2013 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[HardcoreVikesFan]

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.

Anquan would have been an nice addition. Shame to not give up more than a 7th rounder but oh well.

[petev_sj]

I personally wouldn't want the Vikings to spend more then 6 million a year for a WR. So that would leave all the top tier out.

I kind of want the organization to try and get Braylon Edwards. I think he still has some gas in the tank.

[PacificNorseWest]

Followed Braylon a bit while he was here in Seattle and I just don't think he's worth it unless Minnesota wants another "serviceable" vet. They need a young and fresh direction.

Losing Percy obviously stings, but I'm much more confident today with Spielman making the moves than I would have been in years past.

[saint33]

just started following Sports Whispers, don't know how reliable, but some very interesting stuff:


Boldin

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL 2 teams offered a 6th round pick for Boldin. Believed to be 49ers and Rams. Vikings offered a 7th rounder #SportsWhispers

Arrelious Benn

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL Bucs are Shopping WR Arrelious Benn. Jets, Rams, Chiefs, Vikings and Bills all inquired #SportsWhispers

Matt Cassell

Sports Whispers
#NFL Minnesota, Cleveland Oakland & Arizona have called the Chiefs about the availability of QB Matt Cassell #SportsWhispers

And now two of the more intriguing ones:

Jennings

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL ~15 hours away from free agent signings becoming official, consensus is Welker re-signs w/ Pats, Jennings to Vikings & Wallace to Miami

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@rio35232 Greg Jennings most likely target #SportsWhispers

Victor Cruz

gregg rosenthal @greggrosenthal
Doubt anyone will be wiling to give up $$ and a first for Cruz. The Giants know it

Evan Silva @evansilva
Agree. RT @gregrosenthal

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@evansilva @greggrosenthal teams ARE considering this: Vikings and Rams


Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@scoutsout55 Dolphins interested in signing both Wallace & J.Cook. Vikings solely interested in Jennings but "kicking tires" on V.Cruz

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
#NFL Yes, the Vikings have also discussed internally WR Victor Cruz #SportsWhispers



And now for the real shocker:

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL Jets do in fact have a very good offer to trade Revis on the table. Got the offer today.All signs point to the Vikings

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@Luckydragon84 read my tweets from last week. Only one team asked Jets permission to speak with Revis' agents and it was the Vikings.

[Purple bruise]

just started following Sports Whispers, don't know how reliable, but some very interesting stuff:


Boldin

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL 2 teams offered a 6th round pick for Boldin. Believed to be 49ers and Rams. Vikings offered a 7th rounder #SportsWhispers

Arrelious Benn

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL Bucs are Shopping WR Arrelious Benn. Jets, Rams, Chiefs, Vikings and Bills all inquired #SportsWhispers

Matt Cassell

Sports Whispers
#NFL Minnesota, Cleveland Oakland & Arizona have called the Chiefs about the availability of QB Matt Cassell #SportsWhispers

And now two of the more intriguing ones:

Jennings

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL ~15 hours away from free agent signings becoming official, consensus is Welker re-signs w/ Pats, Jennings to Vikings & Wallace to Miami

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@rio35232 Greg Jennings most likely target #SportsWhispers

Victor Cruz

gregg rosenthal @greggrosenthal
Doubt anyone will be wiling to give up $$ and a first for Cruz. The Giants know it

Evan Silva @evansilva
Agree. RT @gregrosenthal

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@evansilva @greggrosenthal teams ARE considering this: Vikings and Rams


Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@scoutsout55 Dolphins interested in signing both Wallace & J.Cook. Vikings solely interested in Jennings but "kicking tires" on V.Cruz

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
#NFL Yes, the Vikings have also discussed internally WR Victor Cruz #SportsWhispers



And now for the real shocker:

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL Jets do in fact have a very good offer to trade Revis on the table. Got the offer today.All signs point to the Vikings

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@Luckydragon84 read my tweets from last week. Only one team asked Jets permission to speak with Revis' agents and it was the Vikings.

Thanks for the info. That would be sick if the Vikes could land Revis (if he returns healthy) and what if they also got Jennings or Cruz.

[PacificNorseWest]

Intriguing.

[dead_poet]

Jerome Simpson - WR - Vikings

The Vikings reportedly "have not moved" to re-sign free agents Jerome Simpson or Devin Aromashodu.

GM Rick Spielman has something up his sleeve at the wideout position, and it wisely doesn't include the below-average likes of Simpson, Aromashodu or Michael Jenkins. The Vikings are expected to be major players for free agents Mike Wallace/Greg Jennings, and could also address the position with one of their two first-round draft picks. Simpson is going to have to settle for another one-year deal after faceplanting with the Vikes last season.
Source: ESPN 1500 Twin Cities

[Angels Wings]

If the Vikings end up with Jennings or Cruz and Revis, I call that a great offseason for the Vikings...

