A look at all the Vikings’ free agents

With the offseason well underway for the Minnesota Vikings, it’s time to take a look at which members of the purple could be moving on in free agency. There are several big names that have played out their contracts with the Vikings and could, potentially, be hitting the road next season, so we’ll take a look at who those players are and which category of free agency they fall under. All player statuses are taken from Over the Cap.

Unrestricted Free Agents

• RB Ameer Abdullah
• K Dan Bailey
• LB Anthony Barr
• G Tom Compton
• G Nick Easton
• S George Iloka
• DT Sebastian Thunderbucket Tom Johnson
• C Brett Jones
• RB Latavius Murray
• DT Sheldon Richardson
• WR Aldrick Robinson
• CB Marcus Sherels
• QB Trevor Siemian

Unrestricted free agents are just what the name implies. . .they have fulfilled their contractual obligations to the Vikings and, without some sort of an extension, will hit unrestricted free agency when the new league year starts in March.

The big names here are, obviously, Barr and Richardson. Nobody knows for sure whether the team will attempt to re-sign one or both of them, or let them both walk. They would both likely sign the sort of contacts that would bring high compensatory picks in 2020, if that’s how the Vikings want to play things.

Robinson could potentially be brought back as a receiving option for the Vikings’ offense. . .he did manage to make the most of his snaps, after all. Murray has said that he wants a bigger role, and given that Dalvin Cook is going to be the lead guy for the Vikings, it’s unlikely he’d find that role in Minnesota. Sherels is Sherels. . .I’m not going to believe the guy isn’t going to be on the team until September comes around and he’s not there. Easton could get another look from the Vikings, but they certainly shouldn’t be counting on him as it appears they were last year.

Restricted Free Agents

• S Anthony Harris
• OT Rashod Hill

A restricted free agent is a player that has three or fewer “accrued” seasons of NFL service. An “accrued” season is one in which the player participated in at least six games.

Harris had a hell of a season after taking over for the injured Andrew Sendejo. I’d be pretty stunned if the Vikings didn’t bring him back, quite frankly. I’m not sure what to make of Hill, to be honest. He’s been pressed into service and shown himself to be okay at times, but with Brian O’Neill asserting himself at the right tackle spot, I’m not sure how much of an opportunity there will be for him here.

Harris and Hill could each get “tender” offers, which would force any other team that would want to sign them to cough up draft compensation in exchange.

Exclusive Rights Free Agents

• FB C.J. Ham
• OT Cedrick Lang
• TE Josiah Price
• P Matt Wile

An exclusive rights free agent is a player that only has one or two accrued seasons in the NFL. They can’t negotiate with other teams. . .meaning their rights are exclusive to whichever team they’re currently employed by. Hence the name.

I have no doubt that the Vikings will work something out with Ham and Wile. The team likes Ham’s versatility. . .I mean, who doesn’t like a good Ham, am I right? Wile was also fairly solid in the punt game, so I would be surprised if he wasn’t back, too.

Those are all of the Vikings’ pending free agents, folks. Who do you think the Vikings are bringing back?