Minnesota Vikings' Bargain Guide to the 2015 Offseason

Everybody loves a good bargain, and Minnesota Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is no different.

The Vikings made great strides toward becoming a legitimate contender this past season, and a successful offseason could make Minnesota a dark horse to claim a playoff wild-card spot in 2015.

In order for this to happen, however, Spielman will have to fix multiple roster flaws with, as it stands today, roughly $10 million in spending money and seven 2015 NFL draft selections.

Minnesota has plenty of talent all over its current roster, but upgrades and depth acquisitions would certainly be beneficial at multiple key positions. Based on the team's current depth chart, the Vikings could afford to add players at nearly every position, but upgrades at some positions are naturally more important.

From linebacker to defensive tackle, Minnesota will be bargain hunting this entire offseason for players who could help this team reach its goals for next season. Let's take a look at a few cost-effective solutions that potentially could improve the Vikings' weakest positions.

Linebacker

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Linebacker wasn't a weakness for the Vikings this past season—four Minnesota linebackers (Anthony Barr, Gerald Hodges, Audie Cole and Jasper Brinkley) received positive Pro Football Focus ratings—but both the outside and inside linebacker positions lack depth. With Brinkley expected to move on from the Vikings during free agency and veteran Chad Greenway's future in Minnesota up in the air due to his excessively high 2015 salary-cap hit and advanced age, the Vikings would be wise to address the linebacker position this offseason.

Inside Linebacker

Brinkley, the most often used Vikings inside linebacker, is an impending free agent. Although he did receive a positive grade from Pro Football Focus, there is little doubt that he is limited as a player and likely doesn't have much of a future in Minnesota.

With that said, the Vikings need to find a sufficient replacement this offseason—or at least a depth option if the team decides to move forward with Cole, Michael Mauti or potentially Greenway.

Given that Brinkley only played 471 snaps this past season—per Pro Football Focus—the assumption can be made that Mike Zimmer either doesn't utilize inside linebackers as much as other defensive-minded coaches or doesn't believe Brinkley possesses the necessary traits to be on the field on a full-time basis.

As a result, acquiring an inside linebacker at a "bargain price" is the ideal solution to this positional weakness.

In terms of free agency, the best lower-priced options for the Vikings are Rey Maualuga, Rolando McClain and Malcolm Smith.

Maualuga is coming off an up-and-down year that ended with an injury and should be well within the Vikings' financial reach. McClain, who finally played to his initial draft expectations with the Dallas Cowboys this season, may lure a larger offer, but his history off off-field issues and inconsistency should keep his value down.

Malcolm Smith, the Seattle Seahawks' 2013 Super Bowl MVP, only played 288 snaps this season—per Pro Football Focus—and has seen his free-agency stock fall considerably since his impressive performance on the game's biggest stage just over one year ago.

All three players—Maualuga, McClain and Smith—would be major upgrades to Brinkley, both in talent and how their skills translate to Zimmer's defensive style. Each would likely be considerably more expensive—Brinkley was paid under $1 million last season—but, in theory, would upgrade the middle level of the Vikings defense exponentially.

If the Vikings fail to find an upgrade in free agency, the middle and late rounds of the NFL draft does contain some respectable options as well. Southern California's Hayes Pullard, Penn State's Mike Hull and Alabama's Trey DePriest are each expected to come off the board between the third and sixth round.

All three players have the necessary traits to become the best Vikings middle linebacker since E.J. Henderson but will need some developmental help—something Zimmer can provide at seemingly the highest level.

In addition, Stanford's A.J. Tarpley, who likely will go undrafted, is limited from a skill perspective but possesses the leadership and work ethic traits necessary to succeed in the NFL. He likely would be no more than a depth acquisition, but the Minnesota native may have it in him to one day become the "overlooked gem" of the 2015 class—I claim full responsibility for my Minnesota-born player optimism and understand those who doubt my often overwhelming assertions of them.

Outside Linebacker

Many Vikings fans will argue that offensive guard or wide receiver are the team's greatest needs, but based on the team's depth chart and current player contract situations, outside linebacker should be considered the most pressing roster weakness.

