Vikings Address Potential of Adding $110 Million Star

The Minnesota Vikings transformed their defensive front in the offseason by signing Pro Bowl defensive tackles Javon Hargrave and Jonathan Allen.

However, another move is begging to be made, given defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ connection with recently released Las Vegas Raiders star Christian Wilkins.

A top priority in 2024 free agency, Wilkins and the Vikings had “mutual interest,” but Minnesota was unwilling to match the massive five-year, $110 million contract he signed with the Raiders after a 10-sack, 58-pressure 2024 season.

Las Vegas released Wilkins on July 24, citing grievances with his rehab of a toe injury that forced him to miss 12 games last season. Wilkins’ contract is void, and he will likely sign a team-friendly, one-year deal that could be an incredible value for any team that can help him rehab his toe.

Flores, who drafted Wilkins 13th overall with the Miami Dolphins in the 2019 draft, addressed the potential of adding Wilkins on Monday, July 28, admitting he would like to be reunited with his game-wrecker of an interior pass rusher.

“I have a lot of history with Christian,” Flores said, per ESPN’s Kevin Seifert. “I kind of let [general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah] and his staff handle that side. We’ve got a group we feel pretty good about D-line wise, but I don’t mind adding more. But I let those guys handle that.”

Flores played coy on adding Wilkins, but his say in free-agency matters was understated. Flores has identified numerous talents to add to the defense after arriving in 2023, including former Dolphins linebacker-turned Pro Bowler, Andrew Van Ginkel.

While the Vikings are deep on the defensive interior officially, Hargrave and Allen are both coming back from injury and are 30 years or older.

Vikings Have Cap Space for Wilkins

GettyDallas Cowboys defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

Entering the month of August, the Vikings still have $23.5 million in cap space to work with for the season. While some must be put away on reserve for midseason roster moves and potential trades, there is room for another meaningful signing.

Cornerback is a position that could see the addition of another veteran signing akin to Stephon Gilmore‘s late arrival last season — a one-year, $7 million deal.

Considering the concerns surrounding Wilkins, he is likely looking at anywhere from veteran minimum ($1.1 million) to a deal similar to Gilmore’s if he can prove himself ready to play Week 1.

The Raiders offered a damning statement when they announced Wilkins’ release, saying, “This franchise has a commitment to excellence on and off the field. With no clear path or plan for future return to play from Christian, this transaction is necessary for the entire organization to move forward and prepare for the new season.”

Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen Are Wrecking Vikings Practice

The first day of pads at Vikings practice proved to be a tough go for the offense.

Hargrave and Allen had their way with the offensive line, which bodes well for the defense, seeing their newcomers make a strong impression early.

“We’ll clean it up, we’ll get everything fixed, and we’ll be better tomorrow,” Pro Bowl center Ryan Kelly said at practice on July 28. “The trenches make each other better, at times, we get sick of each other, but at the end of the day, we’re going to see things from them that we won’t see anybody else do, and it will make us better for it.”