NFL Free Agency: Vikings Miss Out On OG Clint Boling

If the Vikings’ plan for replacing Charlie Johnson at left guard included signing Bengals guard Clint Boling…well I guess they’ll have to move on to another plan.

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Adam Schefter reports this morning that the Bengals have agreed to a new contract with Boling worth $26 million over five years.

Boling and the Vikings were believed to have mutual interest, but the Bengals clearly outbid Minnesota (either that or Boling’s alleged interest in the Vikings was never real and the Vikes were only used to leverage more money out of Cincinnati).

With Boling out of the picture, the next-best free agent guard is probably the former Falcon Justin Blalock. Jah Reid and Eben Britton are also options. James Carpenter is still officially a free agent though it’s likely he will soon sign with the Jets.

That’s not exactly an exciting list of player. Perhaps that explains why the Vikings yesterday moved to re-sign veteran G/C Joe Berger to a new contract. The Vikings also have 2014 fifth round draft pick David Yankey in hand.

If the Vikings decide to fill their left guard hole with a high draft pick, they could go with Iowa’s Brandon Scherff. Though taking a guard that high would go against everything we’ve ever learned about Rick Spielman’s draft philosophy.

Missing out on Boling kind of hurts, but I guess the Vikes can muck through one year with Berger at left guard if Yankey doesn’t show enough to win the job. But ideally, you would like Yankey to put it together this year and become the starter.

Next: Rahim Moore Would Be Splashy Signing

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