7 cheap free agents that make sense for the Vikings in 2023

Eric Rowe – S

2022 Team: Miami Dolphins

Safety is not the Vikings’ most pressing need, with Harrison Smith, Lewis Cine, Camryn Bynum, and Josh Metellus currently signed through 2023. But a team can never have too many solid safeties on their roster.

With Cine recovering from a season-ending injury and Smith – one of the defense’s perennial leaders over the last decade – not getting any younger, a low-cost, plug-and-play safety like former Dolphin and two-time Super Bowl champion Eric Rowe could prove to be a good insurance policy for injuries, or if Cine continues to develop at a slow rate.

Playing in exactly 100 NFL games, Rowe has managed five interceptions, and 41 pass breakups, with six forced fumbles in his career. Over The Cap has Rowe valued at $876k, which is just above the league minimum and, therefore, attractive.

Johnathan Abram and Keanu Neal are also cheap free-agent safety options valued below $2 million dollars for Minnesota, though each has struggled to find a home in recent years, and both lack the versatility that Rowe possesses.