NFL Free Agency 2012: Restricted Free Agents the Minnesota Vikings Could Pursue

The NFL’s restricted free-agent class of 2012—headlined by Pittsburgh Steelers star receiver Mike Wallace—could very well be an avenue that Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman explores this offseason.

It’s not a deep list, but there are a small handful of restricted free agents who could make an impact for the Vikings in the upcoming season.

Teams generally only go after one RFA, so Spielman and the rest of the Vikings execs will have to look at each player and the position they play to determine who would be the best fit.

Here is the list of RFAs to keep a close eye on once free agency hits.

Mike Wallace

Any team with the necessary means to land Mike Wallace will be taking a long, hard look at acquiring his services.

Minnesota is currently just over $10 million under the cap, and that number would increase if some high-salaried players are cut.

It would have to be quite a juggling act of players and re-structured contracts on Rick Spielman’s part, but it is possible, although not real plausible, that the Vikings make a serious run at the speedy third-rounder from Mississippi.

He’s the best receiver in the entire free-agent class and will command a hefty price tag, which will also include a first-round tender.

According to Nate Davis of USA Today, the Pittsburgh Steelers could slap him with the franchise tag, increasing the number of draft picks by one.

However, tagging him will cost the cap-strapped Steelers an extra $9.4 million. According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, they've already had to restructure five players' contracts, including Ben Roethlisberger's, in order to get them close to even.

With all that said, do I believe it’s a long shot that he comes to Minny? Yes. But, do I believe that he’s someone Spielman should look at from every angle possible? Absolutely!

Kyle Arrington

Kyle Arrington would make a decent addition to the Vikings secondary, but he will more than likely come with a second-round tender.

That may be worth it, considering Arrington was one of the most efficient tacklers in the 2011 NFL season.

According to Pro Football Focus, he only missed three tackles in 74 attempts, giving him a 24.7 efficiency rating, which is good for fifth in the NFL.

On top of the great tackling and top-notch support in stopping the run, he led the NFL with seven interceptions, albeit on a New England Patriots defense that ranked 31st overall when the season ended.

There's a good chance that Minnesota will choose to patch the secondary up through the NFL draft, as well as free agency.

Either way, the addition of any competent defensive back, including Arrington, would greatly elevate the Vikings secondary from its current state.

Lardarius Webb

Lardarius Webb is another player the Minnesota Vikings could look at in the restricted free-agency market.

Webb had a very good year as a starting cornerback for the Baltimore Ravens, finishing the 2011 season with five interceptions, one forced fumble and a sack.

The downside to any team that wants to make a play for him is the first-round tender that he will most likely come with, according to the Baltimore Sun.

That may be too steep of a price tag when the Vikings have other glaring needs they could fill with their first-round pick, but Rick Spielman should at least do his due diligence and look at the possibility.

DeAndre Levy

The last thing the Detroit Lions want to do is lose critical pieces to their defense, so one can expect them to match any offer sheet a team extends to DeAndre Levy.

Levy was second on the Lions with 109 tackles and also had a sack.

He would be an upgrade on the weak side over Erin Henderson, who the Minnesota Vikings may not re-sign.

Again, the main issue with restricted free agents is the first-round tender that they generally come with.

Levy would make a great addition opposite Chad Greenway, but it may not make the best business sense.

Henderson played rather well and would come at a much lesser price, not to mention the Vikings wouldn’t have to give up a high draft pick for his services.

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