Vikings Lose $60 Million Breakout Star to Colts in Free Agency

The Minnesota Vikings faced a ton of potential turnover in the secondary heading into free agency and saw their first big-name defensive back depart on Day 1 of the process.

Safety Camryn Bynum left Minnesota for a four-year contract worth $60 million to join the Indianapolis Colts on Monday afternoon, March 10.

“Bynum is known as a ball-hawking safety with a huge personality,” James Boyd of The Athletic reported following news of the deal, which becomes official on Wednesday. “He totaled career-highs of three interceptions and 10 passes defensed in 2024, while allowing a career-low 77.6 passer rating when targeted.”

The Vikings signed safety Theo Jackson to a two-year deal on Thursday, which served as an omen that at least one significant departure from the position group was looming/expected in Minnesota.

“The Vikings are signing safety Theo Jackson to a two-year deal worth $12.615 million, his agency Equity Sports announced,” Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune reported. “Jackson was set to be a restricted free agent; his return helps fortify the safety position with Harrison Smith and Cam Bynum’s futures uncertain.”

The biggest questions remaining in Minnesota are two-fold: Will the Vikings retain Smith, who is 36 years old and has contemplated retirement? And if not, who will the team find to replace him?

Vikings Must Convince Harrison Smith to Avoid Retirement, Take Pay Cut in 2025

GettySafety Harrison Smith of the Minnesota Vikings.

To bring Smith back, the Vikings will first need to convince him not to retire after what has already been a 13-year career. Smith has contemplated retirement over the last couple of offseasons, in part due to the pain accumulation from several injuries. That said, the six-time Pro Bowler has missed just four starts over the past three campaigns.

The team’s hiring of defensive coordinator Brian Flores ahead of the 2023 season piqued Smith’s interest in furthering his professional tenure in Minnesota. Flores’ presence and the subsequent success of the defense has already helped the Vikings convince Smith to take a couple of pay cuts, and the team will need to rework his contract again this offseason to avoid owing him an onerous $25 million in 2026.

But with Bynum’s departure and Flores’ return for a third year at the helm of the defense, Vikings insiders have predicted there is a good chance Smith agrees to a restructure and returns to the team.

“Smith can still play, and I don’t think the Vikings need to break the bank to bring him back,” Darren Wolfson of KSTP reported in mid-February. “They can figure out the money. I get it. He [has taken] pay cuts the last couple years. So, to me, there’s interest in him playing at a reasonable number. I just think it makes all sorts of sense.”

Vikings’ Top Priority in Secondary Now Likely CB Byron Murphy Jr.

GettyCornerback Byron Murphy Jr. of the Minnesota Vikings.

All three of the Vikings’ starting cornerbacks last season are now free agents, though Byron Murphy Jr. appears even more likely to be Minnesota’s top priority now that paying Bynum a big contract is off the table.

Stephon Gilmore and Shaq Griffin were both on one-year deals in 2024 and were never necessarily critical long-term pieces. Meanwhile, Murphy just completed the final season of a two-year contract and put up a Pro Bowl campaign with a career high 6 interceptions.

Murphy was the most likely franchise tag candidate in Minnesota, though the Vikings ultimately chose not to use the tag to retain anyone. Everything points to Minnesota instead wanting to get a long-term deal done with Murphy and a belief that it didn’t need to stave off his free agency via the tag to make that agreement happen.

Murphy is entering his prime at just 27 years old, and Spotrac projects his market value at north of $22 million annually over a new four-year contract.