The Vikings’ Combine Update: “Expect a Flurry of Activity”

Word on the street is that Minnesota is planning on getting frisky in free agency. Put differently, the Vikings’ Combine update is that Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is going to onboard some meaningful talent next week.

Consider the update that arrives courtesy of The Athletic’s Alec Lewis: “The two most interesting targets are guard Will Fries and defensive tackle Milton Williams. Secure one of those players, and the Vikings will immediately strengthen the trenches, which is a primary offseason focus. Miss out on both players, and Minnesota will adapt with more money to spend at different spots. Simply put: Expect a flurry of activity.”

The Vikings’ Combine Update

That’s not all Lewis had to say.

Consider the thoughts he passed along in a paragraph before the one included above: “The Vikings are going to be active when free agency begins next week. They need reinforcements on the interior of the offensive line, the interior of the defensive line, at cornerback and elsewhere. They also have more than $60 million in cap space. The market will be competitive, but Minnesota will be squarely in the mix for some premium options.”

More important than Lewis’ words are the recent ones from GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.

“We got some ability to improve, not just in free agency and the draft, and those are connected things […] We know what we need to improve,” the GM explained.

Adofo-Mensah goes on: “I can tell you that what I know about this organization, when Kevin and I are in charge that we’re going to be intentional about attacking the things we need to get better at, that’s not going to just be one thing. We’re going to really aggressively attack it cause we believe in turning potential weakness into strength. That’s how we’re going to approach the offseason.”

So, a bold promise from the top executive. He doesn’t intend on being passive.

The pair of names that Lewis mentions — guard Will Fries and defensive tackle Milton Williams — appear to be strong fits, but there’s reason to be skeptical about adding the Colts interior o-lineman. So far, Adofo-Mensah hasn’t shown much willingness to spend huge money on the iOL, instead preferring to find value at those spots while spending top dollar on his tackles.

Meanwhile, the GM’s tendency has been to try upside options at 3T — Ross Blacklock and Jerry Tillery come to mind, and to a lesser extent Dean Lowry — but that’s an approach that hasn’t worked out particularly well. He has given some reasonably hefty money to run-stuffer Harrison Phillips and one wonders if he’ll do the same for a pass-rush specialist to line up next to Horrible Harry.

Consider, as well, that there are needs scattered across the roster. Re-signing internal options like running back Aaron Jones and corner Byron Murphy Jr. would do much to assuage concerns, but there’s still more work to be done. Does Minnesota land top-tier options like corner D.J. Reed, safety Jevon Holland, and/or center Drew Dalman?

The Vikings are only projected to have four draft picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, so there’s only so much that can be done in that phase of the talent acquisition process. The team’s most ample resource is cap space, currently sitting at roughly $63 million.

Last season, Minnesota finished the season with the NFL’s 9th-best offense by averaging 25.4 points per game and the NFL’s 5th-best defense by allowing an average of 19.5 points against per game. The record was elite, finishing up at 14-3, but the team flopped in the opening round of the playoffs. Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah are thus 0-2 in the postseason since taking over.

Legal tampering begins on Monday, March 10th. Look for the Vikings to again be aggressive, confirming the words from Lewis and the GM himself.

Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.

K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on social media (Bluesky & Twitter). If you feel so inclined, subscribe to his Substack, The Vikings Gazette, for more great Vikings content.