Greenway is aging and, naturally, is regressing with every passing season. Hodges and Cole have shown the ability to play a high number of snaps with consistent success, but both have noticeable weaknesses. Regardless of whether Zimmer decides to name Hodges or Cole a starter, Minnesota will need to add outside linebacker depth.

Assuming the Vikings don't intend on selecting, for example, Washington's Shaq Thompson in the first round, Spielman could still find a bargain option in the middle to late rounds. TCU's Paul Dawson, who is expected to be a second-round selection, would be a cost-effective acquisition even at the cost of an early-round pick.

Also, Texas' Jordan Hicks, who suffered multiple injuries during his college career, should find himself waiting until the second or third day of the draft to hear his name called. He has the skills to be successful, but his history should scare teams away from gambling on him early.

Although Dawson and Hicks would be quality acquisitions, the Vikings should strongly consider adding an outside linebacker in free agency. Beginning with recent Super Bowl champion Akeem Ayers, the 2015 free-agent market is filled with mid-level, cost-effective solutions at this position.

Vikings insider Arif Hasan made an astute observation in his "Ranking the Top Vikings Free Agents Targets" segment for Vikings Journal that essentially sums up Ayers' value: "The former Patriots/Titans linebacker represents something that is rare on the free-agency market: someone who is young, cheap and can play at the highest level at his position."

Ayers, who may very well stay in New England after his successful run with the team following a midseason trade from the Tennessee Titans, could very well be the best free-agent option for the Vikings, in terms of being both talented and financially affordable. However, Geno Hayes and Justin Durant would also bring value to the Vikings organization, as either player could start or provide depth at outside linebacker.

To be direct and simplify this discussion, the Vikings will have plenty of linebacker options this offseason; it is deciding which one is the best fit and is also interested in becoming a member of the organization that complicates things. If the team fails in free agency, drafting players such as Thompson or UCLA's Eric Kendricks surely would grant Minnesota what it needs in terms of both talent and roster help for one or both linebacker positions.

Offensive Line

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Although the Vikings have their starters under contract for 2015, they may not want to trot out the same opening day front five as last season. Matt Kalil was a disaster for the second consecutive year, Charlie Johnson yielded even worse results than what was expected and both Phil Loadholt and Brandon Fusco sustained season-ending injuries that could (potentially) hinder their careers.

Consequently, Minnesota needs to address both offensive tackle and offensive guard this offseason, even if it comes to the conclusion that Kalil and Johnson deserve to begin 2015 as the team's starters on the left side.

Offensive Tackle

Kalil was brutal to watch early on in 2014, but he actually began to play better on a consistent basis during the season's final month. Still, his overall play warrants replacement consideration or, at the very least, a depth addition to provide a challenge to light a fire under his rear-end.

Acquiring a free-agent offensive tackle will not be easy, certainly from a bargain perspective. Bryan Bulaga and Joe Barksdale played great in 2014, which should drive their new impending contracts skyward, and both played right tackle—Loadholt wasn't elite this past season, but he isn't in need of a replacement.

Ryan Harris, another Minnesota product, is also an impending free agent, but the Notre Dame alumnus has never found a consistent starting role in the NFL. He would be, at best, a depth acquisition who maintains the capability of starting.

Byron Bell, who played horribly at left tackle for the Carolina Panthers in 2014—he received a negative-40.1 Pro Football Focus rating—is truly the only mid-level option for Minnesota, and he couldn't be trusted any more than Kalil for consistent protection from Teddy Bridgewater's blind side. Veteran Michael Roos, barring retirement, is probably the best option from a talent standpoint, but his price tag will be far too high, and it is unlikely he'd be willing to leave Tennessee for Minnesota's arctic weather.

As a result, the draft presents the Vikings with the best opportunity to claim an offensive tackle bargain. Colorado State's Ty Sambrailo is a player worth keeping an eye on, as he has seen his draft stock continually increase over the past few months and may be available to the Vikings in the second round.

The later rounds don't offer much immediate relief, but in terms of depth, Wisconsin's Rob Havenstein and Tennessee State's Robert Myers would be fruitful additions, as both players carry upside and solid base fundamentals.

