Will the Vikings tag anyone?
It is franchise tag starting day! Will the Vikings tag anyone? Rumor has it that they may tag Byron Murphy instead of Sam Darnold. A little note is that Sam Darnold, Stephon Gilmore, and Byron Murphy all had their contracts voided yesterday, February 17th.
https://overthecap.com/contract-triggers-calendar
This means that the void years included in their contracts escalate to the 2025 cap. That means 5M for Darnold, 4.2M for Murphy, and 2.33M for Gilmore all count as dead money and would be part of any new contract in 2025. Based on this, I do not see a franchise tag of Murphy but could see an extension although you would have hoped they could have reached an agreement before his contract voided.
My guess it they really want to tag and trade Darnold and the price to keep Murphy has gone too high and Kwesi has said he has “walk away” prices.
Harrison Smith’s deadline to terminate his contract is March 15th. If the team does not terminate his deal, his 25M salary for 2026 becomes guaranteed. I am going to go out on a limb and say that is not going to happen. If he wants to continue playing then I could see them working something out for another season. Maybe 5-7M?
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
USA Today’s Tyler Dragon believes Minnesota could look to move on from Darnold to allow McCarthy to take the Vikings’ QB1 reins.
“Is Darnold the quarterback who helped lead the Vikings to a 14-2 record through 17 weeks or the QB who withered down the stretch?
“It’s likely somewhere in the middle,” Dragon wrote.
“In totality, Darnold’s 2024 season was much improved from what we’ve previously seen from the journeyman. The Vikings could re-sign Darnold, but will they really sit J.J. McCarthy another year?
“I believe Darnold should return to New York, but this time in a blue uniform.”
‘You know where to go’: Justin Jefferson makes pitch to Myles Garrett
“You know where to go, brother,” Jefferson told USA TODAY. “We need about one, two extra pieces, and you’ll fill in that piece. We need you.”
Draft, free agency ‘dream scenario’ for Vikings is unveiled by experts
Every football fan has a dream offseason scenario in mind. With nearly $60 million to spend in free agency and the 24th pick in the NFL draft, the Minnesota Vikings are armed with the bones of a 14-win roster and the tools to upgrade weak spots on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary.
Of course, some dreams are realistic and others are fantasy. Yes, it would be great if the Jets released Davante Adams and he signd with the Vikings for cheap to team up with Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson. Without a doubt it would be amazing if soon-to-be-former Jets cornerback DJ Reed refused to pick up the phone unless he saw the Vikings calling. And it would be fantastic if Boise State running back and Heisman finalist Ashton Jeanty fell to the Vikings in the first round of the draft.
Dreams can come true, but some aren’t very likely. In reality, the Vikings have big needs on the offensive and defensive lines and in the secondary. That brings us to the “dream” scenario cooked up by the folks at Pro Football Focus, where two safeties have been identified as the ideal duo for the Vikings to acquire via the draft and free agency.
The free-agent signing? Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.
The first-round pick? Georgia safety Malaki Starks.
“The Vikings are facing a massive rebuild of their secondary, with Josh Metellus standing as the lone cornerback or safety left under contract who recorded 80 or more defensive snaps this past season. Snagging the top available safeties in both free agency and the draft would surely set this secondary up for success,” PFF reasons.
“In the 25-year-old Holland and the 21-year-old Starks, the Vikings would have a vaunted tandem of young safeties to build their defense around for years to come. Given the creativity displayed by Brian Flores’ playcalling, the possibilities are endless if he adds these pieces to his unit.”
Vikings Get Bad News on Ideal $36 Million Free-Agent Target
Philadelphia Eagles star Milton Williams seemed like an ideal target in free agency — but that was before a blowout performance over the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
Williams accounted for two of the Eagles’ sacks on Patrick Mahomes in a dominant 40-22 victory. Philadelphia’s defense proved the model for stopping the best quarterback in the NFL is to have a dominant defensive front that can create pressure.
And that’s going to come at a cost.
Sports Illustrated’s Will Ragatz predicted that Williams’ value in free agency skyrocketed after the Super Bowl and he could prove difficult to sign.
“Fans who may not have known much about Williams — who has been overshadowed by Jalen Carter at his position — learned quite a bit… the former third-round pick out of Louisiana Tech had PFF’s No. 2 pass-rushing grade among DTs this season, behind only Chris Jones, and that skill set was on full display at the Superdome,” Ragatz wrote.
“If the Vikings want Milton Williams, they’ll have to pay up for his services. Spotrac has him projected for a three-year, $36 million deal, but that estimate can be completely ripped up. He’s going to make more like $20 million per year on the open market. And even at that price point, I think it’s still very much worth it for Minnesota. He’s a rare athlete and game-wrecker who turns 26 next month and might only be getting better.”
Vikings’ Sam Darnold Deemed ‘Dream’ Signing for AFC Team
Pro Football Focus’ Mason Cameron dubbed the Titans’ dream scenario this offseason would be landing Darnold in free agency.
