Minnesota Vikings: 11 Free Agents Minnesota Must Sign
With the NFL's free-agency signing period now just under a month away, teams across the league are hunkering down with their salary-cap gurus and financial wizards to figure out just how much money they have in their coffers to spend on players.
With that in mind, we're going to rank the top 11 free agents the Vikings should go after come March 10 and the opening of the free-agency signing period.
For the Minnesota Vikings, both the free-agency period and their draft plans will be significantly impacted by what happens with star running back Adrian Peterson.
It's likely that Minnesota is hoping to bring him back under a renegotiated deal that is far less than his current contract, where it is scheduled to pay him $12.75 million in 2015 with a salary-cap hit of $15.4 million, according to Over the Cap.
The Vikings have made no public comment on whether or not they'd bring him back at that amount, but the front office and coaching staff have all said they'd welcome Peterson back to the team, as reported by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press.
If Peterson won't renegotiate his deal, Minnesota might cut him, as it no longer owes him any guaranteed money and his cap hit would be a reasonable $2.4 million.
Peterson's future has a lot of tentacles for Minnesota's offseason plans, as it will not only impact how much money it has to spend in free agency, but it may affect who it pursues as well.
With that as a backdrop, we'll rank the top 11 free agents Minnesota should pursue, both in-house players and those on the open market. The Vikings obviously won't sign all of these guys, but we'll give you reasons why they should and tell you why these players are ranked where we have them.
11. Long Snapper Cullen Loeffler
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Will one bad snap derail an 11-year career of dependability and consistency?
We'll find out over the next month.
You never want your long snapper to be a part of a game story because that probably means he did something wrong. Such was the case this past season when Loeffler's low snap against the Miami Dolphins in December led to a blocked punt and a safety that cost the Vikings the game.
It was a pretty shocking play, as the Vikings had grown to take Loeffler's consistency for granted—he'd had probably less than five bad snaps during his career.
But he's now a 34-year-old free agent who made $1.27 million last season. You can throw age out the window, as Loeffler, at 6'5", 240 pounds, is a former tight end who keeps himself in great shape.
The Vikings will have to consider if it's worth paying a couple hundred thousand dollars more for a proven veteran than handing off the job to a younger, cheaper player.
We expect the Vikings to pay Loeffler to be their security blanket and for Loeffler to take his late-season gaffe as a call to ratchet up his focus for the 2015 season.
Loeffler is ranked 11th on this list because long snappers aren't that hard to find. He's on the list because finding ones as consistent as he's been isn't so easy.
10. Middle Linebacker Jasper Brinkley
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After five seasons in the NFL, the Vikings know exactly what they're getting with linebacker Jasper Brinkley.
At 6'1", 252 pounds, Brinkley is a pretty solid player against the run who has to come off the field in passing situations. He doesn't have great speed, and he's certainly not a difference-maker at middle linebacker.
The truth of the matter is that Brinkley's future with Minnesota is probably dependent on what the Vikings decide to do with Chad Greenway. If Greenway agrees to take a substantial pay cut, he may be brought back at the expense of Brinkley.
If Greenway isn't brought back, Minnesota may sign Brinkley to another one-year deal to serve as a stopgap player in the middle and provide the Vikings linebacker corps with a veteran presence.
One free-agent linebacker to keep an eye on is Rey Maualuga. Though not substantially better than Brinkley and a bit more costly, he played under Mike Zimmer for five years in Cincinnati and would have no problem transitioning into the Vikings' scheme.
Brinkley is ranked 10th on our list because his spot on the Vikings roster is tenuous at best. If the Vikings are planning on drafting a linebacker in the first four rounds, Brinkley will have to fight for a roster spot even if he's re-signed.
9. Utility Offensive Lineman Joe Berger
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Berger is the quintessential lunchpail guy for Minnesota's offensive line.
Every year it seems like Berger might be a training camp casualty, and every year he makes the team and plays an extremely valuable roll as a backup offensive lineman who's comfortable filling in at several different spots across the line.
Berger will turn 33 years old in May, but he started nine games in 2014 after a rash of injuries hit Minnesota's line. Berger did what he always seems to do: He filled in more than capably when it was his turn to take reps.
The Vikings would love it if second-year players Austin Wentworth, David Yankey and Antonio Richardson earned more playing time this summer, and it won't surprise anyone if they draft an offensive lineman early in this year's draft.
None of that means that they won't still need a guy who can fill in seamlessly at center or either guard spot should injuries crop up. Berger will be that guy.
He's ranked ninth on our list, because if any of the eight players listed above him are signed, they'd be expected to play more important roles on the team.
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8. Running Back Matt Asiata
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We'll keep saying what we've always said about Matt Asiata: If he's getting more than seven or eight carries in a game, then you need to upgrade your talent at running back.
We'll also concede that Asiata scored 10 touchdowns in 2014, so arguing that he doesn't belong on the roster seems sort of silly.
Asiata is a 6'0", 235-pound power back who doesn't have a ton of speed or elusiveness. He's clearly at his best inside the 5-yard line, as he's proved he has a nose for the end zone.
