NFL free agency starts on March 13, only 33 days away. So now is the time to dissect our pending free agents. After the resigning of Pat Brown, the Vikings have 17 free agents to be.
Since we’re all Vikings fans and in need of some good news, I’ll start there. There are only four starters on this list: EJ and Erin Henderson, Husain Abdullah, and Visanthe Shiancoe. So not to worry, the team that went 3-13 and tied for the worst record in Vikings history will almost completely return! Oh, wait. Well, it’s news anyway.
In that list of four starters, the only guy I see as a lock for returning is Erin Henderson. With two-thirds of the Vikings’ linebacking core set to be free agents, at least one will need to be resigned. It could get a little awkward if they split up the brothers, but the NFL is a business and Erin is younger and healthier.
Potential Free Agents
Keepers
LB EJ Henderson
LB Erin Henderson
Erin Henderson is probably the most likely to return, he is still young and he was more than serviceable last year. EJ’s body may be breaking down, but there is something to be said about continuity. He has been the Vikings middle linebacker for his entire 9-year career. It may be time to move on, but do we have a replacement?
Maybes
QB Sage Rosenfels
Sage will probably resign, the Vikings want him to be a backup, but he would be a third stringer. Will that be enough for him?
DT Fred Evans
DT Letroy Guion
I would assume the Vikings will want to keep either Fred Evans or Letroy Guion if the asking price is reasonable. They’re both young, quality depth that know the system but have failed to make the most of their opportunities. Pick the most promising or cheapest option and move on.
S Husain Abdullah
The Vikings have made it no secret that they like Husain Abdullah, but one has to worry about his concussion problems. This will be a short term deal at best. Vikings need to get some real safeties.
LB Kenny Onatolu (RFA)
He’s a special teams ace on a very good unit. Vikings will resign him if they can, but will he be affordable and is he still satisfied with special teams?
RB Lorenzo Booker (RFA)
Booker showed some flashes last year. He’s a good change-of-pace back, and no one knows how 28 will perform next year. Booker has had some fumbling problems, and the draft is always loaded with quality young backs in the late rounds.
WR Devin Aromashodu
He’s a drifter. Maybe the Vikings keep Aromashodu because the wide receiving core is that bad, but that would be the only reason.
S Jarrad Page
With the safeties that Vikings have, why not give a young body a chance to compete? The asking price will be low enough.
Doubtfuls
TE Visanthe Shiancoe
Visanthe Shiancoe is getting older and will want to get one last long term contract. I don’t see it coming from the Vikings who have a younger, cheaper and better tight end in Kyle Rudolph. Maybe the Vikings would have thought differently if Bill Musgrave had ever actually incorporated both tight ends into his offense.
CB Benny Sapp
Sapp knows the system, which is why the Vikings brought him back last year, but he showed no reason to keep him around on a bad DB unit. He’s on the wrong side of 30.
OL Scott Kooistra
Kooistra is also on the wrong side of 30 and had a serious neck injury last year. Pat Brown was just signed as a reserve OT. Kooistra is a backup at best and one with a major question mark over his head, why bother?
Goners
LB Xavier Adibi
New addition last year, contributed nothing.
S Tyrell Johnson
Needs a change in scenery, like McDonald’s for instance.
LS Matt Katula
Was only signed because we lost Cullen Loeffler for the season.
WR Greg Camarillo
Old, slow, barely ever saw the field last year.
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