With the 2023 season in the books, Inside the Vikings will be taking a look at all 22 of Minnesota’s pending unrestricted free agents over the next couple weeks. We’ll examine their past and speculate about their future, particularly the likelihood that they could be re-signed by the Vikings this offseason. We’ll start from the least important (Hakeem Adeniji) and work our way up to the big fish (Kirk Cousins).
Vikings UFA profile: WR/PR Brandon Powell
- Age: 28
- 2023 stats: 34 touches, 341 yards, 1 TD, 7.8 yards per punt return
- 2023 contract AAV: $1.23 million
Last offseason, the Vikings signed Brandon Powell to a one-year deal to compete with Jalen Reagor for their punt returner role and add depth to their wide receiver room. He went on to have a career year in Minnesota. Not only was Powell the Vikings’ punt returner all year (averaging a modest 7.8 yards per return), he set a new personal best with 29 catches and 324 receiving yards.
Called upon when Justin Jefferson got hurt, Powell had multiple receptions in all but one game from Week 5 to Week 12. He had over 30 receiving yards in five of those eight games, including 64 in Minnesota’s win over the 49ers. Powell’s presence was important as the Vikings navigated life without Jefferson — and then without Kirk Cousins, too. His biggest play of the year was catching the game-winning touchdown pass from Josh Dobbs in Atlanta.