Head coach Brian Callahan benched Will Levis this past season after various bouts with questionable decision-making, and he could very well look at a veteran signal-caller to take up the mantle. While the Titans could make a play for Kirk Cousins, Tennessee could also forego the trade route and grab the top-ranked passer of this free-agent cycle,” Cameron wrote on Feb. 17.
By franchise-tagging Darnold, Minnesota could guarantee exclusive negotiations with a potential trade suitor in exchange for a player or draft capital.
The Vikings will get a clearer picture of Darnold’s market at the NFL Scouting Combine, which starts Feb. 24.
2025 NFL Free Agency Big Board: Ranking Top 50 Players After Super Bowl LIX
48. Sebastian Joseph-Day, DT, Tennessee Titans
The 29-year-old appeared in all 17 games for Tennessee and consistently made an impact against both the run and the pass. Pro Football Focus graded him 28th overall among defensive tackles for the 2024 season.
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46. Kristian Fulton, CB, Los Angeles Chargers
The 26-year-old allowed an opposing passer rating below 92.0 in each of his first three seasons, and he was again reliable for the Chargers when healthy. He missed some time with a hamstring injury in 2024, but that shouldn’t be viewed as a significant issue for cornerback-needy teams.
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44. Tyrel Dodson, LB, Miami Dolphins
Dodson recorded 36 tackles and three interceptions in eight games with Miami. The AFC’s Defensive Player of the Week in Week 17 is a do-it-all linebacker who won’t turn 27 until June.
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23. Teven Jenkins, G, Chicago Bears
Drafted as a tackle in 2021, Jenkins has settled in at guard and has been a high-level starter when healthy. Pro Football Focus ranked him 15th overall among guards in 2024.
The biggest issue for Jenkins has been his availability. While he hasn’t truly had an extended absence due to injury since his rookie campaign, nagging ailments have followed him throughout his career.
Jenkins has never appeared in more than 14 games in a season. Still, his strong play on the field will garner interest in free agency.
16 Justin Reid
Kansas City Chiefs SS
Justin Reid is one of the more underrated players on this list in terms of league perception. He’s much better than many think. He can do a lot of things and was a big part of the Kansas City defense. He is a good tackler. He is 28.
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30 Mike Jackson
Carolina Panthers CB
Mike Jackson might be one of the more underrated players on this list. He started 17 games for the Panthers and did a nice job playing outside cornerback in their defense. He had 13 pass breakups and two interceptions. He just turned 28.
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34 Ben Bredeson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers OG
This 27-year-old started at left guard in his only season with the Bucs and did a nice job. He signed a one-year deal with Tampa Bay last season and started all 17 games. He will have a good market.
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59 Patrick Mekari
Baltimore Ravens OG
Patrick Mekari can play tackle or guard, which will make him a valuable addition for any team. He moved inside to guard last year for the Ravens. He turns 28 in August.
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74 Jourdan Lewis
Dallas Cowboys CB
The eight-year veteran has 64 starts, including 13 last season. He can play inside or outside and he can blitz and play the run. There’s value in that. He does turn 30 in August.
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75 Donte Jackson
Pittsburgh Steelers CB
The Steelers got Donte Jackson in the trade before last season and they clearly won the deal. He ended up starting 15 games and really played well in the first 10. But he struggled some down the stretch as he dealt with back issues. He turns 30 in November.
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79 Elijah Molden
Los Angeles Chargers CB
The Chargers traded a seventh-round pick before the season to land Elijah Molden. He paid off in a big way, giving their secondary some veteran stability on the back end. He did suffer a broken fibula in Week 15, but he should be a go for next season. He just turned 26.
An Off Season Plan
One note: I think there will be some cap casualties that Kwesi could and should be able to sign thereby protecting a compensatory pick or two.
2025 NFL free agency: Derek Carr, Tyler Lockett among 21 notable cut candidates on NFC teams
https://www.nfl.com/news/2025-nfl-free-agency-derek-carr-tyler-lockett-among-21-notable-cut-candidates-in-nfc
Marshon Lattimore
Washington Commanders · CB
Marshon Lattimore is a four-time Pro Bowl cornerback … but those four Pro Bowl seasons all came between 2017 and 2021. Since 2022, he’s missed 25 games with a variety of injuries. Washington traded for him at the 2024 deadline, sending a package of picks but only getting two regular-season games and the three playoff contests out of him. And notably, he was awful in the postseason, earning a horrific 29.6 coverage grade from PFF and allowing 10 catches for 172 yards and a 136.6 passer rating on 14 targets.
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Jonah Jackson
Los Angeles Rams · OG
If L.A. does make significant cuts, Jonah Jackson would likely be in consideration. The former Pro Bowl guard signed a three-year, $51 million contract with the team last March and was the starting center for Week 1, but he fractured his scapula in Week 2, had a poor showing in his Week 10 return and was inactive for the rest of the relevant games of the season. As a standard release, Jackson would eat up $11.3 million in dead money, saving just $3.3 million in 2025, but if he’s designated as a post-June 1 cut, the team would net $9 million in savings.
