What players did the Minnesota Vikings add and say goodbye to on the unofficial first day of the NFL’s 2023 free agency period?
It has already been an eventful offseason for the Minnesota Vikings, but things got even more intriguing on Monday when the team participated in the first unofficial day of the NFL’s 2023 free agency period.
Starting at 11 a.m. central time on Monday, every team around the NFL was allowed to “contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2022 player contracts at 4:00 p.m., New York time, on March 15,” according to the NFL’s official football operations website.
Once teams were able to begin negotiations on Monday, it didn’t take long for the offers to start pouring in. Now, none of the reported agreements around the league can become official until 3 p.m. central time on Wednesday, so things could still potentially change until the ink dries on the actual contracts.
When it came to the Vikings on Monday, they were able to come to a couple of agreements with a pair of new players that should be able to help them in 2023. However, Minnesota also saw four of their defensive starters from Week 1 of the 2022 season end up with new teams on Monday.
So on the first unofficial day of the NFL’s 2023 free agency period, which players did Minnesota add, which players did they part with, and what are some of the most interesting Vikings-related rumors heading into Day 2?
Signings – Day 1
Marcus Davenport – EDGE
- 2022 Team: New Orleans Saints
- Contract: 1 year, $13 million
Getting free-agent pass rusher Marcus Davenport to agree to a deal was easily the biggest splash the Vikings made on Monday.
Davenport, a first-round pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, has spent all five of his seasons in the NFL with the Saints. In 2023, he’ll get to chase after opposing quarterbacks in a Minnesota uniform under the guidance of new Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
In 2022, Davenport only finished with 0.5 sacks in 15 games with New Orleans. However, he also finished with the 26th-best defensive grade from PFF among edge defenders last season, and he accumulated 34 pressures during his time on the field with the Saints in 2022.
For a guy that is still just 26-years-old, Davenport is a great pass rusher for the Vikings to take a chance on as they look to improve their defense next season.
Josh Oliver – TE
- 2022 Team: Baltimore Ravens
- Contract: 3 years, $21 million
Minnesota’s first reported new offensive addition of the 2023 offseason is a tight end in Josh Oliver who has a total of just 46 catches in his three-year NFL career.
But that doesn’t seem to be why the Vikings pursued Oliver. The former Ravens tight end excelled as a run blocker in 2022, finishing with the second-best run-blocking grade from PFF among qualifying tight ends.
Minnesota wants to be more efficient with their rushing attack next season and adding someone like Oliver seems like it should help them take a step in that direction.
Departures – Day 1
Patrick Peterson – CB
- New Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Contract: 2 years, $14 million
After two seasons with the Vikings, veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson is taking his talents to the AFC for the first time in his NFL career as a member of the Steelers.
Peterson revealed on his “All Things Covered” podcast on Monday that he wanted to re-sign with Minnesota, but they just weren’t able to reach a deal that the All-Pro defensive back was satisfied with.
Eric Kendricks – LB
- New Team: Los Angeles Chargers
- Contract: 2 years
In a world full of insiders and scoop-masters, former Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks was the one to break the news of his new NFL home on Monday when he shared a post on his Instagram account that revealed he intends to sign with the Chargers.
Kendricks, who spent his college career at UCLA, gets to return to his home state of California for what could potentially be his final seasons in the league.
Dalvin Tomlinson – DL
- New Team: Cleveland Browns
- Contract: 4 years, $57 million
Once the contract details of Dalvin Tomlinson’s agreement with the Browns were revealed on Monday, it wasn’t hard to understand why Minnesota was unable to re-sign him this offseason.
The Vikings just don’t have the kind of cap space this year to outbid the lucrative offer Cleveland presented to Tomlinson. So the veteran defensive lineman is heading to the AFC North after spending his last two years in the NFL with Minnesota.
Cameron Dantzler – CB (claimed on waivers)
- New Team: Washington Commanders
Waived by the Vikings last Friday, the fourth-year cornerback was claimed by the Commanders on Monday. Dantzler will now get an opportunity to play for a talented Washington defense that ranked seventh in the league in points allowed last season.
Vikings Free Agency Rumors – Day 1
Vikings expected to move on from Za’Darius Smith
The agreement with free-agent pass rusher Marcus Davenport seemed like a dead giveaway, but NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo confirmed on Monday that the Vikings are “set to move on” from edge rusher Za’Darius Smith this offseason.
Smith led Minnesota in pressures in 2022, but a trade or a release this year will free up more than $12 million in much-needed cap space for the Vikings.
Two teams have called about Dalvin Cook
There have been multiple rumors about Minnesota looking to send running back Dalvin Cook elsewhere this offseason, and on Monday, we found out that a couple of teams have shown interest.
According to KSTP’s Darren Wolfson, both the Atlanta Falcons and Miami Dolphins have contacted the Vikings recently about a possible deal for Cook. So could we possibly see a trade involving the running back happen before the end of the week?
Vikings showing interest in free-agent cornerbacks
In addition to the trade info about Cook, Wolfson also revealed on Monday that the Vikings have been targeting a few free-agent cornerbacks this offseason.
With the recent departures of Patrick Peterson and Cam Dantzler, this makes even more sense for Minnesota this year. Byron Murphy and Sean Murphy-Bunting are two of the free-agent corners that the Vikings have shown interest in this offseason, according to Wolfson.