Minnesota Vikings still need veteran depth players to round out the roster, and the options are plentiful

There are still a few interesting options on the table for the Vikings.

Tyler Forness — NFL & College Football News Writer
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Dec 14, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.
Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images

Going into the 2026 season, the Minnesota Vikings have a lot of holes to fill on their roster. As things currently stand, the Vikings have 63 players on the roster with slightly over $5 million in salary cap space. With the International Pathway Player exemption, the Vikings still have 28 roster spots to fill.

They will have a projected nine draft picks, meaning they still need to add a whopping 19 players from both free agency and the UDFA process. There are still too many holes in their depth chart. They will have to do some bargain bin shopping. There are still some interesting options out there.

Minnesota Vikings free agency targets

WR Zay Jones

The WR3 job for the Vikings should get more attention. Tai Felton is certainly a candidate for the job, but he shouldn’t be given it after not being very impressive during his rookie season. Getting him competition should be a priority, and finding a player who has connections to Kyler Murray.

Jones isn’t going to be a sexy option for the Vikings, but he has experience in multiple seasons with Murray and can play in multiple roles on offense. He won’t be a true difference maker, but he can catch 30 passes and be an asset.

DT D.J. Reader

One of the better nose tackles in the NFL is Reader. He broke out with the Cincinnati Bengals from 2020-2023, and has been an impactful run stuffer throughout his career. He spent the last two seasons with the Detroit Lions, and took a slight step back. Even going into his age 32 season, Reader is a capable run stuffer in the middle and he can come at a nice discount that the Vikings need.

S Kyle Dugger

The two things that defensive coordinator Brian Flores has shown to prioritize in the safety room are intelligence and versatility. Dugger hasn’t had the strongest couple of seasons, but he can maximize the versatility element that the Vikings love. Last year, Dugger played 418 snaps at free safety and 270 snaps in the box, fitting the profile they absolutely love to have. Is Dugger past his prime? It’s certainly possible after the New England Patriots cut him mid-season, but at the veteran minimum, it’s worth a shot.

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