The first few weeks of the 2026 offseason for the Minnesota Vikings has mostly revolved around the coaching staff, with the abrupt and awkward retirement of assistant head coach Mike Pettine, the saga surrounding defensive coordinator Brian Flores, who finally seems fully set to return after failing to land a head coaching gig, and now the loss of defensive backs coach Daronte Jones to the Washington Comamanders.
However, before too long, the full attention of the front office will have to turn toward player personnel, as the Vikings are set to see roughly 20 members of the roster enter some sort of free agency.
It's a group that features safety Harrison Smith, wideout Jalen Nailor, running back Ty Chandler, fullback C.J. Ham, cornerbacks Fabian Moreau and Jeff Okudah, backup quarterback Carson Wentz, and All-Pro long snapper Andrew DePaola.
Another name on the list—and to the surprise of many, one of the most important—is veteran linebacker Eric Wilson, who undoubtedly exceeded expectations in his return to Minnesota in 2025.
Minnesota Vikings predicted to bring back linebacker Eric Wilson
The Athletic's Alec Lewis recently looked at a dozen of Minnesota's soon-to-be free agents and opined on whether each would return or hit the open market. And Wilson was among the group he believes will be back in 2026.
"It’s hard to overstate how impressive Wilson was this season. Only once in his career had he played more than 50 percent of his team’s defensive snaps, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores trusted him enough to play him 90 percent of the time for a defense that became one of the league’s best.
The 31-year-old Wilson was fantastic, generating 22 quick pressures, the most of any Vikings defender. He flowed fast in the run game and didn’t look lost in coverage. With Flores seemingly returning, he will push hard to keep Wilson, who is expected to have multiple suitors. Wilson’s age shouldn’t prevent him from securing a multiyear contract."
Wilson, of course, began his NFL career in Minnesota, signing with the team as an undrafted free agent in 2017 and ultimately spending four years with the Vikings before bouncing around the league for a few years.
After short and unsuccessful stints with the Philadelphia Eagles, Houston Texans, and New Orleans Saints, the Cincinnati alum spent the better part of three seasons with the Green Bay before re-signing with Minnesota ahead of the 2025 campaign on a one-year, $2.6 million deal.
And for that price, Wilson was an absolute steal—well, at least in most areas, as he often struggled in pass coverage. But he thrived elsewhere, ranking first among every off-the-ball linebacker in the league in total QB pressures (37) and sacks (6.5), while also ranking second in forced fumbles (3) and ninth in stops (52).
The Vikings obviously won't be able to sign Wilson for $2.6 million again, but his price tag might not be as high as you might think, as Spotrac projects his next contract to be a one-year deal worth $4.3 million, which the Vikings could swing.
And while Lewis mentions him having other suitors, it might not be that many, as some teams could very well believe his 2025 campaign was a fluke, thus making it easier for Minnesota to bring him back.