He's also an extremely hard worker, a high-character guy who'll bust his butt on special teams and, like Berger, is one of those lunchpail guys most successful NFL teams have a handful of.
Asiata earned just $570,000 in 2014 and is due a raise, but he's worth bringing back as a third option at running back, a prized special teams player and a guy who can get you touchdowns from inside the 5-yard line.
He's ranked eighth because all the other players on the list would be expected to play a starting role if the Vikings signed them.
7. Safety Nate Allen
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Free-agent safety Nate Allen intercepted four passes last season. That stat alone should make him somewhat attractive to the Vikings, who've been starving for more interceptions over the last half a decade.
Allen's four picks are double the number the Vikings have gotten from safeties not named Harrison Smith over the last three seasons.
Allen is a former second-round pick who's spent five seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, all as a starter, and has notched 10 interceptions in his career.
The Vikings' pass defense improved considerably in 2014, finishing seventh in the league against the pass, but it still needs to improve on its takeaways, getting just 13 interceptions last season.
We rank Allen seventh on our list because he might not be a big enough upgrade over what the Vikings already have to justify his salary demands on the open market. The Eagles paid him $3 million in 2014, and if he's looking for a whole lot more than that, he might not make financial sense for Minnesota.
Robert Blanton has piled up impressive tackle numbers in his time starting for the Vikings, but he's subpar against the pass. The same can be said for Andrew Sendejo. We don't really know what Minnesota has in second-year man Antone Exum, whom the Vikings relegated to mostly special teams in 2014.
It might be a long shot for Minnesota to pursue a safety in free agency, but Allen would make sense if that's a direction the team decides to go.
6. Wide Receiver Torrey Smith
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One can hardly blame the Vikings if they're a little gun-shy about dropping a lot of money on a wide receiver in free agency.
Just two years ago Minnesota signed Greg Jennings to a five-year, $47.5 million deal that hasn't come close to paying off. Jennings hasn't been a bust, far from it, but he hasn't been a true No. 1 receiver either.
While the Vikings won't be in the market for one of the top four wideouts available in free agency—Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb and Jeremy Maclin—there's a chance they'll pony up for a guy like Torrey Smith.
Smith is a 26-year-old who's been on the cusp of stardom for a couple of years, but he took a backseat to veteran Steve Smith in Baltimore last season. He's a downfield threat the Vikings don't have right now with a career average of 16.9 yards a catch and a career-high 11 touchdowns in 2014.
Minnesota is one of the tougher teams to peg heading toward free agency, as it has several needs, but none is far more glaring than the others.
The Vikings need help on the offensive line, wide receiver, linebacker and in the secondary. How they proceed in free agency will more than likely dictate how they draft.
Without having a No. 1 receiver, it's reasonable to think they'll pursue one in either free agency or the draft. They have great potential with guys like Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson and a veteran presence with Jennings, but they lack a surefire go-to guy.
We rank Smith sixth on our list because the best bet is that Minnesota probably pursues a receiver in the early rounds of the draft. If it wants a guy it can count on to contribute right from the start next season, Torrey Smith would fit the bill.
5. Guard Clint Boling
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The Vikings began the last three regular seasons with the exact same five starters on the offensive line.
That streak will end in 2015, as Minnesota will almost certainly have a new starter at left guard. Charlie Johnson has been a consistent gamer for the Vikings for the past four seasons. But he's a free agent, and it's unlikely he'll be back in Minnesota next season.
As we've stated in previous slides, it's tough to say if the Vikings will try to fill this spot through free agency or in the draft, but we'll lean toward free agency for the left guard spot.
If the Vikings can add a solid, experienced player on the left side, it can only help the maturation process for left tackle Matt Kalil. Kalil had a rocky 2014 season, but he played his best football down the stretch and gives Minnesota hope that he can be the long-term answer at left tackle.
It would only make sense that Minnesota would want to give Kalil the best chance to succeed, and one way it can assure it does that is to put a solid complement next to him.
Clint Boling is a 6'4", 310-pound guard who has started at left tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals for the past three seasons. Boling may not be an elite player, but at just 25 years old, he's just entering his prime years in the NFL.
No, it probably doesn't hurt Boling's chances of becoming a Viking that Mike Zimmer is more than familiar with his work, but that certainly won't be the reason Minnesota signs him.
We rank Boling fifth on our list, because while he would be a great addition to the team, there's a hope the Vikings might break the bank for a bigger prize at left guard.
4. Cornerback Perrish Cox
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The Vikings have their star-in-the-making cornerback in Xavier Rhodes but should definitely be in the market for an upgrade on the other side of the field.
Minnesota signed Captain Munnerlyn as a free agent last season, and he had a disappointing first season in purple.
Munnerlyn is probably best suited to play the slot corner role, and the Vikings should go out and sign a proven veteran to start opposite Rhodes.
There are plenty of guys on the market who would fit that bill, but we're going with Perrish Cox, the 28-year-old who came into his own in 2014 with the San Francisco 49ers. Cox had five interceptions and 18 passes defensed last season and would be a huge upgrade for Minnesota's secondary.
