We've got everything you need to know and what to expect during the next few months when the 2024 Minnesota Vikings offseason gets underway.
Time flies and the Minnesota Vikings are already entering their third offseason with Kevin O'Connell as their head coach and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah as their general manager.
This third offseason for O'Connell and Adofo-Mensah is arguably the most important of their tenure with the Vikings so far, and some of the biggest decisions they make during the next few months could determine how much longer they will remain with the franchise.
Minnesota's current regime will have their work cut out for them as they have to come up with answers for some gigantic questions about some of their top players, including quarterback Kirk Cousins, wide receiver Justin Jefferson, pass rusher Danielle Hunter, and safety Harrison Smith.
So before the Super Bowl concludes in a few weeks and the Vikings' 2024 offseason really gets underway, let's go over everything that every Minnesota fan needs to know about what will be taking place with their favorite team during the next few months, beginning with some key dates.
Key Dates for the 2024 Vikings Offseason
February 20th: Teams can begin to assign franchise and transition tags
February 27th - March 4th: NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana
March 5th: Deadline for teams to assign a franchise or transition tag to a player
March 11th: Teams can negotiate contracts with 2024 free agents (legal tampering period)
March 13th: New league year begins and teams can sign 2024 free agents to contracts
April 15th: First day the Vikings can begin their 2024 offseason workouts
April 25th - 27th: 2024 NFL Draft in Detroit, Michigan
May 2nd: Deadline for Minnesota to exercise their fifth-year option for Christian Darrisaw
May 3rd - 6th or May 10th - 13th: Vikings rookie mini camp
Hit the next button to see which members of Minnesota's 2023 roster will be free agents this offseason.
2024 Vikings Free Agents
Offensive Free Agents
Cam Akers - RB (Restricted Free Agent)
Blake Brandel - OL (Restricted Free Agent)
Kirk Cousins - QB
Josh Dobbs - QB
Johnny Mundt - TE
Nick Muse - TE (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
K.J. Osborn - WR
Brandon Powell - WR
David Quessenberry - OT
Chris Reed - OG
Dalton Risner - OG
Austin Schlottmann - G/C
Oli Udoh - OT
Defensive and Special Teams Free Agents
Anthony Barr - OLB
Jonathan Bullard - DL
Marcus Davenport - OLB
Troy Dye - ILB
Jordan Hicks - ILB
Danielle Hunter - OLB
Theo Jackson - DB (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
Greg Joseph - K
James Lynch - DL
John Reid - CB
T.J. Smith - DL (Exclusive Rights Free Agent)
Khyiris Tonga - DL (RFA)
D.J. Wonnum - OLB
Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter are obviously the headliners of the group, but there are a number of top contributors from the Vikings' 2023 roster scheduled to become free agents this year as well.
D.J. Wonnum, Dalton Risner, Jordan Hicks, Cam Akers, and Brandon Powell all made an impact for Minnesota this past season, and there's a chance that they could all wind up with other teams in 2024.
Then, of course, there are the players heading into free agency this offseason who probably aren't going to re-sign with the Vikings, like Marcus Davenport, Greg Joseph, Oli Udoh, and Josh Dobbs.
Currently, OverTheCap.com has Minnesota projected to begin free agency this year with a little more than $24.9 million in cap space. Not a ton of money to spend, so some tough decisions will have to be made.
Vikings Selections in the 2024 NFL Draft
First Round: Pick No. 11
Second Round: Pick No. 42
Fourth Round: Pick No. 108 and 130
Fifth Round: Pick No. 155 and 162
Sixth Round: Pick No. 178 and 189
After finishing the season with a disappointing 7-10 record, the Vikings will at least get the chance to select a player within the first 11 picks of the NFL Draft for the first time since 2015.
Minnesota also has a high enough first-round selection that some believe they could put together a trade package to move up in the opening round to draft one of this year's top quarterback prospects.
The Vikings could also choose to just stick with the 11th overall selection and use the pick on the best player available when it becomes their turn to draft a prospect in the first round.
Minnesota has a lot of paths they can take with their top selection in this year's NFL Draft. It will definitely be interesting to see what the Vikings decide to do, if anything, with their 2024 first-round pick in a few months.
Biggest Offseason Questions the Vikings Need to Answer
Will Minnesota re-sign Kirk Cousins?
For the first time since 2018, Kirk Cousins is a free agent this year. Cousins has said he wants to remain with the Vikings, but the 35-year-old quarterback coming off of a torn Achilles might not get his wish.
A return to Minnesota still seems possible, but the chances of him signing elsewhere also seem to be higher than they ever have before.
Will the Vikings extend Justin Jefferson?
It seems like a no-brainer, but Minnesota has to figure out if they want to make Justin Jefferson one of the highest-paid non-quarterbacks in the entire NFL this year.
Jefferson has been everything the Vikings could have hoped for ever since he was drafted in 2020, and he's more than earned the lucrative extension that is likely heading his way.
What is Minnesota's goal for the 2024 season?
After failing to make the playoffs in 2023, the Vikings have to decide if they're going to re-tool or rebuild this offseason.
Minnesota's ownership wants their team to remain competitive, but this mentality is keeping the Vikings stuck in the middle of the NFL each season, so taking a step back in 2024 might be what is best for the future of the franchise.