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Which Big Roster Moves Should the Vikings Have Left?
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- Which Big Roster Moves Should the Vikings Have Left?
Jeffrey Becker
The heavy lifting of the Minnesota Vikings ' roster construction is undoubtedly in the rearview, as free agency passed in March and the NFL Draft wrapped up in late April. So, we ask — what's next?
Minnesota's splashy offseason is finished, but summer maintenance could still shape the 2026 roster.
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The summer will bring more roster maintenance, and if the news is big, you can expect these items.
Veteran Decisions Still Hover over Minnesota
Ranking the Vikings' possible roster moves in ascending order (No. 1 = most probable roster tweak).
Minnesota Vikings cornerback Fabian Moreau lines up during an NFC Wild Card matchup against the Los Angeles Rams at State Farm Stadium. Moreau appeared in postseason action on Jan. 13, 2025, while contributing valuable depth to Minnesota's secondary during a playoff run that tested the Vikings' cornerback room against an explosive Rams passing attack. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
4. A Fabian Moreau Reunion?
Moreau's 2025 season proved crucial for the Vikings, who desperately needed reliable depth at cornerback. Beyond Byron Murphy Jr. , Minnesota's cornerback situation was precarious entering the year. Isaiah Rodgers offered potential, Jeff Okudah was an unproven project, and both Dwight McGlothern and rookie Zemaiah Vaughn were largely unproven. A single injury threatened to expose a significant weakness.
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Sure enough, Okudah suffered an early-season concussion. And then a second — in addition to playing poorly. The Vikings turned to Moreau over McGlothern, a decision that paid off handsomely. Moreau delivered dependable play, earning a 70.9 Pro Football Focus grade and allowing a mere 47.4 passer rating on 19 targets.
The key was that the Vikings didn't need a superstar. They simply required an experienced outside corner who could maintain discipline, prevent coverage breakdowns, and stabilize a vulnerable position group. Moreau delivered precisely that.
His 2025 performance also puts him in contention for a role in 2026. At 32, veteran outside corners capable of reliably contributing as a CB3 or CB4 remain highly valued. Teams seeking dependable secondary depth could do far worse than a player who quietly solidified Minnesota's shaky unit in a critical moment.
If the Vikings want one more depth CB behind Murphy Jr., Rodgers, newcomer veteran James Pierre , and rookie Charles Demmings, adding Moreau should be a no-brainer. Ex-Vikings skipper Mike Zimmer used to say about cornerbacks, "They always get hurt."
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3. Brian O'Neill Extension
O'Neill is likely the Vikings' highest priority for a contract extension. He is set to hit free agency in 2027, and the Vikings will want to avoid uncertainty surrounding one of their most reliable players. A new deal, offering additional guaranteed money, would be mutually beneficial.
He remains the Vikings' most reliable offensive lineman and has held that honor for about seven years. The longtime Viking has performed at a high level and maintained his health for years. While he will soon turn 31, offensive tackles generally sustain their performance longer than players at other, more physically demanding positions, and O'Neill has shown no signs of decline.
For a team aiming to stabilize its offense, particularly amidst an uncertain quarterback situation, retaining O'Neill should be a straightforward decision.
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NFL writer Dave Holcomb on O'Neill : "O'Neill will have about a $23.12 million cap hit for the 2026 season. The Vikings might not want to agree to a deal that gives the team that kind of cap charge for a 30-plus-year-old right tackle. If O'Neill doesn't prove to be as good as ever in 2026, the Vikings could allow the veteran to test free agency."
"Last season, O'Neill earned an 81.6 overall grade at Pro Football Focus. He excelled at both run and pass blocking for the fourth consecutive season. O'Neill has posted good to great grades overall (along in both run and pass blocking) every season since 2019. So unless O'Neill has a sudden downturn in 2026, the right tackle has earned another extension with the Vikings."
2. An Extra Outside Linebacker
There's a chance that the Vikings — mainly Brian Flores — drafted Cincinnati inside linebacker Jake Golday to perform "Andrew Van Ginkel-like" duties in his defense. If so, an OLB3 won't be needed for the regular season. However, leaving that responsibility to a rookie leaves a lot to chance.
Los Angeles Rams linebacker Leonard Floyd waits for the snap during a divisional matchup against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Floyd took the field on Dec. 13, 2021, while continuing one of the most productive stretches of his NFL career as a disruptive pass rusher for the Rams' aggressive defensive front. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports.
The Vikings are in this predicament because they traded Jonathan Greenard to the Philadelphia Eagles . Until late April, outside linebacker was Minnesota's claim to fame, its deepest roster spot. Now, though, an extra EDGE could soothe anxiety.
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The free-agent list looks like this as of May 20th — if Golday is not the immediate answer:
1. The Harrison Smith Announcement?
The Vikings haven't played a regular season game without Smith somewhere under contract since 2011. Yes, it's been 15 years, the dawn of the Leslie Frazier era. That's how weird Vikings football will feel on September 13th if Smith does not return.
Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith surveys the field during a primetime road matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Smith played on Sep. 14, 2023, while continuing his long-running role as the emotional and strategic centerpiece of Minnesota's secondary during another season under defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports.
Smith once joked that when he was done playing, people simply wouldn't hear from him anymore. Perhaps that's unfolding in real time? His way of retiring is by saying nothing?
Still, over the next few months, there should be some clarity on Smith. If Smith were done with football, wouldn't he have said so a bit more expressly? Vikings fans need return-or-retirement finality from Smith.
