The Minnesota Vikings will have about 20 internal free agents to consider over the next seven weeks, deciding whether to […]
The Minnesota Vikings will have about 20 internal free agents to consider over the next seven weeks, deciding whether to re-sign them or let them hit the open market. This year’s crop doesn’t have too many heavy-hitters, but maintaining a few for the 2026 roster certainly couldn’t hurt the franchise. And according to Pro Football Focus, linebacker Eric Wilson is the one free agent whom Minnesota just cannot lose.
Wilson went from depth signing to weekly menace for offenses, making his next contract one of Minnesota’s most intriguing choices.
Wilson banked a career year with the Vikings in 2025, playing inside Brian Flores’ system that unlocked Wilson to the fullest.
Is Eric Wilson the Vikings’ Top Free-Agent Priority?
The top free agent for the Vikings? PFF says Wilson.
PFF on Wilson
PFF’s Bradley Locker labeled one free agent per team that cannot be lost to the open market, and for Minnesota, that was Wilson.
Locker argued, “The Vikings significantly regressed from their unbelievable 2024 season, with subpar quarterback play being a major prong. Still, Minnesota’s defense ended the year ranked sixth in EPA per play, with Wilson offering contributions all over the field. Wilson finished with a 62.1 PFF overall grade, mostly due to his issues in coverage.”
“Yet, he was good against the run with a 72.9 PFF run-defense grade and a team-leading 52 stops. On top of that, Wilson added 37 pressures, the most among linebackers. Admittedly, the Vikings don’t have a laundry list of notable free-agents-to-be. Then again, Wilson has proven his productivity in multiple departments, even if the team seeks an upgrade at the linebacker position.”
And this is not a hot take. In most fans’ estimation, Wilson is the primary free-agent target, mainly because he played so damn well in 2025.
A Breakout at Age 31
Wilson has reached the point where opposing offenses actively account for him in game plans — a reality that would’ve sounded silly and unbelievable a year ago at this time.
The 2025 season flipped his trajectory with the snap of two fingers. Wilson played like a roaming disruptor, stifling the run and the pass. He led all off-ball linebackers in sacks and pressures, hovered near the top in forced fumbles, and repeatedly blew up plays behind the line of scrimmage. That routine started in Week 1 — out of nowhere — and then it just continued throughout the seasons.
That outcome wasn’t part of the original plan. Minnesota signed Wilson as depth — a rotational piece behind Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. By December, his production had fans openly questioning how the defense could even function without him.
The guy turned into a beast at age 31. There’s no other way to put it.
Price Tag in 2026?
Because of his age and the fact that his 2025 campaign felt like an outlier, Wilson won’t be terribly expensive. His next team will likely sign him to a contract worth $10 million or so over the next two years.
Some have suggested that Wilson was a product of Brian Flores’ sadistic scheme, and if that is correct, Wilson will either have to prove otherwise with a new defensive coordinator in 2026 or follow Flores wherever he lands.
Flores has interviewed for three jobs in the last couple of weeks: a head coaching job in Pittsburgh, a head coaching gig in Baltimore, and the Washington Commanders’ defensive coordinator post. As of January 20th, if the Steelers don’t hire Flores, it’s probably a safe bet to assume he will return to the Vikings as the 2026 defensive coordinator.
Wilson would probably follow.
All the Other Free Agents
In addition to Wilson, the Vikings have several other decisions around the bend. Here’s a full list of 2026 free agents:
- Ty Chandler (RB)
- C.J. Ham (FB)
- Fabian Moreau (CB)
- Jalen Nailor (WR)
- Matt Nelson (LT)
- Jeff Okudah (CB)
- Ivan Pace Jr. (LB)
- Jalen Redmond (IDL)
- Bo Richter (EDGE)
- Brett Rypien (QB)
- Zavier Scott (WR)
- Justin Skule (LT)
- Ben Sims (TE)
- Harrison Smith (S)
- Taki Taimani (DT)
- Tavierre Thomas (CB)
- Carson Wentz (QB)
- Eric Wilson (LB)
- John Wolford (QB)
- Ryan Wright (P)
It’s also worth noting that Minnesota will be on a condensed budget in 2026. Last year, it began free agency with about $70 million to spend. This year, the Vikings are approximately $35 million over the salary cap, needing to cut players and restructure contracts to sign anybody at all.
Free agency is less than seven weeks away, kicking off on Monday, March 9th, with “legal tampering.”
Category: General Sports
