Minnesota Vikings' Ultimate Free-Agency To-Do List

General manager Rick Spielman and the Minnesota Vikings will be forced to shift gears from draft prospects to veterans, with NFL free agency set to begin on March 10.

As noted by ESPN's Ben Goessling, the Vikings would have over $17 million in salary-cap space under a $143 million cap:

"

Per @ESPNStatsInfo, #Vikings would be $17.6 million under a $143M cap. That's with AP's contract and no other restructurings.

— Ben Goessling (@GoesslingESPN) February 26, 2015"

In the event that Minnesota cannot retain Adrian Peterson, the team could elect to release him and shed another $13 million from its books—per Spotrac—which would amount to slightly less than $31 million in salary-cap space.

Even if the Vikings do retain Peterson's full $15.4 million cap hit for next season, the team has more than enough money to do some damage during free agency. Some of this money will naturally go towards re-signing safety Harrison Smith, but his new contract, in theory, would not consume enough cap space to dramatically change spending plans.

The following is a list of areas Minnesota needs to address when free agency begins based on its current positional needs, expected salary-cap space, the 2015 draft class and the players scheduled to test the free-agent market.

1. Re-Sign DT Tom Johnson

Charlie Neibergall/Associated Press

The Vikings and defensive tackle Tom Johnson have a mutual interest in coming to terms on a new contract, per Darren Wolfson of KSTP:

"

#Vikings hoping to re-sign DT Tom Johnson. But $$, like always, the issue right now. There was a meeting in Indy.

— Darren Wolfson (@DarrenWolfson) February 24, 2015"

But, the two sides are still "far apart" on a contract, according to Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN. Johnson is seeking a multiyear contract, as noted by Goessling, which reportedly isn't out of the question. As noted by Wolfson, it is money, not length, that may be the reason Johnson and the Vikings ultimately part ways.

Of the Vikings' impending free agents, Johnson is truly the only one the team should have a vested interest in re-signing. Sure, a case could be made for both Christian Ponder—if Matt Cassel was to be released—and Joe Berger, but neither of these two players are as necessary to team success as Johnson.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson was responsible for 30 quarterback pressures, including six sacks, in limited action this past season. By comparison, starters Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph accounted for 30 and 29 quarterback pressures, respectively, with both players involved in considerably more plays than the 30-year-old impending free agent.

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Simply put, Johnson had an obvious impact in 2014, despite being a backup.

The Vikings are already thin behind Joseph and the injury-prone Floyd, with Shamar Stephen being the only other defensive tackle under contract for next season. Minnesota could go out and sign a different supporting player or draft a defensive tackle prospect, but Johnson's familiarity with Mike Zimmer's defense and his on-field dominance would be difficult to replace.

It is becoming an increasingly realistic possibility that Johnson will test the open market, but the Vikings should be interested in doing everything in their power to not allow this to happen. What Johnson can do, especially at a relatively cheap cost, is of high value, and another team could outbid the Vikings for his services.

Whether he is listed as a starter or not, Johnson is a key member of the Vikings' immediate future, and making sure he is in Minnesota next season should be considered a top priority.

2. Replace LG Charlie Johnson

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

In an expected move, the Vikings released starting left guard Charlie Johnson earlier this week.

"

#Vikings release Charlie Johnson. It's part of a necessary upgrade, but his personality will be missed. Class act and a stand-up guy.

— Mark Craig (@markcraignfl) February 27, 2015"

Johnson did not play well in 2014, as he allowed 39 quarterback pressures in 2014, per Pro Football Focus, but this doesn't mean replacing him will be easy.

The Vikings do have potential at this position already on their roster in guard David Yankey, but there was concern about the 2014 fifth-round pick's NFL readiness last season. As a result, Minnesota must have a backup plan ready in the event that he isn't ready to take over for Johnson in 2015.

There will be plenty of options to pick from when free agency begins. The most common name tossed around has been Mike Iupati, a veteran guard known primarily for his run-blocking dominance. However, the 2014 San Francisco 49er was a liability in pass-protection last season—he allowed seven sacks, per Pro Football Focus—and signing him will cost a considerable amount of money.

Consequently, the Vikings may be better off chasing a cheaper option. The 2015 free-agent guard class is fairly deep, which should allow Minnesota to replace Johnson with a quality player with a team-friendly contract.

Tom Gannam/Associated Press

Other top-end guard options include Orlando Franklin, James Carpenter and Clint Boling. Both Franklin and Boling would be noticeable upgrades to Johnson, and Carpenter has the potential—he is a former first-round pick—to be as well. All three players would, in theory, cost less money than Iupati and potentially be better fits, as each of them is more balanced in protection.

