FanPost

Better, Stronger, More Physical—How the Vikings Can Value-Shop in Free Agency and Still Improve Their Offense

If I were running the Vikings and planning for free agency and the draft, I would pin three names on my wall to remind myself what I need to accomplish in the offseason: Akeem Hicks, Damon Harrison, and Kenny Clark. For the Vikings to win the division in 2019, they have to win their division games. In order to win their division games, the offense cannot lose at the point of attack like they did in 2018. I know they ended up 3-2-1 in divisional games, but those three names would remind me of the need to acquire better, stronger, and more physical players across the offensive line.

If we look back to last year, the Vikings entered free agency with salary cap room to spare, and they used their salary cap room to sign Kirk Cousins and Sheldon Richardson as well as resigning or extending several internal free agents and bringing in a couple of small-contract free agents (Tom Compton, Kendall Wright). This year the Vikings do not have that salary cap room, so they need to value-shop.

So here is my plan for the Vikings as they enter free agency:

1. Cut Mike Remmers and Andrew Sendejo.

2. Do not resign either Anthony Barr or Sheldon Richardson—both will be too expensive on the open market. The Vikings will need the salary cap room to sign less expensive free agents.

Remember that only unrestricted free agents (UFA) signed in the first two months of free agency count against compensatory picks. Also, the Vikings can sign any player another team has cut without that signing negatively affecting any comp picks the Vikings might gain through another team signing Barr or Richardson.

*All of my suggested signees below are under 30 years old.

QB

Because Cousins has proven to be durable, I would sit out the initial phase of free agency on any quarterback. After the draft and the end of the compensatory phase in early May, the Vikings can add a decent veteran if they need one. But I prefer the idea of promoting Sloter to primary backup and drafting a developmental quarterback with a day 3 pick.

RB

I don’t think the Vikings need to sign a running back in the initial round of free agency. If a player like Zach Zenner or Mike Davis is available at a reasonably small salary, I would sign either of them. But decent running backs are available all the time, either after the compensatory pick period is over or because of other teams cutting players.

Zach Zenner – DET; age: 27; PFF: 72.8

Mike Davis – SEA; age: 26; PFF: 75.6

WR

Depending on who the Vikings are looking at with their first three picks in the draft, I might try to sign a wide receiver in free agency. Using the Patriots approach of signing former 1st and 2nd round picks, I’m looking especially at younger players like Breshad Perriman, Rashard Higgins, and Philip Dorsett. After that, I would consider Tyrell Williams, Robby Anderson, and Kevin White. All of these players have speed and could add favorable traits as a #3 WR.

Breshad Perriman – CLE; age: 25; PFF: 71.8

Rashard Higgins – CLE; age: 24; PFF: 68.1

Philip Dorsett – NE; age: 26; PFF: 67.0

Tyrell Williams – LAC; age: 27; PFF: 66.8

Robby Anderson – NYJ; age: 26; PFF: 68.3

Kevin White – CHI; age: 27; PFF: 62.0

TE

The Vikings drafted Tyler Conklin in the 5th round last year, and although I don’t think Conklin is anything special, I wouldn’t sign a top of the market tight end before the draft. If the Vikings can get a less-expensive tight end who can both block well and catch passes as needed in free agency, that would help our tight end group. I like Ben Braunecker, Levine Toilolo, and Jesse James.

Ben Braunecker – CHI; age: 25; PFF: 62.1

Levine Toilolo – DET; age: 28; PFF: 66.7

Jesse James – PIT; age: 25; PFF: 66.4

Offensive Line

Here is where the Vikings will have to be creative and really understand how they want their offense to look going forward. As I said at the beginning of this fanpost, better, stronger, and more physical is the way that I would go. Although their primary OL need is guard, they have some flexibility in who they sign in free agency because they can draft around those signings or make trades as well. That is why I am suggesting tackles and centers as well as guards.

Since so many of the names in the list of free agents are not well known to me, I took the time to read articles on the different SB Nation fansites to see which free agents are valued by their fans. So even if their Pro Football Focus grades are not great, the fans of the teams they played for last year generally liked the players and thought they were worth resigning.

OT

I am fine with the Vikings rolling with Reiff, O’Neill, and Hill as their three primary tackles in 2019, but I would like them to sign someone in free agency who can battle for one of their spots. Free-agent tackles are expensive, but if the Vikings value-shop, they might hit on a hidden gem. Here are some tackles that are valued by their fanbases and might not break the bank (James and Brown excepted):

Ty Sambrailo – ATL; age: 29; PFF: 67.0

Greg Robinson – CLE; age: 26; PFF: 60.0

Cameron Fleming – DAL; age: 26; PFF: 56.5

Erick Flowers – JAX; age: 25; PFF: 65.1

Josh Wells – JAX; age: 28; PFF: 61.9

Ja’Wuan James – MIA; age: 27; PFF: 70.7

LaAdrian Waddle – NE; age: 28; PFF: 51.7

Trent Brown – NE; age: 26; PFF: 66.9

George Fant – SEA; age: 27; PFF: 73.0

OG

To me, the two guard positions are the most important holes to fill this offseason. I don’t care whether the players are high draft picks, free agents, or acquired in trades, but our guards have to be capable of beating Hicks, Goldman, Daniels, Clark, and Harrison, or the Vikings will miss out on the playoffs again in 2019. Here are some guards that are valued by their fanbases and might be an upgrade from Compton and Remmers.

Max Garcia – DEN; age: 27; PFF: 51.7

A.J. Cann – JAX; age: 27; PFF: 61.0

Jeff Allen – KC; age: 29; PFF: 56.5

Jamon Brown – NYG; age: 26; PFF: 51.7

James Carpenter – NYJ; age: 29; PFF: 56.3

Denzelle Good – OAK; age: 28; PFF: 52.5

B.J. Finney – PIT; age: 27; PFF: 71.5

D.J. Fluker – SEA; age: 28; PFF: 50.9

Quinton Spain – TEN; age: 28; PFF: 61.8

Jonathan Cooper – WAS; age: 29; PFF: 52.1

Marcus Martin – DAL; age: 25; PFF: 0 (injured)

OC

I neither overrate nor underrate Pat Elflein. He is a finesse player who has good qualities, but physically dominating defensive tackles is not one of them. I do think he would be just fine with two physical guards playing next to him. But I would not be opposed if the Vikings bring in a player to push Elflein. Here are some centers that are valued by their fanbases.

Trey Hopkins – CIN; age: 27; PFF: 59.6

Matt Paradis – DEN; age: 29; PFF: 79.0

Tyler Shatley – JAX; age: 28; PFF: 55.9

Mitch Morse – KC; age: 27; PFF: 68.3

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.