If you let the fans dictate your choices, you'll end up sitting next to them.
-Marv Levy
Fans would put all 32 teams in salary cap hell.
2015 NFL Free Agency is just under a week away. Tuesday, March 10, 4 pm ET. It can't start soon enough as free agency speculation is once again ramping up to a fever pitch.
Here's more speculation as to what the Minnesota Vikings could do in free agency.
Free agency always starts with your own free agents.
Cullen Loeffler, LS
Joe Berger, C/G
Tom Johnson, DT
Jerome Felton, FB
Loeffler and Berger should be fairly easy negotiations. Johnson had a solid first season in the Vikings defensive line rotation. So solid that he's looking for a 3 or 4-year deal and much more money. Johnson turns 31 in August so the Vikings are likely thinking more like 2-3 years. A month ago, I thought that an agreement was certain. Now I'm not so sure. Felton voided the final year of his contract so he becomes a free agent next week. His playing time dropped considerably with the absence of Adrian Peterson. The Vikings might be willing to move on to the younger Zach Line but Felton is one of the best lead blockers in the league.
The following restricted free agents will likely be back for another year:
Matt Asiata, FB
Mike Harris, T
Dom DeCicco, LB
Josh Samuda, OL
The Vikings are in great shape with their own free agents. No must-sign players. That will change in the coming years. Most of their available cap space might be devoted to their own players with contracts expiring next year. Safety Harrison Smith in particular. It looks like the Vikings will have about $23 million. That could go up with some contract re-structuring. Here's a look at what they might do with some of that available cap room.
Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman stated that they had targeted eight spots on the team in need of improvement this offseason. Ever since, fans have been scrambling to determine those eight spots. Some are easy:
Left guard
Middle linebacker
Safety
Cornerback
Receiver
Defensive tackle depth, Defensive end depth, and Outside linebacker could be the other three.
Some combination of the draft and free agency has to improve those positions. Offensive line was a mess last year. It has to improve. Some of that improvement will come in the return to health of the right side of the line. Guard Brandon Fusco and tackle Phil Loadholt both suffered torn pectoral muscles during the season. Their absence went a long wait in making the Vikings line a mess. Charles Johnson at left guard was also a reason. He was released. I think that he will be replaced by David Yankey, a fifth-round pick last year. His rookie year was a redshirt year. He was inactive for every game. Only the coaches know what they have in him as a player. The belief here is that he needed a year to get up to the speed of the NFL and the strength of NFL players. If the Vikings sign a guard in free agency or draft one high in the draft, it will be a clear sign that Yankey is not ready. Until then, I'm going with the thinking that he's ready.
My current guess is that the Vikings will address middle linebacker and safety in free agency. Devin McCourty would be a dream addition. The free agent safety group isn't particularly strong. Neither is the safety class in the draft. McCourty is the one player that can be considered elite. That will also make him very expensive. Despite not receiving the franchise tag, I also don't see him leaving New England. If McCourty really does become available, he is the one pricey player that I could see the Vikings pursuing. But, I don't think that they will. For now, I'm looking at the following additions:
Mason Foster, LB
Rahim Moore, S
Those two should be modest signings but you never know with free agency. Foster looked like he was on his way to being a star in his first couple of years in the league. His play tailed off last year as he didn't seem to fit Lovie Smith's defense in Tampa Bay. He could be the three-down middle linebacker that Mike Zimmer wants in his defense. Moore would pair nicely with the versatile Harrison Smith. Moore is the rangy, centerfielder-type free safety. The Vikings apparently like their safeties to be interchangeable. Smith is fine in that role. Moore might not be. If the Vikings keep Smith moving all over the box, like Troy Polamalu in in his prime, and Moore covering the deep middle, this pairing could work very well. They just wouldn't be interchangeable.
Other middle linebackers that the Vikings could target:
Nate Irving
Brandon Spikes
Colin McCarthy
Irving might have been in line for a long-term contract if he hadn't suffered an injury early last season. Now it looks like he'll be looking for a new team. Spikes is terrific against the run. He'll probably have to come off of the field on passing downs. Like Irving, McCarthy is likely looking for a new team due to an injury. In his case, a few injuries. The most recent, a shoulder injury, cost him the entire 2014 season. If he can return to the form that made him the Titans fourth round pick in 2011 and defensive captain in 2012, he might be an intriguing, inexpensive option.
Other Safeties:
Da'Norris Searcy
Kendrick Lewis
Ron Parker
Nate Allen
Jeron Johnson
Tyvon Branch
Searcy might be the free agent most capable of switching between free and strong. Lewis is intriguing. He started his career in solid fashion but a shoulder injury in 2012 slowed it. He looked like he was finally returning to form in his only season with the Houston Texans last year. Parker has bounced around a lot in his four year career. Three teams in his first two years before he seemed to find a home in Kansas City. Last year was his first as a starter and he played very well. Nearly 100 tackles is pretty solid work for a safety. Allen was the top safety in the 2010 NFL Draft. He's a five year starter but he hasn't really moved beyond being a competent starter. Maybe the Vikings coaches can bring out the best in him. Johnson is a complete unknown as he's played behind Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas in Seattle. If not for injuries, Branch might be the best available free agent safety. The Oakland Raiders released Branch yesterday likely because of those injuries. A broken leg in 2013. A broken foot last season. He's played five games in the last two seasons. If he's healthy and if he can stay healthy, Branch might be the best option.
If the Vikings don't re-sign Tom Johnson defensive tackle becomes a need:
Henry Melton
Karl Klug
Jared Odrick
All three are younger than Johnson. All three will likely cost more than Johnson.
I could see the Vikings spending some money on a defensive end in free agency but I think that the draft is more likely:
Brandon Graham
Da'Quan Bowers
Jabaal Sheard
If the Vikings can address their needs at middle linebacker and safety, in particular, and add some depth on the defensive line, they will be in good shape going into the draft. In the draft they can concentrate on cornerback,receiver, offensive line and general depth.
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