The Minnesota Vikings won their first preseason game at the New York Giants on Saturday, edging John Harbaugh’s team 13-10. Along the way, Minnesota likely lost veteran defender Jamal Adams for all of 2026, and the other roster needs (OLB, G) remained.
With one game of preseason evidence in the books, general manager Nolan Teasley should explore this batch of free agents. The Vikings obviously won’t sign all these men, but one or two could move the needle.
Vikings Still Have Time to Strengthen the Roster
1. Quandre Diggs | S
This three-time Pro Bowler has ties to Teasley from the Seattle Seahawks – – just like Adams. Teasley would basically be returning to the wishing well and doing the same thing, signing a former Seahawk who was once pretty fantastic.
Adams’s injury makes acquiring another veteran safety much easier to justify. While Diggs wouldn’t replicate Adams’s hybrid linebacker/safety role, he would offer Minnesota an experienced deep defender. It would let Josh Metellus maintain his versatile assignments rather than be confined to a more static role. Diggs’s extensive experience – – 124 career starts and 24 interceptions – – could fit nicely in Brian Flores’s defense, especially if Harrison Smith stays retired.
This is just an Adams do-over. Teasley and Diggs shared the same employer for six years.
2. Liam Eichenberg | G
New Vikings assistant head coach Frank Smith has ties to Eichenberg from the Miami Dolphins days.
Eichenberg’s health is the obvious hurdle. Miami released him with a failed physical designation in March because of his knee, so Minnesota would have to be satisfied medically before anything else mattered. The Vikings have enough starting guards but could use better backup insurance. Eichenberg is an attractive option due to his versatility, having played multiple positions on the offensive line, and he is only 28.
After watching the second-string protection in the first preseason game, it may make more sense to acquire a veteran who can cover multiple iOL positions than to keep a developmental lineman who isn’t ready.
If something happened to one of the Vikings’ starting guards, Donovan Jackson and Will Fries, the club would likely turn to Walter Rouse or Joe Huber. A healthy Eichenberg is probably better.
But … it’s all about Eichenberg’s health.
3. Leonard Floyd | OLB
Floyd won a Super Bowl with Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell in 2021 when the Los Angeles Rams employed both.
Minnesota’s OLB depth is a bit concerning at the moment after trading Jonathan Greenard in April. Signing Floyd could subdue the anxiety. Floyd was still productive in 2025, finishing second on Atlanta with 36 pressures. At this point in August, a short-term deal for another proven pass rusher could be an affordable way to protect one of the defense’s biggest strengths.
4. Von Miller | OLB
Take the methodology for Floyd and repeat for Miller. He, too, won a championship with O’Connell and Floyd in Los Angeles five years ago.
Miller is 37, produced nine sacks for Washington last season, and remains unsigned. The Vikings could deploy him almost exclusively in obvious passing situations, preserving their younger edge rushers and suddenly presenting Flores with an absurd collection of third-down options.
Between Floyd and Miller, O’Connell should pull out his little black book.
5. Harrison Smith | S
No caption needed.
The Vikings lost Adams, and Smith, also a safety, hasn’t expressly retired. Beyond the shadow of doubt, this is the most sensible free agent for Minnesota to sign. Call Smith, and say, “It’s time. We need you. Did you watch the preseason game?”
Could he really say no?
6. Laken Tomlinson | G
Tomlinson has connections to Vikings offensive line coach Keith Carter (New York Jets, 2022-2023) and the aforementioned Teasley (Seahawks, 2024). If Minnesota is not satisfied with Rouse and Huber as guard depth, Tomlinson makes sense as an alternative.
He has 162 career starts and was a starter for Houston last season before joining Baltimore’s practice squad in 2025. While he’s not a long-term solution or a candidate to displace Jackson or Fries, he would give Minnesota a significantly more experienced emergency option if interior injuries occur.
This late in free agency, Tomlinson will also be cheap.
7. Kyle Van Noy | OLB
Van Noy crossed paths with Flores in New England from 2016 to 2018. Like the Floyd and Miller options, Minnesota could stand to sign a veteran pass rusher behind Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner. Why not Van Noy?
He might actually be the cleanest veteran EDGE fit because Flores could utilize more than just his pass rush. Throughout his career, Van Noy has shown he can move across fronts and fill various defensive roles. While his production dipped to roughly two sacks in 2025, this isn’t about finding another star. The Vikings need an experienced defender after Greenard left via trade and Adams went down on Saturday.
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VikesNow Verdict: Safety, interior offensive line, and EDGE all offer practical options, and several available players already have connections to the Vikings’ current decision-makers. Call ’em up.
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