6 Edge rushers Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency

With Danielle Hunter and Marcus Davenport set to hit the free agent market, the Minnesota Vikings need to fill those holes. Here are six options.

Defense was the name of the game for the Minnesota Vikings for much of the 2023 season. When Kirk Cousins went down mid-season and the offense sputtered, the defense was left to pick up the slack. And pick it up they did!

The 2023 Minnesota Vikings defense was a much-improved unit under the tutelage of former Miami Dolphins head coach and Pittsburgh Steelers defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Flores’ defensive scheme kept opposing offenses guessing all season, and the defense is the primary reason why the Vikings were (at least theoretically) still in the NFC playoff picture until the last two weeks of the season.

For better or worse, the Vikings have a lot of talent on the defense that is scheduled to hit the open market during the NFL’s free agency period this year. The biggest name is EDGE rusher Danielle Hunter, but there are a couple of key names – whether starters or depth pieces – with him that could leave.

Whether they leave or re-sign with the Vikings, Minnesota is going to have to be active in the NFL’s free agency period in some capacity to fill out the roster. A roster that could have several large holes, particularly at EDGE rusher. Here are six players who could help plug the hole at that position.

According to one Viking, gap between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye closing

Is Drake Maye taking over as QB1? Josh Metellus thinks it’s getting closer

The 2024 NFL Draft is just over two months away, and everyone in the scouting world is really diving into the tape and figuring out their rankings. Plenty of people outside the scouting community have strong opinions on prospects, too.

One of those strong opinions is that the gap between presumed number 1 quarterback Caleb Williams and UNC quarterback Drake Maye may not be as large as some think. While that opinion may not be surprising to some, the source may be: Minnesota Vikings safety Josh Metellus.

Metellus took to X (formerly Twitter) late Wednesday night to share his thoughts on the young prospect, stating that “Drake Maye is slow(ly) but surely closing the gap on QB1”.

In the comments and replies, Metellus is quick to point out that he’s just paid to play the game, but that he’s “entitled to speculate, just like any other football lover”. Williams is heavily assumed to be the #1 selection in the upcoming NFL draft — whether that’s to division foe Chicago or someone else. Maye, on the other hand, has been rumored to be sliding down some NFL draft boards.

Whether the Vikings wind up with Maye or not, they’re going to have to do something to address the quarterback position, either in free agency or the draft. Kirk Cousins is currently set to hit free agency, and last season made it clear that the answer for the future at the position clearly isn’t on the roster at this moment.

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6 Wide receivers Minnesota Vikings could target in free agency

With both K.J. Osborn and Brandon Powell set to hit free agency, will the Vikings look to replace them? Here’s six free agent possibilities.

Last week we took a look at some quarterbacks and running backs the Minnesota Vikings could pursue in free agency. Now it’s time to look outside at the wide receivers. Wide receiver is a position the Vikings don’t necessarily need to prioritize in the NFL’s free agency period.

They have an All-Pro-caliber number one receiver in Justin Jefferson, who is under contract for another year. Minnesota will likely attempt to move Heaven and Earth to get Jefferson under contract long-term, too.

On the other side of Jefferson, they have Jordan Addison, who proved during his rookie campaign last year that he’s more than capable of blossoming into a formidable receiver in his own right. The 1-2 punch of Jefferson and Addison can be a real force to be reckoned with in the league if the Vikings get their quarterback situation squared away.

Whether that means Kirk Cousins, a free agent, or taking someone in the NFL draft remains to be seen.

Further down the depth chart is where things start to get interesting. For the last four years they’ve had K.J. Osborn, who has been a solid option in the passing game and has shown glimpses of being able to provide more than he’s been asked to.

He’s almost an afterthought in the Vikings offense with the WRs above ahead of him, along with tight end T.J. Hockenson. Brandon Powell rounds out the position, and brings some solid play as a WR4.

Both Osborn and Powell are scheduled to hit the open market in free agency. Should the Vikings sign one — or both — or should they look to upgrade at the position with someone who’s available? Let’s take a look at six options the Vikings could look at at wide receiver.

