Free agency is waning, but there are still some moves the Minnesota Vikings could make to help improve their roster for the 2023 season.
April is almost here, and the focus of the Minnesota Vikings is sure to turn to the NFL Draft. Before the Vikings completely turn all that attention to the prospects in this year’s class, there are still some moves the team could make in free agency to try and improve the roster, and maybe even add more draft capital.
Minnesota did add some pieces to their defense by bringing in new players like Byron Murphy, Marcus Davenport, and Dean Lowry. The Vikings also brought back a handful of veterans on both sides of the ball but still have plenty of holes remaining.
Minnesota doesn’t have enough draft picks to fill all those needs, so moves could still be made. That could come in the form of more signings, but perhaps they make a view shrewd trades too.
Here are three moves the Vikings could still make in free agency.
Sign another cornerback
The Vikings did well signing Byron Murphy from Arizona. He’s a versatile cover corner who can play inside or out. He’ll definitely be on the outside and will be the Vikings’ number one corner getting paired up against an opponent’s top target.
The issue is who is corner No. 2, and after that is solved, the depth gets very thin very quickly. Corner two right now looks like Andre Booth Jr. He couldn’t stay healthy a season ago and is basically going to be a rookie in 2023.
If he doesn’t pan out, then Akayleb Evans is next man up, and while he showed some flashes, he also had his fair share of concussions last year and missed a handful of games.
Duke Shelley wasn’t retained, so the depth behind those three is contrived of Kalon Barnes, Tay Gowan, and that’s it. Even if the Vikings use a high draft pick on a cornerback, the inexperience at this position is jarring.
Signing another corner should almost be a priority for this team. There are still some attractive options left on the free agent wire.
Rock Ya-Sin, Byron Jones, Marcus Peters, Joejuan Williams, and Shaq Griffin are just a few of the names available. It is possible a signing comes after the draft, but getting one more veteran in this cornerback room would be huge for this Vikings defense.
Make a trade
The Vikings only have five draft picks this year, and that isn’t enough to address all the holes on this roster. They could definitely use a few more, and in these dwindling days of free agency, perhaps they finally pull off one of these rumored trades and acquire some additional selections.
The names that have been mentioned are Za’Darius Smith and Dalvin Cook. Cook’s trade market seemed very hot a few weeks ago, and after Alexander Mattison re-signed, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that he would be shipped.
Rumors are that the Vikings are waiting for Cook to be able to pass a physical, but if they don’t move him before the draft, teams with running back needs are going to fill that void, and his value will basically be nil.
Za’Darius Smith already said his goodbyes to Vikings fans on social media. He did this about a week before free agency started, but he still remains with the team. Smith is still an elite pass rusher and definitely has a market.
It was thought he could fetch perhaps a day-two pick and a conditional late-round 2024 pick. While losing Smith would hurt, the team did sign Marcus Davenport and are better off using him across from Danielle Hunter than a player who doesn’t want to be here.
Another trade that is less likely to happen is if the team decides to move Kirk Cousins. They reportedly shot down a discounted offer for an extension from his representation, so the team appears ready to move on.
If a team like the 49ers came calling, the Vikings could be more than willing to listen and score a handful of picks in return.
The Vikings need more draft picks, so seeing them make a move by trading a player in the coming weeks wouldn’t be all that shocking.
Sign another receiver
Another hole on the Vikings roster is the one left by Adam Thielen when he took the money and ran south to join the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings now need to find a No. 2 receiver to play across from Justin Jefferson. It’s possible they could just use K.J. Osborn in that role.
They could also use an early draft pick to fill the need. Even if they go with one of those options, the Vikings could use another experienced pass catcher on the depth chart.
Jefferson and Osborn have the most experience, with Jalen Reagor right behind them. They did sign Brandon Powell, but he’s primarily a special teamer, leaving just Jalen Nailor as the only other receiver on the roster who has played any offensive snaps.
There are a few decent options still floating out in free agency land. The biggest name is obviously Odell Beckham Jr., who last played for the Rams in 2021.
The Vikings did attend his workout, sparking rumors that they have serious interest. Other options that fit the Kwesi mold would be N’Keal Harry, Scotty Miller, Richie James, and Olamide Zaccheaus. They could even go out of the box and get a more established veteran like Jarvis Landry, Randall Cobb, or even Julio Jones.
Whatever the Vikings decide to do, bringing in one more experienced pass catcher is very much in the realm of possibility.