Several Minnesota Vikings players may be facing their last season with the team as they approach free agency in 2026. The performance of key veterans will significantly impact their future in Minnesota.
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There have been many changes to the Vikingsâ roster this offseason, but here, letâs fast forward a year and look at what might be in store for us.
The futures of head coach Kevin OâConnell and defensive coordinator Brian Flores could well come under scrutiny again, depending on how the 2026 season goes. However, here I am just looking at players, particularly players who have had or could have this season, important roles on the team, and are due to hit free agency next year.
There is a case to be made that these players should be allowed to leave when that happens.
We start with the big name and the most difficult to replace should he move on: Brian OâNeill. The stalwart right tackle has sured up the right side of the Vikingsâ offensive line for the past eight seasons since being drafted in the second round of the 2018 draft by Minnesota.
I donât expect OâNeillâs play to drop off a cliff suddenly, but he will be 32 next September, and recent activity shows the Vikings have been parting ways with expensive veterans and getting younger on the roster.
Nov 24, 2022; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; offensive tackle Brian OâNeill (75) celebrates the win after the game against the New England Patriots at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports.
The article discusses several veteran players on the Vikings roster who may be entering their final year with the team as they approach free agency.
Kevin OâConnell's future with the Vikings could depend on the team's performance during the 2026 season.
Players due to hit free agency next year could significantly alter the Vikings' roster and team dynamics for the 2026 season.
Veteran players are expected to have important roles this season, which will be crucial for their future with the team.

El CĂĄdiz empata 1-1 en CastellĂłn y se mantiene fuera del descenso una semana mĂĄs.
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With that in mind, do the Vikings offer OâNeill another big, multi-year contract? An extension to help solve the teamâs salary cap problems was an option early in the offseason, but that wasnât taken. OâNeill could still get one before this season starts, or they could wait and see how his ninth season with the team pans out. If he has an exceptional year, a new contract can be offered; if he has a down or injury-hit season, the team has an out.
Blake Brandel has done everything on the Vikings OL during his five seasons with the team. He is set to start Year 6 as the teamâs starting center, a position he had never played before filling in for Ryan Kelly last season. Many expected the Vikings to bring in a new starting center after Kelly confirmed his retirement, but that didnât happen. Seventh-round rookie Gavin Gerhardt is the only new addition at the position.
Brandel may turn out to be a success at center, but I didnât see much evidence of that in his time playing there last season. If the move doesnât work out, it could spell the end of Brandelâs time in Minnesota, with Ryan Van Demark signing in free agency and Caleb Tiernan drafted in the third round, taking up his role as swing tackle/interior cover.
One of the stories of the Vikingsâ offseason was the potential retirement of Harrison Smith and his replacement after over a decade as the Vikingsâ best safety. We still await official confirmation, but as it stands, the job could be Jay Wardâs. His development has been slow and steady, and in the last year of his rookie contract, he could be about to get his chance. He has to take it, or he will likely be out the door next year.
The rise of the undrafted Ivan Pace was one of the success stories of 2023 in Minnesota. It seems like the linebacker peaked in his rookie season, and the issues that led to his going undrafted were never fully resolved. Pace is small for the position, and despite being explosive coming downhill, he misses too many tackles.
Minnesota Vikings linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. (0) tracks the play and stays engaged defensively during a postseason matchup Jan 13, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, as Minnesota battles the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC Wild Card game with Pace active around the ball throughout the high-stakes playoff setting. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images.
With a second-round pick spent on Jake Golday, Pace could potentially go from a former starter down to fourth choice on the depth chart. He will need to earn a new contract for next year on the field, but unless there are injuries to the players ahead of him, he might not get much of a chance.
It looked like the Vikings and Aaron Jones were set to part ways this offseason, but the two sides agreed to a reduced deal that kept Jones in Minnesota. It will be one last run for Jones with the Vikings, not about to give him a new contract for a season when he will turn 33.
In recent years, not many RBs have been able to stay relevant on a team into their 30s, which is a great credit to Jones, but his time is running out.
It was a similar situation for TJ Hockenson, which points to an exit for the teamâs leading tight end. However, Iâd suggest that it isnât completely set in stone, and if Hockenson can return to his best form from a couple of years ago â before his knee injury â then there should be interest in retaining his services.
Minnesota Vikings tight end T.J. Hockenson (87) loosens up on the field at U.S. Bank Stadium before kickoff against the Indianapolis Colts, preparing for action during the Nov. 3, 2024 regular season matchup in Minneapolis. Hockenson went through pregame drills as fans filtered into the building. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Of course, Hockenson will now have the position of strength that comes with being a pending free agent.