2015 Minnesota Vikings Free Agency: An Early Guide to the Market

Free agency will be the first step for the Minnesota Vikings in their building process with an eye toward the 2015 season.

General manager Rick Spielman and his entire staff kept a relatively low profile a year ago, plucking defensive tackle Linval Joseph, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and defensive tackle Tom Johnson off the market. The team also welcomed in Corey Wootton, Jasper Brinkley, Vladimir Ducasse and Derek Cox to round out its plunder.

Per OverTheCap.com, Minnesota has just over $10 million of cap space to bank on in 2015. A few cuts to aging, expensive players can free up more space in a hurry.

Few areas of the roster will be off-limits for free-agent consideration. The Vikings will seek upgrades at numerous starting spots on offense and defense, while searching for more depth across the board. Whether they have the money or the inclination to make a splash signing remains to be seen, but Minnesota should at least be active.

The following players are unrestricted free agents the Vikings may go after, considering scheme fit, anticipated cost and future returns from each.

Secondary

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Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith are automatics for the lineup in 2015. After rotating in Andrew Sendejo for Robert Blanton late in the season, Mike Zimmer was still left with little for a solid answer across from Smith. If the Vikings are serious about challenging or possibly upgrading from Munnerlyn or Josh Robinson at the other cornerback spots, they may also invest on the outside.

Da'Norris Searcy

The Buffalo Bills safety could be the type of cheap, reliable safety Minnesota could eye to flank Smith. Zimmer wants a safety to be reliable as a tackler in space. In coverage, the strong safety must be able to spotlight over the middle of the field against tight ends and quickly break on intermediate routes. Smith is the playmaker in the secondary. The opposite safety must simply be dependable.

Searcy can be that. He concluded his second season as a starter in Buffalo with a strong 8.1 grade, per Pro Football Focus premium (subscription required), missing only seven tackles to 59 total tackles made. He also recorded a career high in interceptions with three, showing his ability to take advantage of opportunities when they arise.

The Vikings can find more competition at the safety position by bringing in a dependable, instinctive safety like Searcy.

Nate Allen

If Philadelphia strong safety Allen hits the market, Minnesota could pounce.

Allen will be going into his sixth NFL season in 2015, adding more veteran experience into the secondary ranks. He also reached a new high in interceptions with four in 2014. Allen fits a similar profile of a safety who doesn't frequently miss tackles and can make plays when need be.

Any safety help the Vikings seek will have a price cap on it, because the spot next to Smith only calls for a glue guy. Both Searcy and Allen could slide right into that position for Minnesota.

Buster Skrine

A way for the Vikings to seriously upgrade their secondary would be to go after Cleveland's Skrine. Pat McManamon of ESPN.com reports that coaches glow about Skrine:

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CB Buster Skrine is one #Browns player who is the object of glowing praise and affection from every coach who speaks of him.

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) December 26, 2014"

Skrine is an undersized CB at 5'9", which might just lower his asking price to the point where Minnesota makes him a priority. He makes up for that lack of height with physical play. He relinquishes nothing to bigger receivers and fits the description of a CB who can thrive opposite Rhodes, who may continue shadowing opposing No. 1 receivers anyways.

Unless the Vikings want to roll the dice with Munnerlyn and Robinson again in 2015, Skrine should be targeted.

Linebackers

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The defense's second wave must be the No. 1 priority for Minnesota in order to restock its defense. Decisions will be made on Brinkely and Chad Greenway, leading to a clear plan in the coming months.

Rey Maualuga

At 6'2" and 255 pounds, Maualuga fits the size profile of a Zimmer middle linebacker. Maualuga is actually a player that profile is based on, because he manned the middle of Zimmer's defense when the coach was in Cincinnati.

Zimmer pined for Maualuga's return to Cincinnati two years ago, via Bengals.com, alluding to how defensive end Justin Smith became a Pro Bowler when he left Cincinnati:

"

He is, as you will find out when this free agency period starts, a lot better than what a lot of people give him credit for. I think that’s going to be what people are going to find out if he goes. If he’s not here people are going to miss him and say we should have had him. That’s how it works, like Justin Smith.

"

So although Maualuga does not change the dynamic of the Vikings defense much and may even be exiting his prime, he can be a reliable middle linebacker that Zimmer trusts in the scheme. He even has experience on the strong side under Zimmer, giving the Vikings a little versatility and a veteran presence at once.

Whether or not guys like Audie Cole or Gerald Hodges are in contention for starting jobs, the Vikings should eye a veteran LB. Maualuga fits the description.

