How the National Media Graded the Vikings’ Free Agency So Far

Lots of love for the Vikings’ free agency moves

The Minnesota Vikings still have around $30 million in salary cap space for 2025, but after the first week of free agency, when most of the big moves are made, the national media has begun giving team grades for their free agency moves.

Here is how some of the major media outlets are grading the Vikings’ free agency so far:

Sporting News

Grade: A-

• Key additions: C Ryan Kelly, G Will Fries, DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave, CB Isaiah Rodgers, S Tavierre Thomas, RB Jordan Mason
• Key re-signings: S Harrison Smith, RB Aaron Jones, CB Byron Murphy Jr., P Ryan Wright
• Key losses: QB Sam Darnold, S Cam Bynum, QB Daniel Jones, QB Nick Mullens, TE Johnny Mundt, WR Trent Sherfield, EDGE Patrick Jones

The Vikings did a great job of balancing keeping the right guys and adding the newcomers for the right positions. Jones deserved to return after his fit in the offense, while Smith and Murphy returning offsets the expected loss of Bynum a bit. The unexpected coup was how much they bolstered their interior on both the offensive and defensive lines.

CBS Sports

Grade: A-

• Key additions: OG Will Fries, CB Isaiah Rodgers, C Ryan Kelly, DT Jonathan Allen, DT Javon Hargrave, RB Jordan Mason (via trade with 49ers)
• Key re-signings: RB Aaron Jones, CB Byron Murphy
• Key departures: QB Sam Darnold (Seahawks), S Camryn Bynum (Colts), QB Daniel Jones (Colts)

The Vikings left Day 1 with a “D” grade from us, but Tuesday was all about Minnesota. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah found a way to keep cornerback Byron Murphy in house on Monday night, then upgraded the trenches with former Colts Will Fries and Ryan Kelly on the offensive side, and a couple of veterans in Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave on defense. Adding Mason via trade with the 49ers as a nice complement who could help Jones stay healthy in his early thirties was a savvy move. With Daniel Jones now a Colt, it looks like J.J. McCarthy is going to be Minnesota’s QB1. He better be ready to live up to those first-round expectations, because the Vikings are doing a nice job building a team around him.

Pro Football Focus (PFF)

Grade: A+

S Harrison Smith

• 2024 PFF Grade: 67.7
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.11
• Contract: 1 year, $10.25 million
• PFF Projected Contract: 1 year, $7.5 million ($6 million guaranteed)
• PFF Deal Grade: Average

Thirteen seasons was not enough for Harrison Smith in Minnesota, as he is now set to return to the Vikings with a reworked deal. He notched yet another season of 1,000-plus defensive snaps in 2024, the sixth time he has achieved that in the past seven years. Smith recorded three interceptions and four forced incompletions during his latest campaign.

DI Javon Hargrave

• 2024 PFF Grade: 60.6
• 2024 PFF WAR: 0.04
• Contract: 2 years, $30 million ($19...