The Minnesota Vikings offseaon started about three weeks too soon. They spent those weeks mourning the sad end of a fun season and reassembling the coaching staff. Now, it's time to build the team that will try to play three weeks longer in 2020. The Vikings will have at least 18 players with contracts that will expire when the new league year starts on March 18.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Anthony Harris
Trae Waynes
Andrew Sendejo
Mackensie Alexander
Marcus Sherels
Jayron Kearse
Kentrell Brothers
Steven Weatherly
Sean Mannion
Ameer Abdullah
Laquan Treadwell
Rashod Hill
Dakota Dozier
Brett Jones
Dan Bailey
Britton Colquitt
Restricted Free Agents
C.J. Ham
Eric Wilson
The list may have defensive end Everson Griffen added to it. He hit benchmarks with his play in 2019 that has given him the option to void the remaining years of his contract.
The Vikings are in a bit of a salary cap bind this offseason. They are currently projected to be over the 2020 salary cap and will be forced to trim or restructure the contracts of a few of their more well-compensated players.
Since the franchise tag became a thing in 1993, the Vikings have only used it twice (Jim Kleinsasser in 2003 and Chad Greenway in 2011). This year could be the third. Anthony Harris has developed into one of the better safeties in the league. He's the sort of young, homegrown player that the Vikings have made it a practice of re-signing. Harris may be the priority of the offseason. The franchise tag tender for a safety is projected to be just under $13 million. Using the franchise tag should only be as a last resort. Negotiating a long-term contract is always preferred. Both sides are happier when they agree to a deal. Due to the team's salary cap situation it might be too much of a luxury to have two highly-compensated safeties. As with Anthony Barr last year, I think that the Vikings will find a way to afford Harris. Without using the franchise tag.
As for the other 17 potential free agents, I see the following as the priorities after Harris:
Steven Weatherly
Dan Bailey
Britton Colquitt
C.J. Ham
Eric Wilson
Steven Weatherly has developed into a productive rotational defensive lineman. If Griffen isn't on the roster. Weatherly and Ifeadi Odenigbo are the current leading contenders to replace him in the lineup. After too many years of maddening, inconsistent kicking, the Vikings finally found a solid combination in kicker Dan Bailey and punter Britton Colquitt. It would be nice to maintain that consistency. An offseason of working together can only help. C.J. Ham and Eric Wilson have developed into significant contributors on offense and defense respectively.
It'll be tough to lose corners Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander. I'm not sure that the Vikings can afford either if they re-sign Anthony Harris. Unless salary cap maestro Rob Brzezinski can pull off his greatest miracle, there might be a complete turnover at cornerback for the Vikings.
One, or more, of the free agent offensive linemen will probably be re-signed.
Rashod Hill
Dakota Dozier
Brett Jones
I don't see any as starters but each provides valuable depth.
That's an early, quick look at the Vikings upcoming free agents.
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