3 Underneath-the-Radar Free Company Choices Going through the Vikings

[ad_1] On March ninth, the NFL’s “authorized tampering” interval begins, which implies the Minnesota Vikings are 22 days away from signing new gamers — as soon as they clear some cap house. And to get you prepared for that week, a handful of under-the-radar selections await.

Vikings free company hinges on a number of quieter decisions that may swing depth, cap flexibility, and the following wave of starters.

The membership will navigate free company with interim common supervisor Rob Brzezinski working the funds and head coach Kevin O’Connell, together with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, evidently calling the personnel photographs.

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Three Quiet Free Company Calls That May Have an effect on Minnesota’s 2026 Roster The primary Kwesi Adofo-Mensah-less free company in 5 years.

<img alt="Cor'Dale Flott returns an interception against the Eagles at MetLife Stadium. Vikings free agency decisions" loading="lazy" width="788" height="444" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/.sL21YvdGoaQCvD6hkLmmg--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/vikings_territory_articles_315/426b0342f7c0fc13214e3d54472066d5"/> New York Giants cornerback Cor’Dale Flott (28) races upfield after securing an interception on Oct 9, 2025, at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, throughout a fourth-quarter conflict with the Philadelphia Eagles. Flott weaves by way of visitors as teammates arrange blocks in a pivotal late-game sequence. Obligatory Credit score: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Pictures.

1. Will the Vikings Cross CB — a Standard Draft Want — Off the Listing in Free Company?

The Vikings efficiently navigated the 2025 marketing campaign with these cornerbacks: Byron Murphy Jr., Isaiah Rodgers, Fabian Moreau, and Jeff Okudah. Murphy Jr. and Rodgers missed zero video games, a exceptional feat for 2 beginning cornerbacks.

The issue? Minnesota in all probability gained’t get one other pristine yr of CB well being. It’s uncommon.

Due to this fact, the membership wants one other cornerback — somebody extra reliable than Okudah and youthful than Moreau. Many followers have simply assumed {that a} Spherical 1 cornerback shall be on the way in which. Whereas that could possibly be true, Minnesota might additionally simply as simply signal a CB from free company and name it good.

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The choices will look one thing like this:

Does Minnesota want free company or the draft for the brand new cornerback? The draft isn’t a foregone conclusion, opposite to fashionable perception.

2. Is the Ivan Tempo Jr. Period Completely Over?

Tempo Jr.’s diminished function was evident even earlier than the 2025 season reached its midpoint.

As veteran linebacker Eric Wilson gained traction as a starter, Minnesota shortly adjusted the snap counts. Inside weeks, Tempo Jr. transitioned from a full-time starter to a rotational participant, with Wilson absorbing nearly all of the workload. This shift was accelerated by a collection of missed tackles by Tempo Jr. in September, and Wilson’s constant efficiency solely solidified the change.

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This timing was unlucky for Tempo Jr., who entered 2025 after a powerful rookie marketing campaign in 2023 and a strong follow-up in 2024. He posted a 77.1 PFF grade as a rookie and began 27 video games throughout two seasons — spectacular manufacturing for an undrafted free agent. Nonetheless, his 2025 grade dipped to 42.3, dampening extension talks at a vital time.

Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Tempo Jr. (0) reacts following a defensive stand on Jan 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, throughout an NFC wild card matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams. Tempo gestures towards teammates because the playoff depth builds within the second half. Obligatory Credit score: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Pictures.

Though restricted free company retains Minnesota in management, that doesn’t assure a reunion. The Vikings have already demonstrated that their protection can perform successfully with out Tempo Jr. in a outstanding function, a actuality that can affect their decision-making.

Tempo Jr. probably views the open market as a clearer path to constant beginning alternatives. Minnesota would possibly rethink if Wilson’s efficiency declines, however the coming weeks ought to reveal whether or not this late-season shift was a short lived adjustment or a long-term change.

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3. A Rookie RB or Veteran RB?

Most Vikings followers anticipate Aaron Jones to be launched within the coming weeks; he’ll be 32 subsequent season, and the membership might use the cap financial savings elsewhere on the roster. Jordan Mason is below contract, and at age 26, he’ll have a task on the 2026 squad.

However the membership in all probability wants a high-profile working again to hopefully clear up the longstanding dashing downside; Minnesota is simply too rattling run-heavy.

From free company, O’Connell and counterparts might pursue a veteran like Travis Etienne, Breece Corridor, or Kenneth Walker. Within the draft, rookies like Jonah Coleman (Washington), Jadarian Worth (Notre Dame), and Nick Singleton (Penn State) will in all probability be gettable after Spherical 1.

<img alt="Jadarian Price and Malachi Fields celebrate a touchdown at Notre Dame Stadium." loading="lazy" width="788" height="444" decoding="async" data-nimg="1" class="standard-img" style="color:transparent" src="https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/IvKwVBFJfqBJDyTzdMAV0A--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTU0MTtjZj13ZWJw/https://media.zenfs.com/en/vikings_territory_articles_315/e5410c2c7d55122f56cdab2ea0e1508f"/> Notre Dame working again Jadarian Worth (24) celebrates with large receiver Malachi Fields (0) after a landing on Nov 22, 2025, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana, throughout first-half motion towards Syracuse. Worth factors skyward whereas Fields joins him ultimately zone amid the house crowd’s roar. © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK through Imagn Pictures.

Our Janik Eckardt wrote this week, “Operating again is on the wishlist of many Vikings followers, for good motive. Minnesota might transfer on from Aaron Jones after two seasons. He's below contract for one more yr, however the Vikings are about $40 million over the wage cap and releasing the veteran would save $7.75 million. Jones has been an honest again for the Vikings, however at 31 with an intensive damage historical past, getting some extra juice within the room with Walker, maybe even for a smaller 2026 cap hit, could possibly be intriguing.”

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Eckardt additionally talked about about Walker, the Tremendous Bowl MVP: “Having his explosiveness within the backfield is actually a dimension the Vikings have missed within the Kevin O’Connell period. That upside, nevertheless, comes at the price of traits Minnesota has leaned on closely below O’Connell. The 2 issues that would forestall the membership from throwing the bag on the 25-year-old are move safety and pass-catching.”