3 Former Vikings Who Could Fit on Current Roster from Free Agency
The Minnesota Vikings have around $18 million available as of June 24th to spend on new free agents, contract extensions, or a rainy day.
3 Former Vikings Who Could Fit on Current Roster from Free Agency
The franchise will likely add a player or two this summer from free agency or via trade, as that tends to be general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s modus operandi.
And if Minnesota is interested in any former Vikings players, these three names stand out.
1. Anthony Barr (LB)
Barr spent eight terrific seasons in Minnesota before trekking to Dallas last year. He played 63% of defensive snaps as a Cowboy en route to a 59.7 Pro Football Focus grade.
The 31-year-old is a free agent and can be signed at an affordable price by some NFL team. And as luck would have it — or wouldn’t have it — the Vikings arguably possess skimpy linebacking depth after Eric Kendricks joined the Los Angeles Chargers in March.
For now, it’s Jordan Hicks, Brian Asamoah, Troy Reeder, Troy Dye, and Ivan Pace Jr. as semi-notable linebackers on Minnesota’s depth chart. Barr has no preexisting ties to the Vikings current coaching staff or front office, but Brian Flores’ defense could utilize his experience.
2. Tom Compton (OG)
Yes, he’s still in the league.
Compton played for the Denver Broncos last year but only a handful of snaps. In 2021, though, Compton participated in about half of San Francisco’s offensive snaps and produced an 86.5 PFF grade along the way.
Why would the Vikings need Compton, who played for the purple team in 2018? Well, Minnesota has just four offensive guards on the roster — Ezra Cleveland, Ed Ingram, Chris Reed, and Alan Ali. With teams at 90 men per roster count in the summer, most franchises have about six guards.
Compton, 34, could provide OG depth if the Vikings are interested. His 2021 performance with the 49ers was underrated and underappreciated.
1. Yannick Ngakoue (OLB)
Perhaps the most likely on this list to materialize, Ngakoue is one of the NFL’s top free agents on the market. He, Justin Houston, Jadeveon Clowney, and Robert Quinn headline the free-agent EDGE market.
The Vikings traded Za’Darius Smith to the Cleveland Browns in May, and it wouldn’t be silly to bolster pass-rushing depth to hedge the bet against that move.
Plus, Danielle Hunter’s future in purple is somewhat uncertain. If Minnesota trades Hunter, they may be forced to explore an Ngakoue, Houston, Clowney, or Quinn in free agency.
During Ngakoue’s [very] brief 2020 stint in Minnesota, Mike Zimmer’s defense attempted to force a 3-4 outside linebacker into a 4-3 defensive end role. It didn’t work. But the Vikings play a 3-4 now, so a relationship could make sense.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.