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The Smartest Free Agent Signings of the Kevin O’Connell Era
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- The Smartest Free Agent Signings of the Kevin O’Connell Era
Brad Rempel
When the Minnesota Vikings get to the summer, head coach Kevin O'Connell will have five offseasons under his belt, believe it or not. His one-time partner, former general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah , no longer works for the club. The show must go on. So, here's a look at the five best free-agent signings since 2022.
A look back at the O'Connell-era free-agent hits, ranked from fifth to best, and why each signing mattered to Minnesota's roster rebuild.
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At the moment, Minnesota doesn't have much spending money to spend on free agents for the future in 2026, but if there's a will, there's a way.
The Vikings' Best FA Adds under Kevin O'Connell
Ranked: The Vikings' top free agents of the O'Connell era (No. 1 = best signing).
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. celebrates after a defensive stop against the Detroit Lions on Dec. 25, 2025, at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, reacting in the second half of a divisional matchup inside the home dome. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images.
5. Byron Murphy Jr. | CB
Murphy Jr. had a quieter year in 2025 after reaching the Pro Bowl in 2024. But he's still a stellar performer, and thanks to him, the Vikings don't have an utter emergency at cornerback this offseason. They employ Murphy Jr. and Isaiah Rodgers , who did the trick in 2025, staying healthy for all 34 games between them.
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He's under contract through the end of 2027, but extension or restructuring talks, if applicable, will likely kick off during the 2027 offseason.
4. Blake Cashman | LB
As Cashman enters the final year of his $7.5 million-per-year contract, the Vikings must soon decide on his future. Extension talks appear likely, and interim GM Rob Brzezinski could secure a key defensive player by adding two years to Cashman's contract for approximately $20 million.
Cashman's performance justifies such a move. In 2025, he averaged 11.07 tackles per game. Projecting that average over a full 17-game season yields 188 tackles, the eighth-highest single-season total in NFL history . Although a four-game injury absence kept him out of the spotlight, his per-game production is remarkable.
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Despite his consistent play, Cashman's season went largely unnoticed on the national radar and even by some dedicated Vikings fans. Within the organization, however, his range and reliability were evident each week.
Cashman displays the qualities of a long-term defensive cornerstone. His statistics, schematic fit, and leadership potential all suggest that Minnesota could be his home for years to come. Plus, he's from Eden Prairie. A hometowner.
3. Andrew Van Ginkel | OLB
Van Ginkel is a machine, making a name for himself early in his Vikings tenure as a pick-six merchant , so much so that his batted-pass-interception-touchdown routine feels like a finishing move from Mortal Kombat 30 years ago.
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All told, he's logged 133 total tackles in Minnesota, 18.5 sacks, and 32 quarterback hits. His versatility as an outside linebacker is incredible, and he plays so efficiently that it's tricky to get Dallas Turner on the field, at times, because Van Ginkel is "too good."
Minnesota rewarded Van Ginkel with a fat $23 million contract extension nine months ago.
Turner said about Van Ginkel in January, "I learned a lot of football from Andrew Van Ginkel. I feel like I learned the most just by watching him day in and day out, just being around and seeing how he handles his business, and the attention to detail he really is on the football player."
"You have guys like that on the defensive side of the ball, you can look at them as like a coach in a way, because you know all the knowledge, the high football IQ he has, and honestly, it's a blessing to be a sponge on this defense."
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2. Sam Darnold | QB
Once upon a time, Darnold tossed 35 touchdown passes for the Vikings before capitulating in the two games of 2024 when his team needed him the most. Minnesota bet on McCarthy over Darnold's disappearing act, and Minnesota lost.
Darnold signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seattle Seahawks one year ago, and this phrase was designed for situations like this: the rest is history.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold scans downfield during the first quarter against the Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 22, 2024, at Lumen Field in Seattle, setting his feet in the pocket before delivering a pass in a late-season NFC contest. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images.
He won a Super Bowl with the Seahawks, primarily powered by the NFL's best defense, but Darnold delivered this time when his team called upon him in the playoffs and Super Bowl .
Next to the Herschel Walker and Randy Moss trades, letting Darnold leave for nothing will remain one of the largest gaffes in Vikings history — unless McCarthy turns into a Top 5 quarterback in the next two seasons.
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The new goal is to find or develop a quarterback who can merely hope to post 2024 Darnold numbers.
1. Jonathan Greenard | OLB
Greenard had big shoes to fill — replacing Danielle Hunter , who has since thrived after joining his hometown Houston Texans in 2024.
The 2025 campaign wasn't as dazzling for Greenard as the 2024 season, but he remains a Top 20 EDGE rusher in the business. He's logged 15 sacks in 29 games with the Vikings, earning $19 million per year, which is a bargain for a dominant outside linebacker.
Minnesota Vikings linebackers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew van Ginkel celebrate after a defensive play against the Dallas Cowboys on Dec. 14, 2025, at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, responding in the first half of an interconference matchup. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images.
Greenard also stops the run, a perk because some EDGEs are one-trick ponies. The 28-year-0ld will hope for a bounceback season in 2026, looking to notch double-digit sacks once again.
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He's under contract through the end of 2027, though his guaranteed cash flow has run out. The Vikings could actually extend his contract this offseason. Look for that to be a talking point after the club gets over the hump of free agency.
