Packers Pro Bowl defender suggested as a target for Vikings in 2025

For the Minnesota Vikings, the 2024 season isn't one where many expect them to contend for a championship. While the Vikings' leadership would likely never admit it, they likely feel similar and believe the upcoming season is one that will be mainly used for furthering the development of some of the team's top young players.

When it comes to 2025, however, we should expect Minnesota to enter the offseason with a plan to add some final pieces that can help them emerge as a contender.

While the Vikings currently only have four picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, they are projected to have more than $54 million in cap space next year, which will come in handy in their attempt to add more talent to their roster during free agency.

Green Bay Packers DT Kenny Clark mentioned as a possible free-agent target for the Minnesota Vikings in 2025

The Athletic's Alec Lewis was recently asked by a reader which free agents Minnesota could potentially target during the 2025 offseason.

Lewis shared his thoughts with the following answer.

"Two names: Kenny Clark and D.J. Reed.

The Vikings will likely peruse the market for defensive tackles and cornerbacks next year, and these two might be the best available at their positions.

But there are other possibilities, too. How about 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward, Patriots defensive tackle Davon Godchaux or Eagles edge rusher Josh Sweat?

These aren’t A-level names and they’re all nearing 30, but this is the aisle you’re shopping in on the open market."

Lewis believes two of the Vikings' top free-agent targets in 2025 could possibly be Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark and New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed.

Clark will be 29 by the start of the 2025 free agency period, and he's coming off of a 2023 season in which he finished with 44 tackles (nine for a loss), 25 pressures, 16 QB hits, 7.5 sacks, three pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. This performance resulted in his third Pro Bowl selection since entering the NFL in 2016 as a Packers first-round draft pick.

Reed is a six-year veteran defensive back who finished last season as a member of the Jets with the 16th-best defensive grade from PFF among 127 qualifying cornerbacks around the league.

At 5-foot-9 and 188 pounds, he's a bit on the smaller side, but perhaps he could follow in the footsteps of another undersized corner Minnesota added in free agency back in 2004 by the name of Antoine Winfield.

Will at least one of these players become part of the Vikings' efforts to contend during the 2025 season? We'll just have to wait and find out.

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