Harrison Smith Kevin O'Connell Minnesota Vikings
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Head coach Kevin O'Connell of the Minnesota Vikings greets Harrison Smith #22 of the Minnesota Vikings.
The Minnesota Vikings haven’t made much noise in free agency. That is, of course, other than the signing of QB Kyler Murray for the veteran minimum.
The only other signing the team made was for Steelers CB James Pierre. The sneaky signing of James Pierre is a great depth move for a cornerback-needy team. Though the corner depth has been added, there are still numerous holes around the team as a whole.
Pro Football Focus has revealed their take as to which positions the Vikings still need to pay attention to.
Vikings’ Remaining Positions of Need
Brian O'Neill, J.J. McCarthy, and Ryan Kelly
GettyCHICAGO, ILLINOIS – SEPTEMBER 08: J.J. McCarthy #9 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates with Brian O’Neill #75 and Ryan Kelly #78 after a touchdown in the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on September 08, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
According to PFF, Minnesota is still ultra-needy at three main positions; center, safety, and defensive interior.
They explained their choices for the positions.
“The Vikings have seen an exodus of veteran defensive tackles lately, leaving them with just Jalen Redmond as a reliable starter. Redmond was also their only interior player to earn at least a 60.0 PFF run-defense grade that season, so Minnesota could opt for defenders in the draft who can improve upon that.
Ryan Kelly’s retirement also brings ambiguity to the Vikings’ center position if they choose to lean away from incumbents Blake Brandel and Michael Jurgens. Lastly, Harrison Smith’s potential retirement would leave a leadership void at safety, though the team could feasibly survive with Josh Metellus and Theo Jackson still in the fold.”
The Vikings do await a decision on the going-forward of Harrison Smith. Smith is technically not currently a Minnesota Viking, although there is a chance he returns to the team instead of opting for retirement.
Blake Brandel would be a fine fill-in at center, but it is also likely that the Vikings value him more in a “sixth-man” type of role, filling in when needed on the offensive line.
Minnesota’s Offseason Gets Blunt Evaluation
Minnesota Vikings; Kyler Murray
GettyGLENDALE, ARIZONA – OCTOBER 19: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals looks on against the Green Bay Packers at State Farm Stadium on October 19, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
Pro Football Focus recently gave a blunt evaluation of the Vikings’ offseason to this point. They gave Minnesota a “B” letter grade for the signings of Kyler Murray and James Pierre.
They elaborated on the acquisition of Kyler Murray.
“After a trying 2025 season that saw Murray play just five games, he lands in an ideal landing spot with the Vikings.
Murray hasn’t been as dynamic over the last three years with a 74.3 PFF passing grade, tossing 48 big-time throws compared to 43 turnover-worthy plays, but he’s still a high-ceiling starter who should push J.J. McCarthy. If Murray plays like peak form, this will look like an absolute bargain.”
They also spoke on the acquisition of James Pierre.
“Pierre looked really good in limited work in 2025, earning an 86.2 PFF overall grade on 408 snaps, so this is a worthwhile swing of the bat for the Vikings. It’s a bigger contract than PFF was projecting, but even if all he is is a good depth player, it’s a perfectly reasonable signing.
The upside is that if Pierre can continue to improve, as we saw this past season, the Vikings could be getting a starting-caliber cornerback for a steal.”
Pierre has spent most of his career with the Pittsburgh Steelers, with his stints there sandwiching a season spent in Washington in 2024.