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Noah Fant
Seattle Seahawks · TE
In three seasons since joining Seattle, Noah Fant has just five touchdowns total (with just one the last two seasons) and has maxed out at 50 receptions (2022) and 500 yards (2024). While those aren’t awful numbers for a low-cost starter or a TE2, they aren’t nearly good enough to justify Fant’s $13.4 million cap hit in 2025. Seattle can save $8.9 million by cutting the 27-year-old tight end, and I can’t really see them passing up on those savings to keep a player who has not fulfilled the potential that made him a first-round pick by the Broncos in 2019.
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James Bradberry
Philadelphia Eagles · CB
OR
Darius Slay
Philadelphia Eagles · CB
Designating either cornerback as such would result in cap savings of $4 million to $5 million, and it could be argued both were made more “expendable” by the play of rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in 2024. Bradberry would probably be the stronger choice, as he missed all of 2024 with injury and posted the third-highest passer rating allowed (112.1) by a cornerback in 2023, per Next Gen Stats (minimum of 500 coverage snaps).
2025 NFL free agency: Davante Adams, Travis Kelce among 18 notable cut candidates on AFC teams
Amani Hooker
Since the Titans drafted him in 2019, Amani Hooker has been a regular piece of the Tennessee secondary, starting in all 27 games he has played the last two seasons (while missing seven with injury). He even set career highs in 2024 with five interceptions, nine passes defensed and two forced fumbles, yet he finished with a 65.1 overall defensive grade, per PFF, second-lowest of his career. More importantly, he carries an $11.3 million cap hit in 2025, $8.8 million of which Tennessee can save by releasing him before June 1.
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John Franklin-Myers
Despite appearing in all 17 games (16 starts), Franklin-Myers played just 46 percent of defensive snaps. He still managed seven sacks and 18 QB hits on those snaps, which is a solid production rate, but he carries a $10 million cap hit in 2025 and can be released prior to June 1 for $7 million in savings.
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Dalvin Tomlinson
started 16 games in 2024 and was pretty solid from a production standpoint, as a designated post-June 1 cut, which would result in $6.4 million in cap savings.
Franchise tag Sam Darnold and trade him to Raiders for pick #73 and #217
Cut Ed Ingram
Cut CJ Ham
Harrison Smith Retires or Cut
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Extend Andrew Van Ginkel – 2 yr 28M
Extend Josh Oliver – 3 yr 21M
Extend Theo Jackson – 2 yr 6M
Extend Dalton Risner 2 yr 9M
…
Sign Justin Fields QB 1 yr 7M
Sign Evan Brown OL 2 yr 10M
Sign Levi Onwuzurike DT 2 yr 20M
Sign Michael Hoecht DT 2 yr 9M
Sign Paulson Adebo CB 2 yr 14m
Sign Eric Stokes CB 2 yr 8M
Sign Elijah Molden S 2 yr 13M
Yore Mock
Trades
Trade Partner: Las Vegas Raiders
Sent: Sam Darnold
Received: Round 3 Pick 4, Round 6 Pick 34
…
Trade Partner: Jacksonville Jaguars
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24, Round 7 Pick 21
Received: Round 2 Pick 4, Round 3 Pick 6, Round 6 Pick 18
…
Trade Partner: Dallas Cowboys
Sent: Round 3 Pick 6
Received: Round 3 Pick 12, Round 5 Pick 31
…
Trade Partner: Houston Texans
Sent: Round 5 Pick 1, Round 6 Pick 34
Received: Round 4 Pick 26, Round 7 Pick 25
…
36: R2 P4 DL Derrick Harmon – Oregon
68: R3 P4 G Tate Ratledge – Georgia
76: R3 P12 S Xavier Watts – Notre Dame
97: R3 P33 RB Dylan Sampson – Tennessee
127: R4 P26 DL Darius Alexander – Toldeo
159: R5 P22 CB Jordan Hancock – Ohio State
168: R5 P31 TE Oronde Gadsden II – Syracuse
193: R6 P18 C Drew Kendall – Boston College
Photo by Lee Coleman/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
240: R7 P25 WR LaJohntay Wester – Colorado
UDFA
QB Max Brosmer Minnesota
QB Seth Henigan Memphis
RB Brashard Smith SMU
WR Samuel Brown Miami
WR Daniel Jackson Minnesota
TE Jackson Hawes Georgia Tech
OT Bryce Cabeldue Kansas
DL Warren Brinson Georgia
DL Nash Hutmacher Nebraska
OLB Tyreem Powell Rutgers
LB Carson Bruener Washington
LB Shaun Dolac Buffalo
CB Mac McWilliams UCF
CB Robert Longerbeam Rutgers
LS Austin Brinkman West Virginia
P James Burnip Alabama
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