Which potential 2021 free agents on offense could emerge as sleeper targets for the Minnesota Vikings?
It’s not going to be easy for the Minnesota Vikings to bring quality into the organization during free agency this offseason. With the salary cap coming down due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost every NFL team is scrambling around trying to cut costs in a bid to comply with the new cap number and remain competitive in the process.
This is nothing new for the Vikings, who went through some significant complications surrounding their cap last year. The sacrifices made had a big impact on their production in 2020, especially on the defensive side of the ball, so the decision-makers will be wary not to make the same sort of mistakes again in an attempt to make a playoff return next season.
Kyle Rudolph was the first big-name veteran to depart Minnesota this year, and more could be on the way before the free-agent activity begins later this month. Everybody knows what is on the line for Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman if they cannot make improvements next time around. So they must spend their money wisely this offseason.
This will be an offseason like no other in terms of player movement. Veterans who might not have been released in normal circumstances will be looking for a new home, and some might even be willing to settle for less financially, providing the fit is right.
Minnesota can take advantage of this, providing they can free-up enough money to help them tempt players of interest. It’s a predicament that is evident across the league, but one everybody is stuck with until COVID-19 loosens its grip.
With this in mind, let’s take a look at five free-agent sleepers on offense who could help the Vikings in 2021.
Sleeper No. 1
John Miller – OG
2020 Team: Carolina Panthers
It doesn’t take a genius to figure out that the Vikings need better interior protection options.
This area became one of weakness throughout the 2020 campaign, and it wouldn’t be the biggest shock in the world to see two new starters in 2021, depending on where the coaching staff wants Ezra Cleveland to play during his second year.
John Miller makes a ton of sense for Minnesota. He spent last season with the Carolina Panthers, and although he started well, things tailed off down the stretch.
There is enough to suggest Miller would be an upgrade over anything the Vikings currently has at their disposal. He did give up three sacks and he conceded six penalties during 910 snaps in 2020 on his way to a modest 61.1 grade from Pro Football Focus. But if Minnesota needs immediate help, they could do far worse than look in his direction.
Golden Tate – WR
2020 Team: New York Giants
Although the Vikings got some exceptional production from Adam Thielen and stud rookie Justin Jefferson in 2020, they could still use another viable option at wide receiver to further boost their chances of success moving forward. Someone who works primarily out of the slot would be beneficial, which is where a proven playmaker such as Golden Tate comes in.
Tate was recently shown the door by the New York Giants for some salary-cap relief, which will have more than a few NFL teams looking in his direction once free agency hits. Even though he is a little long in the tooth now, the Pro Bowler could still be of use in the right scheme, and there wouldn’t be that much pressure on him making a substantial difference if he joined Minnesota.
This is all about fine-tuning where the Vikings are concerned. Their failure to make the postseason in 2020 wasn’t due to their offensive numbers, which were pretty good and came on encouragingly after the bye week. So if a couple more reinforcements are brought in at key positions, then it should make all the difference.
There isn’t much that Tate hasn’t seen during his 12-year career. He is a Super Bowl winner that has accumulated 8,278 receiving yards and 46 touchdowns. So if he isn’t demanding the Earth in terms of contract length or salary, then it makes a lot of sense for Minnesota to take a look.
Tyler Kroft – TE
2020 Team: Buffalo Bills
It will be strange seeing the Vikings take the field without Kyle Rudolph next season. The tight end might have seen his influence diminish over the last two years, but he emerged as part of the fabric within the franchise, and he’ll go down as one of the organization’s best-ever players at his position.
The keys to the kingdom will now be given to Irv Smith Jr. ahead of a hugely important third season for the former Alabama star. He has all the skills needed to fill the No. 1 role with minimal fuss, providing he starts putting it all together on the field more consistently.
However, it might be worth Minnesota bringing in a dependable catching option if things don’t pan out as expected where Smith is concerned. Failing to have a contingency plan will do more harm than good. So acquiring somebody with the capabilities of Tyler Kroft needs to be discussed.
Kroft was a model of consistency during his time with the Buffalo Bills, albeit in a rotational role considering the wealth of other options in the passing game. He would be walking into a similar situation in Minnesota, especially if another productive wide receiver is secured. So whether he’ll want to sign with a team that has a lesser chance of competing for a Super Bowl with the same involvement remains to be seen.
David Moore – WR
2020 Team: Seattle Seahawks
As stated previously, the Vikings need a solid No. 3 on their wide receiver depth chart to put alongside Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. This would not only give quarterback Kirk Cousins another target in the passing game, but it has the potential to take some of the attention away from the Pro Bowl duo on the outside.
A name like David Moore would be high on the shortlist if Minnesota wants to fill this area in free agency. He has been a leading contributor for the Seattle Seahawks in recent years and he emerged as a primary weapon for Russell Wilson. But with money tight across the league, they might not have enough to offer the sort of deal he’s looking for.
Moore deserves a tremendous amount of credit after going from a seventh-round pick to a dependable presence in the Seattle passing game. His catch success rate of 74.5 percent in 2020, which also included six touchdowns, was nothing short of exceptional, and if he could bring this to Minnesota, it would make a huge difference.
The East Central Oklahoma product represents a possible free-agent bargain with a ton of upside if the Seahawks can’t keep him around. Adding Moore to a Vikings offensive unit that already has two 1,000-yard receivers in Jefferson and Thielen has endless potential.
Joe Flacco – QB
2020 Team: New York Jets
Kirk Cousins‘ status as the alpha on the Vikings is unquestioned at this juncture. For all the team’s faults in 2020, and there were many, the quarterback put together arguably the best stretch of his career following the bye week last season that almost resulted in a shock playoff berth.
This is a solid foundation from which to build moving forward. Minnesota is still loaded with playmakers on offense, and in Cousins, they have a signal-caller who is growing in confidence and slowly ridding himself of the stereotypes that have dogged the Pro Bowler throughout his career.
Cousins is extremely durable, and he rarely misses a game, but the Vikings need a better contingency plan in case things start trending in the wrong direction from a health perspective. Sean Mannion hasn’t shown anything to suggest he could slot in and fill the void with any confidence, so acquiring another veteran on the cheap would be a wise move with the window shortening for this group of players.
Joe Flacco might be a relative afterthought to some, but he’s a Super Bowl winner who appears to be a scheme fit in Klint Kubiak’s system from the outside looking in. There are some obvious limitations, of that there is little doubt. But this is a low-risk pickup that would ensure momentum wouldn’t drop off a great deal in the event Cousins was forced to miss some time.
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Hopes of Flacco securing another starting job elsewhere appear slim, especially on the New York Jets, considering they hold the No. 2 overall selection and first refusal of former BYU passing phenom Zach Wilson. Therefore, taking a strong backup role and potentially making the most of it when a top guy gets hurt is the best way to prolong his career.