Vikings Offseason 2026

[nicksaviking]

Connor McGovern is being released as was Tyler Biadasz a couple days ago. They join Tyler Linderbaum, Cade Mayes and Lloyd Cushenberry as a fairly impressive free agent center group. There are several others too that have a long history at the position. I was and still am looking at centers in the draft, but if you can get one of these guys fairly cheap in free agency, that might be the way to go. Linderbaum will break someone's bank, but a decent chance at least someone will be left without an offer they were expecting.

[Vanimal46]

Ryan Kelly retires from the NFL. Good on him for doing so. Otherwise he needed his wife or a close family member to slap him silly trying to play again after sustaining 3 concussions in a season. 

[Vanimal46]

On 3/4/2026 at 10:53 AM, nicksaviking said:

Connor McGovern is being released as was Tyler Biadasz a couple days ago. They join Tyler Linderbaum, Cade Mayes and Lloyd Cushenberry as a fairly impressive free agent center group. There are several others too that have a long history at the position. I was and still am looking at centers in the draft, but if you can get one of these guys fairly cheap in free agency, that might be the way to go. Linderbaum will break someone's bank, but a decent chance at least someone will be left without an offer they were expecting.

I wouldn't mind both options because the other guy could be kicked out to guard if needed due to injuries. Big fan of the Iowa center Logan Jones for the record... 

[TheLeviathan]

Hockenson takes a 5M cap discount and will be a FA after this year.

[nicksaviking]

Eric Wilson is re-signed. 3 year 22M with  12.5M guaranteed.

Ideally I'd like this team to find their next Chad Greenway who can anchor the defense for the next decade, but Wilson was so good last year.

[Vanimal46]

55 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Eric Wilson is re-signed. 3 year 22M with  12.5M guaranteed.

Ideally I'd like this team to find their next Chad Greenway who can anchor the defense for the next decade, but Wilson was so good last year.

I don’t mind this move, and it doesn’t prevent us from taking a LB in the draft either… Cashman gets dinged up plenty and IIRC he’s on the last year of his contract 

[Danchat]

So $7.5M per year to a 32 year old LB, and then bringing back Pace Jr for 1/$3.54M... not what I'd call a wise use of money. Wilson was a great blitzer, mixed run stopper, and very bad in coverage... wish this team could get younger. I guess Pace is back for special teams, but Flores showed no interest in playing him once Wilson took over and I wouldn't expect that to change in 2026.

Sounds like the Greenard domino might fall pretty soon. Packers just shipped off Gary to the Cowboys for a 4th, and Hendrickson should be off the board later this afternoon. Eagles have an offer but clearly the Vikings are holding out for more.

[Vanimal46]

Don't really understand the offer to Pace Jr. unless they think someone else is gonna offer him a contract that they won't match. 

[nicksaviking]

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Don't really understand the offer to Pace Jr. unless they think someone else is gonna offer him a contract that they won't match. 

Right, Wilson mostly got paid, because he made Pace look so, so bad by comparison.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

So $7.5M per year to a 32 year old LB, and then bringing back Pace Jr for 1/$3.54M... not what I'd call a wise use of money. Wilson was a great blitzer, mixed run stopper, and very bad in coverage... wish this team could get younger. I guess Pace is back for special teams, but Flores showed no interest in playing him once Wilson took over and I wouldn't expect that to change in 2026.

Sounds like the Greenard domino might fall pretty soon. Packers just shipped off Gary to the Cowboys for a 4th, and Hendrickson should be off the board later this afternoon. Eagles have an offer but clearly the Vikings are holding out for more.

Feels like a sequel of last year:  historic draft class at a position, need for the Vikings.  So what do they do?  Bring back the familiar guys, pass on the draft.

We passed on Skattebo and others last year in favor of Jones and now we look like we prefer Wilson to the myriad of studs that will be there at our second pick.  (Hill, Trotter, Golday, Rodriguez, etc.)

I like bringing back Wilson.  With Cashman's history I can get on board.  Pace?  Woof.  Prove me wrong in the draft Vikes.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

So $7.5M per year to a 32 year old LB, and then bringing back Pace Jr for 1/$3.54M... not what I'd call a wise use of money. Wilson was a great blitzer, mixed run stopper, and very bad in coverage... wish this team could get younger. I guess Pace is back for special teams, but Flores showed no interest in playing him once Wilson took over and I wouldn't expect that to change in 2026.

Sounds like the Greenard domino might fall pretty soon. Packers just shipped off Gary to the Cowboys for a 4th, and Hendrickson should be off the board later this afternoon. Eagles have an offer but clearly the Vikings are holding out for more.

