The Minnesota Vikings are a team in transition. They may be a competitve franchise this season, but they are moving in a new direction and will need to focus on keeping the pieces of their roster that are working well and moving on from other players who don't fit in the team's future plans.
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has the tough task of assembling a great roster for the team to remain competitive for many years to come. That means extending good players and allowing others to leave in free agency.
3 pending Vikings free agents who have already earned new contracts for 2025
Here are three players for th4 Minnesota Vikings who are scheduled to become free agents in 2025 according to Sportac.com who have done enough to earn a new contract to keep them in a purple and gold jersey.
Vikings player No. 1: Camryn Bynum, safety
Camryn Bynum should be near the top of the priority list for the Vikings considering his excellent play and the situation with the Vikings' defensive backs. If Bynum doesn't return as a starter and Harrison Smith retires, Minnesota could be looking at a new duo of starting safeties and a cornerback room that could lose multiple veterans in the offseason. In 10 games, Bynum has 53 combined tackles, eight pass defenses, three interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Vikings player No. 2: Aaron Jones, running back
Aaron Jones has done a great job in Minnesota as a running back and receiver. Jones has been a breath of fresh air after the 2023 season where the Vikings had very little success on the ground. Unless the purple and gold plan to draft a running back or go after a different rusher in free agency, bringing Jones back should be on the menu. Through ten games, he has accumulated 692 yards on the ground and added 262 more through the air.
Vikings player No. 3: Patrick Jones II, edge
There may not be a more surprising player on the Minnesota Vikings roster than Patrick Jones II. The team loaded up on pass rushers by signing Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and drafting Dallas Turner, but in a limited role, Jones has been a dominant pass rusher. He has racked up seven sacks in 10 games in a backup/rotational role and has thrived under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. The only problem with signing him to a contract extension is that a different team might be willing to pay more for his services in the offseason.