Vikings find franchise QB in recent mock draft

The Minnesota Vikings find their next franchise quarterback in the most recent mock draft from The Draft Network

With the Reese’s Senior Bowl having come and gone, NFL draft season is officially underway. That means we will get a ton of mock drafts with different directions that teams like the Minnesota Vikings can go. For this one, The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez dropped his post-Senior Bowl mock draft, which had Minnesota finding their next franchise quarterback.

With the 11th pick, Sanchez had the Vikings choose Washington quarterback Michael Penix Jr.

At the Senior Bowl, Michael Penix Jr. showed that he can work under center and that’s exactly what the Vikings’ front office needed to see. In Minnesota, Penix Jr. would have two high-level weapons to throw the ball to along with one of the best play-callers in the NFL.

In Tyler Forness’ most recent mock draft roundup, Penix was shown to be the quarterback most pundits in the sports media world would take for the Vikings.

Penix had a season to remember in Washington’s final year in the Pac-12, throwing for just under 5,000 yards (4,903) with 36 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Penix didn’t participate in the Senior Bowl game but was the best quarterback in the practices leading up to it.

If the Vikings decide not to resign Kirk Cousins, this could be the route the front office takes to start the next era of football in Minnesota.

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Former Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater lands high school head coach gig

Former Minnesota Vikings QB Teddy Bridgewater has been named the next head coach of the Miami Northwestern high school football team.

It didn’t take long for former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater to wind up back in football now that his playing days are over. Bridgewater, who wrapped up his NFL career after the Detroit Lions loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, has been named the head coach of the Miami Northwestern high school football team.

Bridgewater, who spent his first three NFL seasons with the Vikings, announced earlier this year that this season would be his last in the NFL. Now he has made that official by stepping into his first coaching role back in his hometown of Miami.

During his tenure with the Vikings, Bridgewater started 28 games after being selected in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft. Bridgewater made the Pro Bowl in his second season with the team, before suffering a devastating knee injury during a team practice before his third season.

After the knee injury, Bridgewater spend two seasons in New Orleans as a backup before landing in Carolina with the Panthers and regaining his role as a starting quarterback. The journeyman QB also had stints in Denver and Miami before landing in Detroit for his final season.

Now, Bridgewater is stepping into the world of coaching, looking to impart the knowledge he’s gained over a 10-year NFL career on the future generations of NFL stars and role players.

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CNN interview reveals Kevin O’Connell leads through love and empathy

In an interview with CNN, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell gave some insights into his journey through the NFL and his mentality

In a recent interview with CNN anchor and Minnesota native Poppy Harlow, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reflected upon his journey through the NFL ranks and towards becoming a head coach in the league. One of the biggest takeaways from the interview was his mentality on leadership, stating that love and empathy are at the forefront for him.

“It’s really what I view as the standard” is how O’Connell put it when asked by Harlow if it’s fair to say his goal is to lead the team with love and empathy, stating that he believes the players can sense they’re getting the “real, authentic” him and respect him for it.

Perhaps the greatest example of O’Connell putting his words into action came earlier this season through the acquisition of former Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs. Dobbs was acquired in a mid-season trade and was almost immediately thrust into action for the team.

Prior to Dobbs seeing his first action with the team, O’Connell let the quarterback know “No matter what happens these next two-and-a-half hours, I’m gonna be with ya, every step of the way.” That confidence in his quarterback let Dobbs come in and lead the Vikings to two straight victories under incredible circumstances.

The season didn’t end how Dobbs, O’Connell, or Vikings fans would have wanted, but during a season where the team faced extreme adversity, it was O’Connell’s principles of empathy and leadership through vulnerability that kept the team together and in the playoff hunt until the very end.

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Vikings sign CB A.J. Green III to futures contract

The Minnesota Vikings announced Tuesday that they have signed former Cleveland Browns CB A.J. Green III to a futures contract.