Minnesota may believe that Yankey is ready to start, in which case signing a backup like Gabe Carimi could be the move. But regardless of this, Johnson's spot on the roster needs to be replaced, whether it is with a presumed backup or an impact upgrade.

3. Seek Defensive Depth

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press

Zimmer did a great job building a strong defense in his first season. As many coaches would say, however, teams are only as good as their weakest link.

The Vikings have a number of budding stars on their defense, but depth should be considered a concern. Linebacker Jasper Brinkley is an impending free agent, which leaves Minnesota rather thin at inside linebacker. As previously stated, the Vikings also lack depth along their defensive line, and the secondary doesn't boast much past cornerback Xavier Rhodes and Smith.

Minnesota doesn't necessarily need to invest in a difference-maker at any level of its defense, but adding a few complementary players would definitely be helpful.

Beginning in the trenches, the Vikings could afford to add both a defensive end and a defensive tackle, and there should be plenty of cost-effective options available:

Name	Position	2014 Team
Da'Quan Bowers	DT/DE	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Adrian Clayborn	DE	Tampa Bay Buccaneers
George Johnson	DE	Detroit Lions
Mathias Kiwanuka	DE	New York Giants
Pat Sims	DT	Oakland Raiders
Kevin Williams	DT	Seattle Seahawks

Naturally, there are plenty more choices available than just the players listed in the above chart. This group of players, however, represents relatively cheap and talented options.

Da'Quan Bowers and Adrian Clayborn both were once considered impressive prospects, but their performance to date should keep their market value reasonable. Kevin Williams and Mathias Kiwanuka are veterans who aren't what they used to be, but both could step in and provide quality snaps for the Vikings. Finally, Sims and Johnson represent solid role-player options capable of having the impact that Corey Wootton, for example, was expected to have this past season.

Moving on to the second level of Minnesota's defense, the Vikings already have a nice group of outside linebackers. With Anthony Barr, Gerald Hodges and even Brandon Watts, Minnesota has plenty of young talent here.

With that said, veteran Chad Greenway's future remains up in the air, and the inside linebacker position is rather thin, especially if one considers Audie Cole to be more of an outside linebacker.

Again, the Vikings have plenty of options to work with at the linebacker position in free agency:

Name	Position	2014 Team
Akeem Ayers	OLB	New England Patriots/Tennessee Titans
Brandon Graham	OLB	Philadelphia Eagles
AJ Hawk	ILB	Green Bay Packers
Rey Maualuga	ILB	Cincinnati Bengals
DJ Williams	ILB	Chicago Bears

A few of these names should be pretty familiar. Both AJ Hawk and DJ Williams played in the NFC North last season with the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, respectively. Both players represent upgrades to Jasper Brinkley and should come at a relatively cheap cost.

Rey Maualuga, who has ties to Zimmer, may be the most discussed player on this list. Due to his history with Zimmer, he may be the easiest to lure to Minnesota. On the other hand, Akeem Ayers, who is coming off a Super Bowl championship with the New England Patriots, appears to be a very unlikely candidate to join the Vikings for next season, but he would certainly be a great acquisition.

The most interesting player here may be Brandon Graham. Despite never being a full-time starter in Philadelphia, Graham has racked up impressive numbers. He received a plus-22.8 rating in 2014 and a plus-8.7 rating in 2013 from Pro Football Focus in limited snaps. Teams are most likely very aware of his defensive prowess, but the fact that he has never been a starter should keep his value down. He would almost certainly be a definitive upgrade to Greenway on the outside.

Minnesota's secondary may be the strongest level of its defense, with Rhodes and Smith quickly becoming stars. Still, this group could use some help with Captain Munnerlyn not playing well in his first season as a Viking and Josh Robinson remaining inconsistent. There are a couple of big names available (which we will get to later on), but the 2015 free-agent class also has some interesting secondary depth options available.

Name	Position	2014 Team
Kareem Jackson	CB	Houston Texans
Taylor Mays	S	Cincinnati Bengals
Buster Skrine	CB	Cleveland Browns
Walter Thurmond	CB	New York Giants
Kyle Wilson	CB	New York Jets
Shareece Wright	CB	San Diego Chargers

This may be the most difficult level of defense to add a solid depth option at a cost-effective price. Kareem Jackson, Buster Skrine, Walter Thurmond and Shareece Wright may be considered solid No. 2 cornerbacks, but they could end up being paid low-end No. 1 cornerback money due to the growing importance for a strong pass defense.

Correspondingly, the Vikings may be better off signing a high-upside option like Taylor Mays or Kyle Wilson. Both players were early-round selections that never produced as hoped. Wilson isn't expected to return to the New York Jets, and Mays, like Maualuga, has ties to Zimmer. Neither player would be considered an upgrade, but their potential and low market value may make them perfect depth acquisitions.

