The Vikings’ Starters on Defense Who Need New Contracts

The Vikings must make 2026 their breakout year, moving beyond just the regular season with playoff wins.

Why? Well, with a substantial portion of their offensive starters set to become free agents in 2027, the upcoming season carries pressure to perform. While Minnesota can attempt to re-sign some, or even most, of these players, retaining every key contributor appears unlikely. The defense faces fewer impending free agents than the offense, but enough to warrant discussions now.