2014 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[Purple bruise]

Vikings and their receivers. And former receivers.

Yeah I would say that Simpson and Jennings have worked out fairly well.

[Purple bruise]

http://thevikingage.com/2014/02/13/viki ... oom-spend/

Vikings Will Have Cap Room To Spend : "As of now, the Vikings have the 4th most cap space available entering free agency. Minnesota still has several in-house free agents to sign, but after that, they should still be in a good position to make a run at a high end free agent or two.
Minnesota is currently approximately $23 million under the cap, if we assume that the 2014 salary cap will be aroud $126 million. The only three teams with more cap room at the moment are the Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville Jaguars."

Sounds promising

[mondry]

http://thevikingage.com/2014/02/13/viki ... oom-spend/

Vikings Will Have Cap Room To Spend : "As of now, the Vikings have the 4th most cap space available entering free agency. Minnesota still has several in-house free agents to sign, but after that, they should still be in a good position to make a run at a high end free agent or two.
Minnesota is currently approximately $23 million under the cap, if we assume that the 2014 salary cap will be aroud $126 million. The only three teams with more cap room at the moment are the Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, and Jacksonville Jaguars."

Sounds promising

Yeah Spielman has done a good job not tieing our cap space up in bad contracts. Lot of the one year deals served their purpose as well as cheap stop gaps until we found a longer term solution (Jennings, Drafting patterson, etc) so that's nice.

It certainly helps to have some cap space when you get a new coach and need to find some players for him.

[Eli]

It's not the one year deals that account for the large amount of cap space. Jared Allen alone leaving the active payroll accounts for over $17M of space. Add Kevin Williams and Matt Cassel and that's over $25M.

[frosted]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/87956 ... ey-dates-p

A timeline for the rest of the off-season. Wasn't sure where else to put this. A few things that I wanted to highlight:

March 8-11: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2013 player contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.

April 7: Clubs that hired a new head coach after the end of the 2013 regular season may begin off-season workout programs.

May 8-10: NFL draft, New York, Radio City Music Hall. First round begins at 8 p.m. ET.

Crazy that we're only about three weeks from free agency. Considering that the "legal tampering" period begins on March 8th, really just three weeks from Saturday. I really hope we can get Griffen locked up before March 8th, but I have a feeling we won't. That might work out in our favor though, depending on what the market for him is, he may wind up having to sign at a lower price than what he is asking and lower than what we are offering initially. Last season the market for pass rushers was seriously depressed. I don't know if that will be the case this season, but it very well could be. Cliff Avril - who was the same age as Everson is when he hit free agency last year, and a much more proven asset - signed for two years, $13 million with Seattle last year. This after he rejected a 3 year, $30 million deal from Detroit the season prior (he was franchise tagged at the time). Considering we might see the market bounce back a bit this year, and adjusting for inflation, I don't think it'd be crazy to see Griff get something around 2-3 years @ 5-6 million a season. Perhaps he'll be seeking something longer.

The other thing of note was the fact that as a team that hired a new coach, we get to start our off-season workout program on April 7th, two weeks before the teams with "incumbent" head coaches.

Oh and yeah, I couldn't be more excited for the draft. May 8th seems like a lifetime away.

[Eli]

March 8-11: Clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with, the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents upon the expiration of their 2013 player contracts at 4 p.m. ET on March 11. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET on March 11.

Is there are cutoff point during or after the season where teams and players/agents are not permitted to talk? Obviously, teams enter into new contracts all the time with players already under contract during the season. Is it when he season ends that they can no longer negotiate?

[saint33]

Is there are cutoff point during or after the season where teams and players/agents are not permitted to talk? Obviously, teams enter into new contracts all the time with players already under contract during the season. Is it when he season ends that they can no longer negotiate?

No this is only for players from other teams. If a player is under contract with your team you can renegotiate his contract at any time. They implemented a "buffer" period to free agency last year in which free agents could test the market but cannot sign a contract with any other team than their own.

[dustbunnies68]

I'm a Burelson fan but he's 32 and it's not like we're hurting at WR. Simpson might not even need to be kept.

I think we're fine with

Jennings
CP
Wright

With the other 2 spots going to Childs/Smith/Draft Pick/youngish depth FA/Simpson

Has there been any word on Childs returning from the knee injuries? I believed he was going to be a steal in the draft but has really been hampered with injuries. Really like to see him get some field time and see what they drafted... 3 years later!

[Purple bruise]

Has there been any word on Childs returning from the knee injuries? I believed he was going to be a steal in the draft but has really been hampered with injuries. Really like to see him get some field time and see what they drafted... 3 years later!

I have read that he is nearly all better. Running sprints and making jumps and cuts. I am excited to se if he can "do it".

[Funkytown]

ESPN - NFL teams can designate their free agents as franchise or transition players from Feb. 17 to March 3rd

[headless_norseman]

For some reason, I just don't like Burleson. I find him very average. He would be a good back up, but even when fully healthy, I don't see him as a #1 or #2 or a slot guy...

I don't either. He's average and I don't think he would fit on our team, nor do we need him.

[PurpleKoolaid]

I don't either. He's average and I don't think he would fit on our team, nor do we need him.

He fit on our team once, and would again if Simpson is gone. But he is average. Do you think Rickie is going to pay for a young above average talent?

[headless_norseman]

I don't either. He's average and I don't think he would fit on our team, nor do we need him.

He fit on our team once, and would again if Simpson is gone. But he is average. Do you think Rickie is going to pay for a young above average talent?[/quote]


If we lost Simpson, then he would be an easier fit. But I think this is another case where it's probably a safe bet that the staff is not looking at a certain player. It will be interesting to see how the final 3 WR slots are filled out, though.

[dead_poet]

Marvin Mitchell - LB - Vikings

Free agent Marvin Mitchell is not expected to be re-signed by the Vikings.

Mitchell opened last season as the starter at weak-side linebacker, lost it briefly, and then regained it after Desmond Bishop tore his ACL. But he was really a part-time player and special teamer due to his struggles in pass protection. Now 30 years old, he projects as a strict backup wherever he lands. Gerald Hodges can fill the role for the Vikings.
Source: ESPN.com

[dead_poet]

Matt Asiata - RB - Vikings

Vikings re-signed exclusive rights free agent RB Matt Asiata.

Asiata rushed for 51 yards and three touchdowns on 30 carries in Week 15 against the Eagles before rumbling for 115 yards in the season finale. He didn't touch the ball a single time all season other than those two games. With Toby Gerhart a free agent, Asiata could climb the depth chart and become the No. 2 in Minnesota.
Source: Aaron Wilson on Twitter