Thursday the Minnesota Vikings extended Theo Jackson for two years and $12.6M. Josh Metellus will be returning on the 2nd year of his two year extension signed last offseason for around that same dollar amount, if he hits his playing time incentives. There were only 3 players on the defense that played more snaps for the Vikings last offseason.
Those two bring up questions about two of the three that played more than Metellus last season. Camryn Bynum is heading to free agency and Harrison Smith might be headed for Canton. There will be plenty written about Smith, when that decision is made public.
Bynum is an interesting one. PFT lists Bynum as the 28th best free agent of 2025. Spotrac has an estimated market value of 3 years and $53.2M. That would currently slot him in at 6th highest in the NFL. I cannot fathom Kwesi ponying up for that contract. The Vikings tried to extend Bynum last offseason. Those talks fell apart and it will likely lead to an exit stage left for Bynum. One of those deals where the business gets in the way of the sport.
Harrison Smith’s deadline is artificially Friday March 14th when his 2026 salary becomes fully guaranteed. If he waits that long, Bynum’s decision will likely be made before him. NFL Free Agency starts March 12 at 3 PM CST.