Offensive Guard

Offensive tackle may be a difficult bargain to find, but offensive guard may be one of the league's easiest, which is a rare stroke of luck considering just how important this positional issue is for Minnesota. Johnson, simply put, isn't viable and will only continue to regress. It is time for the team to move in a different direction, and there are plenty of bargain options available.

Mike Iupati has been trending among Vikings fans for months now. However, not only will he receive multiple humongous contract offers, but he is a liability in pass protection—Iupati was responsible for Colin Kaepernick being sacked seven times in 2014, which is actually two more than Johnson allowed, according to Pro Football Focus.

Orlando Franklin is likely the best-case scenario for Minnesota, but again, he certainly won't be a free-agent bargain. However, impending Seahawks free agent James Carpenter, former Chicago Bear Gabe Carimi and 2014 Viking Vlad Ducasse all should be relatively cheap options come March, with Carpenter the most likely to be overpaid by a guard-needy team for his services.

As informational as the last two paragraphs may have been, they are completely irrelevant considering that 2014 Cincinnati Bengal Clint Boling will be available. When looking at the 2015 impending free-agent guard class, Boling's name doesn't jump off the page. But he is well balanced, has a familiarity—and hopefully a respect—for Zimmer and is coming off one of his best seasons in the NFL. Iupati and Franklin will set the market, and in the process, keep Boling's value low enough for the Vikings to make a play for him.

Even if Boling is the only free agent Minnesota signs this offseason, Spielman and his team would be offseason winners. He is a perfect fit financially and personally, and he would effectively turn arguably the team's greatest weakness into a strength.

Zimmer may have the inside track on Boling, but as Vikings fans saw with Duron Carter, that isn't always enough to get the job done. If Minnesota whiffs on him, it can still find a starter during the NFL draft without it costing an early-round selection.

Beginning with the third-round-graded Laken Tomlinson from Duke, the draft offers multiple day-one starters in the middle rounds. Florida State's Josue Matias carries a fourth-round grade, and both Alabama's Arie Kouandjio—brother of Buffalo Bills tackle Cyrus Kouandjio—and Texas A&M's Jarvis Harrison are expected fifth-round selections. All four of these draft prospects have the frame and talent to start immediately, and each one would almost certainly be far more efficient than Johnson has been either of the past two seasons.

Similar to linebacker, there will be plenty of solid offensive line options for the Vikings this offseason. Guard is the greater concern, and coincidentally, has more immediate-impact players ripe for the taking. Simply, if Spielman and the Vikings don't solve the perceived interior line issue this offseason, then they must feel comfortable moving forward with either impending-free-agent Joe Berger or David Yankey as a starter.

Defensive Back

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In terms of passing yards allowed, the Vikings defense finished seventh-best in the NFL in 2014, a considerable improvement from their 31st-ranked finish in 2013. However, total yards aren't a great assessment of defensive standing.

Minnesota allowed 6.2 net yards gained per pass attempt in 2014, which isn't much of an improvement from the 6.7 average it allowed in 2013.

Consequently, the Vikings will have to find better options to play alongside budding stars Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith if this team is going to make up for the developing coverage skills of Anthony Barr and the personified pass-coverage liability better known as 32-year-old Chad Greenway.

Cornerback

As the contemporary version of football continues to yield numerous passing records, cornerbacks who can slow down high-powered passing offenses will see their value exponentially rise. Furthermore, even lesser cornerbacks will be overpaid because of how much of a necessity stopping the pass has become.

Seattle's Byron Maxwell has captured the interest of Vikings fans, but he likely isn't worth the No. 1 cornerback money he will receive in the open market. His success may not be solely attributed to Richard Sherman playing opposite of him, but he certainly benefits from playing opposite the NFL's best cornerback—yes, Sherman is the NFL's best cornerback.

As a result, the Vikings would be better served targeting a different former Sherman ally—2014 New York Giant Walter Thurmond. Thurmond doesn't have Rhodes' size, but at 5'11", he also isn't completely overmatched by tall wide receivers like, for example, Josh Robinson is.

Due to a torn pectoral muscle, his value didn't see much of an increase in 2014—he may actually have lost money in the open market due to suffering a season-ending injury in Week 2—and his $1.975 million 2014 base salary is more than manageable for Minnesota.

