The Minnesota Vikings have 16 players with contracts set to expire when the NFL flips their calendar on March 17. While the salary cap has yet to be set it’s expected that the Vikings will be several million dollars over it. If 2020 had been a normal sort of year, they would probably be fine with cap. 2020 wasn’t anything close to normal. Many things have been impacted. The NFL salary cap is one of those things. It’ll drop. The Vikings will be forced to do some contract manipulation just to get in compliance with the salary cap. They will also have to be very selective in the players that they re-sign and sign. All of that starts with decisions on their own free agents.
Unrestricted Free Agents
Anthony Harris, S
Eric Wilson, LB
Todd Davis, LB
George Iloka, S
Rashod Hill, OT
Ameer Abdullah, RB
Sean Mannion, QB
Dakota Dozier, OG
Brett Jones, IOL
Jaleel Johnson, DT
Hardy Nickerson, LB
Restricted Free Agents
Ifeadi Odenigbo, DE
Chad Beebe, WR
Mike Boone, RB
Exclusive Rights Free Agents
Kyle Hinton, OG
Chris Jones, CB
The most significant unrestricted free agents are Anthony Harris and Eric Wilson. The guess here is that it would take a minor miracle for the Vikings to be able to sign one, let alone both.
Most years, it’s easy to look at the Vikings’ list of free agents and see multiple players that they will likely re-sign. It’s tough to do that this year since their salary cap restraints are such an unknown. If the Vikings re-sign any of their unrestricted free agents, I think that it starts with the following:
Rashod Hill
Brett Jones
Ameer Abdullah
Rashod Hill’s ability to step in at either tackle spot has been valuable. Often game-saving. He might’ve priced himself out of the swing tackle job. It might be time for that job to go to Oli Udoh.
Dakota Dozier starting over Brett Jones at left guard was a season-long mystery. It feels like the Vikings value Jones. They traded for him in 2018 and have brought him back each season since. Yet, they kept him on the bench despite Dozier’s season-long struggles. He’s a solid, valuable offensive lineman. His would be a good re-signing if the Vikings can afford him.
Ameer Abdullah is a nice change of pace back, a good kick returner, and a valuable contributor on other special teams units. The Vikings must get more from their return game. If Abdullah’s the kick returner it’s not a terrible thing. That’s not a ringing endorsement. He’s had some big plays out of the backfield on scattered snaps. The pro for bringing him back is that he gives the Vikings quick, shifty, versatile option out of the backfield. He’s also a strong team leader and voice. The con for bringing him back is that the Vikings have nice depth at running back. Especially if restricted free agent Mike Boone returns. Quick, shifty backs with return ability can be found in the later rounds of the draft.
The next free agent decisions may or may not involve the following:
Sean Mannion
Jaleel Johnson
Todd Davis
Sean Mannion, by all reports, is like an extra coach for Kirk Cousins on the sideline, practice field, and quarterback room. Fine. Hire him as the quarterbacks coach or co-coach. I’d rather see a quarterback with potential backing up Cousins. Whether that’s Jake Browning, Nate Stanley, or a draft pick. The Vikings are fortunate that Cousins has been so durable.
Jaleel Johnson was drafted in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft to perhaps become the three-technique that the Vikings have so desperately needed. He’s had flashes of being that player. Those flashes haven’t come often enough. Perhaps that’s from a lack of consistent playing time. Personally, I felt better this season when Johnson and Armon Watts were in the middle of the defensive line. The decision of nose tackle Michael Pierce to opt-out due to COVID concerns altered many of the plans for the line. It would’ve been fun to see Johnson lined up next to a space-taker and block-eater like Pierce. The Vikings must get better play from the interior of the defensive line and the decision-makers have to decide whether Johnson can do more often what they’ve only seen him do on occasion.
Todd Davis was an emergency signing after Anthony Barr was injured and lost for the season. Davis provided a veteran presence and experienced play. The Vikings really needed him when Eric Kendricks was lost later in the season. Davis is a solid veteran linebacker. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Vikings signed him to a light contract and bring him to camp. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t.
I expect that the Vikings will bring back all of their restricted free agents.
There’s an initial, brief look at the 2021 free agents of the Minnesota Vikings. For a variety of reasons, it doesn’t look like the pursuit of their own free agents will be as suspense-filled as previous years.
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