2016 Vikings Free Agency Thread (News, Rumors, Transactions)

[mansquatch]

The last superbowl team to win the big game that didn't have expensive Free Agents was the 2010 Packers. Nothing to see here...

[Denardus]

Report: Raiders, not Minnesota Vikings, to sign Kelechi Osemele

http://www.scout.com/nfl/vikings/story/ ... gn-osemele

[Mothman]

Report: Raiders, not Minnesota Vikings, to sign Kelechi Osemele

http://www.scout.com/nfl/vikings/story/ ... gn-osemele

If true, it wouldn't be surprising. The numbers we were starting to see looked like they were moving out of the range Spielman was likely to pay for a free agent guard.

Edit: As a follow-up to that comment and the info Denardus reported:

Ian Rapoport
#Raiders have an agreement with G Kelechi Osemele, per @Rand_Getlin. This was evident last night, as it got too rich for #Vikings & #Jets

One more tweet:

Jeremy Fowler ‏@JFowlerESPN
One NFL exec following OL market expecting Kelechi Osemele to get more than $11 M per year in Oakland. Wow.

[Mothman]

Vikings re-sign Audie Cole

According to multiple reports, the Vikings and Cole have agreed to a one-year deal that will keep Cole from hitting the open market on Wednesday.

[Mothman]

From ESPN's Jeremy Fowler:

Vikings plan to retain LT Matt Kalil

Left tackle Matt Kalil won't be a salary-cap casualty, as the Vikings plan to retain the former No. 4 overall pick despite his fifth-year option of $11.1 million and inconsistent play, according to a league source.

[Mothman]

On the Mitchell Schwartz front:

Ben Goessling ‏@GoesslingESPN
Had heard last night #Vikings are not in the market for Browns OT Mitchell Schwartz.

Chris Tomasson ‏@christomasson
Source says the #Vikings not pursuing Cleveland Browns free-agent tackle Mitchell Schwartz.

[mansquatch]

As much as Kalil's play doesn't warrant that cap number lets keep in mind that it is one year. Next year they'll have leverage to resign him at a more marketable rate. Also, they will have built goodwill by paying him original contract value. I get that people resent the guy due to his less than excellent play, especially as a #4 pick. It could be worse, we could be the WSH redskins and be looking to unload RGIII after trading up to get him in the same draft. (Or the Browns and Trend Richardson, lol)

$10MM a season for a guard is insane. I want us to improve our OL, but I'll be glad if Rick doesn't saddle us with that kind of a contract for a Free Agent Guard. That is just crazy.

[Mothman]

As much as Kalil's play doesn't warrant that cap number lets keep in mind that it is one year. Next year they'll have leverage to resign him at a more marketable rate. Also, they will have built good will by paying him original contract value.

Re-negotiation and an extension probably isn't off the table yet either.

[mansquatch]

I agree. As I've alluded to before, the strategy might be to retain average tackle play at lower cap figure and then spend the money on our young defensive core. It isn't what we want now, but it will be over the next two seasons.

Of course, losing AP's cap hit will probably help in that regard, but that could be a wash with TB if he takes the next step. Look at the contract Flacco signed a few years ago.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Does this mean they couldn't work out a deal? This is frustrating to me because he can stretch the feld and we haven't had that since Moss.

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

Who cares. He sucked and brought nothing to our passing game. Bye bye.

[Mothman]

Some tweets from ‏@christomasson (Vikings beat writer for the Pioneer Press):

The New York Giants have expressed interest in #Vikings free-agent guard Mike Harris Harris is pondering Vikings 2-year, $3.5 million offer.

Sources say Marcus Sherels wants to return to #Vikings & they want him back at right price but no agreement yet & few other teams eyeing him

As we noted yesterday the #Vikings looking to keep Matt Kalil and his $11.096 million contract Too risky to just let the left tackle go cold

Restricted free-agent fullback Zach Line's #Vikings tender, by the way, is for $1.67 million

[PurpleKoolaid]

Keeping Kalil, if he is hurt, and beyond repair, is a pretty bad idea if they are hoping his knees and whatever else repair themselves.

Harris was a little better at the end of the year but sometimes it was embarrassing to watch him at time yet. Id rather see Mike Tice out there trying to play tackle then ever see Clemmings again.

Knew Osemele was going to be a no go. We just cant buy a solid line. But 10 mil? Wow.

I sure hope Load can play. Our Oline, like Jim said, is going to look a lot like the line last year. Dump Wallace and see if CP84 or one of our other guys can stretch the field. Wallace just didnt fit. I sure hope it wasnt all Teddy.

[fiestavike]

Uck, so far so terrible on the OL front.

If keeping Kalil, Sullivan, Loadholt, Fusco, Berger, there are only 3 or 4 OL spots left to fill. Whiffing on Osemele might mean Vikes up offer to Harris. We'll wind up with the same sad sack bunch as last couple years...Hopefully Sparano can coach em up a la Tice.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I kind of figured this team would not be spending in FA on the offensive line. I am sure they are going to add through the draft. Unfortunately, that means this line will be very similar to the one in 2014 and 2015 - which upsets me. I want two new starters at guard, if we are keeping both tackle positions the same. Fusco CANNOT be the starter again this season.

[fiestavike]

I kind of figured this team would not be spending in FA on the offensive line. I am sure they are going to add through the draft. Unfortunately, that means this line will be very similar to the one in 2014 and 2015 - which upsets me. I want two new starters at guard, if we are keeping both tackle positions the same. Fusco CANNOT be the starter again this season.

It sure does no favors to an old RB or a young QB.

Other than that, the worst part will just be listening to the griping about Norv, Teddy, lack or aggressiveness, too much aggressiveness, etc. all season.