[Mothman]

Let the speculation fly!

http://fansided.com/2013/03/12/nfl-free ... er-season/

ProFootballTalk.com wrote Tuesday morning that Jeff Darlington of NFL Network believes the Dolphins are beginning to get nervous and that this supposed ‘done deal’ isn’t really done after all.

Jeff Darlington of NFL Network, the Dolphins expect the Vikings to get involved in the Wallace sweepstakes, and the Dolphins believe that landing Wallace may cost up to $13 million a year.

Wallace was believed to be a $10 million player annually as the Dolphins were prepared to go big to get him in Miami. But now that the Vikings have entered the equation and have the money to cause some problems, the biggest winner in this whole ordeal is Wallace, who may end up getting an extra $3 million annually from the Vikings.

[dead_poet]

And now for the real shocker:

Sports Whispers ‏@SportsWhispers
#NFL Jets do in fact have a very good offer to trade Revis on the table. Got the offer today.All signs point to the Vikings

Sports Whispers @SportsWhispers
@Luckydragon84 read my tweets from last week. Only one team asked Jets permission to speak with Revis' agents and it was the Vikings.

*exhales slowly*

Man, if I thought the Harvin compensation was tricky...

On one hand, it would be sick to get THE BEST cornerback in the league. I'm tired of opposing QBs (especially in the North) having a field day with our secondary. Revis is only 27 and theoretically still "in his prime." He's reportedly ahead of schedule on his rehab and set to be 100% for training camp. By all signs, the Jets want badly to trade him. In fact, the new GM hasn't even spoken to his rep yet. What I'm getting at here is IF we make a move, I'm hoping Spielman takes advantage of the Jets' apparent desperation and gets an extremely fair deal.

On the other hand...

Not all ACL tears are equal and just because AD can come back at 100% doesn't mean Revis can. He's going to be 28 and after an ACL tear may never recapture what made him special and maybe would only have 3-4 "good" years left (if that). Would our scheme even allow him to be as effective as he's been his entire career? And how much would this cost in terms of draft picks and contract? Would this prevent us from acquiring other free agents or signing our own? There would have to be some kind of agreement in place for a contract extension or this will be another Harvin situation and Spielman wouldn't be such an idiot to give up one of our first-rounders for a one-year rental/holdout. See contract details below

His contract stipulates that Revis cannot be franchise tagged when his deal voids following the 2013 season. 2013: $3 million (+ $1 million workout bonus + $1 million roster bonus due 3/16 + $1 million reporting bonus), 2014-2016: (Voidable Years) $3 million

If true, this is a high-risk, high-reward possibility.

In Rick We Trust.

[dead_poet]

Let the speculation fly!

http://fansided.com/2013/03/12/nfl-free ... er-season/

Screw Wallace @ $13 million/year.

[PurpleMustReign]

Screw Wallace @ $13 million/year.

No kidding. Yikes.

What do the Jets want for Revis?

[dead_poet]

Oh boy.

Phil Loadholt - T - Vikings

ESPN 1500 Twin Cities reports the Bears' interest in free agent RT Phil Loadholt is "legitimate" and they are offering more money than the Vikings.

Per Vikings beat writer Tom Pelissero, Minnesota doesn't intend to offer Loadholt more than $5 million a year. The $5 million figure would be solid for a right tackle, but by no means one of the bigger contracts in the league at that position. A day after dealing Percy Harvin, the Vikings appear to be at risk of losing another integral offensive piece. Loadholt is a 27-year-old mauler in the run game.
Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

[PurpleMustReign]

Oh boy.

Phil Loadholt - T - Vikings

ESPN 1500 Twin Cities reports the Bears' interest in free agent RT Phil Loadholt is "legitimate" and they are offering more money than the Vikings.

Per Vikings beat writer Tom Pelissero, Minnesota doesn't intend to offer Loadholt more than $5 million a year. The $5 million figure would be solid for a right tackle, but by no means one of the bigger contracts in the league at that position. A day after dealing Percy Harvin, the Vikings appear to be at risk of losing another integral offensive piece. Loadholt is a 27-year-old mauler in the run game.
Source: Tom Pelissero on Twitter

Why wouldn't the Vikings offer more than $5 million? I hope they re-sign him.

[dead_poet]

Why wouldn't the Vikings offer more than $5 million? I hope they re-sign him.

According to Pelissero, few RTs make much more than that and they don't want to get into a bidding war. He'd also be the highest paid lineman on the roster, surpassing Sullivan (five years, $25.1 million).

A backup plan is Eric Winston. For some perspective, he signed a four-year, $22 million contract with the Chiefs in March of 2012.