Formulating Vikings free agency plans, with and without Kirk Cousins

The Vikings will need multiple approaches to the free agent market based on what happens at QB

© Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

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By Matthew Coller

From all reports it appears the Minnesota Vikings do not know whether Kirk Cousins is going to be under center next year, which means that they will be forced to create multiple road maps for free agency based on his decision. So let’s have a look at the different routes they could take, focusing on two ways they could manage free agency if Cousins returns and two potential routes if they look to the draft for their next QB.

For our plots, we are going to use some assistance from Pro Football Focus by 1) Not including players that PFF expects to be franchise tagged 2) Using projected price tags from PFF’s top 150 free agent list (check that out here).

With Cousins

Plan 1: Fix the defense

The Vikings enter free agency in dire need of improvement along the defensive line and someone to fill the shoes of Jordan Hicks at linebacker. They could also use more depth at cornerback where one injury derailed the unit at the end of last season.

There is a win-now approach to targeting these players, so we are looking for multi-year deals that allow the Vikings to push all the money into the future and use void years to their heart’s desire. They are big-game hunting for guys who will give them the best possible chance to put together a top-ranked defense and fill a few other holes to support Cousins.

Here are the players who fit the description…

— Sign DE Danielle Hunter for 3 years, $21.7 million per year

— Sign LB Frankie Luvu for 3 years, $10 million per year

— Sign DT Grover Stewart for 3 years, $10 million per year

— Sign LB Andrew Van Ginkel for 2 years, $6.5 million per year

— Sign CB Kenny Moore for 2 years, $6.75 million per year

— Sign G Jon Runyan for 3 years, $6.67 million per year

— Sign WR Noah Brown for 2 years, $3.5 million per year

In this plan we see two linebackers who specialize in rushing the passer, which would fit nicely with Brian Flores’ dynamic shape-shifting defense. Along with those do-it-all LBs is Danielle Hunter bringing his double-digit sack machine back to Minnesota and monster defensive tackle Grover Stewart, who graded as the 22nd best DT by PFF last year to join forces with Harrison Phillips. Versatile cornerback Kenny Moore was 18th by PFF in 2023.

On the offensive side, a pass blocking guard is needed to protect Cousins. Runyan only gave up 21 pressures last year. Brown is a veteran with 76 catches over the past two seasons.

This approach would give the Vikings a much deeper pass rush and secondary than in the last few seasons and keep the offense in tact. The issue: These players will have robust markets. They may need to top these prices by a country mile on some free agents in order to convince them Minnesota is the place to be.

Plan 2: Go bold, go offense

In the Super Bowl we saw two excellent defenses throw haymakers at each other but the reality of the NFL in recent years is that only elite offenses get invited to championship weekend. With Cousins under center the Vikings have finished 19th, 8th, 11th, 14th, 8th and 22nd in scoring. If they want a ticket to the dance, it has to be better than that. How can they get there? By spending every last dime on offense and scraping together a few defensive helpers. Here’s what that would look like…

— Sign RB Saquon Barkley for 2 years, $11 million per year

— Sign WR Tyler Boyd for 2 years, $8.75 million per year

— Sign G Kevin Dotson for 4 years, $17.25 million per year

— Sign ED Carl Lawson for 1 year, $3.15 million

— Sign ED AJ Epenesa for 3 years, $6.75 million per year

— Sign DT DaQuan Jones for 1 year, $6 million

Who among Vikings fans hasn’t dreamed of a $17 million dollar guard? Dotson was the highest graded run blocker in the league by PFF in 2023. Add that together with one of the truly special running backs in the NFL and you have yourself an instantly scary run game to combine with a quality passing attack. Boyd got left behind a bit last season in the Cincinnati offense but he has been a key weapon for Joe Burrow in the past. With this offense the Vikings would have a realistic shot at pushing for the top five. On the defensive side they would need to take some longer shots and hope they worked out. The onus would have to be on Flores to draft/develop/scheme them to a quality defense again in 2024.

Without Cousins

Slow play it

If the Vikings draft a quarterback they could look at the 2025 free agency period as the time to go all-in because Cousins will still carry a $28 million dead cap hit in 2024. In that case they could aim for players in free agency who are under 27 years old who could have serious upside. It would be similar to landing Byron Murphy Jr. and Marcus Davenport last offseason — one of which worked out and the other did not. Here’s what that might look like…