Active Vikings

The NFL salary cap jumped to $133 million this year. An increase of $10 million. With so many teams having so much money to spend in free agency there's little doubt that 2014 will be far more active 2013. The Minnesota Vikings have rarely been serious players in the free agency market. It's been far more likely that they pursue bargain free agents than get in a bidding war for the top football players. In 2006, Brad Childress' first year as head coach, the Vikings were very active. They signed running back Chester Taylor, linebacker Ben Leber, kick Ryan Longwell, and guard Steve Hutchinson in the first few days of free agency. That sort of activity has rarely been seen since in Minnesota.

The Vikings have about $40 million in cap room this year. Judging by their activity in the first 24 hours of the league-approved, three-day tampering period, the Vikings might be looking to use a significant amount of that available cap room. It's been reported that they have contacted the agents of the following free agents:

CB Alterraun Verner, Tennessee Titans
DE Michael Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals
DT Paul Soliai, Miami Dolphins
DT Arthur Jones, Baltimore Ravens

Those football players would go a long way in improving the Vikings horrible defense of a year ago. They aren't alone in the interest in those players. The St. Louis Rams, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Detroit Lions have also called about Verner. Seven teams, probably more, have also contacted the representatives of Johnson. The Vikings can compete in bidding war with pretty much any team. It's just unusual for them to do so. Most of those players also have former coaches on the Minnesota Vikings new coaching staff. Johnson's defensive coordinator with the Bengals is now the head coach of the Vikings, Mike Zimmer. Verner's defensive coordinator with the Titans is now the Vikings secondary coach, Jerry Gray. While Vikings defensive coordiantor George Edwards didn't directly coach Soliai, he was the Dolphins linebacker coach. Coaching connections such as these can go either way. The players could be a terrific relationship with the coach. Or, it could be a shitty relationship. If the Vikings are reaching out to these players, it's likely that the players and coaches are on decent terms. There could be a comfort level that allows the Vikings the first interview. Getting that first interview is a very good thing.

The Vikings re-signed defensive end Everson Griffen today. It's reported as a "huge" 5-year deal. Despite this unusual free agency activity I really can't see the Vikings signing both Griffen and Johnson. Griffen has spent all of his four years in the league playing behind Jared Allen. I doubt that he'd be signing this deal only to share time with Johnson. Who knows? You can never have too many defensive ends that disrupt the passing game. It would still be a lot of money to tie up in the defensive end position. Brian Robison signed a new contract only a few months ago.

It's kinda funny. Free agency hasn't even started yet and the Minnesota Vikings are already more active than they have ever been. We'll see how it shakes out.