In a recent article by The Athletic’s Alec Lewis, he answers questions sent in by readers. One of those questions asks about the largest realistic free-agent contract the Minnesota Vikings could afford this offseason and what position that may be used for.
Lewis answers by stating that if the Vikings don’t go big on a quarterback signing, they could put that money into another position. The position he mentions is defensive tackle.
Pay minimally at QB, and the Vikings could try to go big on a defensive lineman, like Denver Broncos defensive tackle John Franklin-Myers (whom The Athletic’s Daniel Popper projected could make around $54 million over three seasons).”
That’s a hefty contract for a team that is currently dead last in cap space, but let’s take a look to see if bringing in John Franklin-Myers makes sense for the Vikings.
Should the Minnesota Vikings pursue DL John Franklin-Myers in free agency?
The biggest reason it makes sense is that Franklin-Myers is a really good player. He was a key part of a dominating defensive front for the Denver Broncos, as he racked up 7.5 sacks with six tackles for a loss, and 25 tackles overall in 2025.
He provides what the Vikings’ big men lack: pressure on the quarterback. The dude is a pressure machine and has racked up over 300 pressures since 2020.
He is a creator of havoc, and having that on the line with the edge trio of Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Greenard, and Dallas Turner would make life extremely difficult for any quarterback who faces the Vikings.
Franklin-Myers also offers versatility that would make him an excellent fit in Brian Flores’s scheme, as he can line up at the five-technique, nose, or even on the edge. He has also proven to be very dependable in his career, missing only four games in seven years.
Shoring up the defensive tackle position in free agency would also give Minnesota some wiggle room in this year’s NFL Draft.
With their first pick, and Franklin-Myers in tow, they could focus on other areas of need like cornerback, safety, or even get a little nutty and add a wide receiver. The projected $54 million contract is a hefty price to pay, but his impact on this defense and the team as a whole could make it worth it.
While it’s exciting to think about the impact Franklin-Myers could have on the Vikings’ defense, there are also plenty of reasons to pump the brakes.
As Lewis states in the quote above, for Minnesota to do this, they’d have to go cheap at other positions, including quarterback. The Vikings do need to have a better option behind, or even ahead of McCarthy at quarterback, and if investing money in a free agent is the best way to do that, then that should take precedence.
Franklin Myers is also a little old. He’ll be 30 at the end of September. Is it a good investment to throw $54 million at a guy who could start declining this season and only be around for a couple of years?
The Vikings went the older veteran route a season ago, and it blew up in their faces. Do they really want to take that risk again this offseason? Jonathan Allen could still be on the team due to his contract, and that would give Minnesota two old men starting on their defensive line.
To piggyback off of this, the 2026 NFL Draft pool is loaded with quality young defensive tackles. The Vikings may instead choose to find their own young version of Farnklin-Myers and use the 18th overall pick on a defensive tackle like Caleb Banks, Kayden MacDonald, or Peter Woods.
That would give them a young player whom they can build around for a quarter of the price, and not have to worry about a potential decline or know that he’ll be gone in a few seasons.
Adding Jonathan Franklin-Myers would be a short-term fix for the Vikings. He could have a huge impact on the defense for a few seasons and take this already elite unit to a whole other level.
To bring him in could mean taking a lesser option at quarterback and potentially being unable to afford veterans who could improve other areas of need. It’s definitely an intriguing option, and one that will shed light on how this new front office will function.