Start of Free Agency

The post combine, pre-free agency, period has been pretty interesting. This is the second year that the NFL has instituted a three-day “legal tampering” period, which allows perspective teams to openly negotiate with soon-to-be free agents. This timeframe started Saturday, with the start of Free Agency beginning Tuesday.

This relatively new rule change and new offseason schedule has put an emphasis on quickly getting salary cap finances in order. Thus, teams are frantically cutting and restructuring unproductive contracts. Teams like the Cowboys (-$16M) and the Steelers (-$6M) are the only ones with a negative salary cap space and obviously have more work to do. While the Raiders, Browns, and Jaguars all have over $55M in cap space. Of note, the Vikings are in the upper third of teams with +$35M.

So what does this mean for the Vikings?

GM Rick Speilman has been pretty active. Cutting (MLB) Erin Henderson, (TE) John Carlson, and (DT) Letroy Guion. While resigning (QB) Matt Cassel and (CB/KR) Marcus Sherels. No doubt all of these moves were to support the new OC Norv Turner and new defensive-minded HC Mike Zimmer. With the healthy cap space and Adrian Peterson gaining some wear and tear on his treads, the WIN NOW mentality is more likely than not. After all, Speilman fired Leslie Frazier and brought in his own guys. So a season at the bottom of the NFC North, though likely, it is not acceptable.

Free Agency Outlook: Everything is focused on the defensive side, as need seems more immediate.

·         The Vikings are extremely fortunate that this year’s UFA crop of DEs have elite young classic 4-3 edge rushers that can also hold up at the POA. I would be shocked if one of these guys did not get signed by the Vikings.

o   Michael Bennett, 6’4”, 274, 28 years old (Elite)

o   Michael Johnson, 6’7”, 270, 27 years old (Great)

o   Lamar Houston, 6’3”, 300, 26 years old (Great)

o   Robert Ayers, 6’3”, 274, 28 years old (Good)

o   Matt Shaughnessy, 6’5” 285, 27 years old (Good)

·         Also, not a banner singing, but please bring Everson Griffen back.

·         Defensive Tackle is another position I would try to address in FA versus the Draft. From what I see, I think that there is a need for a 1-Technique DT. This calls a +300 lbs power defender that can not only hold up at the POA, but also collapse the pocket into the QB. Linval Joseph and Jason Hatcher are the best 1T, but any zero technique NT is an acceptable stop gap.

·         If Speilman is looking for a cheap 3T to rotate with Sharriff Floyd, look no further than Clinton McDonald. Back in August, McDonald was traded from the Bengals to Seattle. During training camp McDonald was revered by Zimmer.

·         I’m a little surprised that Chris Cook wasn’t resigned (yet). Sure he has under-achieved his draft status, but Zimmer’s track record making DBs successful pros is well known. Cook’s youth, size, speed, and athletic ability could equate to Zimmer’s best DB product in recent memory. I do not expect him to last long in FA. If the Vikings fail to sign him, they should make a run at a mid-tier CB like Sam Shields, Walter Thurmond, Tarell Brown, Corey Graham, or Terrell Thomas.