Free Agency

Vikings Hold On To Fred Evans

March 16, 2012, by 3 comments

According to ProFootballTalk.com, the Vikings have agreed to terms with NT Fred Evans. Since [big] Pat Williams’ departure from the position, the Vikings have searched from within in an attempt to patch the whole left in the “Williams’ Wall” and it looks like they will continue with that methodology.

Evans, who has ties to Rick Spielman from when he was with the Dolphins in 2006, is 28 years old and has been with the Vikings for five years. Evans has never been particularly impressive but I imagine they are just trying to keep a rotation at the position. Exact details of the deal are not yet available.

Not particularly impressed by this, but what do you all think?

The Vikings Signed A… Point Guard?

March 16, 2012, by 16 comments

In a move that will surely raise the hackles of the hackles of the hackles that have already been raised on Vikings fans this offseason, the Vikings have made a move that some will deem a waste of time.

The team has reportedly signed former point guard at Florida International University Nick Taylor.

The former basketball player work out at FIU’s pro day and apparently caught the Vikings attention by posting a forty yard dash in the neighborhood of 4.34 and 4.27.  He attended the pro day after spending time with a low-level arena league last year.

The Vikings then brought Taylor in for a closer look on Friday and decided to sign him to a three year contract.  Taylor said the team will give him a look as a return man, a receiver and a cornerback.  He played defensive back for his arena team.

Taylor has a major uphill battle ahead of him if he plans on sticking to the roster beyond training camp.

Vikings Are Becoming Former Vikings

March 16, 2012, by 1 comment

It is increasingly obvious that Rick Spielman didn’t think too highly of most of the Vikings players seeing their contracts expire this month.  Sage Rosenfels and Letroy Guion are the only ones to receive contracts so far, while the front office continues to monitor the status of Erin Henderson, E.J. Henderson, and presumably safety Husain Abdullah.

That doesn’t mean that now-former Vikings players aren’t getting interest in phase two of free agency.  Here are some quick updates:

STEVE HUTCHINSON

Goes to the Titans on a three year deal worth $16 million.

The length of the contract surprised me more than the dollar amount or even the destination.  Hutch had reportedly told Vikings teammates that he was really only interested in playing one more year of football.

The Titans get a heck of a player, and a heck of a good guy, and a heck of a veteran presence here.  They had made clear, following Chris Johnson’s struggles in 2011, that the offensive line was a major priority for them.  Hutchinson may not be a long term solution, but he should be an upgrade over what they had.

Continue Reading →

John Carlson’s Numbers Are In

March 16, 2012, by 1 comment

A number of Vikings fans were a little peeved at the reported $25 million five year contract tight end John Carlson received from the Vikings on day two of free agency.

The reported numbers, however, do not tell the whole story and Tom Pelissero of 1500 ESPN shed some light on the situation Friday morning.

According to Pelissero’s source, only $9.1 million of the deal is fully guaranteed.  That is made up of a $5 million signing bonus, his 2012 base salary of $2.9 million, and $1.2 million of his 2013 base salary.

So, essentially, the deal is structured as follows:

2012:  $2.9 million

2013:  $2.9 million

2014:  $3.9 million

2015:  $4.9 million

2016:  $4.9 million

The deal also includes $100,000 workout bonuses on an annual basis.

The structure of the deal makes it so the Vikings can pay Carlson $11 million over the first two years, and then if they should choose to cut him after that they would take a $3 million cap hit in 2014.  Pelissero describes this as the “sort of pay-as-you-go deal the Vikings have used for years to keep their cap healthy.”

Furthermore, his salary doesn’t jump up until 2014, at which point the NFL’s new television deal is expected to increase the salary cap dramatically.

Carlson’s cap hit should be about $4 million this season, while Sage Rosenfels’ cap hit is expected to be about $1.5 million.  Letroy Guion’s contract details are not yet available, but he is expected to have a cap hit of around $3 million.

That should leave the Vikings with roughly $14.5 million in remaining cap space.

Vikings Line Up Monday Visit With Young Lineman

March 15, 2012, by 5 comments

With Steve Hutchinson gone, and officially not coming back, the Vikings have turned their attention to a much, much younger option to bolster their offensive line.

According to Scout.com, the Vikings plan to host offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz on Monday.

Schwartz held his own quite well for the Panthers at both right guard and right tackle two years ago, but missed all of 2011 with a hip injury.  Reports indicate that he is healthy now and drawing interest from a number of teams.

Schwartz is 6’ 6”, 331 pounds, and only 25 years old.

The Panthers could have tendered Schwartz as a restricted free agent but opted against it.  Should the Vikings end up signing Schwartz, he will be the second free agent to join the team that had not played a single snap in 2011.

Vikings Interested In A Free Agent Cornerback?

March 15, 2012, by 5 comments

It’s a slow day on the free agency front but there is some news (other than Chris Cook being found not guilty on all counts). According to Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press, the Vikings have shown interest in Cowboys CB, Alan Ball. There aren’t any visits scheduled (that anyone knows), but it is something.

In all reality, Alan Ball would probably just provide depth at an area that is pretty much vacant (or might as well be). But it is good to see the team at least addressing the issue in some shape or form. Almost an admittance that they know the problem/need exists.

Makes me wonder though, if this is just a depth move, why not find it in the later rounds of the draft?

Thoughts?

Guion’s Move To Nose Tackle Of Mutual Interest

March 15, 2012, by 5 comments

As if Letroy Guion’s three year contract, worth $9 million, wasn’t a big enough hint that Vikings plan to expand his role, we now have confirmation that he will be competing for the starting nose tackle gig with Remi Ayodele.

Guion had previously occupied the three technique position, mostly as a backup to Kevin Williams, and pulled spot duty as a nose tackle but the move sounds like it will be putting him somewhere that he is more comfortable.

“I don’t like it. I love it,” said Guion on Wednesday. “I love the close-quarter combat. Less space than a three technique. I can see the ball better. Read the offensive line better. And I feel more comfortable at nose than at a three-technique.”

Guion, age 24, was drafted in the sixth round in 2008 out of Florida State.  At the time, he was regarded as extremely gifted but also extremely raw, and it appears that the Vikings still have faith he can develop under new defensive line coach Brendan Daly.

“He’s an extremely talented athlete,” Rick Spielman said following the agreement. “I know when we had meetings on all of our personnel, we still think there’s a huge, huge upside to Letroy.”

In his four seasons with the Vikings, Guion has three starts, all of which came last season.  He has flashed at moments, but has yet to be a consistent contributor on the defense.