7 free-agent safeties the Vikings could sign in 2023
By Luke Parrish
Which free-agent safeties could the Minnesota Vikings sign to help overhaul their defense heading into the 2023 NFL season?
After a nightmare of a season in 2022, the Minnesota Vikings have to clean up the defense. They have already made a significant splash by hiring Brian Flores as the defensive coordinator in an effort to fix a major problem. The next step in the process is to find the right personnel to fit Flores’ scheme.
Minnesota has some veterans under contract next season, but their price tags may lead to some players exiting. Regardless, the Vikings need to make changes and add depth to the secondary prior to the 2023 season, as Harrison Smith – a potential cap casualty – just turned 34 years old.
As of now, the only long-term safety the Vikings have to offer is Lewis Cine, a first-round pick in 2022 that missed most of his rookie season with an injury. The position needs a revamp, and the Vikings will need to be active in free agency.
Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus are both under contract for two more seasons, but they have been far from exceptional. Bynum is perhaps worth keeping around as the third safety to help cover down the field, but Minnesota needs more depth and development at the position.
With the NFL season officially beginning in a few weeks, which free-agent safeties should the Vikings set their sights on?