After spending more than $300 million last year to upgrade their roster, the Vikings enter free agency needing to be a lot more strategic. They won’t be able to splurge nearly as much this time around.
That doesn’t mean the Vikings can be complacent. They still need to be as aggressive as possible as they address their weaknesses.
After entering last week more than $40 million over the cap, the Vikings made a series of moves to ensure they’ll have some money to spend. That includes renegotiating the contract of veteran tight end T.J. Hockenson to save more than $5 million. They could have nearly $30 million at their disposal.
The legal tampering period begins Monday at 11 a.m. That’s the unofficial start to free agency across the NFL as teams can start negotiating with unrestricted free agents and agreeing to terms on contracts.
Here are some questions the Vikings must answer in free agency:
Who will compete at quarterback?
The only quarterbacks the Vikings currently have under contract are J.J. McCarthy and Max Brosmer. That’s not good enough. There’s a need for competition at the position after McCarthy underwhelmed.
It’s been widely speculated the Vikings have their eyes fixated on Kyler Murray once he hits the open market. Other options expected to be available include Geno Smith, Daniel Jones, Kirk Cousins and Aaron Rodgers.
It’s worth noting the Vikings won’t be able to negotiate with Murray until he is officially released by the Arizona Cardinals. It sounds like Murray might take some visits before he makes his final decision.
Who will complement at running back?
The fact the Vikings plan to release Aaron Jones will create a big opportunity for Jordan Mason. It will also spark some urgency to provide him with a running back that complements his skill set.
It’s likely the Vikings target somebody that provides a chance of pace and also thrives as a pass catcher. A few names that fit the mold include Kenneth Gainwell, Rachaad White and J.K. Dobbins.
There’s also a chance the Vikings could wait until the draft to find another running back. That would give them the ability to select a young prospect that comes with more upside.
Who will provide depth at receiver?
The assumption is that the Vikings won’t be able to afford Jalen Nailor once the offers start rolling in. He’s an ascending player that seems destined for an increased role elsewhere.
That means the Vikings will need to add another receiver to play alongside with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. The only other receivers under contract at the moment are Tai Felton and Myles Price. They need somebody with more experience.
There are many ways the Vikings could go in search of depth, including Darnell Mooney, Rashid Shaheed, Keenan Allen or Kendrick Bourne.
Who will fill the void left at center?
It was no surprise Ryan Kelly recently announced his retirement. He has suffered a number of concussions in his career.
Now the Vikings must find a center that can hold it down in the middle of the offensive line. It’s unlikely that they’ll be willing to move forward with Blake Brandel or Michael Jurgens as the starter.
There are a host of potential candidates the Vikings could pursue, including Tyler Linderbaum, Tyler Biadasz and Luke Fortner.
Who will be replace veterans at defensive tackle?
After signing Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave to big contracts last year, the Vikings are already preparing to move on from them. They have reportedly informed Allen and Hargrave of their impending release.
That leaves the Vikings with a gaping hole at defensive tackle in the short term. Though the emergence of Jalen Redmond gives them a foundational piece, they could opt to bring in a veteran like Dalvin Tomlinson or David Onyemata to pair with him.
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