Geno Hayes

Jacksonville linebacker Hayes may be undersized for Minnesota weak-side spot at 6'1" and 226 pounds, but he would certainly give them a shot of athleticism in lieu of Greenway.

Hayes' skills fit the bill too. He earned positive grades against the run and positive grades as a rusher in 2014, via Pro Football Focus premium. Zimmer relies on athleticism with his three-down linebackers so that he can execute his double-A-gap muggings. Hayes has the range to cover from those positions and the rushing ability to be impactful in the backfield.

If Hayes were to be Anthony Barr's running mate, few teams would ever outrun the Vikings.

Defensive Line

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Targets on the defensive line will be entirely depth-oriented, with a cemented starting four already in the fold. That said, the current depth is lacking.

George Johnson

The Vikings can do a bit of divisional poaching by targeting Detroit end George Johnson.

Everson Griffen and Brian Robison play high snap counts for Zimmer and the Vikings. When rotation occurs, the Vikings need a defensive end who can catch lightning in a bottle. They need an end who can flat-out rush the passer.

Johnson did both of those things for the Detroit Lions in 2014. On a much smaller scale, Johnson was a highly efficient rusher in terms of pressures and sacks, of which he had 39 and seven, respectively, per Pro Football Focus premium. He played on the right and left sides equally in 2014, so he brings versatility to the table also.

Karl Klug

If Tom Johnson is not to return for the Vikings, a backup 3-technique tackle moves up the rungs on the needs ladder.

Tennessee defensive lineman and former Iowa Hawkeye standout Klug compares physically to Johnson at 6'3" and 278 pounds. Minnesota would attempt to beef him up for a 4-3 defense, converting him from a 3-4 end as was done with Johnson.

Klug is another rushing specialist with a nonstop motor, but he does his best work from the inside.

Pat Sims

Sims is another free agent with ties to Zimmer. He was drafted by Cincinnati in 2008 and played there for five years. After a short stint with the Oakland Raiders, Sims is about to hit the market again.

At 6'2" and 310 pounds, Sims is of the bigger variety. If the Vikings have visions of moving Shamar Stephen behind Sharrif Floyd, Zimmer might eye his former player as a backup to Linval Joseph on the nose. Sims has played in all 16 games over the last two seasons, so he can be relied upon to stay healthy at the very least.

Offensive Line

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Expectations of anyone other than John Sullivan, Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt starting from center to right tackle seem hasty. Even Matt Kalil appears to have an edge on the field for the starting left tackle spot again in 2015. Charlie Johnson may not be so lucky at left guard.

Mike Iupati

Iupati is the Belle of the ball. If the Vikings wish to make an immediate upgrade along their offensive line, he is the answer, but he will be expensive. Iupati was selected to his third consecutive Pro Bowl this season, as reported by the Idaho Statesman.

Though inconsistent at times in protection, Iupati is still a mauling run-blocker who would spark the Minnesota run game immediately. He certainly had a hand in San Francisco's recent potency on the ground.

With such a drastic upgrade at left guard like Iupati, Kalil may even find his confidence again.

Clint Boling

The same idea applies to Boling, though his forte is pass blocking. Bleacher Report's Matt Miller describes his strengths in the 2014 B/R NFL 1000:

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Boling is a former college tackle who shows off his agility in space as an offensive guard in the NFL. He is able to quickly shift his weight and extend his hands to control quicker defensive linemen and linebackers, while he has enough strength to withstand bigger defensive tackles.

"

Boling put in a successful campaign in 2014 too, grading as the No. 8 left guard in the league in 2014, per Pro Football Focus premium. If Cincinnati lets him hit the market, Minnesota should be interested in his services.

Michael Roos

An injury cut short the 2014 season of longtime Tennessee Titans tackle Roos. With so much invested at the tackle position beyond him, the Titans will surely let him walk.

Roos is a tenured tackle who, with a clean bill of health, would provide an immediate upgrade over Kalil on the left side. He would give the Vikings a sturdy bridge from a failed experiment in Kalil to another young tackle to be identified in the draft.

Instead of putting their talented young quarterback in harm's way, the Vikings could opt to take a safe path. Moving on from Kalil in the first place would have to be step No. 1, though.

Wide Receivers

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As Minnesota starts building its offense around Teddy Bridgewater, investing more in the receiver position makes sense. In doing so, expect the Vikings to target big, physical receivers who can play outside the numbers regularly and handle press coverage.

Demaryius Thomas

Who is not a fan of a good, old-fashioned pipe dream?