Other free-agent bargains at cornerback include Kareem Jackson and Shareece Wright. Wright seems like the more cost-effective option because his subpar 2014 season likely hurt his value, but Jackson should fly under the radar a bit. He was very solid this past season opposite Jonathan Joseph for the Houston Texans, but could easily be buried by a class including big-time talents such as Darrelle Revis and Brandon Flowers as well as (very) overrated veterans like Tramon Williams and Antonio Cromartie.

The Vikings failed last offseason with a former San Diego Charger cornerback in Derek Cox, but Wright is still worth bringing in. Robinson had his moments this past season, but Thurmond, Jackson or Wright would almost certainly give the Vikings better stability at cornerback—and allow the team to shed Robinson's (relatively small) salary-cap hit from its books in the process.

Since cornerback is a much sought-after position, Minnesota may end up being forced to address this need during the draft. Sure, Michigan State's Trae Waynes or Florida State's P.J. Williams would be solid additions, but the Vikings have bigger fish to fry in the early rounds—barring a Spielman draft-day trade.

In the middle rounds, however, Minnesota could acquire a cornerback with Rhodes' build in Miami's Ladarius Gunter, a poised cover corner in Utah's Eric Rowe or a development project in Auburn's Nick Marshall.

The initial pair of above-average sized cornerbacks should hear their names called between the third and fifth round, while Marshall, on the other hand, would be lucky to be drafted earlier than the seventh round—Marshall hasn't played cornerback since his junior college stint following his dismissal from Georgia for, apparently, a very severe violation of team rules.

Strong Safety

I have already stated this multiple times this offseason, but I will continue to until proven completely wrong: Robert Blanton is a starting-caliber safety, especially with Smith playing next to him. However, he will never be a game-changer, based on his abilities and size, which makes him replaceable. If the Vikings can find a cost-effective solution better than Blanton with more potential than Antone Exum, there is no reason not to upgrade.

Free agency doesn't offer many options, assuming Minnesota isn't interested in unloading roughly a fourth of its available cap space into a Blanton replacement. Still, there are options. Rahim Moore, who is maybe best known for allowing Jacoby Jones and the Baltimore Ravens to burn him on their way to the 2013 Super Bowl, will be available this offseason. Moore was solid this past season, but likely isn't enough of an upgrade to warrant his inevitable contract value.

The same may be said about Da'Norris Searcy, who played very well with Stephon Gilmore and Leodis McKelvin in the Bills secondary this past season. As unfair as it may be, a portion of his success was likely a product of playing in between one of the better cornerback combinations the NFL has to offer.

As for potential depth signings, the Vikings could take a flyer on either veteran Dawan Landry or, as he is currently viewed, draft-bust Taylor Mays. Neither player would command much (if any) guaranteed money and has the potential to positively influence the middle of Minnesota's secondary.

In what is quickly becoming a trend, the best bargain options at safety likely will be found in the draft. The 2015 safety class is rather weak, as only Alabama's Landon Collins is consistently featured as a first-round pick in expert mock drafts, but there is talent available in the middle rounds.

Syracuse's Durell Eskridge and Michigan State's Kurtis Drummond, both likely fourth-round selections, have great upside potential and possess the size Blanton certainly does not. Additionally, Mississippi's Cody Prewitt and the 2015 edition of Manti Te'o, USC's Josh Shaw, who lied about how he sustained an injury, represent other third or fourth-round options.

Although Eskridge would look great in purple, Oregon's Erick Dargan, who is carrying a sixth-round grade into early February, is my personal favorite cost-effective solution. He may be the same size as Blanton, but he has an "it" factor Blanton could never even be wrongly attributed of having. 

The ball-hawking Duck plays with as much passion as any college player, and he has a Tyrann Mathieu feel to him. Following a suspension, which left him ineligible for Oregon's late 2013 appearance at the Alamo Bowl, Dargan returned humbled and rejuvenated. His penalty for violating team rules turned him into an on-field leader and a player who instills a sense of urgency in his teammates.

Aside from Captain Munnerlyn, the Vikings defense doesn't boast many fiery personalities. Taking a late-round flyer on Dargan, who could potentially transition to cornerback as well, is by no means a certain safety upgrade, but he has a success-oriented personality, and defensive backs don't just luck into being in the right position to force seven interceptions.

