Which players will the Minnesota Vikings try and lure to their team once free agency officially begins in March?
Since Rick Spielman officially became the team’s general manager in 2012, the Minnesota Vikings have been pretty active in the pursuit of free-agents each offseason. Not all of their additions through free agency have been great (Greg Jennings, Alex Boone, Datone Jones), but the majority of the players brought in by the Vikings in the recent past have at least been solid contributors if not better (Linval Joseph, Terence Newman, Riley Reiff).
According to Over The Cap, the Vikings currently have around $49 million in cap space. Spotrac estimates Minnesota to spend a little over $4 million on their upcoming draft selections this year, so the team should have at least $40 to million to spend in free agency this offseason.
How the Vikings intend to spend that money remains to be seen. Will they use a big chunk of it on one or two high-priced free-agents or will they spread the funds out and add a handful of solid players to their 2018 roster?
Whichever route Minnesota takes during free agency this year, the team likely already has some players in mind that they would like to add. So which impending free-agents do the Vikings desire the most this offseason?
Graham Gano, K
Since Mike Zimmer became the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings in 2014, the team’s kicking game has definitely not been one of the team’s strengths. The Vikings have dealt with ups and downs of Blair Walsh and the inconsistencies of Kai Forbath during Zimmer’s tenure.
Forbath is a free-agent this year and Minnesota’s front office should make it a priority to find the team a better option at the position during the offseason.
Gano would be a solid addition if the Vikings can convince him to sign with the team. At 30-years-old (which is like a baby in kicking years), he is coming off a career year in 2017 that saw him miss just one of his 30 field goal attempts.
Playing indoors could also make Minnesota an intriguing destination for Gano this offseason. Especially since he has converted on 11 of his 12 field goal attempts since 2014 when kicking inside a domed stadium.
The kicker made $3.25 million with the Carolina Panthers last season, so Minnesota can easily afford to add him to the roster this year.
Kyle Fuller, CB
Fuller was one of the best corners in the NFL last season and surprisingly, the Chicago Bears are letting him test the free-agent market in 2018.
Drafted in the first-round by the Bears in 2014, the young corner was exceptional on the field last year. Fuller finished the 2017 season with 68 tackles, two interceptions, and 22 pass deflections.
Of the corners available in free agency this offseason, Fuller is atop the list according to Bleacher Report’s NFL1000 rankings.
Some may be wary of the corner’s performance in 2017, since it came in a contract year. But the Vikings have a defensive back-guru in head coach Mike Zimmer, who will likely be able to figure out how to make sure Fuller’s impressive play continues into the future.
Sheldon Richardson, DT
With Tom Johnson scheduled to be a free-agent this offseason and Sharrif Floyd’s NFL career still in limbo, adding a defensive tackle through free agency seems like a route the Vikings could take this year.
Richardson will not be cheap (estimated to cost about $12 million per season), but the money would be worth spending. At 6-foot-3, 295 pounds, he would make for a great addition in Minnesota right next to Linval Joseph on the inside of the defensive line.
Stopping the run is what Richardson excels at, an area that the Vikings could always use more help in (Minnesota allowed 131.3 rushing yards per game during their four losses last season). Would the Vikings be willing to spend a little extra to add the talented defensive tackle this year?
Andrew Norwell, OG
Last offseason, the Vikings improved the outside of their offensive line through free agency. This year, it could be the inside of their line that Minnesota will look to improve upon.
The Vikings are set at center with Pat Elflein, but left guard Nick Easton is a restricted free-agent this offseason and right guard Joe Berger is expected to retire. It’s quite possible Minnesota will re-sign Easton, but they will at least have to find a replacement for Berger.
Ranked as the second-best offensive guard in the NFL last season according to Bleacher Report, Norwell would be a great addition to the Vikings. As the left guard for the Carolina Panthers in 2017, the Associated Press named him to their All-Pro team.
Norwell likely will be one of the most sought-after free-agents this offseason, so Minnesota will probably have to offer some serious money in order to sign him.
Kirk Cousins, QB
Picking who their starting quarterback is for 2018 will arguably be the Vikings single-most important decision this offseason. Minnesota just has to figure out if they want to pursue someone new in free agency or re-sign a signal caller from their 2017 roster.
Of the free-agent quarterbacks available this year, Cousins is really the only one worth spending money on (Drew Brees is staying in New Orleans, so let’s stop thinking he’s coming to the Vikings). But spending money is exactly what Minnesota will have to do in order to sign Cousins (estimated market value of at least $25 million per year).
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Despite his price tag, adding Cousins would provide some actual stability for the Vikings at the quarterback position. Something Minnesota has not really had since Daunte Culpepper was team’s starter from 2000 to 2005.
For the past three seasons, Cousins has basically been the main source of offensive production for the Washington Redskins. The quarterback has thrown for at least 25 touchdowns and 4,000 yards in each of the last three years despite the Redskins never having a rushing attack that ranked higher than 20th.
In Minnesota, Cousins would not be asked to put the entire offense on his back. Players like Dalvin Cook, Latavius Murray, Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, and Kyle Rudolph would allow the quarterback’s best qualities to flourish.
Next: Malcolm Butler to the Vikings?
The Vikings will not be able to spend a ton of money elsewhere if they sign Cousins this offseason. But if they do land the quarterback, chances are it would be money well spent.