As a whole, the Vikings need to look into adding depth at every level of their defense. Football is a team sport, and every person on a 53-man roster matters. Minnesota doesn't need to make a splash in free agency to improve its football team; the depth additions play a significant role as well.

4. Assess Running Back Market

Beck Diefenbach/Associated Press

With skepticism about Adrian Peterson returning to Minnesota next season seemingly growing by the day, the Vikings must be prepared for the worst-case scenario.

The 2015 draft class is loaded with talent, from Georgia's Todd Gurley to Minnesota's David Cobb. It is a near certainty that the Vikings will add one of the talented running back prospects in the middle rounds, but signing a veteran free agent shouldn't be out of the question.

Jerick McKinnon is coming off of surgery, and Matt Asiata is an impending free agent and is unlikely to return to the Vikings for next season. The devaluation of the running back position not only helps Minnesota in terms of draft value, but it could also nab a veteran at low cost as well.

DeMarco Murray has been the name filling all the headlines, but there are plenty of other great options available as well.

Name	Position	2014 Team
Mark Ingram	RB	New Orleans Saints
Ryan Mathews	RB	San Diego Chargers
Darren McFadden	RB	Oakland Raiders
Stevan Ridley	RB	New England Patriots
CJ Spiller	RB	Buffalo Bills

Although all of the players listed in the above chart would come with a history of injuries, they all represent incredible value signings.

Stevan Ridley is coming off an ACL injury and should be able to be signed without any guaranteed money. Mark Ingram would be an excellent complement to McKinnon, and unlike many players on this list, he does not have a ton of tread on his tires due to his usage and long list of injuries.

CJ Spiller and Ryan Mathews both possess similar skill sets to McKinnon, but both players are impressive talents that could immediately upgrade the Vikings backfield. Based on the contracts handed out to running backs last offseason, Minnesota should be able to acquire either player at a relatively low cap hit.

The most interesting player on this list, however, may be former Arkansas star Darren McFadden. He has shown flashes of greatness, but untimely injuries and inconsistency has caused him to fall out of favor in Oakland. With Latavius Murray beginning to blossom and Maurice Jones-Drew also on the roster, the Raiders likely will let the former first-round pick walk in free agency. He could be a low-risk, high-reward option for Minnesota.

None of the aforementioned players has the glow of returning Peterson to the Vikings backfield, but they all could help in the event that Minnesota is forced to part ways with the former face of its franchise.

With all of this said, Zimmer did state that he isn't looking for a running back in free agency, but completely ignoring the position would be a mistake. Minnesota must, at the very least, assess the situation; being thorough is important.

5. Heavily Pursue Elite Talent

Darron Cummings/Associated Press/Associated Press

It is unlikely that players such as Dez Bryant, Demaryius Thomas, Jeremy Maclin or Devin McCourty will even reach free agency due to the franchise tag, but the Vikings must be prepared to make a move if they do.

Of the three aforementioned wide receivers, it seems that Maclin is the biggest candidate to actually hit the open market. He doesn't possess the height and length the Vikings need, but he would become the definitive No. 1 option for Teddy Bridgewater, and at 26 years old, a five-year contract would likely yield results throughout.

The Patriots are going to have a difficult time retaining both cornerback Darrelle Revis and McCourty. As a result, it is becoming increasingly likely that one will hit free agency, and the Vikings must have a plan in the works to capitalize. 

Either defensive back would be a mammoth upgrade to Robinson or Robert Blanton, respectively. Although both players would potentially eat up a large chunk of the Vikings' salary-cap space, Minnesota would boast arguably the second-best secondary in the NFL by adding one of these big-name free agents.

Safety Tyvon Branch, who was recently released by the Raiders, is another outstanding talent who only managed to play five games in 2014 due to injury. This injury may keep his value down—certainly lower than McCourty's—which could make him a cost-effective upgrade of elite proportion.

Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

Cornerback Byron Maxwell has been mentioned a lot by Minnesota fans—and fans everywhere, really—but paying him big money comes with a bit of a risk. He may not be the No. 1 cornerback many perceive him to be—playing opposite Richard Sherman has its perks—which should be enough to shift Minnesota's focus to other top options.

There are plenty of other big-name options available too, such as Ndamukong Suh, Jason Pierre-Paul or Darnell Dockett, who would hugely benefit the Vikings. But Minnesota is unlikely to go all-in on a player who doesn't fill a major positional need.

The Vikings may not appear to be a team ready to shell out a monster contract to a free agent, but NFL free agency tends to be a crazy time. It will be a feeding frenzy, and Minnesota is hungry for improvement.

For more Vikings news, statistics and discussion, find me on Twitter @RobertReidell.