Wide Receiver

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In a pass-driven league, only the quarterback and the man who protects his blind side surpass the wide receiver position in terms of offensive importance—unless a tight end is used as the primary target.

Minnesota has plenty of talent in Greg Jennings, Cordarrelle Patterson, Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright, but none of the four attacks the football at its highest point, utilizing strength and height to their advantage. Tight end Kyle Rudolph is capable of filling this "red-zone fade" void, but he is seemingly on the sidelines more than he is on the field, and the Vikings could benefit from adding another red-zone threat.

If Minnesota isn't going to invest its first-round selection in a projected No. 1 wide receiver such as Louisville's DeVante Parker, West Virginia's Kevin White or Alabama's Amari Cooper, then sinking a mid-round pick or some cap space into a tall, lengthy receiver isn't a bad alternative.

Free agency doesn't offer much, but a player such as Kenny Britt who possesses size, athleticism and talent is surely worth a relatively small average annual salary. Torrey Smith, who is more of a burner than a high pointer, will cost a pretty penny, but he single-handedly would make Teddy Bridgewater more dangerous as a passer.

Britt is the real bargain here, but Smith is a bargain too considering how much money players such as Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas are set to be paid this offseason.

In terms of a veteran gamble, few players fit the bill more than 30-year-old Robert Meachem, who hasn't done much since he left the New Orleans Saints—he would return after just one season—for more money in San Diego. Still, his size and athleticism could bear fruit in Minnesota, and his recent failures will likely keep him from earning more than a first-round rookie on the free-agent market.

Michigan State's Tony Lippett and Washington State's Vince Mayle represent the best mid-round options for the Vikings, as both players possess solid fundamentals and size that naturally creates a mismatch. Neither player fits the No. 1 receiver persona, but both could yield first-year results with Bridgewater launching darts in their direction.

Lippett and Mayle would be helpful, but Missouri reject Dorial Green-Beckham has the potential to vault the Vikings offense from borderline average to dangerous. However, he is more prone to becoming an excellent source of material for the local press.

Green-Beckham could realistically never make it to the 2015 regular season, so selecting him with any of the team's first three picks is the Blackjack equivalent of doubling a hard 12 into a face card. In the fourth round though—which he honestly is unlikely to fall to—the 6'6" former 5-star high school recruit is worth the gamble.

Running Back

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It will soon be clear whether Adrian Peterson will return to Minnesota next season, but until he is officially reinstated and a clear-cut member of the 2015 Vikings, it is best to assume a worst-case scenario.

The Vikings picked a good season to be on the fence about the former face of their franchise, as both free agency and the NFL draft are loaded with bargains at the running back position.

Essentially every running back is a bargain in free agency, considering that the best Knowshon Moreno could do last offseason was a one-year, $3 million contract with the Miami Dolphins after his breakout season with the Denver Broncos. Even if we considered a potential free-agent signing to only be a bargain relative to Moreno's contract, there would still be options.

Starting with Stevan Ridley, who suffered a torn ACL this past season, Minnesota could easily acquire a better complement to Jerick McKinnon than Matt Asiata for under $2 million. Ridley's injuries will scare most teams away, which should make him worth about half of Moreno's contract with no guaranteed money.

Additionally, Minnesota could find a McKinnon complement in veteran bruiser Ronnie Brown. The 33-year-old is well past his prime, but there should be enough tread left in his tires to run circles around Asiata. His cap hit would likely be a fraction of what Ridley's would even be, but the upside isn't there, obviously.

Per usual, the best bargain options will likely be found in the draft. Minnesota's David Cobb already has many fans petitioning to keep him in the Twin Cities. He likely represents the best-case scenario here, as he has the ability to become a bell cow running back for the Vikings at the mere cost of, at most, a third-round selection.

Other options include Northern Iowa's David Johnson, Nebraska's Ameer Abdullah or Alabama's T.J. Yeldon, who all should expect to hear their names called in the third or fourth round. Yeldon and Johnson project as better complements to McKinnon, but it's tough to ignore Abdullah's similarities to Kansas City's Jamaal Charles.

