Vikings Writers Offer 6 Unexpected Free Agent Targets for the Vikings

Well, the Vikings writers have spoken.

NFL free agency can be a crazy time, full of swirling action that involves players arriving and departing faster than planes at MSP. At times, the deals are relatively easy to foresee, such as when the Vikings expressed interest in edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. Other times, though, involve a surprise.

To that end, I sought out some opinions from the folks who cover the Vikings for PurplePTSD and Vikings Territory. I passed along this prompt: “Back in March of 2023, the Vikings made an unexpected move by signing tight end Josh Oliver in free agency. Looking ahead to March of 2025, can you identify an unexpected free agent the Vikings may look to sign? Explain the rationale in a sentence or two.”

Consider their responses below.

Vikings Writers & The Unexpected FA Players

Dustin Baker Prediction:
Robert Spillane, Linebacker

The Vikings sign LB Robert Spillane. Off-ball linebacker is not an enormous priority, at least with needs like CB, iDL, iOL, and RB at the forefront. But Spillane crossed paths with Brian Flores in Pittsburgh during the 2022 season. And to bolster the linebacker room, Minnesota will sign Spillane to a one- or two-year deal. The guy can play. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah adds a veteran linebacker every offseason, and this time, it’ll be Spillane.

Janik Eckardt Prediction:
Dre Greenlaw, Linebacker

The Vikings employ Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr., so they don’t really need another starting linebacker. However, Greenlaw’s three-down presence would allow Brian Flores to use Pace at what he does best: as a blitzer.

Cole Smith Prediction:
Mike Gesicki, Tight End

I think the Vikings once again shock us with a TE2 in free agency, signing Mike Gesicki. The former 42nd overall pick has lined up in the slot on 61.7% of his snaps in his career. Although he’ll be 30 in October, he still showed he can be an asset in the passing game in 2024, catching 65 passes for 665 yards on 523 plays. He would be a cheaper, more productive option to Josh Oliver if the team were to move on from him.

Brevan Bane Prediction:
Stefon Diggs, Wide Receiver

The bridge that separates Diggs and the Vikings may seem burned but the aging WR reaffirmed his gratitude for the Vikings before his Texans faced off with them at U.S. Bank Stadium in 2024, and there resides a whole new regime than the one that traded him to Buffalo. Minnesota needs a legitimate WR3, and at this stage of his career and coming off of a torn ACL, that might just be what Diggs is now.

Josh Frey Prediction:
Baron Browning, EDGE

Last year proved that the Vikings are not afraid of stacking talent off the edge, and at 26 years old, there is plenty of juice left to squeeze out of Baron Browning. It’s also worth noting that Browning began his career as an off-ball linebacker, which very well could be a depth need for the Vikings this year, before converting to the edge in 2022.

K. Joudry Prediction:
DeAndre Hopkins, Wide Receiver

For a time, one of the preeminent receivers in the NFL. He’s older now but still possesses great size and compete. Putting him alongside Minnesota’s loaded group of pass catchers would mean having plenty of room to operate. Being a chain mover and touchdown scorer would help J.J. McCarthy to acclimate to life in the NFL.

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.