It’s time to turn the page to the Minnesota Vikings offseason with free agency just over a month away and 20 free agents to consider.
Last time we looked at Minnesota’s defense.
Today we evaluate the Vikings offense.
QB Case Keenum
Age: 29
2017 Cap Hit: $1.906 million
QB Teddy Bridgewater
Age: 26
2017 Cap Hit: $2.179 million
QB Sam Bradford
Age: 30
2017 Cap Hit: $18 million
Instead of regurgitating that which has already been written, the Zone Coverage staff laid out arguments for next year’s quarterback last week, which I’d recommend reading. Mike Zimmer also spoke about all three of the team’s unrestricted free agent quarterbacks during his season-ending press conference.
Since then, news broke that Washington Redskins QB Kirk Cousins will become a free agent in March and may prefer playing in Minnesota.
But at what cost?
Vikings brass will be faced with a huge decision regarding Cousins this offseason if he demands close to $100 million in guaranteed money. They may also find themselves battling to toll Teddy Bridgewater’s contract due to ambiguous language within the CBA. If they win, they’ll get to retain Bridgewater at the same salary as last year, which was just over $1.3 million in base pay.
Regardless, it’s going to be an eventful offseason for the Vikings at the game’s most important position.
G Joe Berger
Age: 35
2017 Cap Hit: $1.882 million
Joe Berger indicated before the end of the season that he felt it was his final year. His teammates have echoed similar feelings.
If Berger indeed retires, he’ll leave an opening at right guard that the Vikings will need to fill.
The Michigan Tech grad made 46 of 48 possible starts over the past three seasons and might have been the Vikings’ most reliable lineman.
WR Michael Floyd
Age: 28
2017 Cap Hit: $1.137 million
Michael Floyd signed a one-year deal with the Vikings as a reclamation project, of sorts, after losing his job with the Arizona Cardinals following a drunken driving arrest.
Despite looking like one of the team’s most impressive receivers in training camp, Floyd never translated that success to games, finishing the season with 10 catches for 78 yards and no touchdowns.
With young receivers Stacy Coley and Cayleb Jones also on the roster, the Vikings may look to get more pass-catching production from their youth instead of re-signing Floyd. It seems farfetched that Minnesota would spend much on free agent receivers since Stefon Diggs is sure to require an extension.
RB Jerick McKinnon
Age: 25
2017 Cap Hit: $828,750
Only Adam Thielen had more yards from scrimmage than Jerick McKinnon this season.
The fourth-year running back had his best year with 570 yards on the ground, 421 through the air and five total touchdowns. He also proved to be a willing and able pass-blocker, making him a reliable third-down option.
The Vikings, in theory, could release Latavius Murray and eat $1.2 million of cap space to free up the funds to pay McKinnon a fair salary, but with Dalvin Cook returning to be the Vikings’ workhorse, McKinnon may opt for a greater role and a substantial payday elsewhere.
G Nick Easton (RFA)
Age: 25
2017 Cap Hit: $615K
OL Jeremiah Sirles (RFA)
Age: 26
2017 Cap Hit: $690K
With Berger probably retiring, it would make sense for the Vikings to retain Easton, last year’s starter at left guard before he broke his ankle in Week 16, and Sirles, who served as the all-important sixth man.
Both are restricted free agents, meaning the Vikings can match any offer sheet the two linemen receive from another team. In order to protect themselves from other offers, it would be logical for the Vikings to give Easton and Sirles second-round tenders, which cost $2.746 million in 2017.
Teams may view a second-round pick as too high a risk to acquire Easton or Sirles, whereas if the Vikings gave them a low tender — probably just under $2 million — then other suitors could make offers with no risk of draft pick compensation since neither Easton nor Sirles were drafted.
Got that? Good.
RB Bishop Sankey
Age: 25
2017 Cap Hit: $418K
RB Mack Brown (ERFA)
Age: 26
2017 Cap Hit: $285,880
Sankey tore his ACL in August and missed the entire season. It seems unlikely he would return.
Brown is interesting, though. He spent over two months on the team’s active roster despite never taking an offensive snap. Because he has two or less accrued seasons, he is an exclusive rights free agent, which means the Vikings are the only team with whom he can negotiate.
Minnesota can offer Brown a minimum salary and bring him to training camp to compete for the third running back spot.
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