The Minnesota Vikings began free agency with 20 men ready to hit the open market (dating back to February, when the franchise re-signed Khiris Tonga and Blake Brandel).
Some joined other clubs, with Eric Kendricks (LB, Chargers), Patrick Peterson (CB, Steelers) and Dalvin Tomlinson (DT, Browns) re-signing 11 men.
These 7 Vikings free agents remain unsigned
Here’s who’s left to either rejoin the Vikings or find their next home for an NFL job:
1. Chris Boyd (CB)
A member of the Vikings for four years so far, Boyd looks like a candidate to return before the season is over, especially for his flamboyant special teams contributions.
But as of March 17, there are crickets in Boyd’s free agency. The man is 26 years old and has to sign somewhere soon.
In 2022, Boyd played 82% of all Vikings special teams snaps. Assuming he comes back in purple is relatively safe.
2. Jonathan Bullard (DL)
Bullard joined the Vikings last offseason and somehow worked his way up the depth chart as a starter for most of 2022 before getting injured. But like the Vikings’ long list of defensive tackles since early draft capital was used on Sharif Floyd in 2013, Bullard felt like a placeholder at DT.
The Vikings then signed Dean Lowry from the Green Bay Packers, likely ending Bullard’s brief tenure in Minnesota.
3. Bissie Johnson (WR)
NFL Network Ian Rapoport on Twitter Thursday“Former Vikings WR Bisi Johnson is flying out today to visit the Patriots,” a source said. A young WR with upside, he missed all of last season with an injury.”
Johnson has missed back-to-back seasons with ACL tears both of them knees is definitely scary and probably not a priority for the Vikings front office to re-sign.
He has not yet signed a contract with the aforementioned Patriots, but we will see.
4. Duke Shelley (CB)
One fan hits the table loudly.
Shelley was the NFL’s fourth-best cornerback in 2022, according to the data Pro Football Focus:, so why wouldn’t the team re-sign him to an affordable deal? That’s a given by many Vikings fans at this point.
A Minnesota CBI room isn’t exactly a robbery, which means Shelley’s reunion makes all the sense in the world. Shelley tweeted this Friday:
It really isn’t to scream “Viking Reunion”.
5. Irv Smith (TE)
Smith was supposed to “catch up” for the Vikings in about four different years and it never happened. Then, according to SpotracThe Alabama graduate will be paid $10 million per season on his next contract.
It didn’t happen either.
Some teams will listen to Smith for 2023, but it won’t be the Vikings, a team with five tight ends on the roster.
6. Chandon Sullivan (CB)
The guy who missed two touchdowns in the same game last year remains a free agent. Sullivan had an up-and-down season in 2022 and may not be important to re-sign in a defense led by Brian Flores. It probably would have happened by now.
Sullivan told reporters about starting his second year at Minnesota on March 8, “Of course. I love the city. I love the team, the fans. So we’ll just see what happens. I understand it’s a business.”
7. Adam Thielen (WR)
The beloved former Viking is taking his time, weighing his options. He met with “Carolina Panthers” a few days ago, but he did not leave under the contract.
Check out rival teams like the Kansas City Chiefs or Buffalo Bills for Thielen’s next stop. Even the Cleveland Browns make sense with Thielen’s ties to Kevin Stefanski.
Thielen and Irv Smith are probably the two players who are “sure” on the roster no Go back.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube channel, VikesNow:. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday Raun Sauh and: Sal Spice:. His Viking obsession dates back to 1996. Guilty pleasures mentioned: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, The Sopranos and The Doors (band).
All statistics are provided Pro Football Reference / Stathead:; All contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.