When the NFL free agency clock strikes “go” on March 17th, the Minnesota Vikings likely won’t be very active. Most of their activity might be focused on some contract-juggling just to get on the right side of the salary cap. So, picking free agent targets a month out is being more dreamy than most years. It can’t hurt to dream.
The biggest needs entering this offseason are in the trenches. Improving the offensive line is an annual need. Improving the defensive line is a new need. There are some other needs. There usually are when the team hits a mark of 7-9. Here are some of those needs.
Offensive line (left guard in particular)
Defensive line (3-technique in particular)
Receiver depth
Safety
Here are some free agent targets that fit those needs:
Guard
Brandon Scherff
Joe Thuney
It would take some serious financial juggling to afford either Brandon Scherff or Joe Thuney. Who knows? There’s always a way to work around the NFL salary cap.
More likely (affordable) guard options:
Forrest Lamp
Matt Feiler
Austin Blythe
Nick Easton
I really liked Forrest Lamp in the 2017 NFL Draft. He was a tackle then. Injuries have hampered his development with the Los Angeles Chargers. If he can be the player that I liked in 2017, I like him as a guard in 2021.
Three-technique
Leonard Williams
As with Scherff and Thuney at guard, Leonard Williams would be the dream solution at defensive tackle. If the Vikings were to chase a high-priced free agent, I might put Williams ahead of the guards. That could change tomorrow.
More likely (affordable) 3-technique options:
Roy Robertson-Harris
Shelby Harris
Mike Daniels
I included Mike Daniels simply for the player that I remember him to be. Perhaps he’s no longer that player but I think that he’s an intriguing option. Another intriguing option would be Geno Atkins if he’s released by the Cincinnati Bengals. He’s been one of the best three-techniques of the past decade. Injuries dismantled his 2020 season. If he’s healthy and available, a reunion with Mike Zimmer and Paul Guenther could be a beautiful thing.
Receiver options
Curtis Samuel
Keelan Cole
Josh Reynolds
DeDe Westbrook
Curtis Samuel tops my receiver list simply because he’s a different sort of receiver to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen. Samuel’s playmaking versatility could put some nuance in the Vikings offense. The sort of nuance that they haven’t had since Cordarrelle Patterson and Percy Harvin. It always felt like Samuel was underused in Carolina. New Vikings receiver coach Keenan McCardell will have some insider knowledge on Keelan Cole and Dede Westbrook. The latter Jacksonville Jaguars receiver is rehabbing a torn ACL so that’s a concern. The Vikings are in fine shape with their top two receivers. They need more from their third and fourth receivers. Perhaps Chad Beebe and/or Olabisi Johnson can do that. Right now, I think that the Vikings need to add to the receiver room. I like Curtis Samuel as the addition.
Safety
John Johnson
Malik Hooker
Keanu Neal
Marcus Maye
Desmond King
The only thing that might keep any of the above players within the Vikings budget is the usual down market for safeties. If the Rams didn’t have so much money tied up with a few players, I doubt that John Johnson makes it out of Los Angeles. Who knows? There’s always a way around the salary cap. Perhaps the Rams and Johnson can make it work. Going into the 2017 NFL Draft I figured that Malik Hooker would be an annual All-Pro by 2020. I liked him more than Jamal Adams. And I liked Jamal Adams a lot. If the Vikings can find a way to afford any of the above, they might be able to find a way to afford to re-sign Anthony Harris. He made over $11 million last year on the franchise tag. Where do you go from there? Probably not back to Minnesota. Desmond King might be the most appealing of the above simply for his positional versatility.
A Dream Vikings’ free agency haul:
Leonard Williams
Forrest Lamp
Curtis Samuel
Or:
Brandon Scherff
Roy Robertson-Harris
Curtis Samuel
Right now, I’m leaning toward the second one. I have faith in Andre Patterson and Imarjaye Albury coaching up a defensive line that returns Danielle Hunter and Michael Pierce. The offensive line group is in more need of an infusion of talent than the defensive line group. Brandon Scherff adds much more talent. His addition gives the Vikings an offensive line that looks like this:
LT Riley Reiff (or 1st round pick)
LG Brandon Scherff
C Garrett Bradbury
RG Ezra Cleveland
RT Brian O’Neill
I like that offensive line. I’d like it a great deal if the left tackle first round pick is Rashawn Slater or Christian Darrisaw. The Vikings would probably have to release Riley Reiff in order to afford any player the quality (and cost) of Scherff. It’s a good draft for left tackles so it’s a good time to rely on a rookie left tackle.
NFL Free Agency is still over month away. This is the time for dreaming. A more realistic free agency haul might look something like this.
Geno Atkins
John Johnson
Some modest depth signings
If Geno Atkins can be anything like the player he was only two seasons ago, he’d be a terrific addition. The Vikings desperately need a pocket-collapsing presence on the interior of the defensive line. Atkins can provide that for a season, or two, while a young player like James Lynch or a draft pick is groomed for the role. I can see a scenario in which the Vikings spend a bit on Atkins, spend nothing to upgrade the offensive line, and splurge a little on a safety. Spending on a relatively young, high end guard or defensive tackle will likely cost a lot more than spending on a relatively young, high end safety. That safety could be John Johnson. With a very young cornerback group, it would be nice to have experienced safeties on the field to assist. It was a strategy that was used with questionable results last season. I think that it would have better results next season. I think that for two reasons. One, the young cornerbacks have a season of experience. Two, the pass rush should be much improved. Re-signing Anthony Harris is an option. I’m leaning Johnson because he’s nearly five years younger. Ignoring the offensive line is a gamble but I have a feeling that one of Kyle Hinton or Oli Udoh will emerge as a starter at one of the guard positions. My feelings are often suspect as I had a feeling last offseason that Dru Samia would step up as an Anthony Herrera-like right guard. That didn’t happen. Not even close. Hinton and Udoh are late-round picks so either emerging as a starter would be a surprise. Guard would be a position change for Udoh so Hinton is more likely. Plus, Udoh might be relied upon to replace Rashod Hill as the swing tackle. I liked Hinton in the draft as a small school sleeper and I was thrilled when he was selected in the sixth round. Unfortunately, there were no preseason games last summer to see what he can do on an NFL stage.
Until things actually start happening in just over a month there’ll be a lot of rambling thoughts like these.
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