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

[halfgiz]

Jim good post
It's never a good thing when your kicker is your leading scorer.
I am hoping we do pick up a couple offensive linemen in the draft this year.

[dead_poet]

George Iloka's new deal with #Bengals will make him a top-10 safety in terms of average per year, per source. Roughly $6M per.

One last tweet on George Iloka: I wouldn't be surprised if the #Vikings see Reggie Nelson as the better fit here.

[fiestavike]

I don't think they run block all that well. Peterson makes up for a lot of shoddy blocking on his own.
We all remember their record and it's easy to say they should have advanced in the playoffs, that advancement was prevented by a missed short field goal at the end of the game, but in the bigger picture, they also failed to advance because their offense was unable to score even one touchdown in that game. The Vikings defense already carries a heavy burden when it comes to winning games.
Time will tell. You definitely make some good points above but speaking of people forgetting, I think people forget that lines with Loadholt and Sullivan got Ponder beat up and led to a lot of negative plays. Neither player has really excelled in pass protection and, as you pointed out, they're coming off injuries and we don't know if they will even return with the ability to consistently play up to their pre-injury standards.

As for Sparano: has he ever even had an extended run as a successful NFL o-line coach? I don't think so. In fact, his overall NFL coaching record doesn't inspire a great deal of confidence. I'm hopeful he's the right man for the job. He seems to be a respected coach but then again, so is Jeff Davidson, who could also be described as a "pretty legit OL coach".
Yes, and weaknesses can cripple a football team, which is why they need to be addressed. I think we can all agree that reaching out of desperation can backfire but the Vikes need not do that to address and improve their o-line now and frankly, addressing some of these OL issues now would be looking to the future. Those of us concerned about the line aren't just concerned because we want the immediate gratification of improvement over last year's performance. Kalil and Loadholt are in the last years of their contracts. Are they a part of the team's future after 2016? If not, who will be playing tackle? Clemmings and Bykowski? Sullivan's contract expires after 2017. Berger's certainly not the long term future at center and it's unclear how much quality football Sullivan will have left in him. Fusco's under contract and will likely continue starting at guard but how good is he? The other guard position is up in the air.

The quality of the depth behind the presumed starters look shaky and uncertain at best so working on the o-line now has little to do with panic and everything to do with smart team-building and an eye toward the future as well as the present.

Thanks Well said.

[Mothman]

Good Post KurtKeoki

I actually see a scenario where we take some non-need position on Day 1

The OL in the NFL were terrible in 2015, which is probably part of why Osemele got such a silly deal. It is possible that teams will inflate the price of these Free Agents and teams with cap issues or GMs unwilling to commit to such fat contracts will back off. When the draft rolls around there could be a pent up need for OL help and therefore there might be a run of linemen taken in the 1st round. If that happens we might see a top 10 or top 15 talent drop to us when we pick in the 20s. If that happens, BPA should be honored, even if it doesn’t address a need.

Adrian Petersen was a similar BPA type pick for those with longer memories.

I want to see them address the OL woes as much as anyone, but I do not want them to hamper themselves to do it. Paying a Guard $11M a year would have been outright stupid

He's a guard with the versatility to play tackle and as always it's the guaranteed money in the contract that really matters. The last report I read stated that Osemele was likely to get $25-$26 million guaranteed. In other words, while a nearly $60 million, 5 year deal sounds extravagant for a guard, he's unlikely to ever see all of that money and the Raiders are unlikely to actually end up paying $$11 million a year for a guard. Depending how the contract is handled, and how Osemele performs, the deal may not end up looking stupid at all.

Spielman has done pretty well by us over the years, not perfect, but not terrible. I say let him work his magic.

That magic has been in pretty short supply along the o-line, among other places.

Spielman gets praised repeatedly here but the Vikes have had just 4 winning seasons in the 9 years since he joined the team, 2 in the 4 years since he's been GM. Other factors have been involved so I'm not oputting all of that on him but it's still hard for me to see him as a "magic" man, if you know what I mean.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Not a big loss in my opinion.

I would rather see the team go for someone like Mark Barron or TyVon Branch over Reggie Nelson. But that is just me.

[dead_poet]

For those frustrated I think this was a good take (via Eric Thompson)

I think he sets prices he's willing to pay and doesn't budge over them. Frustrating? Sure. But smart long-term.

