Free agent guard/center Nick Easton has received a second-round tender from the Minnesota Vikings which should ensure he stays with the team for 2018.
While the quarterback position has become the hot topic surrounding the Minnesota Vikings this offseason, there are still plenty of other things the franchise needs to pay close attention to in order to stay competitive in the league.
One of those needs is the offensive line, where interior linemen Nick Easton and Joe Berger were scheduled to become free agents. This would have left a massive hole to fill between their offensive tackles and surrounding Pat Elflein.
The Vikings have solved at least part of that problem by placing a second-round tender on restricted free agent guard/center Nick Easton according to a tweet from NFL Network and NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero on Twitter. Here is that tweet:
The #Vikings are putting a 2nd-round tender on G/C Nick Easton, source said. Started 12 games last season before he broke an ankle. Key piece of interior.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 12, 2018
This means that the Vikings would be awarded a second-round draft pick if another team ends up signing Easton away from Minnesota. The tender amount for that round is $2,914,000, which could end up being a bargain. If he stays in Minnesota for 2018, he will be scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent in 2019.
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Easton is only 25 years old and provides a depth thanks to his ability to play any spot on the interior of the offensive line. He was acquired in a trade with the San Francisco 49ers that shipped linebacker Gerald Hodges out of Minnesota and quickly worked his way from a backup to being a starter.
During the 2017 NFL season, Nick Easton was a starter on the offensive line, taking over the left guard spot after the somewhat surprising release of Alex Boone after discussions for an adjustment to his contract went sour.
Easton and Berger were the two starting guards last season, but Berger has yet to be signed back to the team. Considering he will be 36 years old this season, The Vikings may move on from him in favor of a younger player on the roster, a free agent, or a rookie.
Next: Realistic free-agent options for the Vikings' defense in 2018
Bringing back Nick Easton is a great move not only for the depth of the offensive line and continuity of the unit but it also gives the team more time to evaluate him to see if he can be a long-term solution at guard. Plus, it eases one of the biggest needs the Minnesota Vikings have going into free agency and the NFL Draft.