I generally want a rebuild, but Wilson was really good, and that's chump change for a starter. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

Don't really understand the offer to Pace Jr. unless they think someone else is gonna offer him a contract that they won't match. 

Agreed. He was terrible. 

[Vanimal46]

The Vikings sign something called James Pierre - a 29 year old CB to a 2 year deal. Former Steeler when Flores was there. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

The Vikings sign something called James Pierre - a 29 year old CB to a 2 year deal. Former Steeler when Flores was there. 

I'm ok with this, and know nothing about him. CB seems to need veterans, or elite picks. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just lost their punter....

[Vanimal46]

8 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Just lost their punter....

Perfectly fine with that. We can find another UDFA with ease. 

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Perfectly fine with that. We can find another UDFA with ease. 

Then why would anyone sign him? I think it's harder than that. 

[Vanimal46]

11 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Then why would anyone sign him? I think it's harder than that. 

I mean, I haven’t looked at the Saints at all, but they probably have some walking around money and don’t want to prioritize punter in the draft evaluation. 

[Vanimal46]

This was the only guy I wanted the Vikings to pursue for big money this offseason. Dang it. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

This was the only guy I wanted the Vikings to pursue for big money this offseason. Dang it. 

If Mendoza is great, they could turn it around fast..

[Vanimal46]

It's just amazing that all of these contracts were worked out in the first 2 hours of legal tampering period eh? Down to the guaranteed numbers and everything... Idk why the NFL continues to pretend these agreements weren't already discussed during the scouting combine. And just open up FA starting today instead of this 48 hour "legal tampering" window. 

[The Great Hambino]

14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

It's just amazing that all of these contracts were worked out in the first 2 hours of legal tampering period eh? Down to the guaranteed numbers and everything... Idk why the NFL continues to pretend these agreements weren't already discussed during the scouting combine. And just open up FA starting today instead of this 48 hour "legal tampering" window. 

In reality, the legal tampering period begins at the combine and we have a 48-hour early announcement window for new deals other teams' free agents.  It would all make a lot more sense if they just called it that.

[Vanimal46]

Raiders sign WR Jalen Nailor  - 3/$35 including $23 million guaranteed

[nicksaviking]

So lots of free agent activity but nothing for our squad. I'd guess the Vikings can't do anything until they know how much they have to pay a QB, and I'm guessing most of the free agent QBs want to wait to see what the Vikings will do since seen as a favorable landing spot.

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

So lots of free agent activity but nothing for our squad. I'd guess the Vikings can't do anything until they know how much they have to pay a QB, and I'm guessing most of the free agent QBs want to wait to see what the Vikings will do since seen as a favorable landing spot.

They signed a backup CB....but I'm guessing QBs won't come to MN, other than the tier 3 guys like Wentz. Just a guess.

[nicksaviking]

34 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

They signed a backup CB....but I'm guessing QBs won't come to MN, other than the tier 3 guys like Wentz. Just a guess.

Reports were that Kyler Murray is hoping to land in MN. Of course depending on perspective, he too may be a tier 3 guy, But if he is, then I'd say outside of Daniel Jones, every free agent QB is. And I'm far from sold on Jones.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

So lots of free agent activity but nothing for our squad. I'd guess the Vikings can't do anything until they know how much they have to pay a QB, and I'm guessing most of the free agent QBs want to wait to see what the Vikings will do since seen as a favorable landing spot.

The Seifert and Alec Lewis's of the world indicated that the Wilfs' wallet was closed this offseason after spending $350+ million last year with bad results. I think it will be a pretty quiet 1st wave of FA other than depth signings. And of course whoever we decide between Geno Smith and Kyler Murray for the near league minimum 

[Vanimal46]

With things slowing down some, there’s only 2 guys I want signed… Rashid Shaheed, and either Geno/Murray on the league min deal. The rest can be depth signings for all I care 

[Danchat]

Pierre is a smart signing, PFF loved him when he did play for Pittsburgh. He's a career backup who is going to be 30 years old, but does have the backing of Flores (one year overlap with Steelers) and we hired the Steelers DB coach away. He should slot in as CB3 (30-50% of the snaps) with Rodgers and Murphy playing every-down roles. Much better than crossing our fingers on Okudah.

Still a lot of work to do at several other positions and a lot of FAs are bolting for new teams. As usual, some big overpays and some sneaky deals - but the Vikings are missing out thanks to their irresponsible 2025 offseason. C, DL, RB, S stand out as needs among others.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Reports were that Kyler Murray is hoping to land in MN. Of course depending on perspective, he too may be a tier 3 guy, But if he is, then I'd say outside of Daniel Jones, every free agent QB is. And I'm far from sold on Jones.

Right, I forgot Kyler (likely my brain protecting me), he's tier 2 I'd say.