The Vikings offseason priorities are going to shape a lot of the narrative around the team as free agency approaches. Over the coming months, there will be a lot of questions that the Vikings front office will have to address. In an offseason this pivotal for Minnesota’s third-year brain trust, their answers to those questions could make or break the regime’s tenure. Now, let’s dive into what the top priorities for General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s staff should be.
Minnesota Vikings Offseason Priorities Include More Than Just Quarterback
Vikings Offseason Priority #1: Yes, They Have to Figure out the Quarterback Situation
Plenty of articles have been written on the topic of the Vikings pending offseason quarterback dilemma. Therefore, we won’t be taking up too much space on the top here. Kirk Cousins has been a steady presence for the team for many seasons. As an aging free agent that the Vikings can’t keep off the market via Franchise Tag, his days in purple and gold may be over. The team may very well decide that this is the opportune moment to go younger at the position. Regardless of what direction the Vikings go under center, it will be the most impactful decision of the Vikings offseason.
Vikings Offseason Priority #2: Find Several Edge Rushers
Normally when teams call a position a “position of need” going into the offseason, they’re talking about making one or two major upgrades at a spot. The Vikings are taking that to an entirely new level with their edge rusher situation. A position that was already lacking depth in 2023, sees just two guys left on the current roster. To make matters worse, those players were both unimpactful 2023 reserves in Andre Carter and Patrick Jones.
Looking at potential returns of pending free agents, Vikings stalwart Danielle Hunter has similar Franchise Tag protections to Kirk Cousins. Given that Hunter is the premiere edge rusher on the market and is only 29 years of age, he’s extremely likely to be out of Minnesota’s price range. Last offseason flier Marcus Davenport quickly wore out his welcome and is also unlikely to return. That leaves rotational rusher D.J. Wonnum as the only free agent likely to return to Minnesota in 2024. He could also end up facing a hotter-than-expected market given the premium teams place on young edge defenders.
Even assuming the Vikings do bring Wonnum back on a multi-year deal, they still will have to address the position through multiple additional avenues. To begin with, they will almost certainly target edge rushers early in the draft. That would get easier if they bring back Cousins and can use their first-round pick on a non-quarterback. Someone like Alabama’s Dallas Turner would be a dream acquisition for the pass-rush-needy Vikings. That still wouldn’t be enough with the current state of the position. Minnesota would likely draft at least one more prospect in the later rounds and acquire a veteran or two in free agency. The Vikings offseason rundown is going to end up filled with edge rusher transactions.
Vikings Offseason Priority #3: Pay Justin Jefferson
Last offseason was the first time Minnesota’s All-World wideout Justin Jefferson was eligible for an extension. Unfortunately, the two sides couldn’t come to an agreement that made sense for the Vikings, who would have had to tear up Jefferson’s fifth-year option if an extension had been done early. From a salary cap perspective, it made complete sense for them to wait a year. Now, with Jefferson coming off another spectacular showing that saw him become the third receiver in league history to wrack up 1000 receiving yards despite playing in 10 or fewer contests, it’s time to pay the man.
Even with injury shortening his past season, no receiver has more receiving yards than Jefferson in their first four seasons. No receiver is even within 400 yards and no receiver has ever topped Jefferson’s 98.2 yards per game played. To further put Jefferson’s accomplishments into perspective, he has 1008 more yards than Jerry Rice did in the same number of games. Jefferson has essentially ended the discussion as to who the best receiver in the game currently is. There is no doubt that the money he is asking for is going to reflect the rarified air he’s reached. And with the value he brings to the Vikings, he should get it this offseason. Something in the $35M a year range over 5 years seems about right for a new contract. No matter how high those numbers get, this Vikings offseason would be reflected on poorly if they go into the year without getting a Jefferson deal done.
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