All the Vikings Free Agency News: Day 1
The following is free-agency news applicable to the Minnesota Vikings on Day 1 of 2021 Free Agency — via tweet.
A prominent VikingsTwitter personality prognosticates.
#Vikings may be close to $30 million under the cap when they are finished restructuring/extensions and by cutting Stephen.
— Vikeologist™ (@Vikeologist) March 15, 2021
Former Vikings offensive lineman gets paid elsewhere.
Former Jets' OL Pat Elflein reached agreement on a three-year, $13.5 million deal including $6 million fully guaranteed with the Carolina Panthers, per source.
Elflein's agent, @FeinsodJonathan, confirmed his player intends to sign with Carolina.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 15, 2021
Darren Wolfson tells folks to be aware of safety Will Parks-to-the-Vikings.
#Vikings planting many seeds. This one goes back to interest a year ago, then they also put a waiver claim in on Parks late in the 2020 season. He's now on the open market and remains on the team's radar. https://t.co/816lynOwrq
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) March 15, 2021
The Vikings Age‘s Adam Patrick and The Athletic‘s Chad Graff put together a shopping list.
Free agents the #Vikings are interested in according to @ChadGraff
Carl Lawson – DE
Joe Thuney – OG
Shaquill Griffin – CB— Adam Patrick (@adampatrickNFL) March 15, 2021
The announcement that the Vikings “will be players” in free agency:
A lot of chatter that the #Vikings are checking in on some of the higher-profile free agents. #Vikings salary cap wizard Rob Brzezinski has always found a way to make the numbers work.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 15, 2021
The grocery list thickens.
Free agents the #Vikings have reportedly reached out to or shown interest in so far:
G Joe Thuney
DE Carl Lawson
DE Trey Hendrickson
CB Shaquille Griffin
S Will Parks https://t.co/g3YcdEWwl5— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) March 15, 2021
VikingsTwitter states their demands via poll. Thuney is the crush.
Strictly hypothetically, if you can only have one for MIN, who is it?
— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) March 15, 2021
Vikings Central affirms that defensive line is a priority superior to offensive line.
The Vikings are focusing on “mid-tier” offensive lineman, while targeting higher end players on the defensive side of the trenches.
— Vikings Central (@VikesCentral) March 15, 2021
A restructuring of Harrison Smith theory arises.
Nothing close yet on an extension for Harrison Smith, who's entering the final year of his contract. But talks have taken place and will continue. Be nice to wrap him up, save 2021 $$, and have him retire as a Viking. Next stop after that: #Vikings Ring of Honor.
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) March 15, 2021
The sky falls.
Sources: Danielle Hunter remains unhappy with his current situation with the Vikings and is exploring all options, including a trade request. https://t.co/W7pQNfdtM2
— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) March 15, 2021
Hunter differs — he likes his agent.
#elitefam for life. For the record😒.
— D Hunt™ (@DHunt94_TX) March 15, 2021
Said agent skewers The Athletic.
Sorry for the bad news but @DHunt94_TX will always be #EliteFam Now you headline grabbing reporters @ChadGraff can carry on and report on the real story✌🏽
— Zeke Sandhu (@ZekeSandhu) March 15, 2021
A return of kicker Daniel Carlson becomes unrealistic.
The #Raiders are placing a second-round tender on kicker Daniel Carlson, per source. A strong move to prevent an offer sheet on Carlson, who gets $3.384 million for 2021.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 15, 2021
Targeted by Minnesota in the morning, guard Joe Thuney says no thanks to the Vikings and joins Patrick Mahomes.
For the #Chiefs and Joe Thuney, it’s a 5-year deal worth $80M, source said.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 15, 2021
General Manager Rick Spielman makes his first in-house move.
Happy to announce that my client Rashod Hill (OT, Southern Miss) will be returning to the Minnesota Vikings on a 1-year fully guaranteed contract despite multiple offers elsewhere.
— Brett Tessler (@TesslerSports) March 15, 2021
Former Viking Yannick Ngakoue chooses Sin City.
Terms: #Raiders are signing DE Yannick Ngakoue to a 2-year, $26M deal, per @AdamSchefter. Vegas discussed getting Ngakoue in a trade with Jacksonville last year but nothing came out of it. Now they get him in free agency
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 15, 2021
Lawson is a no-go for the Vikings, and he [for some reason] chooses New York.
For the #Jets and Carl Lawson: 3 years, $45M with $30M guaranteed. Up to $47.4M. Huge deal. https://t.co/JbL2TsViT0
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021
It appears Adam Thielen will move money around for the team.
This is true, though it’s fairly preliminary, from what I understand. Thielen has an $11.1M base for 2021; Vikings could convert most of it to a signing bonus and save the cap space by doing so. https://t.co/i6bQIdcJxa
— Ben Goessling (@BenGoessling) March 16, 2021
Thomas Sullivan brings the comedy on the Thielen matter.
It would be incredible for Adam Thielen to take this pay cut for the Vikings. He’d only make 11.1 million if they convert most of his 11.1 million to a signing bonus https://t.co/fXEGZvownj
— Thomas Sullivan (@Yfz84) March 16, 2021
The Vikings learn the identity of the Saints QB they will be knocking out of the playoffs.
The #Saints are re-signing QB Jameis Winston, as well all expected. It's a one-year deal with a max value of $12M, per @AdamSchefter.
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) March 16, 2021
Trey Hendrickson and Shaquill Griffin remain on the radar.
Lawson is really good. Would’ve been a big pickup for the #Vikings, but $15M/year might’ve been out of their range.
Shaquill Griffin and Trey Hendrickson are two big defensive targets still out there. https://t.co/FbduNJuoHy
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) March 16, 2021
And onto the good stuff.
Source: Dalvin Tomlinson to #Vikings
2 years, $22M
$20M total guarantee
$16M fully guaranteed
$15M Signing Bonus
$16M First Year— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 16, 2021
A less-splashier move.
The #Vikings are signing LB Nick Vigil to a one-year deal that includes over $1 million guaranteed, per source.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 16, 2021