5 Free Agents the Minnesota Vikings Absolutely Must Re-Sign

The free agent frenzy continues to spin its dizzy web with the Vikings right smack dab in the middle of things.

And while many believe the Viking will only be able to target a few players in the open market, others feel all they really have to do is re-sign a few players, and continue to build within.

The Vikings main priority will be to hopeful restructure Adrian Peterson’s contract, then shed some unwanted weight to free up enough cap room to target some specific needs in the open market—like a veteran QB—while hopeful retaining enough money to re-sign some players who can still make an impact on this team.

Let’s take a look.

Ryan Cook – OL

Cook figures to be one of the main targets this Vikings team needs to re-sign for several reasons.

Coach Frazier has already said that he expects Cook to have a much larger role this season—re-signing pending, of course—and that could be a distinct possibility with Anthony Herrera recovering from ACL surgery, and triceps surgery.

But Cook’s value extends farther than that as he is a multi-positional player who can provide this team with a ton of strategic placement up front on the line.

He’s solid against the pass rush and a solid run blocker too making him a player the Vikings must keep, considering they have a new quarterback under center and plan on running this offense through Rb Adrian Peterson.

Sidney Rice – WR

Some may agree and some may disagree, but the Vikings will have only so much money to go shopping, especially if they acquire a veteran quarterback.

The smart thing to do would be to retain Rice since he already knows this offense, and is a viable down field threat when healthy.

If the Vikings lose Rice and Bernard Berrian (Berrian is likely to go) then the offense suddenly becomes a weaker shell of its former self.

But re-signing Rice will be no easy feat.

Pat Williams – DT

I think the Vikings are going to have to wait until Williams decided whether or not he even wants to retire, before offering him some cash.

Then again, cash often prevents retirement in most players.

Williams’ valuable presence up front in the trenches is paramount to what the Vikings want to do this year, and there is nobody who will fill that gap in Minnesota.

Even a one-year deal would suffice, since the Vikings didn’t target a NT prospect in the draft.

Ryan Longwell – K

Longwell has been incredibly reliable for the Vikings since joining the team in 2006, and kickers are just as valuable as positional players.

Longwell wants to re-sign so long as the offer is “fair” and believe he and the Vikings are a good fit.

What “fair” translates into is still left to be seen.

The last thing the Vikings want to deal with, is having to shop around for another kicker amidst all the other needs that have to be dealt with like free agency, the open market and UDFAs.

Just give the guy what he wants.

Ben Leber - LB

A lot of folks don’t want Leber back, but the fact of the matter is the guy has been the most stable player on this team, and is one of the more vocal leaders on this defense.

The Vikings could entertain a two-year “safe deal” for Leber, but that might not cut it, as the rumors are his price tag is sure to be high.

The linebacker position is already wasting away in Minny, so keeping Leber—if at all possible just for the short term—is something the Vikings need to accomplish.

I hope you guys enjoyed, and feel free to come check out more free agent news from a fantasy perspective.