A busy offseason for the Minnesota Vikings continues, as the team announced Tuesday that they have signed former Cleveland Browns cornerback A.J. Green III to a futures contract.

Green had been with the Browns since entering the league in 2020 as an undrafted free agent out of Oklahoma State. During his time with the Browns, Green appeared in 29 games, making two starts and coming away with two interceptions during his four seasons in Cleveland.

Green has great size for the position, coming in at 6’2″ and nearly 200 pounds, and should provide the Vikings with some much-needed depth at the position. Minnesota has a lot of questions going into the 2024 season, and not much cap flexibility to address them, so signing a guy with potential like Green can help mitigate those concerns.

Minnesota is still likely to address the cornerback position further, whether that comes through free agency or the NFL draft, as Green isn’t likely to be a player who is going to make a sizeable contribution, but rather provides competition in camp and may provide depth in the event of an injury.

With the signing of Green, the Vikings now have 13 players signed to futures contracts.

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Kirk Cousins ‘not going to turn down an opportunity’ to play for Bill Belichick

Kirk Cousins won’t “turn down an opportunity” to play for Bill Belichick

Minnesota Vikings fans have thought a lot about whether quarterback Kirk Cousins could play for another team, and for one of the first times as a member of the Vikings, he went on the record about playing elsewhere.

CBS Sports’ Isabel Gonzales interviewed Cousins about various topics, including his impending free agency. One of the other notable free agents this offseason is former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, who parted ways with the franchise after 24 seasons.

When asked about his experience with the six-time Super Bowl-winning head coach, Cousins made sure to embellish the fine details of facing a defense coached by Belichick.

“I have great respect for him as a coach, like everyone else in pro football. When you go to that many Super Bowls, win that many Super Bowls, go to that many conference championship games [and] have the defensive production he’s had for years and years, it says it all.

We played them last year on Thanksgiving night, and once again, I noticed several times what he did coverage-wise was challenging and different. You always know when you play him, you’re looking over your shoulder, wondering if everything you’re seeing is correct. You know he’s going to break the mold and do something different, and that’s part of what’s made him a great coach.”

So when Gonzales sprang the question of whether Cousins would play for Belichick if given the chance, the answer wasn’t much of a surprise.

“I’m not going to turn down an opportunity to play with a future Hall of Fame coach, but we’ll have to see where March leads. There’s a lot of unkowns right now.”

The biggest unknown lies in Eagan, Minnesota, as the Vikings decide whether to extend the 35-year-old quarterback for another year or let him test free agency. If Cousins hits free agency, there will be an aggressive market for him, a market that could very well include a team coached by Belichick. 

If one of the greatest coaches of all time decides to try his hand in another organization, the current front-runner being the Atlanta Falcons, the Super Bowl window starts as soon as his feet touch the campus. The offense needs to be captained by a veteran quarterback — perhaps one who’s proved to be the ultimate system QB — who will maximize the window the Belichick hire gives.

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Twitter is frustrated Brian Flores has no head coach interviews

Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores has not had any head coaching interviews this cycle and Twitter is frustrated.

Based on the season that the Minnesota Vikings defense had in 2023, you would expect defensive coordinator Brian Flores to have numerous head coaching interviews.

As of Thursday night, January 18th, Flores has exactly zero. You read that correctly, zero.

There are a few reasons you could equate this too but it is most likely the fact that Flores is suing the National Football League for it’s hiring practices.

Over the course of the last week, fans and analysts on Twitter took to the social media platform to express their frustration and confusion for why Flores doesn’t have any interviews during this cycle.

11 former Vikings have chance to win Super Bowl

From Teddy Bridgewater to Stefon Diggs, there are 11 former Minnesota Vikings with a chance to win the Super Bowl

After a successful wild card weekend in the National Football League, the playoff bracket is down to eight teams and leaves some really tasty matchups.

  • Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens
  • Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Detroit Lions
  • Kansas City Chiefs vs. Buffalo Bills

If you need a rooting interest for the divisional round and beyond, there are still 11 former Minnesota Vikings with a chance to win the Super Bowl.