As we inch closer to the NFL’s free agency period, the Minnesota Vikings have a number of decisions they’re going to have to make in the next few weeks. Kirk Cousins and Danielle Hunter are the two high-profile free agents that Minnesota will have to make a choice on, but they have a number of other players about to hit the open market.
One of those players, D.J. Wonnum, could garner more attention on the open market than some may realize. According to a report from PFN’s Adam Caplan, one NFL pro personnel source has said that Wonnum is a “top sleeper” for this year’s free agency period.
Defensively, keep an eye on D.J. Wonnum, who a pro personnel source said should be considered a top “sleeper” for free agency. Wonnum, who has posted 23 sacks in his four seasons of play, played in a career-high 83% of the team’s defensive snaps last season and has excellent length and size as an edge rusher (6-5, 260, 34 1/8-arm).
In addition to Hunter and Wonnum, the Vikings are also going to have to make a decision on EDGE rusher Marcus Davenport. Davenport, who was brought in last season from the New Orleans Saints, was a high-profile signing last season, but failed to live up to expectations, due in large part to injuries. When Davenport was healthy, he was a productive piece in Brian Flores’ much-improved Vikings defense.
Caplan goes on to say that he anticipates the Vikings bringing back at least one of those three, but that Hunter could fetch a steep price, somewhere between 17 and 20 million, on the open market. Davenport, at least according to Caplan, is likely to be the odd man out in this scenario.
Look for Minnesota to make a push to re-sign at least one of them, but Hunter, who turns 30 in late October, could yield a deal worth $17-$20 million per season elsewhere due to his outstanding productivity over his career and versatility. Both sides agreed to a revised one-year deal last season worth $17 million (fully guaranteed).
As for Marcus Davenport, who only played in just four games last season due to injury, look for him to be playing elsewhere.
Minnesota has a number of players scheduled to hit free agency, and not a lot of money to play with once you factor in the need to sign the eventual 2024 NFL draft class. It will be interesting to see where general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah chooses to prioritize spending that money.
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