Bargain Free Agent No. 3
Geno Stone - S
2023 Team: Baltimore Ravens
The Vikings' offseason plan will be significantly impacted by Harrison Smith's decision on whether or not to retire.
If he chooses not to retire, the team could still release him due to cap constraints but a contract restructure may also be possible.
Regardless, the team could need to find a competent replacement for Smith if he is not on the roster for the 2024 season.
Although Geno Stone is not that replacement, Josh Mettellus, also known as Walking Swiss Army knife, could step up to the role. Stone is better suited as a nickel safety, where Mettellus played the majority of his snaps in 2023.
If Smith departs, Mettellus could be the starting strong safety for Brian Flores's defense, with a free agent like Stone taking over the nickel safety role.
If you ask Ravens fans, Stone was a no-brainer for the 2023 Pro Bowl, and his numbers make a great argument. He finished the season with seven interceptions.
This season could be an extreme outlier for Stone, who has been a backup his entire career, but he has shown enough promise this year to earn a nice payday in free agency.
If the Vikings are looking to save money in their defensive backfield, Geno Stone would be a nice option.