Has Rick Spielman’s free agency start boosted his contract hopes?
By Dean Jones
The re-signed players
Rick Spielman knows a good thing when he sees it, giving fullback C.J. Ham an extension that ties him to the Minnesota Vikings until 2023.
The general manager took a flier on the undrafted prospect and has been rewarded with tremendous production. Ham was a prime blocking force in Minnesota last season and provided Kirk Cousins with a useful asset in critical passing downs that required short yardage.
Keeping him on the roster long-term gives Minnesota the best possible chance to succeed. Ham’s strong relationship with running back Dalvin Cook has reaped significant rewards.
The Vikings also tied down Dan Bailey to a three-year deal after impressing considerably last season. The former Dallas Cowboy overcame some early struggles in Minnesota to become the dependable kicking option the team has been craving for some time.
Hopefully this is a trend that can continue throughout the remainder of his deal at a position where the Vikings have suffered their fair share of heartbreak over the years.
Minnesota also moved to give punter Britton Colquitt a new three-year, $9 million contract. This included a $2.15 million signing bonus, $5m guaranteed and ensures the organization has long-term stability with both kicking elements of the game.
It may not have been possible for the Vikings to keep everyone they wanted. What the decision-makers had to was be realistic, identify players who were performing well and act accordingly.
They seem to have done that so far, but the roster does appear thin in some areas and this could be solved with their 12 NFL Draft picks.