4 high-risk free agents the Vikings should consider in 2022
By Dean Jones
Evan Engram – TE
Irv Smith Jr. coming back to full health should be a significant boost for the Vikings, who have both Tyler Conklin and Chris Herndon out of contract at the tight end position this offseason. The Alabama product has all the athletic attributes needed to become a real force next time around, but there’s no guarantee he’ll be firing on all cylinders after so long away from the gridiron.
Perhaps acquiring another free agent would be a wise move if Conklin and Herndon don’t come back. Although he appears to be a feast or famine option, Evan Engram is someone who could benefit enormously from Kevin O’Connell’s progressive offensive scheme and might be worth a gamble, providing the money is right.
Engram was a highly touted player coming out of college. But injuries and a lack of consistent distribution under center mean he’s failed to meet some lofty targets since entering the league.
At 27-years-old, it is far too early to be giving up on Engram just yet. The former first-round pick should welcome a change of scenery if the New York Giants part ways with the player, but whether the Vikings have enough spare resources to make him a tempting offer is highly debatable.
This is obviously a risk due to Engram’s injury history and inconsistent production. However, the reward could be enormously high, too.