NFL free agency is just over a week old. With all that’s gone on across the league it feels much longer. Despite entering the offseason with a restrictive salary cap situation, the Minnesota Vikings have managed to do a few things. It’s all ledger stuff now but on paper, in March, the team has improved. Nearly all of those improvements have come on defense. The Vikings defense desperately needed improving. Here’s a snapshot of the team’s additions and losses through a week-plus of free agency.
Additions:
Harrison Phillips, DT
Jordan Hicks, LB
Za’Darius Smith, Edge
Johnny Mundt, TE
Austin Schlottman, G/C
It isn’t a spending spree but the Vikings did well to add three defensive starters. Combining Za’Darius Smith with Danielle Hunter gives the Vikings one of the best pass rushing duos in the league. Harrison Phillips and Jordan Hicks should make the defense better. Phillips is an emerging player. Hicks should have at least a couple good years left. Johnny Mundt could be one of those strong under-the-radar signings. With the loss of Tyler Conklin, the Vikings needed a second tight end to Irv Smith Jr. Mundt had limited opportunities with the Los Angeles Rams. He was mostly used as an additional blocker. Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips were his offensive coordinator and position coach with the Rams. They know Mundt well and assured him that he will get more playing and receiving opportunities in Minnesota. Austin Schlottman is also familiar to new Vikings coaches. Offensive line coach Chris Kuper and assistant offensive line coach Justin Rascati were Schlottman’s coaches with the Denver Broncos. Schlottman appears to be a project but he’s a project that his coaches know well.
Re-signed:
Sean Mannion, QB
Jordan Berry, P
Greg Joseph, K
For now, Sean Mannion gets another season as Kirk Cousins’ personal quarterback coach. With the re-signings of Jordan Berry and Greg Joseph, the Vikings keep their kicking battery together for another year. Berry had a fine punting season in 2020. Joseph’s first season in Minnesota will unfortunately be best remembered for the miss in Arizona. He rebounded from the huge miss to have a decent season. Vikings fans may never have faith in the team’s kicker but Joseph might give the less pessimistic out there some hope.
A few of the Vikings unrestricted free agents have found jobs elsewhere.
Losses:
Tyler Conklin, TE-New York Jets
Xavier Woods, S-Carolina Panthers
Mason Cole, G/C-Pittsburgh Steelers
Michael Pierce, DT-Baltimore Ravens
Nick Vigil, LB-Arizona Cardinals
Dakota Dozier, G-Chicago Bears
Several others have yet to find jobs.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Anthony Barr, LB
Patrick Peterson, CB
Sheldon Richardson, DL
Mackensie Alexander, CB
Rashod Hill, OT
Everson Griffen, Edge
DeDe Westbrook, WR
Wayne Galman, RB
Luke Stocker, TE
Chad Beebe, WR
Tashawn Bower, Edge
Chris Herndon, TE
Patrick Peterson has been very outspoken in his interest in returning to the team. The Vikings biggest need is cornerbacks. If for no other reason, he’d be a nice addition for his leadership and experience. The cornerback room is lacking in both. His ridiculous physical abilities are starting to fade but he can still play. When the Vikings signed Za’Darius Smith it probably closed the door on a return of Anthony Barr. Sheldon Richardson is the only other free agent that I could see returning.
Moving forward in free agency, cornerback and interior offensive line are the positions that still need to be addressed. The Vikings visited with Buffalo Bills restricted free agent guard Ryan Bates. He also visited with the Chicago Bears and New England Patriots. Unfortunately, Bates is signing an offer sheet from the Bears. I was hoping that the Bears had lost interest when they signed former Vikings guard Dakota Dozier. They must’ve finally watched Dozier’s game film from the 2020 season. Ereck Flowers and Will Hernandez are two of the more intriguing of the available guards. Hernandez is visiting with the Arizona Cardinals so he might not be available for long. As for Vikings cornerback moves, the first might be coming soon as former Green Bay Packers slot corner Chandon Sullivan is coming to Minnesota for a visit. Vikings assistant head coach Mike Pettine knows Sullivan well as he was the Packers defensive coordinator in 2019 and 2020. Most of the available corners are on the wrong side of 30. Patrick Peterson, Stephon Gilmore, Joe Haden, Chris Harris, and Jimmy Smith are among the best corners of the past decade. They are past their best days. Some are well past their best days. Due to the need at the position, a return to Minnesota of Trae Waynes is tough to ignore. Due to injuries, he didn’t play much during his two seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals. That’s two seasons of wear-and-tear that isn’t on his 29-year old body. The Vikings have spent four first round picks on corners since 2013. None are currently on the roster. Waynes is one of those corners. I wouldn’t hate it if he made a Minnesota return. One cornerback possibility that’s been nagging at me since the start of the offseason is trading for James Bradberry. He’d be an outstanding addition but the Vikings would have to perform something close to a miracle to make it financially feasible. Still, he’s one of best in the league at his position. It’s the team’s greatest position of need. It has to be considered.
The Vikings are nine days into a new league year. Nine days! It sure feels longer. They’ve added three new starters on defense. Harrison Phillips, Jordan Hicks, and Za’Darius Smith. A defense with significant needs is significantly better. Adding a capable corner, or three, is next. If the Vikings bring in another interior offensive lineman and scattered depth players, the draft might be wide open. No one position will dictate the players they select. Despite some hand-wringing from fans, there always is, this has been a productive free agency for the Minnesota Vikings. And we’re only nine days into it.
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