2013 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Late adjustments put Vikings at $14.8 million below the salary cap:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Late ... 030913?t=2

More at the link.

If Jared Allen gets an extension, we would be in even better shape. I wouldn't be too surprised to see Allen extended sometime this offseason.

[dead_poet]

Rhett Ellison - TE - Vikings
The Vikings have informed TE Rhett Ellison that he will be their starting fullback if free agent Jerome Felton departs.

The Vikings want to re-sign Felton, but have a contingency plan if he prices himself out of Minnesota's range. Ellison, 24, flashed big-time blocking ability on 23.7 percent of the offensive snaps last season. He was primarily an H-back.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 11 - 12:59 AM

[MrPurplenGold]

Rhett Ellison - TE - Vikings
The Vikings have informed TE Rhett Ellison that he will be their starting fullback if free agent Jerome Felton departs.

The Vikings want to re-sign Felton, but have a contingency plan if he prices himself out of Minnesota's range. Ellison, 24, flashed big-time blocking ability on 23.7 percent of the offensive snaps last season. He was primarily an H-back.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 11 - 12:59 AM

I think there's a difference between allowing yourself to overpay for free agents and just being cheap. Jerome Felton is not going to command a contract that's going to put the Vikings in cap trouble so I don't understand why they aren't making every effort to resign him. This year's free agency has been very questionable when it comes to the Vikings resigning their own players.

[Purple bruise]

I think there's a difference between allowing yourself to overpay for free agents and just being cheap. Jerome Felton is not going to command a contract that's going to put the Vikings in cap trouble so I don't understand why they aren't making every effort to resign him. This year's free agency has been very questionable when it comes to the Vikings resigning their own players.

Do you see any indications that the Vikings are "cheap"? We, as fans no nothing about what the Vikings are planning to do with their signings do we? I think that making a statement to Felton and his agent that the Vikings have a back up plan with Ellison is a good business strategy. I would guess that they would like to sign him and it seems as though, from his statements that he would like to stay a Viking. Who knows what type of contract that Felton's camp wants but it sure does not help their cause to know that if he is not resigned then the team has a viable plan to go with in Ellison.

[mansquatch]

I think there's a difference between allowing yourself to overpay for free agents and just being cheap. Jerome Felton is not going to command a contract that's going to put the Vikings in cap trouble so I don't understand why they aren't making every effort to resign him. This year's free agency has been very questionable when it comes to the Vikings resigning their own players.

The issue there IMO is if a GM other than MN (think WSH or DAL) decides to overpay Felton because of last season. Felton "shouldn't" command a monster contract, but that doesn't mean he won't. NFL is a small market, it only takes one idiot to mess up the value.

[Mothman]

I think there's a difference between allowing yourself to overpay for free agents and just being cheap. Jerome Felton is not going to command a contract that's going to put the Vikings in cap trouble so I don't understand why they aren't making every effort to resign him.

Who says they aren't making every effort to re-sign him?

Free agency is a two way street. The Vikings may have offered Felton a great deal but if he wants to wait and see what the market price for his services is, there's nothing the Vikings can do about it. Maybe that's what's going on and maybe not but it's certainly possible.

You might find the article at the link below interesting:

http://www.1500espn.com/sportswire/Peli ... ison031013

Felton made clear after the season he was interested to test the market, and rightfully so. But few teams are as committed to the run as the Vikings, as Felton has found out before, and there aren't many backs like Peterson either.

The Vikings are $14.8 million under the salary cap, which is enough to do business. They want Felton back, and he wants to stay. If the market speaks for Felton, though, the question the Vikings must answer is whether it's worth paying the price when they have another player on the roster they feel is capable of doing the job.

[dead_poet]

For anyone judging #Vikings on relative silence during negotiating period: all indications are they want things kept silent until Tuesday.

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Rhett Ellison - TE - Vikings
The Vikings have informed TE Rhett Ellison that he will be their starting fullback if free agent Jerome Felton departs.

The Vikings want to re-sign Felton, but have a contingency plan if he prices himself out of Minnesota's range. Ellison, 24, flashed big-time blocking ability on 23.7 percent of the offensive snaps last season. He was primarily an H-back.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities Mar 11 - 12:59 AM

Felton is a dumb #### if he thinks he can get more money elsewhere. He means much more to this team than any other team in the NFL. That being said, I hope Minnesota doesn't get desperate and give him more than he is worth.

[dead_poet]

Felton is a dumb #### if he thinks he can get more money elsewhere. He means much more to this team than any other team in the NFL. That being said, I hope Minnesota doesn't get desperate and give him more than he is worth.

Seems to me we're almost talking peanuts here. Only four other fullbacks -- San Diego's Le'Ron McClain (three years, $8.25 million), Green Bay's John Kuhn (three years, $7.44 million), Seattle's Michael Robinson (two years, $5 million) and Carolina's Mike Tolbert (four years, $10 million) -- have deals averaging at least $2.5 million a season. I understand about wanting to "hit it rich" after a great season but you gotta wonder how much of a difference the Vikings' offer and another team's offer will really be.

[Eli]

Rhett Ellison - TE - Vikings
The Vikings have informed TE Rhett Ellison that he will be their starting fullback if free agent Jerome Felton departs.

The Vikings want to re-sign Felton, but have a contingency plan if he prices himself out of Minnesota's range. Ellison, 24, flashed big-time blocking ability on 23.7 percent of the offensive snaps last season. He was primarily an H-back.

Wow. That doesn't sound very optimistic.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Seems to me we're almost talking peanuts here. Only four other fullbacks -- San Diego's Le'Ron McClain (three years, $8.25 million), Green Bay's John Kuhn (three years, $7.44 million), Seattle's Michael Robinson (two years, $5 million) and Carolina's Mike Tolbert (four years, $10 million) -- have deals averaging at least $2.5 million a season. I understand about wanting to "hit it rich" after a great season but you gotta wonder how much of a difference the Vikings' offer and another team's offer will really be.

Exactly. I think Jerome will be very disappointed in his market value. I am ready to move on if Felton is. If he comes back, wonderful.

[dead_poet]

A.J. Jefferson - DB - Vikings

Vikings extended an original-pick tender to restricted free agent CB A.J. Jefferson.

Jefferson, a former undrafted free agent, was acquired from the Cardinals at final cuts last season. The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder started seven games for the Vikings, recording 37 tackles and five pass breakups.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter

[dead_poet]

Marcus Sherels, now the only experienced return man on the #Vikings roster, got his exclusive-rights tender today, per a source.

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[The Breeze]

The move on Boldin suggests the possibility of going a different direction in FA this year than in the past. I know the MO has been to grab young players coming off their first contract, but seeing how many over 30 players are being jettisoned around the league, what about signing a bevy of older FA WRs to hold down the fort while whoever we draft has a chance to season a bit. It seems that the market for these players is pretty low. I don't think Jennings will get over 8mil a year and I think there are several guys who could be signed or acquired via trade for little.

it certainly wouldn't hinder ponder's development.

as long as it's a high character guy i think it's a sound move.

[Demi]

According to PFT the Vikes offered a 7th for Boldin before he got traded to SF.

Subjectively. I woulda loved to have him as he's always been a favorite of mine.
Objectively. I'm glad we didn't get in a bidding war given he'll be 33 soon.

I don't think with him going for a 6th there was really that much interest. If there was why is a 6th, or even a 5th, much of a bidding war at all? Seems silly to me they'd want him, but by golly not at the insane cost of those high value fifth rounders!