7 Minnesota Vikings Who Deserve Long-Term Extensions

The Minnesota Vikings are a team in serious need of an upgrade. They need to add talent at safety, cornerback, linebacker, offensive line and wide receiver. Even so the cupboard is not entirely bare, and the Vikings actually have some talent to build around.

At issue is the ability to retain that talent, keeping it around long enough to add some of the upgrades and produce a roster that will fuel the Vikings' turnaround. The long-term contract extensions the Vikings gave to defensive end Jared Allen, six years for $73 million, and Adrian Peterson, seven years for $96 million, indicates they are not opposed to making sure they wrap up their impact players.

In some cases the Vikings might be wise to sign some of their better, up-and-coming players now, when they might be able to pay a little less, rather than waiting until their contracts expire and the price tags inflates as other teams vie for their services. 

The risk is always balancing the invest against the possible return with the specter of a career-ending injury always just one play away.

Here are seven players general manager Rick Spielman might want to start thinking about opening the negotiations with in order to keep them in purple. 

Quarterback/Wide Receiver Joe Webb

Joe Webb is set to make a paltry $513,000 in 2012. That increases to a very reasonable $598,000 in 2012 before becoming a free agent in 2014.

The Vikings drafted Webb, a quarterback out of Alabama-Birmingham, in the seventh round of the 2010 draft as a wide receiver.

They have used him as a kick returner, wide receiver, quarterback and running back over his two seasons with the team.

His athleticism and flexibility make him a valuable player to have on the roster. The fact that he is just one play away from being the Vikings starting quarterback is another reason to lock him up with a long-term contract extension. 

Tight End Kyle Rudolph

With the departure of Visanthe Shiancoe, Kyle Rudolph assumes the starting tight end role for the Minnesota Vikings.

The second-round draft choice out of Notre Dame is set to make just over $1 million over the next three seasons.

His combined salary until he can become a free agent in 2015 is $3.19 million—a huge bargain considering the Vikings paid Shiancoe $4.5 million last season to catch 36 passes for 409 yards and three touchdowns. 

Even though they have three years until they have to worry about Rudolph, if he can step into the starting role and contribute, the Vikings would be wise to extend his contract. 

A Christian Ponder-to-Rudolph connection might be a nice long-term deal.

Punter Chris Kluwe

I know what you're thinking, a punter, really you want to sign a punter to a long-term deal?

Chris Kluwe is currently second all time with 551 punts for the Vikings. Only Greg Coleman has more punts in the franchise's history.

His 44.4 yards per punt is the best in Vikings history.

And he is only 30 years old.

Set to be a free agent in 2014, the Vikings could lock him up for the rest of his career and not have to worry about finding another punter for close to a decade.

Kluwe will make $1.5 million in 2012 and $1.6 million in 2012. The Vikings can sign him now before any other team could even think about luring him away—not that it's a likely scenario, after all he's just a punter, and the holder on field goals.

Linebacker Erin Henderson

The Vikings got a huge break when they were able to re-sign outside linebacker Erin Henderson to a one-year, $2 million contract.

WalterFootball.com listed Henderson as the third-best available free-agent outside linebacker.

Sure he only had 44 tackles last season, good enough for only fifth on the defense, it was only his first year as a starter.

Sure, one of the main reasons the Vikings were able to get him so cheap was because he did not have anyone knocking his door down to sign him.

He was wise to agree to a one-year contract.

With this being only his second year as a starter, he will need to show continued improvement and earn his next contract. 

If he can play anywhere near the level of his Pro Bowl brother, E.J., he will be in the driver's seat for next year.

Rick Spielman would be wise to pay special attention to Henderson as the 2012 season progresses, and be ready to ink a contract extension to keep him around.

Running Back Toby Gerhart

Toby Gerhart showed that with extensive carries he can be a NFL running back.

When the Vikings lost Adrian Peterson in the game against the Redskins, Garhart responded by rushing for 109 yards on 11 carries.

With his increased workload he led the Vikings with a 4.9-yard rushing average, finishing the year with 531 yards and scoring four touchdowns—one rushing and three receiving.

There's no guarantee that Adrian Peterson will be as effective coming off major reconstructive knee surgery of his MCL and ACL.

The Vikings will need to rely on Gerhart to take some of the pressure off Peterson.

Gerhart can become a free agent in 2014, if the Vikings are wise they won't ever let that happen.

Defensive End Brian Robison

In his first full season as a starter at left defensive end, Brian Robison finished second on the Vikings with eight sacks.

The best that the man he replaced, Ray Edwards, ever achieved was 8.5 in 2009.

Continuing to play opposite of Jared Allen could produce the one of the best set of defensive ends in the NFL. 

Robison will make $3.9 million next season and will be a free agent in 2014.

It would be nice to lock him up as long as they can. 

Wide Receiver Percy Harvin

Percy Harvin is the most explosive weapon the Minnesota Vikings have.

He has scored touchdowns on returns, by running the ball and by catching the ball.

He is one of the best slot receivers in the game, and when both Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart suffered knee injuries, he simply stepped in the backfield and took on the running back responsibilities.

Set to make $1.35 million in 2012 the Vikings are getting more than their money's worth in Harvin.

The addition of a top-notch outside wide receiver will only help to make Harvin even that much more effective wherever the Vikings line him up.

The Vikings would be well-served to extend a long-term contract to Harvin and retain his services for the next five to seven years.