[dead_poet]

George Iloka's deal with #Bengals is done: 5 years, $30M. That $6M average is 5th for strong safeties. $18M in first 3 years ranks 2nd.

[Denardus]

For those frustrated I think this was a good take (via Eric Thompson)

Not the typical ebay bidder is what your sayin'

[kurtkeoki]

I'm not saying the OL isn't a problem, I know it is. I'm saying there is a cost associated with improving it, and at some point, that cost is not worth it. It's one thing to realize there is a problem. It's another to offer a solution. I don't believe paying 11m/year for a guard is a good solution. The team was 11-5 last year. That's pretty good. Could we have a better O-line that we currently do? Sure. But it might mean we wouldn't have kendricks, or Smith, or Bridgewater, or Barr, or Diggs. We've used premium draft picks on other positions, and for the most part, they've paid off. A roster that has strengths in other areas can mask a weak OL.

While every team drafts and signs players based on need to some extent, the best teams over the long run, such as the Packers, Ravens, Steelers, and Patriots, draft and sign the players that represent the best value, regardless of position. All of those teams have had weak position groups at one point or another, but were still successful, because the rest of the roster was strong. Resources in the NFL are finite. This isn't like baseball where the Yankees and Red Sox can just open up their wallet to fill their roster. Every team has holes. Plugging those holes in an exercise in balancing need with value, and the best teams are very good at it.

If there are two players of relatively equal skill, and one plays OL while another plays a different position, we should acquire the OL. But if OL represents much worse value, then acquire players that play other positions. It looks like OLs are currently being overvalued, therefore we should not engage in bidding wars for the top OL free agents. It could turn out that these inflated prices become the new normal for OLs. Time will tell. Until that happens, I say be patient.

[fiestavike]

For those frustrated I think this was a good take (via Eric Thompson)

I agree with that. As I said before, I don't think Spielman and Brez have had this team in a cap trouble in a long time. If they could sign Osemele within the framework that has kept them so solvent I would've been fine with it, but if not, im ok with not bringing him in.

Still, I'm frustrated we are going to trot out the same lousy line. Makes it hard to have much hope until at least 2017.

[Pondering Her Percy]

I have looked. As I've said, my assessment is based on what he did. You were obviously more impressed by his performance than I was, which is fine, but we've argued about this subject before so we already know we don't see eye to eye on it. I don't think he had a particularly impressive season by NFL o-line standards last year and consequently, I think the Vikings offer is appropriate.

So I guess you don't listen or look into to any current write up on Harris regarding last year. Is Fusco's contract appropriate? Because you basically compared to two talent wise. Harris was lowballed no matter what way you look at it. He's our best in house option right now. So why let him walk is my question? We must really be hoping Fusco can regain his old form otherwise we're in a world of hurt

[halfgiz]

I agree Nelson might be a better fit, but how much lower do you think his numbers will be compared to Iloka's?

Edit:If they would have lowballed Sendejo like they did Harris they probably could have afforded Iloka.

[fiestavike]

So I guess you don't listen or look into to any current write up on Harris regarding last year. Is Fusco's contract appropriate? Because you basically compared to two talent wise. Harris was lowballed no matter what way you look at it. He's our best in house option right now. So why let him walk is my question? We must really be hoping Fusco can regain his old form otherwise we're in a world of hurt

Based on the numbers they offered, they viewed him as a backup.

[MrPurplenGold]

So I guess you don't listen or look into to any current write up on Harris regarding last year. Is Fusco's contract appropriate? Because you basically compared to two talent wise. Harris was lowballed no matter what way you look at it. He's our best in house option right now. So why let him walk is my question? We must really be hoping Fusco can regain his old form otherwise we're in a world of hurt

It looks like you obviously value you him more than the vikings do or any other NFL franchise or even Mike Harris for that matter. Harris is reportedly looking for 2 years 5 mil, which doesn't exactly boast starting caliber value.
Plus it seems as if the VikingS want to move Fusco back to his natural position of RG so they are probably looking at Harris as a contingency if they can't find a true LG.

As far as iioka, I would rather have Nelson on a 2-3 year deal around 12 mil.

I can still see the Vikings looking at Alex Boone or Jeff Allen at lower deals and continuing to draft Offensive lineman.

[Pondering Her Percy]

WE JUST LANDED ALEX BOONE PER SCHEFTER!!

Vikings agreed to terms with OG Alex Boone, formerly of the 49ers.