This past week and a half have been a rollercoaster as a Vikings fan. Starting with the Eric Kendricks release through the Alexander Mattison re-signing, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has kept fans on the edge of their seats. The league as a whole has been no less crazy. While plenty of moves are still to come, let’s take stock of where the Vikings find themselves just a day removed from the start of the free-agency signing period.
Eric Kendricks
Though this move could have been seen from a mile away, it is still a tough one to swallow. Last Monday, the Vikings cut Kendricks, in a move that saved the team $9.5 million. For the first time in eight seasons, the Vikings will enter the season without Kendricks in the locker room. From a leadership perspective, losing Kendricks is a huge blow to the team. He was one of the team’s three defensive captains this past season and one of the keystones of the defense. However, from a production perspective, his release was the best move for the team, especially if he was not willing to take a pay cut. As painful as it will be to see him playing for the Chargers next season, this was the right move for a team needing some serious changes on the defensive side of the ball.
Adam Thielen
Another predictable, yet unfortunate, release. Thielen’s release saved the team $6.4 million in cap space. The ten-year undrafted veteran has yet to sign with another team, though it will not be long until a team takes a chance on the receiver. Thielen’s drop-off in production the last few years has been substantial and the team could not justify keeping him on his gaudy contract when K.J. Osborn has been able to do the same for much less money. The receiver spot opposite Justin Jefferson is now open for the taking. My vote goes to K.J. Osborn over a rookie or a free agent (even Courtland Sutton). K.J. is ready to take a step up and fill Thielen’s shoes, he has shown some impressive flashes and enough potential to thrive in an offense where Jefferson and Hockenson draw a lot of attention. The offense will be unaffected by Thielen’s release, though it is tough to see him go.
Josh Oliver
If you do not recognize that name, you are not alone. On Monday, when the Vikings signed Josh Oliver to a three-year, $21 million deal, I am sure plenty of fans took to Google to find out who the Vikings signed. Oliver is a 25-year-old tight end who played for the Ravens over the last two years of his career, primarily as a blocker. Last year he totaled 14 catches for 149 yards and a touchdown. Oliver is not what anybody expected from the Vikings’ first free-agency signing. Though he will not be much of a threat in the passing game, he should be able to open up holes for Mattison and (possibly) Cook in the ground game. He figures to slot in as a 2014-16 version of Rhett Ellison for the team. In 2022, Oliver finished as the eighth-best tight end in the league according to PFF. So while this may seem like a random, senseless signing, it could provide a lot of value on the offensive side of the ball, especially in the run game. He could be an even more valuable piece if the team decides to make a run at Lamar Jackson.
Byron Murphy Jr.
This signing is why Vikings fans love Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. After releasing Cam Dantzler and losing Patrick Peterson to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Vikings signed a young, talented corner who is brimming with potential. Murphy will go a long way in starting to rebuild a secondary that has not been good in a long time. The 25-year-old is coming off a five-interception season with the Arizona Cardinals. He will slot in as the team’s top corner with Andrew Booth Jr. and Duke Shelley next in line. The Vikings still have some distance to go before completely repairing the secondary, however, signing Byron Murphy Jr. to a two-year $17.5 million deal was a huge step in the right direction. If the Vikings can snag a top corner prospect with the 23rd pick in the draft, this defense could be well on its way to competence under Brian Flores in 2023.
Vikings fans have been on the edge of their seats the past week and a half and will stay there until the draft at the end of April. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is cleaning house (keep an eye on Dalvin Cook), however, he is making smart moves that should provide for a solid 2023 season that could parlay into a 2024 season when the Vikings could be extremely dangerous with a new quarterback. The moves above, as well as the Marcus Davenport, Garrett Bradbury, and Alexander Mattison signings indicate that things are going in the right direction this offseason.
