My thoughts on the free agency plans of the Minnesota Vikings are always in flux this time of the year. They change daily. Sometimes hourly. According to various estimates the Vikings will have anywhere from $13-20 million in cap space this offseason. That's a wide range. Some talking heads honk about the team being hamstrung in free agency because running back Adrian Peterson's suspension doesn't end until April 15. That's a bunch of hooey. The Vikings already know what they are going to do with Peterson. They signed him to the current contract. They intend to honor that contract. Just as they did with Jared Allen and his stunning $17 million salary in 2014. The Vikings have been one of the most financially sound teams since cap maestro Rob Brzezinski's been managing the numbers. They don't have any must-sign players among their own free agents. They took care of those players before the start of the 2014 NFL season when they extended the contracts of tight end Kyle Rudolph and guard Brandon Fusco.
Here are the Vikings unrestricted free agents:
Christian Ponder, QB
Jerome Felton, FB
Corey Wootton, DE
Cullen Loeffler, LS
Joe Berger, G/C
Tom Johnson, DT
Jasper Brinkley, LB
Vladimir Ducasse, G
Loeffler and Berger are the most likely to return and neither should take much out of the $13-20 million cap space. Johnson was very effective last season as a situational pass rusher. That solid season might be enough for him to seek more than the Vikings are willing to pay. He's on the wrong side of 30 but as a late-bloomer he doesn't have too much wear on his body.
Vikings restricted free agents:
Matt Asiata, RB
Dom DeCicco, LB
Josh Samuda, C
Mike Harris, T
Asiata and Harris are the most likely to return but all four will probably be in Mankato at the end of July.
If the Vikings devote any significant funds to their own players this offseason it will likely be to the players with contracts that expire in 2016. Like safety Harrison Smith. I feel an extension is more likely than exercising the fifth-year option that they hold on Smith as a first-round pick in 2012. Either way, Harrison Smith is certain to be in Minnesota for a long time.
So, now for the fun stuff. Free agent shopping. I don't see the Vikings being big players in free agency for a few reasons. First of all, they don't have a ton of cash to spend. Second of all, I think that some of their needs can be filled with players already on the roster. Head coach Mike Zimmer and his staff are terrific football teachers. Simply through an increased emphasis on techniques and fundamentals many Vikings players got better. That should only continue. Entering the 2015 offseason the Vikings greatest needs are:
Left guard
-Overall line play has to improve. It was often terrible last season. A return to health will help. Right guard Brandon Fusco missed nearly the entire season. Right tackle Phil Loadholt missed about half of it. Charlie Johnson has held the left guard job for the past few seasons. He's part of the reason for left tackle Matt Kalil's struggles. Johnson has to be replaced. And his $2.5 million salary for the 2015 season will be better used as increased cap room.
Cornerback
-The Vikings do have some talent at corner. Xavier Rhodes is a star in the making on one side. The other side could be improved. Josh Robinson, even though he was improved, was taken apart by some of the bigger receivers that the Vikings routinely face in their own division. Captain Munnerlyn had a so-so season and is better suited as the nickel corner. Adding a big corner opposite Rhodes would be nice. You can also never have enough good corners.
Safety
-Like corner, the Vikings need improved play at a position opposite a star. At safety, that star is Harrison Smith. Robert Blanton started most of the season. He did fine. So did Andrew Sendejo when called upon. But fine, doesn't always cut it. The partner to Smith at safety could be 2014 sixth-round pick Antone Exum. He was mostly a special teams player as a rookie but he has the natural talent to be a solid, or better, defensive player.
Middle linebacker
-Linebacker, in general, was the weakest unit on an improved defense last season. The Vikings simply need an impact player in the middle of the defense. Preferably a player that doesn't have to come off the field on passing downs.
Now, who might the Vikings pursue in free agency at those positions?
Left guard
-I like 2014 fifth-round pick David Yankey as the long term replacement for Charlie Johnson. If the Vikings go the free agency route:
Mike Iupati, San Francicso 49ers
Orlando Franklin, Denver Broncos
James Carpenter., Seattle Seahawks
Clint Boling, Cincinnati Bengals
-I doubt that the Vikings will spend what it will take to sign Iupati, Franklin, or Carpenter. That leaves Boling. While certainly more ready to play now than Yankey, I don't see Boling as a better option. And, that's with the fact that no one outside of the Vikings know what they have in Yankey.
Cornerback
Byron Maxwell, Settle Seahawks
Davon House, Green Bay Packers
Kareem Jackson, Houston Texans
Bradley Fletcher, Philadelphia Eagles
Perrish Cox, San Francisco 49ers
Chris Culliver, San Francisco 49ers
-Maxwell will probably be one of the big winners in the 2015 free agency spending spree. I don't see the Vikings getting in that bidding war. I do see the Vikings making a move at this position. Corner isn't especially strong in the 2015 NFL Draft so free agency might be the best option for improvement. I like House best from a physical standpoint but he spends too much time in the training room. I can see the Vikings pursuing Jackson or Fletcher. There's probably a better chance that Fletcher leaves his current team than Jackson. Fletcher was shaky through much of 2014. Maybe he just needs a change of scenery.
Safety
Devin McCourty, New England Patriots
Da'Norris Searcy, Buffalo Bills
Jeron Johnson, Seattle Seahawks
Jeromy Miles, Baltimore Ravens
-Like Maxwell, McCourty will win big in free agency. I also don't see New England letting him go. Same with Searcy in Buffalo. Johnson is the curious one. He could be terrific but no one outside of Seattle would know that because he gets no playing time in that talented secondary. Miles has spent some time with Zimmer in Cincinnati. Miles was also released by Cincinnati while Zimmer was there. I can see the Vikings giving Johnson a shot at a starting safety spot. I'm just not so sure that he has more talent or potential than Exum.
Middle linebacker
Rolando McClain
Mason Foster
Nate Irving
-This is the one position that I can see the Vikings spending some decent money in free agency to improve. McClain reignited his NFL career with one solid, sometimes spectacular, season in Dallas. I'll bet that the Cowboys want to keep him but they have some significant free agents decisions to make. If McClain has truly committed himself to football and he can be pried away from the Cowboys, the Vikings should be interested. A dedicated McClain is a defensive difference-maker. With as long as he's bounced around the NFL trash heap it's amazing that he's only 25. Foster has intrigued me since his college days at Washington.
Many consider the Vikings receiver position a weakness. I wouldn't go that far but I do think that they Teddy Bridgewater could use another weapon. I see the draft as the place to find a receiver. I may be in the minority but I see any offensive line additions also coming from the draft. That mostly leaves defense as the target for improvements through free agency.
For now, probably changes tomorrow, I see a Vikings 2015 free agency class that is topped with:
Bradley Fletcher
Rolando McClain
There might still be enough questions with both that their price tags stay modest. I don't see the Vikings in a bidding war for any player.
This all probably changes tomorrow.
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