2012 NFL Free Agency: 5 Realistic Targets for the Vikings Moving Forward

The 2012 NFL free agency period opened with a bang on Tuesday as teams offered many players much more money than was expected. The Chicago Bears also robbed the Miami Dolphins of a star WR in Brandon Marshall for just two third round draft picks.

Vikings fans have been left frustrated after not even getting a sniff at an elite level free agent thus far. GM Rick Spielman had vowed the team would be aggressive in pursuing free agents, but so far only TE John Carlson has been linked to the team.

Perhaps Vikings fans set their sights too high and the front office knows something we do not. They may believe this team is much further away from the playoffs than suspected, and are instead opting to save up money for future offseasons.

Seeing WR targets Vincent Jackson, Robert Meachem and Pierre Garcon signing huge deals is likely making the Vikings head brass cringe. They simply cannot and should not be spending $11 million annually on Vincent Jackson or $10 million annually on Cortland Finnegan. More frugal options are needed.

The following is a list of more realistic, young targets the team should be pursuing as the free agent period progresses over the next few weeks.

CB Richard Marshall

The 27-year-old Marshall has good size at 5'11" 198 lbs. and excels in press zone coverage. He would be a great pick up for the Vikings and fit in nicely with the team's zone-heavy pass defense.

Marshall is not afraid to get his nose dirty in the run game and made an impressive 78 tackles a year ago in just nine starts. In fact, Marshall has never had fewer than 75 tackles in any season during his six-year career.

The former second-round pick signed a one-year contract with the Cardinals in 2011 after spending the previous five years with Carolina.

He has collected 17 interceptions over those six years, and according to Pro Football Focus he allowed just 28 receptions in 54 targets last season for an impressive catch rate of 51.9 percent.

He should be available for a manageable annual salary in the range of the $3.5 million he made last season with the Cardinals.

FS Brodney Pool

Standing at 6'2" 214 lbs., Pool has plenty of size to man the safety position. The 27 year old spent the previous two seasons splitting time as a starter for the New York Jets.

Pool has all the raw talent to be an elite player but has yet to consistently put it all together. He has good speed, recognition skills and great range. However, even though he has the size to be an enforcer, tackling skills are not his best asset.

Pool would be a great fit in the Vikings cover-2 scheme. He can play away from the line of scrimmage, limiting the amount of times he would be called upon to make a tackle, and can use his great athleticism to cover half the field.

Pool can likely be had for less than $2.5 million per season, a number low enough that the Vikings should seriously consider adding him to their starting lineup in 2012.

OLB Erin Henderson

Erin Henderson has been torn apart by Vikings fans for his performance in 2011, but I fail to understand why. The 25-year-old OLB finished the season with 70 tackles, two forced fumbles, and one-and-a-half sacks.

Those numbers are impressive when you consider the fact that he was removed when the team went to nickle and dime packages. Fans may think this is because he was not good enough, but the more likely scenario is that the team wanted the more experienced EJ Henderson and Chad Greenway on the field instead.

The 6'3" 244 lbs. speedy LB is not meant to play in the box with bigger OL like his brother EJ. Erin is best out on the edge, coming from outside in to make plays, something he did especially well in his first season as a starter.

KFAN's Paul Allen has repeatedly stated that he is willing to take less to stay with Minnesota, the team that signed him as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2008. The Vikings would be wise to bring the young talent back as he truly is their best option at OLB.

OG Geoff Schwartz

Standing at 6'6" 331 lbs., the 25-year-old former Panther is a massive man. Schwartz missed all of 2011 with an injury, but was impressive in 2010 while playing both G and RT in Carolina.

He is rumored to be visiting with the Detroit Lions on Wednesday, which will make signing the former Oregon player more difficult. However, the Vikings have much more cap room than the Lions, and thus may be willing to offer him enough to sway him away from the motor city.

The Vikings are in desperate need for guards after releasing former starters Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera. Schwartz would be able to step in and start at one spot, while former LT Charlie Johnson could step in at the other guard spot.

His salary will likely be close to the $3 million average that the Vikings signed Johnson for prior to 2011, and will be entering his prime over the course of his contract.

WR Early Doucet

Doucet was finally healthy and showed promise in 2011. The former third-round pick hauled in 54 catches for 689 yards and five TDs for the Cardinals while making just six starts.

Doucet is a well built possession receiver, standing at 6'0" 212 lbs. He may not be the down field threat Vikings fans are longing for, but is a very solid WR who could approach 1,000 receiving yards as a team's primary target.

Due to his prior health issues the 26-year-old WR will likely be available for a bargain price. Doucet can help bridge the gap as a No. 1 target until the team can find one through the draft or in a trade.