6 free-agent kickers the Vikings could sign in 2021
By Chris Schad
After the release of Dan Bailey, the Minnesota Vikings are hoping to finally end their kicking carousel.
The Minnesota Vikings have plenty of needs heading into free agency, but kicker didn’t seem to be high on their list. Well, with the release of Dan Bailey on Tuesday, that has changed.
Recent signee, Greg Joseph, is the only kicker currently on Minnesota’s roster after Bailey’s departure. But with Joseph spending last season on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers practice squad, the Vikings could seek out an upgrade this year to challenge him.
The good news for Minnesota is that this year’s group of free-agent kickers is a strong one. With several Pro Bowl talents available, the Vikings could use the $1.7 million they saved with Bailey’s release to try to end the never-ending carousel at the position.
Minnesota’s history hasn’t been kind when it comes to kickers, but they need to figure out something heading into 2021. With a conservative team on the offensive side of the ball, someone who can convert kicks at a consistent rate could be the difference in helping a Vikings team that ranked 11th in scoring last season move into becoming a top-10 offense.
So who are some of the kickers that Minnesota could target in free agency and how realistic of a chance of landing in the Twin Cities do they have?