At Premium Price, FA Offensive Lineman Could Fix Vikings Woes
The Minnesota Vikings don’t have much money right now to sign free agents, but the team has about nine days to clear cap space before the start of free agency.
It is unclear just how new general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will do that, but he has an array of options. Foremost, he could trade Kirk Cousins, freeing up $35 million instantly. Adofo-Mensah could release players like Michael Pierce, Anthony Barr, or Eric Kendricks. Or the team can play some cap gymnastics and backload deals like Adofo-Mensah’s predecessor Rick Spielman, who always managed to find cap space even in the grimmest of situations.
If the Vikings can pull a rabbit out of a hat for cap space, glaring roster needs exist for spending.
And perhaps the most impactful of potential free-agent signings could finally fix Minnesota pass-protecting woes — Brandon Scherff from the Washington Commanders.
Scherff turned 30 last December and is a five-time Pro Bowler. Formerly a teammate of Kirk Cousins, Scherff is among the NFL’s best guards and offensive linemen on the whole. Plus, he’s already rumored to have an interest in joining the Vikings, per a report from SKOR North this week.
There’s one problem, though — especially for a cash-strapped team — as Scherff is expensive. He won’t join the Vikings on any sort of team-friendly deal. Don’t even think about it.
According to Pro Football Focus, Scherff is assuredly a Top 10 guard in the NFL, and he’ll be compensated like one. On the open market, Scherff should command around $16 to $17 million per season. And ironically, that’s about how much the Vikings are over the cap as of March 4th.
This is Scherff’s resume per PFF grade:
- 2015: 74.6
- 2016: 77.2
- 2017: 79.8
- 2018: 72.5
- 2019: 75.4
- 2020: 84.1
- 2021: 73.6
Minnesota has selected offensive linemen ad nauseam in the last four NFL drafts — Brian O’Neill, Garrett Bradbury, Ezra Cleveland, and Christian Darrisaw. Indeed, the Vikings are the only team in the league to spend 2nd-Round-or-higher draft capital in the last four drafts. Still, this is the result for pass protection:
Minnesota also needs cornerbacks, an EDGE rusher, linebackers, and a backup tight end in free agency and the draft. It’s not like the franchise is a “Scherff away” from Super Bowl contendership.
However, if the leadership group finally understood the longstanding naughtiness pertaining to the offensive line, spending top-dollar on a sure-fire star would formally solve the problem.
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Otherwise, the new offensive coaching staff will rely on new tricks to somehow bring the current group to proficiency. We’ve seen that movie before.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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