The Minnesota Vikings are coming off one of the best regular season finishes in franchise history, but keeping the band together in 2025 will be a tall task.

The Vikings could have up to 25 players from last year’s roster hit free agency this March, and 10 of them were listed as starters in Minnesota’s wild-card playoff loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

The Vikings are reportedly considering a new contract for their top free agent — quarterback Sam Darnold. ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler reported that the team is interested in bringing Darnold back, just not on the now over $42 million projected franchise tag.

The tag could be an option for another star Vikings free agent in Byron Murphy Jr. The playmaking cornerback piled up six interceptions in 2024 and was named MVP of the Pro Bowl Games. Spotrac projects his next contract to be in the range of $22.1 million per season, and the Vikings could buy themselves a longer negotiating window by using their franchise tag on Murphy for $20.8 million.

If Minnesota opts against tagging a player this offseason — the deadline is March 4 — Murphy would become a major flight risk as one of the top defensive backs on the open market. If that’s the case, Matt Bowen of ESPN predicts Murphy will leave Minnesota for what’s projected to be a four-year, $88.3 million deal with the Las Vegas Raiders.

Here was Bowen’s take on Murphy joining Pete Carroll’s Raiders in the NFC South:

The Raiders need more ball hawks in the secondary, and they could lose safeties Tre’von Moehrig and Marcus Epps and slot corner Nate Hobbs to free agency. Murphy’s six interceptions last season tied for the third most in the NFL, and he has 14 over his six-year career. With the ability to play on the perimeter or in the slot (259 snaps in 2024), Murphy has the backfield vision and short-area speed to close on the ball and make an impact for Las Vegas. He’s a clear upgrade for a defense that finished with only 10 interceptions in 2024.

Cornerback is a need for the Raiders this offseason. Hobbs has been their most consistent performer, but he’s scheduled to be a free agent. The hot and cold Jack Jones is entering a contract year, and recent draft picks Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson need more NFL reps.

Murphy would make a lot of sense for this group, especially if Hobbs walks as a free agent. Murphy lined up in the slot on about 30% of his reps for the Vikings last season, and his ability to move around from the boundary to the box would make him a key piece of the Raiders’ rebuilding defense.

Could Murphy land a mega contract like this from Minnesota? It’s possible, as the Vikings have some serious needs in the secondary themselves. Keeping him off the market first with the franchise tag feels like the most reasonable path to an extension.

If Murphy gets to test the market and his price tag soars past $20 million in average annual value, the Vikings would likely pass with other key free agents like Darnold, safety Cam Bynum and running back Aaron Jones in need of new deals.