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

[dead_poet]

The #Broncos are releasing guard Louis Vasquez, source said. Clearly some space, as he was to hit at $6.75M.

Played under Norv in SD. Play has declined though...

[dead_poet]

Multiple reports put OG Kelechi Osemele’s deal w/ Raiders at $11M-plus annually. That either blows up the G market or means he’s playing LT.

[dead_poet]

More on the deal OG Osemele and the #Raiders have agreed to in principle: 5-year deal worth a maximum of $60M (!). Absolutely massive.

[dead_poet]

Hear the #Vikings have checked in on LB Tahir Whitehead. No sense talks are serious. Gotten many snaps w/ the Lions the last couple years.

[Jordysghost]

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

Once again, the last 3 years have seen only 1 of the top 7 teams in FA produce a winning record while only one of the bottom 7 has produced a losing season.

Noone is saying not to use free agency, just to be careful.

Your perception of the 2010 Packers is off btw, they didn't have significantly less FA contributions then anyone to win a SB in this decade save for the Broncos and maybe the Patriots. (Who are masters of the patch free agent, but don't often dabble in big name expensive signings) In fact, on the contrary, Woodson, Pickett, Jenkins, were all extremely integral cogs in that season.

Time and time again fans insist upon aggressive attitudes towards free agency when time and time again it is shown to be a recipe for failure.

[dead_poet]

Audie!

The Vikings are bringing back reserve linebacker Audie Cole on a one-year contract, a source confirmed.

[fiestavike]

Once again, the last 3 years have seen only 1 of the top 7 teams in FA produce a winning record while only one of the bottom 7 has produced a losing season.

Noone is saying not to use free agency, just to be careful.

Your perception of the 2010 Packers is off btw, they didn't have significantly less FA contributions then anyone to win a SB in this decade save for the Broncos and maybe the Patriots. (Who are masters of the patch free agent, but don't often dabble in big name expensive signings) In fact, on the contrary, Woodson, Pickett, Jenkins, were all extremely integral cogs in that season.

Time and time again fans insist upon aggressive attitudes towards free agency when time and time again it is shown to be a recipe for failure.

I actually agree with you in principle. Not an uncommon occurrence. I just know Brez and the Vikings aren't going to sign a guy with a contractual structure that will hamstring them. It would have been great to use a targeted approach to FA, AND get Osemele, but once (it appears) that wasn't possibility, they didn't sign him. This team is almost never in a cap pinch, and I don't expect them to be, but it would be nice to see some targeted additions, because this line is an embarrassment.

[Mothman]

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.

I seriously doubt Clemmings is going anywhere either and they re-signed Bykowski, although he could conceivably get cut before the season if they feel they have better options.

[Mothman]

Another Harris update:

Chris Tomasson ‏@christomasson
Sources: G Mike Harris #Vikings not close Harris camp has been looking for about $5M over 2 Vikings have offered $3.5M over 2 Testing market

[PurpleMustReign]

Another Harris update:

If the Vikings let him walk because of essentially $750,000 per season, i will be upset.

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[Mothman]

If the Vikings let him walk because of essentially $750,000 per season, i will be upset.

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I won't because as far as I'm concerned, he's another Fusco/Johnson/Herrera type and I'm tired of the team settling at guard. I think they made him an offer that's commensurate with his experience and current skill level.

[Mothman]

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.

If Norv and Teddy don't do a better job than they did last season, there will undoubtedly be griping anyway. Both exhibited some shortcomings in 2015 on which they need to improve.

[S197]

Yeah no way the Vikings are paying Osemele that much. He's like this year's Ben Grubbs (the last high paid guard I recall in discussion from years back). Not saying Osemele's career will follow Grubbs' projection but leave it up to the Raiders for "winning" the offseason only to screw themselves thereafter.

[Mothman]

Yeah no way the Vikings are paying Osemele that much. He's like this year's Ben Grubbs (the last high paid guard I recall in discussion from years back). Not saying Osemele's career will follow Grubbs' projection but leave it up to the Raiders for "winning" the offseason only to screw themselves thereafter.

They have an enormous amount of cap room right now so they might be able to structure the deal in a way that doesn't screw them later.]

[S197]

They have an enormous amount of cap room right now so they might be able to structure the deal in a way that doesn't screw them later.]

I guess the logic is you have your QB and your #1 WR so strengthen the line but their line is already pretty good so it seems the money could have been spent elsewhere. We'll see but it seems rare that the teams who make big splashes on a lot of big FA signings get a good return on that investment.