The 2023 NFL Draft and free agency are behind us, and now OTAs are in full swing. 

The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to win the NFC North for the second consecutive season. However, oddsmakers are favoring the Detroit Lions to win the division. 

Several Vikings' players are entering a contract year, and their futures could depend on the outcome of the 2023 season. Today, I wanted to take a look at three players who could be entering their final season in the Twin Cities. 

TE TJ Hockenson

Hockenson arrived in Minnesota from Detroit at the 2022 NFL trade deadline and immediately transformed the team. 

Hockenson ended the 2022 season with 86 catches for 914 yards and 6 TDs. The veteran tight end is entering the final season of his contract in 2023 and may play himself out of Minnesota. 

Hockenson's market value is projected to be around $14M on the market, which could be too rich for Minnesota. The Vikings also just invested in Josh Oliver with a three-year, $21M contract. 

The Oliver deal is expensive for an insurance policy, so perhaps the team is preparing for Hockenson's departure instead. 

EDGE Danielle Hunter

It seems like a foregone conclusion that Hunter will be playing elsewhere in 2024. 

The veteran pass-rusher had a productive 2022 season, collecting 10.5 sacks. However, the veteran has a hefty cap hit and has battled inconsistency and injury. 

Now that June 1 has passed, the Vikings would only get hit with a $7.6M dead cap hit if Hunter is traded. If the vet would have been moved before June, the team would have faced a massive $18.8M dead cap hit. 

Ultimately, I believe the Vikings want to compete in 2023, so keeping Hunter for one more season seems like the most likely route. I would not expect the veteran to be re-signed after 2023, as the team could be entering a new phase. 

QB Kirk Cousins

This is the big one. 

Cousins' future probably depends entirely on the 2023 season. If the team repeats as division champs, it would likely be hard to justify letting the veteran signal-caller leave. 

However, the reset button could be pushed if the team misses the playoffs. The team drafted former BYU QB Jaren Hall in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, and the former Cougar could get a chance to start next season if things go south. 

The Vikings could also be looking to get in on what could be a historically-great QB class in 2024. 

Cousins is set to make $35M in 2023, and Spotrac projects the veteran will receive a raise with his next contract. Would the Vikings pony up $43M annually for Cousins? Short of a playoff run, I just cannot see the team committing that much cash to the QB. 

Final Thoughts: Much of what the Vikings decide to do next offseason will depend on how the 2023 season goes. If the team misses the playoffs, I doubt the front office will spend heavily to retain veteran free agents. 

Featured image via © Jeff Hanisch | 2023 Jan 1