New Minnesota Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has a large number of pending 2022 free agents to sift through before the market opens in March. With a poor salary cap situation and a roster in need of a rebuild, it’s unclear if the Vikings will make many of these players priorities in free agency.
Minnesota Vikings free agents in 2022
Following the conclusion of the 2021 NFL season, the Vikings have 20 players with expiring contracts. 19 of them will be unrestricted free agents, while one is a restricted free agent.
Free Agents: Offense
- Sean Mannion | QB
- Wayne Gallman | RB
- Chad Beebe | WR
- Dede Westbrook | WR
- Tyler Conklin | TE
- Christopher Herndon | TE
- Luke Stocker | TE
- Mason Cole | OL
- Rashod Hill | T
- Dakota Dozier | G
Free Agents: Defense/Special Teams
- Everson Griffen | DE
- Tashawn Bower | DE
- Sheldon Richardson | DT
- Anthony Barr | LB
- Nick Vigil | LB
- Patrick Peterson | CB
- Mackensie Alexander | CB
- Xavier Woods | S
- Greg Joseph | K (RFA)
- Jordan Berry | P
Top Vikings offensive free agents
While the Vikings have a number of offensive players hitting the free agent market, only a few were true contributors in 2021.
Tyler Conklin | TE
After Irv Smith Jr. tore his meniscus in the preseason, Conklin took over at tight end and turned in a serviceable season. The 26-year-old finished among the top 15 TEs in both receptions (61) and yards (593). But with Smith in line to return for the 2022 campaign, Conklin probably won’t be a pressing matter in Minnesota.
The Vikings are currently $20+ million over the cap. While they should be able to ameliorate their situation, they probably don’t want to restructure a player like Kirk Cousins to create space, as that would only further tie the team to a distressed asset. Luxuries like a solid No. 2 tight end will have to go by the wayside.
If Smith can come back healthy, there wouldn’t be a role for Conklin in Minnesota. New Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell is likely to run a lot of 11 personnel (1 RB, 1 TE, 3 WRs) — his former team, the Rams, led the NFL in 3WR sets in 2021. It’s simply not an offense designed to feature two tight ends.
Mason Cole | OL
The Vikings acquired Cole from the Cardinals last March in exchange for a sixth-round pick, and he ended up playing meaningful snaps. He filled in at both center and guard and ultimately earned a 48% snap share.
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Minnesota’s offensive line needs work, especially on the interior, and Cole can be a part of that effort. He’d be a contender to start at right guard, where Oli Udoh has struggled. Meanwhile, Cole would be a valuable insurance policy at center. Former first-round pick Garrett Bradbury has not lived up to his draft billing, and Cole was arguably the better player in 2021.
Top Vikings defensive free agents
The Vikings’ key offseason decisions will come on the defensive side of the ball, where they have a significant list of players heading toward free agency.
Patrick Peterson and Mackensie Alexander | CB
How the Vikings approach their class of defensive free agents will be guided by the team’s direction as a whole. If Aaron Rodgers stays in the NFC North and Minnesota trades Kirk Cousins, for example, it might not make sense to re-sign any of these players. If Rodgers is traded or retires and the Vikings double-down on their quarterback, retaining a few of these veterans could be in the cards.
At cornerback, Peterson probably doesn’t want to sign up for a rebuild. The 31-year-old was quietly effective in 2021, reducing his yards per completion allowed and passer rating against for the third consecutive season. He could stick around for another year if the Vikings plan to contend, but otherwise, he should latch on with a contender.
Alexander, meanwhile, returned for his second stint in Minnesota last season. Originally a second-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, he spent four years with the Vikings before playing for the Bengals in 2020. Brought back to Minnesota for the veteran’s minimum, Alexander was one of the worst corners in the league in 2021. There’s a non-zero chance he’s out of the league next season.
Xavier Woods | S
If there is one defensive free agent that the Vikings should absolutely re-sign, it’s Woods. New defensive coordinator Ed Donatell will bring his two-high safety look to Minnesota, and Woods is a perfect fit in the back end. He can do a lot of things well, including handling the slot or playing in the box.
Woods is only 26 years old, and given the strength of this year’s free agent safety class, he could be something of a forgotten man. The Vikings will have to give him a raise over the $1.75 million he earned in 2021, but Woods shouldn’t break the bank.
Anthony Barr | LB
Donatell’s defense could also be a boon for Barr, especially if he were asked to move to EDGE. The former first-round pick always seemed to profile as a pure edge rusher, but he was hardly used in that capacity by former Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer. Barr has never topped 120 pass-rushing snaps in any single season, and last year he rushed the passer just 84 times on 783 total snaps.
Would Barr want to change his role eight years into his career? That’s uncertain. But he may have a soft spot for Minnesota. In 2019, he nearly signed a deal with the New York Jets before reneging and re-upping with the Vikings. Perhaps Barr would take less money to stick with the only team he’s ever known.
Everson Griffen and Sheldon Richardson | DL
Griffen played a high percentage of snaps in his second go-round with the Vikings, but he was placed on the reserve/NFI list in November while dealing with mental health issues. At age 34, the franchise icon is unlikely to be a priority during the free agent period.
As is also the case with Griffen, Richardson doesn’t profile as a fit for Donatell’s defense, especially if the new DC employs a 3-4 front. Griffen is a 4-3 defensive end, and Richardson is a 3-technique defensive tackle.
