Questions Answered: Top FA Target for Vikings in 2025, Jonathan Greenard’s 1st Year, Will Reichard
Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images.
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the November 15th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Top FA Target for Vikings in 2025, Jonathan Greenard’s 1st Year, Will Reichard
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Minnesota Vikings safety Camryn Bynum (24) catches an interception to effectively end the game during the fourth quarter of an NFL football matchup on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. © Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images.
Q: Who should the Vikings’ top free-agent target be next offseason?
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Answer: D.J. Reed, a cornerback from the New York Jets.
Reed just turned 28 and should have about three prime seasons left in the tank, which is why Minnesota should sign him to a three-year deal. He’s actually outplaying his teammate, Sauce Gardner, this year, but nobody really says that out loud.
His Pro Football Focus grade is always in the high 70s, and the Vikings should sign him, re-up with Byron Murphy, and welcome back Mekhi Blackmon from injury. There’s the 2025 CB trio: Reed, Murphy, and Blackmon. Buh boom.
Q: Has Jonathan Greenard been worth it this year after they got rid of Danielle Hunter?
Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images.
Answer: Yes.
Greenard has more sack and quarterback pressures than Hunter — and is about $5 million cheaper. They also have a similar Pro Football Focus grade through 10 weeks. Per production, they’re basically the same guy, with a slight edge to Greenard right now.
The head coach of the Vikings’ next opponent, Brian Callahan of the Tennessee Titans, had only positives to say about Greenard this week. Callahan called Greenard “the most underrated edge player in football right now” and said, “He’s playing fantastic. I think he’s really, really good.”
Callahan also told reporters why Minnesota’s defense ranks tops in the sport, in his opinion: “One, good players. That’s the first thing: those guys do a really good job on defense, just the personnel in general. They’ve got a collection of veteran players that are smart. They can handle the scheme. They’re really intelligent, between Stephon Gilmore and Harrison Smith. It’s a good group. Ivan Pace really jumps off the tape, particularly as a blitzer; he’s a really good player. Good players is the starting point.”
Greenard over Hunter was a marvelous decision. He’s also younger.
Q: Will there be a kicker controversy if Parker Romo stays perfect? Will he maybe take Will Reichard’s job?
Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
Answer: No.
Reichard will retake the job in about three weeks, assuming his recovery does not suffer setbacks. It’s pretty sweet for Minnesota to have trustworthy kickers after decades of the opposite.
Romo is auditioning for his next NFL job in real-time. Reichard belongs to the Vikings and vice versa. No debates.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
