thursday that the veteran pass rusher did not sign a contract with Baltimore, and he is still a free agent.
With the Vikings switching to a 3-4 defensive alignment for next season, signing Smith would make the transition a lot easier. There have been some rumblings that Minnesota is interested in the former Packers pass rusher, which shouldn’t be too surprising since his position coach in Green Bay, Mike Smith, is now the outside linebackers coach/pass rush specialist for the Vikings.
J.C. Tretter – C
2021 Team: Cleveland Browns
It’s very clear to just about everyone that Minnesota needs to find someone other than Garrett Bradbury to be their starting center. Bradbury just hasn’t lived up to the expectations he was given when he was selected by the Vikings in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and it’s time for the team to find someone new to snap the ball to Kirk Cousins.
J.C. Tretter was recently released by the Browns and it didn’t seem like his departure was performance-based. With Cleveland last season, PFF graded Tretter as the sixth-best center in the league and they also gave him the second-best pass-blocking grade among centers.