Letting Camryn Bynum leave in free agency shows the Vikings have faith someone can step up in his place.
The Minnesota Vikings had an active run in the first wave of free agency, but it was not without a player loss or two. In particular, safety Cameryn Bynum leaving for a sizeable contract from the Indianapolis Colts stands out as a notable loss.
Bynum's departure was also easily foreshadowed by a move the Vikings made before free agency started. On March 6, the news came that safety Theo Jackson had agreed to a two-year, $12.615 million contract extension to keep him around through 2027.
Over his first three seasons in Minnesota, Jackson has been a core special teamer (875 snaps) while playing a total of 222 defensive snaps. The contract extension was notable, almost to the point of confusing, but the Vikings knew Bynum would be gone and a plan to replace him was necessary.
By all indications, if only by default right now before the draft, Jackson is that plan.
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"By letting Bynum walk and retaining Jackson, Minnesota is signaling that they believe the latter is ready for a larger role. Jackson, a former 6th-round pick of the Titans, has been waiting his turn since entering the league in 2022. He played 75 snaps in 2024, including playoffs, recording 11 tackles, one interception, and three pass breakups.Pro Football Network
Jackson has also been a contributor on special teams. Now that Bynum is gone, Jackson’s role appears set to increase alongside Harrison Smith and Joshua Metellus. It’s a small sample size, but the Vikings are betting that he’s ready."
Bynum is leaving a significant void behind. He started every game over the last three seasons, with over 1,000 defensive snaps and at least 81 total tackles in all three campaigns. The Vikings clearly believe Jackson can fill that void, with a new contract that said so before Bynum was even gone.
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