There will soon be resolution for the Vikings when it comes to the future of quarterback Kirk Cousins.
The legal tampering period in the NFL begins at 11 a.m. Monday. That’s the earliest Cousins and his agent Mike McCartney can start talking to new teams, even though no deal with anyone other than the Vikings can become official until free agency begins at 3 p.m. Wednesday. That said, if Cousins is going to move on from Minnesota, the word will likely get out before then.
There’s a hard deadline for the Vikings to agree to terms with Cousins. His contract voids at 3 p.m. Wednesday, and as soon as that happens, the Vikings will be on the hook for $28.5 million in dead cap. The only way to get that number down is to renegotiate before the contract voids.
The conversation this week will stretch beyond Cousins with many players in search of a new contract.
Here’s a look the pending free agents the Vikings potentially stand to lose (ordered by current average per year):
Kirk Cousins, quarterback
This is the first domino that needs to fall. The rumors have tied Cousins to the Atlanta Falcons, and if they come in with the highest offer, there’s a good chance that’s where he signs. Maybe the biggest thing the Vikings have going for them is that Cousins has continuity with head coach Kevin O’Connell. Would he be willing to take less money to keep that going?
Danielle Hunter, edge rusher
The word on the street is that edge rusher Danielle Hunter wants to stay with the Vikings if the price right. The issue is that his services will be in high demand, with the Chicago Bears, Jacksonville Jaguars and Arizona Cardinals, among a handful of others, all interested in and capable of offering a lot of money. This will come down to dollar signs.
Marcus Davenport, edge rusher
It would be surprising to see the Vikings reach a new deal with edge rusher Marcus Davenport. He played very sparingly last season as he battled through a host of injuries. It was a bad marriage from the start, and there’s no point in trying to make it work.
Jordan Hicks, linebacker
This is something the Vikings would likely be interested in if linebacker Jordan Hicks is willing to sign for a bargain. He is a revered leader in the locker room and his presence would help with the continued development of fellow linebacker Ivan Pace Jr.
Dalton Risner, offensive guard
After sliding into a starting role last season, offensive guard Dalton Risner should be a candidate to return. It’s worth noting that Risner played hardball the last time he was a free agent. It will be interesting to see how things play out this time around.
Oli Udoh, offensive tackle
It wouldn’t be a shock if the Vikings moved on from offensive tackle Oli Udoh. He suffered a torn quad last season, and he might be looking for more money than the Vikings are willing to offer.
Greg Joseph, kicker
How much will kicker Greg Joseph want? That is the question. As much as special-teams coordinator Matt Daniels is a big fan of Jospeh, it’s hard to imagine the Vikings breaking the bank to keep him around.
Josh Dobbs, quarterback
The rise and fall of journeyman quarterback Josh Dobbs was certainly memorable. He probably won’t be back with the Vikings after getting benched down the stretch last season.
Cam Akers, running back
If the Vikings are willing to invest in running back Cam Akers, they will be banking on him being able to recover from another torn Achilles tendon. He already has gone through the recovery process once in his career. Can he do it again?
Jonathan Bullard, defensive tackle
It’s people like defensive tackle Jonathan Bullard who can help the Vikings win on the margins. He might have earned himself a raise with his solid effort. That could make him too expensive for the Vikings given the holes elsewhere.
Chris Reed, offensive guard
There is always a need for depth up front on the line. Perhaps offensive guard Chris Reed can fill that role.
Brandon Powell, receiver
It’s a good bet that receiver Brandon Powell will be back. He made some big plays last season, and O’Connell always had good things to say about him.
Anthony Barr, linebacker
As fun as it was to see linebacker Anthony Barr return last season, he probably isn’t a part of the long-term plan.
Nick Vigil, linebacker
The need for bodies on special teams would be the only reason to bring back linebacker Nick Vigil. He won’t be a top priority by any means. If he’s still available toward training camp, the Vikings could pounce.
Austin Schlottmann, center
There’s no reason not to bring center Austin Schlottmann back. He provides some insurance as a backup to No. 1 center Garrett Bradbury.
David Quessenberry, offensive tackle
Whenever he was thrust into action last season, left tackle David Quessenberry proved he’s up to the task. He makes sense as a depth piece up front.
Sheldon Day, defensive tackle
If the Vikings need to move on from some defenders in the trenches, defensive tackle Sheldon Day could be somebody to keep an eye on. He should be pretty cheap, and he played well last season in a limited role.
D.J. Wonnum, edge rusher
There should be quite a few suitors for edge rusher D.J. Wonnum. He stepped up last season and should get rewarded for it. If the Vikings lose some stars on defense, they would prioritize Wonnum with how he seemed to click with defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Hakeem Adeniji, offensive tackle
As an inactive player in most games last season, offensive tackle Hakeem Adeniji could be looking for a fresh start.
James Lynch, defensive tackle
There was hope last season defensive tackle James Lynch would make a splash. Then he tore his anterior cruciate ligament. That could make him pretty affordable.
Troy Dye, linebacker
There is something admirable about leaning into special teams the way linebacker Troy Dye has throughout his career. That could pave the way for him to return to the Vikings, unless he’s looking for a bigger role elsewhere.
Khyiris Tonga, defensive tackle
There likely won’t be a huge market for defensive tackle Khyiris Tonga. He didn’t make much of an impact last season in his time on the field.
Blake Brandel, offensive guard
As a versatile player up front, offensive guard Blake Brandel has made himself valuable. He will likely be retained.
K.J. Osborn, receiver
No doubt looking for a bigger role — and a pay raise — receiver K.J. Osborn will probably move on from the Vikings. He certainly earned his stripes during his time in Minnesota.
T.J. Smith, defensive tackle
The fact that defensive tackle T.J. Smith still hasn’t signed as an exclusive rights right agent probably speaks volumes.
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