Save first, then spend.
The Vikings made three major free agency splashes Tuesday morning by bringing in star defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave and one of free agency’s top interior offensive linemen in Will Fries.
The flurry of moves came after Minnesota elected to let quarterback Sam Darnold walk in free agency on Monday, as he signed a three-year, $100.5 million contract with the Seahawks, with $55 million guaranteed.
With that money the Vikings saved, they splurged on the three linemen to beef up their squad in the trenches.
Allen signed for three years, $60 million and Fries signed for five years, $88 million while Hargrave’s specifics are not yet official.
While all three possess big-time talent, they each sustained big-time injuries this past season as well.
Allen and Hargrave are expected to anchor Minnesota’s interior defense while Fries should offer some much-needed protection for J.J. McCarthy, ᴀssuming the quarterback entering his second season and coming off a season-ending torn meniscus is the route that the team elects to go.
Allen was entering the final year of his $15.5 million-per-year deal with Washington before he was released on Friday after the team could not find a trade suitor.
The 30-year-old two-time Pro Bowler missed nine games this past season with a torn pectoral muscle that was thought to be season-ending until he returned for the final two regular season games and Washington’s postseason run to the NFC Championship.
The fellow two-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Hargrave agreed to sign with Minnesota once his release from the 49ers becomes official on Wednesday.
Hargrave spent four seasons with the Steelers and three with the Eagles before signing a mᴀssive four-year, $84 million contract with San Francisco in 2023. Torn triceps kept Hargrave out of the 2024 season aside from three games.
On the offensive side, Fries is leaving the Colts to join the Vikings. Fries spent four seasons in Indianapolis after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 NFL Draft out of Penn State.
As just a seventh-round pick, Fries was able to work his way up to be a promising full-time starter before he broke his leg this past season after appearing in just five games.
It’s clear that Minnesota is prioritizing the trenches with these signings — especially after the Eagles’ Super Bowl win that saw pure domination at the line of scrimmage all year long.
The Vikings will look to make a deeper postseason run next season.
Minnesota flamed out early this past season, getting eliminated in the Wild Card round after an incredible 14-3 regular season.