With Peyton Manning throwing the magic bean for three years in Denver, Thomas transformed into one of the league's best receivers. He went over 1,400 receiving yards and caught double-digit touchdowns in each season, terrorizing defensives with his combination of size, speed and ball skills.

Denver may take steps to ensure Thomas never slips into the market. If he wants to test the waters, though, the Vikings might be looking to save up. He would immediately become a foundational player in an offense that has been light on those in Adrian Peterson's absence.

Kenny Britt

More realistically, the Vikings could look to roll their dice on St. Louis Rams receiver Kenny Britt. His act seems to have cleaned itself up recently, and he was mildly productive in 2014, catching 48 balls for 748 yards and three touchdowns.

Britt also matches the description of a big and physical player at 6'3" and 223 pounds. He is also still only 26 years old, despite being in the league for what seems like an eternity, so good years remain. Any team that targets Britt will do their due diligence in terms of off-field issues, but he certainly fits what the Vikings are looking for on it.

Leonard Hankerson

Hankerson might be the type of high-upside reclamation project Minnesota would consider undertaking. Back when the Washington Redskins had viable quarterback play in 2012, he caught 38 passes for 543 yards and three touchdowns as the team's No. 3 receiver.

At the close of a down year in 2013—one where Robert Griffin III struggled—Hankerson tore his ACL. He never got back on the field in 2014, so the Vikings' training staff would need to get a good look to ensure future health.

Running Backs

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Any pursuit of free-agent running backs hinges on Minnesota's plan for Peterson. If the controversial start walks, the Vikings will eye a back to pair with Jerick McKinnon or work into a three-man rotation with him and Matt Asiata.

Chris Polk

A clean bill of health is another important stipulation here. Staying healthy has been an issue for Polk dating back to his days as a Washington Huskies back.

Current coach Chip Kelly had great things to say about Polk's versatility and overall skill set, per Eagles Insider:

"

Chip: I think Chris Polk has a really good skill set. Good running back, outstanding special teams guy. He's been banged up.

— Eagles Insider (@EaglesInsider) December 29, 2014"

He can pass-protect, catch the ball and convert short yardage. Those skills complement McKinnon well, so the Vikings might take a stab at Polk once he hits the market.

Roy Helu

Redskins back Helu is another inexpensive option who could be what the Vikings are looking for in a depth back. He has always been a reliable protecter in Washington and an effective receiver, but he never got a promotion, thus getting into more playing time with Alfred Morris carrying such a heavy load.

Helu is destined to test the waters, and the Vikings would be a soft landing spot for him. He could immediately compete for a share of snaps, assuming no Peterson, and complement McKinnon's skills well.

Punters

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Minnesota may opt to stay with Jeff Locke at the punter position, despite his recent struggles, but two punters are set to hit free agency who are clearly in a tier above the second-year player.

Brett Kern

The Tennessee Titans' Kern graded out as Pro Football Focus' No. 9 punter in the 2014 season, whereas Locke finished No. 36 out of 37 qualifiers. Tennessee finished No. 6 in the league in net punts, a positive reflection on the work Kern did in flipping field position.

Chris Jones

Jones' merits are similar. Though Dallas did not significantly outdo Minnesota in net punting, Jones did grade much higher with Pro Football Focus.

The Vikings should consider their options at punter. Spielman drafted Locke just two years ago, but admitting his mistake would be a step in the right direction. How patient can an NFL team be with a punter?

Leave It Alone

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Some temptation to see the Vikings go after a pricey backup for Bridgewater may exist. The young quarterback is admittedly not the thickest professional football player around, so an insurance policy is smart.

For at least the 2015 season, that player can be Matt Cassel. Assuming all goes well in the recovery from a broken foot, the Vikings would be getting back a player who already has experience working with Bridgewater on the practice field and in the film room and has a working knowledge of the offense.

Christian Ponder's days in Minnesota are done, but the team should look to address the third QB spot with a late-round rookie who can be developed at very little cost instead of a retread QB.

Minnesota can bank on Cassel as the backup quarterback in 2015 with a plan in place to elevate a new QB into that spot in 2016 when Cassel's contract comes up. By doing so, Minnesota returns an experienced player to the roster who has already learned Norv Turner's offense, and the entire unit keeps some continuity.

The tight end position also needs no addressing. Kyle Rudolph's salary already weighs down the wage bill enough, and the likes of Rhett Ellison and Chase Ford are more-than-adequate depth behind him.

Statistics and player information via ESPN.com unless noted otherwise.