Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be a busy man in the next couple of months, as he has to […]
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will be a busy man in the next couple of months, as he has to re-sign or replace half of last year’s roster in free agency and the draft. However, he also needs to make sure some of his under-contract guys remain happy with the organization.
5 Vikings Under Contract for 2025 Could Receive Extensions
While they technically are under contract for another season, these five Vikings are strong candidates for contract extensions ahead of the 2025 campaign.
1. Andrew Van Ginkel
Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard were acquired on the first day of free agency to replace Danielle Hunter and the rotation of D.J. Wonnum and Marcus Davenport.
And there’s no doubt about it: both pass-rushers played remarkably well in their first season in purple. Greenard is locked up for four years and is making $18 million per season, but Van Ginkel signed a two-year deal, annually worth $10 million.
The second-team All-Pro and Pro Bowler deserve a raise, and the Vikings should make sure to have him on the roster for longer than just the 2025 season.
2. Josh Oliver
Tight end Josh Oliver joined the club in 2023. His arrival was quite surprising, just a few months after the franchise traded for T.J. Hockenson.
Folks were confused when they read the contract details of $21 million for three years. It’s an expensive tight end group, but the Vikings should make a move to lower Oliver’s 2025 cap hit of roughly $9.4 million.
They can reach that goal by releasing him or giving him a new contract. Considering the praise he has been getting from his coaches, they hardly want to go into 2025 without the league’s top blocker from the tight end position.
3. C.J. Ham
C.J. Ham would be the longest-tenured Viking if safety Harrison Smith calls it a career.
He is a leader in the locker room, a key special teams player, and a decent do-it-all fullback who can block and catch.
While Kevin O’Connell’s offense isn’t built around a fullback like, for example, that of Kyle Shanahan, he has included Ham more and more into his offense in the last couple of years.
He is under contract for one more season, and an extension could lower his cap hit, similar to Oliver.
4. Joshua Metellus
One of the best defenders on the roster, Joshua Metellus, is a Brian Flores staple.
The safety was a special teamer and backup safety when Flores arrived, but the coordinator quickly adjusted his defense to find ways to get the versatile defender on the field.
Adofo-Mensah handed him a contract extension ahead of the 2023 season, which would ultimately be his breakout season. While he is under contract for 2025, he deserves to be compensated fairly. His cap hit is pretty high, but his cash payout isn’t. The Vikings need to take care of both items.
5. Ivan Pace Jr.
Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. signed with the Vikings after the 2023 draft when he surprisingly went undrafted.
The good news for him is that he is now eligible for a contract extension, while the guys that were drafted signed four-year rookie deals.
He is under contract for another season, and the Vikings can then play the tender and restricted free agent game to keep him in the building, but Pace Jr. should be a foundational piece in Minnesota’s defense for years to come.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
