Vikings Lament Missing Out on Top Free Agents

Minnesota's 2022 draft class has struggled, leaving the team scrambling to fill holes in free agency

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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The Minnesota Vikings are facing a difficult offseason as they look to improve their roster, but are finding that many of the top free agents they could use were available in the 2022 NFL Draft - a draft class that has largely failed to pan out for the team. With the Vikings in a tight salary cap situation, they are now forced to pursue these same players on the open market, where they will be more expensive.

Why it matters

The Vikings' struggles with their 2022 draft class have had a ripple effect, leaving the team in a tough spot as they try to build a contender. Their inability to hit on those draft picks has forced them to look to free agency to fill holes, but the players they need are now more costly. This highlights the importance of strong drafting, especially for a team like the Vikings that has limited salary cap flexibility.

The details

The Vikings' 2022 draft class has been a disappointment, with none of the 10 players drafted expected to re-sign with the team. This includes high picks like safety Lewis Cine, cornerback Andrew Booth Jr., and guard Ed Ingram. Now, many of the players the Vikings could use, like running back Kenneth Walker III, cornerback Alontae Taylor, and linebacker Nakobe Dean, are available in free agency - but at a much higher price tag than if the Vikings had drafted them just a few years ago.

  • The Vikings' 2022 draft class is now entering free agency, four years after being selected.

The players

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah

The general manager of the Minnesota Vikings, who is tasked with rebuilding the team's roster after a disappointing 2022 draft class.

Kenneth Walker III

A running back who the Vikings could have drafted in 2022, but is now available as a top free agent.

Nakobe Dean

A linebacker who the Vikings could have drafted in 2022, but is now available as a top free agent.

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What they’re saying

“The Vikings are currently in a cap mess largely due to spending so freely on free agents. Needing to spend so freely on free agents largely overflows from poor drafting, the place where young, cost-controlled talent is found.”

— K. Joudry, Senior Editor for Vikings Territory & PurplePTSD (vikingsterritory.com)

What’s next

The Vikings will need to carefully navigate free agency and the upcoming draft to try to fill the holes left by their disappointing 2022 draft class.

The takeaway

The Vikings' struggles with their 2022 draft class have put the team in a difficult position, forcing them to pursue top free agents that they could have drafted just a few years ago at a much lower cost. This highlights the importance of strong drafting, especially for a team with limited salary cap flexibility.