Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings could have taken several different paths to reconstruct their roster this offseason. With Pro Bowl quarterback Sam Darnold coming off a career-best season, some thought there would be no way the Vikings would allow their starter to leave in free agency.
Yet, that’s exactly what the Vikings did. Though once it became clear that Darnold would sign with the Seattle Seahawks, the Vikings pivoted to other plans, ones that allowed them to spend their newfound cap space.
The Vikings signed multiple big-name free agents to address their key needs. By doing so, the Vikings feel good about where their team stands heading into the 2025 NFL Draft, but not everyone around the league agrees.
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Minnesota Vikings blasted for ‘building team with old players’
Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings worked hard to fortify their trenches on both sides of the ball this offseason, adding players like Ryan Kelly, Will Fries, Javon Hargrave, and Jonathan Allen. Yet, three of those four starters are 30 or older, with Fries being the only 26-year-old of the bunch.
Those decisions have caused one anonymous NFL executive who spoke to The Athletic to suggest the Vikings are building their team wrong by investing in “old players.”
“You cannot build a team with old players, especially old players who have been cut because they were hurt,” the first exec said.
Unknown NFL front office executive
The Vikings have the least amount of draft capital in the 2025 NFL Draft, entering the three-day process with just four selections. Perhaps, signing proven players was their plan all along, knowing they may not get a huge contribution from their incoming rookie class. Now, we’ll all get a chance to see how it pays off.
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