The 10 Best Free-Agent Signings in Minnesota Vikings History

The 2012 NFL free-agent feeding frenzy has begun in earnest with a number of signings being announced already. For Minnesota Vikings fans the question is: will the team make any type of splash in the free-agent market?

For many, it would be great if the Vikings, who according to spotrac.com have about $39.5 million in cap space, could sign wide receiver Vincent Jackson, giving quarterback Christian Ponder a bona fide No. 1 receiver, or perhaps, cornerback Brandon Carr to shore up one of the weak spots within the Vikings defense.  

At best, the Minnesota Vikings' approach to signing free agents has been conservative. There have been the occasional big-name signings, but usually, they're looking for value and sign second-tier free agents to add depth—defensive tackle Remi Ayodele for example.

That's not to say the Vikings haven't made a major acquisition from time to time.

The dawn of free agency in the NFL, as far as I can determine, started in the late 70s. Before that, once a player was drafted he was the sole property of that team until released, or his rights were acquired by another franchise.

The only free agents at that time were undrafted college players or refugees from the Canadian Football League.

Here's a look at the top 10 free-agent signings the Vikings have made since joining the NFL in 1961. The ranking was based on their longevity in Minnesota and the success they had individually and the success of the team during their tenure.

No. 10: Safety Robert Griffith

Robert Griffith went undrafted out of college and signed with the Vikings in 1994. Within three years, he was the starting strong safety, leading the Vikings in tackles over the next five seasons from 1996 to 2000. 

He ranks seventh in Vikings history in tackles since 1994, when tackles were first regularly recorded.

No. 9: Outside Linebacker Wally Hilgenberg

Linebacker Wally Hilgenberg was a fourth-round draft pick of Detroit in the 1964 NFL draft. In three seasons with the Lions, he only started nine games.

In 1968, he was traded to the Pittsburgh but was released without ever playing a game for the Steelers. 

The Vikings signed Hilgenberg for the 1968 season. That year, he started seven of 14 games for Minnesota.

Over the the next eight seasons, he started 110 games as the Vikings' outside linebacker and was a member of all four of Minnesota's Super Bowl teams.

No. 8: Defensive Tackle Pat Williams

After going undrafted from Texas A&M University in 1997, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills.

After eight seasons in Buffalo, the Vikings signed the 33-year-old to a free-agent contract. Playing along side Kevin Williams, they became known as the Williams Wall.

Pat Williams played six seasons in Minnesota playing in 93 games. From 2006 to 2008, the Williams Wall was named to the Pro Bowl, as they led the Vikings with the best rushing defense in the NFL.

No. 7: Cornerback Antoine Winfield

Cornerback Antoine Winfield is one if the biggest named players that the Vikings ever signed as a free agent.

It was also one of the few bright spots in Mike Tice's stint as the Vikings head coach when he was able to lure Winfield to Minnesota in 2004.

Winfield was the Bills first-round draft pick in 1999 from Ohio State University. He earned the starting job the following year. 

A tough defender and solid tackler, Winfield ranks sixth among Vikings players, since tackles have been consistently recorded starting in 1994.   

No. 6: Place Kicker Ryan Longwell

The Vikings signed Ryan Longwell after playing nine seasons with the Packers in 2006.

An 81.6 percent field goal kicker in Green Bay, his 86 percent accuracy in Minnesota ranks second in Vikings' franchise history. Only Donald IgweBuike, who only played the 1990 season in Minnesota, has a higher percentage.

Currently, his 633 points ranks third all time for the Vikings behind only Fred Cox (1,365) and Cris Carter (670).

Averaging 105.5 points per season during his six seasons in Minnesota, Longwell should pass Carter in 2012 to become the second-leading scorer in the Vikings history.

No. 5: Quarterback Randall Cunningham

Randall Cunningham only played three years in Minnesota. In those three seasons, he finished with a 16-7 record and a 94.2 passer rating—not bad for a veteran signed to be the Vikings backup quarterback.

After playing 11 seasons in Philadelphia, Cunningham retired from football following the 1995 season.

The Vikings coaxed Cunningham out of retirement in 1997 after having sat out the entire 1996 season.

He took over in Week 2 of the 1998 season when starter Brad Johnson broke his leg in a game against the St. Louis Rams.

Cunningham finished with a 13-1 record in leading the Vikings to a franchise-best 15-1 record with the best passer rating in the NFL of 106.0.

He led the NFL's No. 1 offense all the way to the NFC Championship Game before losing in overtime to the Atlanta Falcons.

After the season, he was honored with the Bert Bell Award given to the NFL's Player of the Year. 

If he had played longer, or led the Vikings to the Super Bowl, his ranking would be much higher.

No. 4: Left Guard Steve Hutchinson

When the Vikings signed Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet in 2006, it contained a controversial poison pill clause that deterred the Seattle Seahawks from matching the offer at the time.

Thus the Vikings were able to lure the five-year veteran and two-time first-team All-Pro to Minnesota.

Hutchinson has been a fixture on the Vikings' offensive line since 2006 and has been an integral part of the team's success in running the ball. Since joining the Vikings as their left guard, the team's leading rusher has averaged 1,328 yards per season. Of course, it doesn't hurt when you are blocking for Adrian Peterson. 

After six seasons and 89 starts for the Vikings, Hutchinson was released this year.

No. 3: Center Mick Tingeloff

Mick Tingelhoff started for the Vikings at center as a rookie in 1962.

What makes this unusual is that Tingelhoff, a product of the University of Nebraska, was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Vikings—this when the NFL draft lasted 20 rounds.

He would play 17 seasons for the Vikings and start every game played by the team from 1962 to 1978. His 240 starts ranks 11th all-time in the NFL.

Tingelhoff was a member of all four of the Vikings' Super Bowl teams.

No. 2: Wide Receiver Cris Carter

Cris carter was claimed off waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles in 1990.

He would become a fixture on the Vikings offense over the next 12 seasons. Carter is the Vikings all-time franchise leader with 1,004 receptions, 12,383 yards and 110 touchdowns.

From 1993 until 2000, he was named to eight straight Pro Bowls.

He was paired with Randy Moss during the 1998 season when the Vikings offense led the NFL in scoring with a league best 15-1 record.

It's just a matter of time until Carter is inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame.

Speaking of Hall of Fame players...

No. 1: Defensive Tackle John Randle

From an undrafted free agent to the NFL Hall of Fame, John Randle tops the list of Vikings free-agent signings.

Randle joined the Vikings in 1990 after failing to be drafted out of Texas A&M-Kingsville.

In his second year with the team, he started eight games, his third 14, and by 1993, a regular on the Vikings defensive line for the next eight seasons.

From 1992 to 1999, he never recorded fewer than 10.5 sacks in a season, leading the NFL with 15.5 in 1997.

During that span, he was named to six straight Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro.

He finished his career playing his last three seasons in Seattle. In 2010, he was inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame .