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5 Free Agents the Vikings Should Sign on Wednesday
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- 5 Free Agents the Vikings Should Sign on Wednesday
Christopher Hanewinckel
The Minnesota Vikings have signed one external free agent so far this cycle: cornerback James Pierre from the Pittsburgh Steelers . The club has somewhere between $20 million and $30 million to spend after player releases and contractual restructures, so the money has to go somewhere — soon. These are five free agents that Minnesota should target.
The Vikings still have room to make a few smart additions.
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Most of the heavy-hitting free agents have found new teams, but Minnesota can strike on these players.
Numerous Logical Targets Remain for Minnesota in Free Agency
It's the quietest Vikings free agency to date since 2020.
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne Jr. (1) rushes through traffic while Indianapolis Colts defenders Zaire Franklin (44) and Nick Cross (20) close in during third-quarter action, with Dec 7, 2025 marking the matchup at EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville, Florida. Jacksonville secured a 36–19 victory as Etienne powered the ground attack. Mandatory Credit: Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union.
**Note: This list does not contain Kyler Murray because he's technically not a free agent.
1. Nick Cross | S
At 24 years old, Cross is projected to command $6–8 million per season on his next contract. While Pro Football Focus gave him a grade of only 59.8 in 2025, with a 50.4 in coverage and a 72.0 against the run, his earlier performance suggests greater potential.
Cross is a popular name in IDP fantasy football due to his knack for accumulating tackles and splash plays. Although his production dipped in 2025 as he adapted to a new defensive coordinator and shared the secondary with Camryn Bynum , his previous seasons offer a more encouraging outlook.
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From 2022 to 2024, Cross earned PFF grades of 56.5, 71.8, and 70.3, respectively. This upward trend indicates that the right defensive scheme could unlock his previous form. Brian Flores , known for favoring aggressive safeties who quickly attack downhill and excel with straightforward reads, could be the key to maximizing Cross' strengths.
Flores has a track record of revitalizing similar careers, as demonstrated by Eric Wilson 's resurgence in 2025 within his system. Give Cross a whirl.
2. Christian Kirk | WR
Kirk has missed 35% off all games in the last three seasons; he is not known for durability, at least not as of late.
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However, not long ago, the Arizona Cardinals employed Kirk, and he cooked with Kyler Murray, who may be the Vikings' next quarterback. The 29-year-old logged 77 receptions for 982 yards and 5 touchdowns with Murray's Cardinals in 2022, the springboard season and event that landed Kirk big money in Jacksonville the following season.
He won't cost much during the next wave of free agency — probably about $5 million per year — and Minnesota should onboard him for WR3 duty to replace Jalen Nailor , who signed with the Las Vegas Raiders .
As a matter of fact, Murray and Kirk are best friends. See: here .
3. Rachaad White | RB
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White is a pretty steady halfback — nothing too fancy, and his struggles are never long-lasting. He's 6'0 and 215 pounds with 4.48 speed. He can catch the ball out of the backfield. White can also block against the pass, ranking as a Top 20 tailback in the trait last season.
In 2023, with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , before the arrival of Bucky Irving , White produced 1,539 yards from scrimmage and 9 touchdowns. That's not very long ago, nor is White old at age 27. Irving later took over more of the workload, but White's recent output suggests that he would be a fine RB2 in Minnesota.
4. Ethan Pocic | C
Pocic is 30 and has an estimated market value of $8–12 million per year. PFF gave him an overall grade of 63.8 in 2025, with scores of 62.2 for pass protection and 63.2 for run blocking.
Cleveland Browns center Ethan Pocic (55) walks off the field following a loss to the San Francisco 49ers, with Nov 30, 2025 marking the game at Huntington Bank Field in Cleveland, Ohio. Pocic headed toward the sideline as players exited the field after the late-season matchup. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images.
The veteran center entered the NFL as a second-round pick in 2017 — the same draft that brought Dalvin Cook to Minnesota — and played out his first contract with the Seattle Seahawks before signing with the Cleveland Browns in 2022. His durability has been a concern throughout his career, though, as he tends to miss games each season due to injuries.
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If this trend continued in Minnesota, the Vikings would have sufficient depth to rely on, with players like Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens available as replacements.
5. Trevon Diggs | CB
Diggs's value has diminished after brief stints with the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers in recent months, making him a potential low-risk acquisition for a team seeking depth. Diggs has shown flashes of strong play since 2020, as reflected in his passer rating against.
Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs (7) celebrates with teammates after recording an interception during second-quarter action against the Philadelphia Eagles, with Nov 10, 2024 marking the matchup at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Diggs and the Cowboys defense reacted following the momentum-changing takeaway. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-Imagn Images.
In 2020, opposing quarterbacks had an 85.8 rating when targeting Diggs, which improved to 55.8 in 2021, before rising again to 86.1 in 2022. Injuries plagued his 2023 season, and while his rating was 85.3 in 2024, it spiked to 154.2 in 2025, albeit on only 22 targets. His PFF grades follow a similar trend: 62.7 in 2020, 58.5 in 2021, 67.6 in 2022, a 2023 season affected by injury, 56.6 in 2024, and 58.7 in the limited 2025 sample size.
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Entering 2026, the Minnesota Vikings boast a respectable cornerback unit comprised of Byron Murphy Jr. , Isaiah Rodgers , and newcomer James Pierre . Their collective health last season contributed to the defense's strong performance under Flores, ranking third in EPA per play . Nevertheless, depth remains a concern, and Diggs could immediately provide valuable experience to the secondary.
Signing Diggs would also ensure that Minnesota isn't forced to select a corner in Round 1 or 2 of April's draft.
