What’s the Vikings’ Last Offseason Move?
The Minnesota Vikings were big spenders in the early part of free agency, signing Will Fries, Jonathan Allen, and Javon Hargrave, to name but a few.
At this point, the Vikings’ final 53-man roster should be mostly about whittling down the current roster, but there is room for one last offseason move for the Vikings, should they choose to make one.
What’s the Vikings’ Last Offseason Move?
As it stands, Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has around $16 million in salary cap space to work with. Some of that will need to be saved for in-season transactions, but there’s plenty of scope for the Vikings GM to do something if he wants to.
The first place people jump to is a new signing from the current list of free agents. Still, there is also the possibility of a trade (incoming or outgoing) or simply a contract extension for somebody already on the roster. If Minnesota is going to add a new face to their roster, the areas that need obvious improvement are dwindling at this point, but there are still some areas of the roster that could do with a boost.
There was a lot of chatter regarding the Vikings selecting a cornerback or safety in the draft — they did neither. It’s the one area of the team where it could be argued that a starting-caliber player is needed. At CB, the Vikings will be replacing more than 1,000 coverage snaps following the departures of Stephon Gilmore and Shaquill Griffin.
Isaiah Rodgers, who signed after impressing in a depth role with the Eagles last season, and Mekhi Blackmon, coming off a torn ACL, are the candidates to partner with Byron Murphy on the outside. Neither is proven as a starter, and the current depth behind them is former 3rd overall pick Jeff Okudah, who will hope to rebuild his career in Minnesota, and a lot of unproven players, headlined by last year’s undrafted rookie Dwight McGlothern.
The Vikings lost Cam Bynum in free agency, but they were boosted by Harrison Smith’s decision to play on. I’m not convinced Josh Metellus is suited to dropping back into the deep free safety role Bynum was employed in, and Brian Flores may want to keep him in the Swiss Army Knife role where he pops up all across the defense.
That leaves Theo Jackson as the starter next to Smith, a player who has shown up well in short bursts but is again unproven as a regular starter. The Vikings could look at other positions: depth at running back and tight end.
Possible Free Agent Signings
There are still several free-agent cornerbacks left on the market; however, despite lots of speculation, I don’t expect Minnesota to rush into signing one. Much like last season, I expect Flores and Co. to cast their eye over what they already have, and if they decide they need more experience, make a move late in the day like they did with Gilmore last year. I also expect them to do the same with safety.
So, who’s available?
Asante Samuel Jr has been a popular name on the rumor mill. At just 25 years old and a former 2nd-round pick, Samuel has been a solid CB since entering the league, but injuries kept him to just four games last season. Pro Football Focus recently wrote of their favor for the Samuel to Minnesota move. CJ Henderson would be the only other move available in free agency that might prove a long-term solution.
However, plenty of short-term veteran options are available, including re-signing Gilmore or Shaquill Griffin, or bringing in one of James Bradbery, Kendall Fuller, Rasul Douglas, Mike Hilton, and Cam Sutton.
At safety, plenty of veteran options are left on the table, including Marcus Williams, Justin Simmons, Jordan Whitehead, and Julian Blackmon. The Vikings look short of depth at running back, which could be quickly resolved by bringing back Cam Akers. If not Akers, then someone like D’Ernest Johnson, Nyheim Miller-Hines, or Chase Edmonds could be good — and cheap — options. A few recognisable names are available at tight end, but not ones I’d be rushing to sign.
What Should the Vikings Do?
The first thing I’ll count out is any big-name trade, I just don’t see it. I’m not sure the Vikings should be in the market for that right now, and are better off keeping draft picks in place. Any immediate move for a free agent signing, I do think, will be at running back, and bringing back Akers would be my primary target at this point. A player whom Kevin O’Connell knows and can fit straight in and do everything the Vikings need from their backs.
I also believe bringing back the experienced Griffin would be a smart move, while any more substantial move, Samuel should have the powder kept dry for now. If Minnesota doesn’t like what they see from their corners during training camp, then they can reassess.
Finally, we can look at possible contract extensions. While Flores remains the defensive coordinator, extending the stay of Metellus is a no-brainer. He should be the next Viking in line for a new contract, while others can wait.
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