Since it's combine week in the NFL, we'll note that Cox was a highly regarded prospect out of Oklahoma State in 2010 but saw his stock plummet after a slow 40-yard dash at the combine. The Denver Broncos were able to get him in the fifth round.
Like a lot of cornerbacks in the NFL, Cox took some time to get his feet under him but blossomed during his fourth season in the league.
Cox ranks fourth on our list, because while he would be a great addition, the Vikings could decide to spend a little bit more money on a position that's pretty critical in the pass-happy NFC North.
3. Defensive Tackle Tom Johnson
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There's no exact blueprint for how to build a successful NFL franchise, but drafting well and spending wisely in free agency are pretty good places to start.
The Vikings found free-agent gold last March when they signed journeyman defensive tackle Tom Johnson to a one-year deal that paid him $845,000.
Johnson had a career year in Mike Zimmer's system, finishing second on the team with 6.5 sacks as the third defensive tackle behind Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph.
The former CFL and Arena League player has said he would like a multiyear deal, per the Pioneer Press' Chris Tomasson, and it would be a surprise if the Vikings don't give him one. ESPN.com's Ben Goessling guesses that something in the two-year, $4 million range would make sense for both sides.
Johnson was a great addition to Minnesota's defense in 2014, and there's certainly no reason to think he won't be back next season with a new deal.
He's ranked third on our list, because while he's a great complementary player, the top of our list is reserved for upper echelon starters.
2. Cornerback Byron Maxwell
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Byron Maxwell has risen to the top of most lists of free-agent cornerbacks, but that certainly doesn't mean he's the best one available.
Sure, he was a member of the best secondary in the NFL in Seattle, but nobody would argue that he was the fourth-best player in that secondary.
Maxwell is a decent tackler and has improved tremendously against the pass in his four seasons in the league. He had four interceptions two seasons ago and added two more in 2014. He's had 12 passes defensed both seasons.
How much are his numbers inflated by the fact that he played opposite of Richard Sherman, who's widely regarded as one of the top cover corners in the league? The NFL world will probably find out in 2015.
Maxwell is going to get paid as cornerbacks become more and more of a valued commodity in the NFL. His long, 6'1", 207-pound frame is why we have him on our wish list instead of Brandon Flowers, who is just 5'9" and not a great matchup for the tall receivers in Minnesota's division.
The Vikings have no doubt done their due diligence on Maxwell. He's probably a risk in free agency, as he's going to be able to command more money than his performance has probably earned up to this point. Such is one of the benefits of playing on the best defense in the league.
Maxwell would be a great get for the Vikings, but he ranks second on our list because we believe that whoever lands Maxwell in free agency will probably be overpaying to get him. He certainly has high potential as a player, but it remains to be seen if his lofty reputation is an offshoot of the talented players around him in Seattle.
It will be a hefty price tag to find out.
1. Guard Mike Iupati
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The Vikings found their future on offense in 2014 in rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Playing behind a beat-up offensive line without his star running back and with a mediocre group of receivers, Bridgewater still had an impressive first season. And he got better as the year wore on.
Minnesota is now in a position where it can finally stop worrying about the most important position on the field and instead figure out ways to make Bridgewater's job easier.
Signing massive left guard Mike Iupati would be a fantastic way to start.
The 6'5", 331-pound Iupati has made the Pro Bowl the last three years and would be a massive upgrade for the Vikings on the left side of their line. Left tackle Matt Kalil had a forgettable 2014 season, but he started playing better during the last quarter of the season.
Adding Iupati into the mix on the left side would not only repair a spot where the Vikings have been weak for years, but sticking an All-Pro next to Kalil would ease his mental burden and certainly help his progress.
Iupati might be the best run-blocking guard in the NFL, and if Adrian Peterson returns to the team it would be a match made in heaven. The addition of those two to the lineup would do wonders for Bridgewater's maturation as a player.
Much has been made of Iupati's deficiencies as a pass-blocker, as Pro Football Focus' Rick Drummond mentions in a story where they name him an All-NFC West guard:
"While Iupati, on the other hand, posted another example of his customary one-sided play — run-blocking dominance and lacking pass pro. That strong showing as a run blocker, though, (second-highest run blocking grade among guards) was impressive enough on its own.
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Keep in mind that Iupati has been pass blocking for a quarterback in Colin Kaepernick who tends to drift out of the pocket rather quickly.
That's not to say Iupati can't improve in that part of the game, but with a body that big and a resume that strong, the Vikings should take their chances.
We have Iupati ranked as the Vikings' No. 1 overall free-agent target because the hope is that Peterson returns to Minnesota, and adding a run-blocking stud will do wonders for the Vikings offense.
Orlando Franklin and Boling, who we ranked fifth on this list, would both be upgrades but not near to the degree that Iupati would.
Signing Iupati would be similar to when the Vikings signed Steve Hutchinson in 2006, and that worked out pretty well.
How to make Bridgewater better? Sign an All-Pro guard.
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