Recently released All-Pro could help Vikings fortify major need while also maximizing future assets
Trying to find players to fill needs in free agency is a task that's simple in theory, but can be very difficult to piece together. Your targets will also be targets for teams across the league and that can make things difficult. The Minnesota Vikings are going to be active players when it comes to […]
Trying to find players to fill needs in free agency is a task that's simple in theory, but can be very difficult to piece together. Your targets will also be targets for teams across the league and that can make things difficult.
The Minnesota Vikings are going to be active players when it comes to free agency. They currently have just over $63 million in salary cap space and room to add more if they so choose via extensions or restructures.
Needless to say, the Vikings will be aggressive in trying to improve their roster in 2025 and one way they can do so could maximize their future.
Darius Slay could help fix Vikings secondary
The secondary is the one position group that needs the most work this offseason. They have four of their starting six players set to hit free agency with Harrison Smith's status also up in the air. The goal is going to be to find more long-term solutions to fixing the position, but finding players that can help in 2025 will also be somewhat of a focus.
Monday morning brought the news that former All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay is set to be released by the Philadelphia Eagles.
Slay, 34, is coming off of arguably his worst season in years. He played in 14 games without an interception for the first time since his rookie season in 2013 and has visibly slowed down somewhat. He was a starter on the Eagles' Super Bowl champion team this past year, but was overshadowed by rookies Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.
The idea of bringing in a cornerback that is in decline isn't new to the Vikings. They've been doing that for decades, including last year when they signed Stephon Gilmore to be a mercenary cornerback right before the season started. Slay did allow just 51.7% of passes sent his way to be completed for 553 yards and four touchdowns. Pretty solid numbers, especially for someone you likely wouldn't ask to be the top cornerback on your team.
Signing Slay would likely be for a contract similar to the one-year, $7 million contract the Vikings gave to Gilmore last August. Doing so would also be really good from a future assets perspective.
Because Slay was released from his team, that both makes him an unrestricted free agent and ineligible for the compensatory pick formula. General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah did that last offseason when he was aggressive in targeting Aaron Jones.
Having compensatory picks is huge when it comes to the NFL Draft. It's going to play a major factor this year with only having four draft picks. Playing the game is a smart move, something the Baltimore Ravens have done forever.
Slay isn't going to be a massive difference-maker, but he could be a solid asset when it comes to piecing together a really good defense in 2025.
Vikings reportedly broke league rule that every team does at NFL Scouting Combine trying to improve their roster for 2025
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