We are (likely) just a few days away from the Minnesota Vikings entering the offseason officially. With that comes discussions of free agency and who might be staying or leaving the Vikings for the 2024 season.
Those discussions will be plentiful over the next 10 weeks or so and they have already begun. Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus put out his top 100 free agents going into the offseason and the Vikings have four players that graced the list.
What do they project to get and will the Vikings end up bringing them back? Let’s take a look.
QB Kirk Cousins
Rank: 2nd
Top free agent comparison: Phillip Rivers 2020
Contract projection: Two years, $60 million
Everything with Cousins is going to depend on how his Achilles tendon heals. If he’s going to come back to the Vikings, it is going to be fully healthy and at the right price. However, if he makes it to free agency a team could easily outbid the Vikings, who are likely to move in a younger direction.
Will he return in 2024?: No
OLB Danielle Hunter
Rank: 12th
Top free agent comparison: Jason Pierre-Paul 2017
Contract projection: Three years, $65 million
Hunter has been great every season he’s played since his rookie season in 2015. Bringing him back while he is still younger than 30 years old is a smart play but how much will be the key. PFF’s projected contract is a fair deal for Hunter, but I suspect he will want more. The good faith the Vikings showed him in training camp will likely extend to these contract negotiations and he will remain a Viking.
Will he return in 2024?: Yes
65. LG Dalton Risner
Rank: 65th
Top free agent comparison: Connor McGovern 2023
Contract projection: Three years, $24 million
After Ezra Cleveland got injured, Risner came in and played well enough that the Vikings were comfortable trading the former for a sixth-round pick. While Risner hasn’t allowed a sack yet in 2023, his run-blocking leaves something to be desired. In essence, he’s average at the position, something that is valuable at the right price.
Will he return in 2024?: Yes, but not at PFF’s projected contract
96. ILB Jordan Hicks
Rank: 96th
Top free agent comparison: Kevin Burnett, 2013
Contract projection: One year, $4 million
Hicks is an interesting case for the Vikings. While he played well in his age 31 season, he was exposed when he returned from injury in pass coverage. That likely isn’t going to get any better and it makes the decision to bring him back difficult.
Will he return in 2024?: No