Referring back to my unabashed enamor with Minnesota-based players, South Dakota State's Zach Zenner fits the bill of an undrafted free-agent steal. He isn't going to force you to rewind his tape with spectacular game-breaking plays, but he is passionate, smart and outworks his opponents on every play. Don't be fooled by him being denounced a fullback, Zenner is a running back by trade, and his skill set is likely more threatening than Asiata's.

Defensive Line

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Minnesota's starting front four on defense—Everson Griffen, Sharrif Floyd, Linval Joseph and Brian Robison—is near the top of the league in terms of overall talent, but there currently isn't much behind this dangerous quartet. 2014 stud Tom Johnson and 2014 dud Corey Wootton are both impending free agents, and despite Zimmer's optimism, Scott Crichton hasn't given us any reason to believe he will be noteworthy in 2015.

Defensive line help is on the lower end of offseason needs for the Vikings, but this doesn't mean it shouldn't still be addressed. This is a position in need of depth, as Minnesota boasts a quality starter at each position along its defensive line—Robison was subpar in 2014, but he should regress to his mean next season with another season of Zimmer under his belt.

Defensive Tackle

Wootton is likely not long for Minnesota, but retaining Johnson is probably the best free-agent option the Vikings have at defensive tackle. He was dynamic this past season, and there are few indicators arguing against him providing similar results in 2015. Johnson may be offered a starter-level contract by a interior defensive line-needy team this offseason, in which case Minnesota will have to shift the crosshairs to another player.

The 2015 defensive tackle class is all over the board, especially in terms of depth options. Minnesota could shoot for the stars with versatile, failed second-round pick Da'Quan Bowers or keep it in the family with Pat Sims, who played successfully as a member of Zimmer's defense from 2008-12.

However, there may not be a friendlier face available than veteran ring-seeker and former Minnesota standout Kevin Williams. Williams recently stated that, when the time comes, he wants to retire with the Vikings, according to Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press:

"

Whenever he retires, Kevin Williams wants to sign a one-day contract and retire as a Minnesota Viking. See story http://t.co/LRhfWesZFo

— Chris Tomasson (@christomasson) January 23, 2015"

His leadership and guidance would be very helpful, and his return would inspire a similar response to Torii Hunter's return to the Minnesota Twins. Williams may not love the thought of playing behind Floyd, but he was a part-time player in Seattle this past season, averaging roughly 28 snaps per game during the regular season, according to Pro Football Focus.

This may not be realistic due to Minnesota's interest in getting younger and Williams' goal to earn a Super Bowl ring, but neither side may have better options this offseason once everything begins to fall into place.

It would be shocking to see Minnesota spend earlier than a fourth-round selection on a defensive tackle given its other needs, but a later-round selection could be used to build depth. Houston's Joey Mbu is a small-school player with some potential and is an expected fifth or sixth-round pick.

Defensive End

Griffen, Robison and Crichton are the only three defensive ends from the 2014 53-man roster currently under contract for the 2015 season. This certainly isn't a bad trio, but at least one more option should be added in case of emergency.

Minnesota could opt to stay within the system and sign Isame Faciane III from its practice squad, but that will depend on his development. This issue can easily be addressed with a bargain free agent such as Jabaal Sheard or Derrick Morgan. Both players are versatile, (relatively) inexpensive and could contribute in a number of ways.

In terms of late-round draft options, Bleacher Report's Matt Miller cites Clemson's Corey Crawford for the Vikings in his most recent mock draft. While his name won't get him off to a good start with the Minnesota faithful, he has a competitive skill set, and Minnesota sports fans already have the perfect chant lined up for him: "Craw... ford. Craw... ford."

Needless to say, Minnesota won't be placing much of its focus on defensive line depth with multiple other more pressing roster flaws to handle, but it is important to remember that depth is consistent with (nearly) every contending team.

Statistics courtesy of Pro-Football-Reference unless otherwise noted. Salary cap and contract information courtesy of Spotrac. Prospect draft projections loosely based on CBS Sports' NFL draft prospects list.

For more Vikings information and discussion, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell, and be sure to keep tabs on Minnesota Vikings Draft for analysis of the NFL draft and free agency from a Vikings perspective.