What will the Minnesota Vikings do to address their secondary this offseason? While the team faces multiple significant needs, particularly on the offensive line and at quarterback, they at least have some experience locked in at those positions.
However, their secondary is a whole different story—it’s looking bare, like that “Will Smith empty room” meme. Key free agents in the defensive backfield include safety Cam Bynum, cornerbacks Byron Murphy Jr., Stephon Gilmore, and Shaq Griffin. Additionally, iconic safety Harrison Smith is mulling retirement.
This could be a recurring theme as long as Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is in charge of the Vikings’ front office. While cornerback is an obvious need and Murphy is their best option for a top CB1, Adofo-Mensah is unlikely to pay him top-dollar market value to stay.
Other teams, like the Las Vegas Raiders, could offer more lucrative deals, pushing the Vikings to reconsider if they want to meet that price. If they don’t, Minnesota won’t chase a deal they don’t think is worth it.
As of now, the Vikings’ defensive backfield is looking quite thin. By Friday, only Josh Metellus, a hybrid safety, is returning after playing more than 30 defensive snaps last season. The list of defensive backs hitting free agency also includes backups like cornerback Fabian Moreau and safeties Theo Jackson and Bobby McCain, who played limited snaps in 2024. With these departures, it’s highly likely that Minnesota won’t head into next season with an entirely new secondary.
-
Byron Murphy Jr
One reason the Vikings remain open to bringing back Harrison Smith is because of his salary reduction. At 36, the future Hall of Famer might take a significant pay cut to remain with the team for one more season. Regardless of what Smith decides, GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah knows he will need to add more talent to the secondary for 2025. So, who are the Vikings most likely to bring back from their list of free-agent defensive backs?
The Vikings are reportedly prioritizing the return of cornerback Byron Murphy Jr., their 27-year-old CB1. Murphy had a standout year, with 81 tackles, 14 pass deflections, and 6 interceptions—ranking fifth in the NFL. He allowed just 4.6 receptions per game and 50.11 yards per game, while conceding only 4 touchdowns—among the best in the league. However, Murphy’s price tag might be a sticking point, with his expected annual value exceeding $20 million. That could be too steep for the Vikings, given their cap situation.
Leave a Reply