1 Particular Free Agent Makes a Lot of Sense for the Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings enter free agency with much uncertainty, as the team is roughly $24 million over the cap limit, and no one knows how they want to get under that number in the next few weeks. All franchises must be under the salary cap when the new league year begins on March 15.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah can get there in many different ways. The extension of some key players but also the release of some veterans is possible. However, the Vikings need to be efficient with their few resources in the 2023 offseason.
1 Particular Free Agent Makes a Lot of Sense for the Vikings
Even if the Vikings clear some cap space, it is unlikely that the purple team will be in the market for the most expensive players available in free agency. They have to find value players or players worth more than the contract afoot.
In 2022, the defense was a disaster, costing the Vikings their only playoff game. The first change in 2023 was to change defensive coordinators when the team hired Brian Flores and parted ways with Ed Donatell. More steps must follow, as the defensive personnel is one of the oldest in the league. Addressing one position should be a priority — cornerback.
One potential free agency option is Cameron Sutton from the Pittsburgh Steelers. Brian Flores worked for the Steelers last season, so the two should know each other. Pre-existing relationships always influence signings.
The 2017 third-round pick spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Steelers. He played in 87 games, including 41 starts. Thirty-two of those came in the last couple of seasons. After his rookie contract expired, he agreed to stay with the organization after signing a two-year deal for a total of $9 million. Sutton clearly outplayed that salary in 2022, his best career season.
In PFF’s free agency rankings, Sutton is the third-best cornerback and the 23rd player overall and drew a good review:
Sutton quietly continued to excel in a Pittsburgh coverage unit that was otherwise very exploitable this season, with 2022 being just his second season as a full-time starter on the outside. Sutton signed a two-year, $9 million deal in 2021 that he outplayed in 2022, earning a 71.0 coverage grade and allowing just 411 receiving yards – the ninth fewest among cornerbacks with at least 400 coverage snaps on the season. Sutton’s versatility as a defensive back who can still line up in the slot when called upon provides added value for interested teams, as well.
PFF
Sutton is projected to get a three-year contract for a total of $25.5 million, or $8.5 million per season. The cornerback will turn 28 years old next week, so he should be safe from declining athleticism in the near future, but teams should be aware not to sign him to a much longer deal than that.
The Vikings started their 2022 campaign with Patrick Peterson and Cameron Dantzler as starting CBs. A few games into the season, Dantzler got hurt and was replaced by rookie Akayleb Evans who also got hurt. Second-rounder Andrew Booth struggled on the field and suffered a season-ending injury.
Donatell had to insert Duke Shelley from the practice squad, and he played phenomenally. However, Shelley and Peterson are free agents and might not return to the purple team. Adofo-Mensah has to find someone who can start and play at a high level.
Going into the campaign with Booth, Evans, and Dantzler as the top cornerbacks would ensure another defensive disaster. It’s certainly possible that one of the players can make a jump and play at a serviceable level, but it’s not guaranteed.
Re-signing at least one of the 2022 CB tandem is also a possibility. Both Shelley and Peterson could be available for relatively cheap money and can, at the very least, be solid spot starters. If the Vikings could land Sutton and re-sign one of the two, they should have a solid CB pairing. Sutton would undoubtedly become the lead cover guy of Flores’ secondary.
Adding a cornerback early in the draft is also possible, but the team already employs Evans and Booth as developmental players, and they should target a veteran.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and Classic rock is his music genre of choice. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt
You must be logged in to post a comment.