The Minnesota Vikings have a history of being a club that might be very good. Their fan base aspires to see them return to the heyday of Super Bowl greatness from decades before. The Vikings are in a crucial situation as the 2024 NFL Draft draws to a close. The club has a combination of young, talented players and seasoned veterans, and they should be able to go far in the playoffs. But the Vikings need to make wise decisions in the free agency market if they want to establish themselves as serious competitors. The Vikings should aim to sign these three free agents in order to strengthen their roster and contend in the next campaign.
The Vikings had a dismal 0-3 record at the beginning of the 2023 campaign. They had been in a similar hole for the second time in four seasons. After losing to the Denver Broncos in Week 11 and the eventual back-to-back Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, their aspirations of duplicating their stellar 13-4 record from 2022 were quickly crushed. The Vikings persevered despite this difficult beginning. They improved to 6-4 with five straight victories. But during their Week 8 matchup with the Green Bay Packers, things took a turn for the worse for their season. Kirk Cousins, the starting quarterback, suffered an Achilles tendon rupture at that point, ruining his season.
For the rest of the season, the Vikings failed to find a reliable quarterback after that. As a result, they had a 1-6 record in their final seven games, including four straight losses to end the season. After Cousins inked a four-year, $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons in March, they also said farewell to him.
The Vikings strategically moved up one pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to select JJ McCarthy. He was thus selected as the fifth quarterback overall in the top 10. McCarthy was a contentious choice. With great wide receiver Justin Jefferson and head coach Kevin O’Connell, he is, nevertheless, in a good position to succeed. The Vikings traded up once again to choose pass rusher Dallas Turner at No. 17, keeping their second first-round pick in reserve as a result of McCarthy’s small trade-up. The Vikings also added a great asset when they selected Alabama kicker Will Reichard in the sixth round. This demonstrated their dedication to bolstering the special teams division.
The three free agents that the Minnesota Vikings need to sign after the 2024 NFL Draft are examined below.
The offensive guard Dalton Risner is one free agent the Vikings need to pursue. Having played for the Denver Broncos for the past few seasons, he has established himself as a dependable and adaptable interior lineman. The offensive line of the Vikings has had trouble staying consistent. Therefore, having a player of Risner’s caliber on the team may be quite beneficial. He is a tremendous asset since he can play both guard positions and, in an emergency, even switch to center. Because of Risner’s adept run-blocking abilities, the Vikings’ offensive attack would be more balanced and the ground game would be more open. Bringing in Risner might be essential for
The Vikings should target cornerback Marcus Peters when playing defense. A former Pro Bowler, he instills a lot of knowledge and the ability to make plays in any secondary. The Vikings’ pass defense has been lacking, especially in big situations, but bringing in a seasoned veteran like Peters might provide the team the consistency and direction it needs to improve. Peters’ ability to force turnovers would be a valuable asset to a defense that found it difficult to get points in 2023. His aggressive play style and ability to match up with the best receivers in the NFL would be a huge asset to the Vikings secondary. He might give their pass defense a much-needed lift.
