Vikings Free Agency Settles Between Fizzle and Fireworks on Day 1
Vikings free agency got rolling on Monday, March 9th.
Minnesota’s front office had been hard at work getting the money into a better spot, allowing for some breathing room to attract talent to the Twin Cities. Checkout the highlight reel for the top news from the day.
Vikings Free Agency: A Day 1 Recap
Update No. 1 — Corner James Pierre Added
Adding the corner makes a pile of sense. He’s 6’2″ and 185 pounds, giving him the size Minnesota covets at the CB3 spot. Some meat got left on the bone here. Quite possibly, he’ll make the deal look like a bargain.
Update No. 2 — Linebacker Eric Wilson Kept
Pretty beefy deal, all things considered. But, no doubt, opting for one of the top free agents would have involved handing out more money. Look for Wilson to continue being a chess piece within the front seven.
Update No. 3 — Ryan Wright Stolen Away
Good player. Had a very promising rookie season after getting scooped up as an undrafted talent. He had some rocky moments — a sophomore slump — but has bounced back. He’s now a well-paid punter who is looking to launch the ball deep down in New Orleans.
Update No. 4 — Compensatory Pick Incoming
All along, the goal was to pry away a compensatory pick from the NFL’s enigmatic process. Such was the play when allowing Sam Darnold to depart. Tom Pelissero of The NFL Network has confirmed that a 3rd — No. 97 overall — got added. The Vikings now have nine selections, including a pair in the 3rd.
Update No. 5 — Former Vikings DT Khyiris Tonga Gets a Payday
Very happy for the massive defensive lineman. Nice payday after grinding through his career. Does he add a Super Bowl ring? Playing in Kansas City means having an excellent shot.
Update No. 6 — Ivan Pace Jr. Tendered
On my end, best guess remains that Mr. Pace will be traded. The Vikings have been lowering his playing time since he exploded as a rookie. Worse yet, Pace’s replacement — Wilson — has been re-signed. We’ll see how things shake out.
Update No. 7 — Center Concern
Prior to the starter’s pistol sounding, a top center got signed. The Vikings therefore had one less large lad to consider as a replacement for Ryan Kelly. Where is the pivot?
Update No. 8 — QB Opening Gets Filled
Landing Malik Willis has looked like a long shot for a little while. The good news for the Vikings rests in seeing a QB vacancy closed. Miami had a starter’s job coming into Monday. No longer. The Vikings therefore have a better shot at landing the passer who is actually desired.
Update No. 9 — Swing and Miss at Running Back
Jordan Mason is the top runner. Next up is Zavier Scott, who is more intriguing than proven. Pursuing Travis Etienne made sense, but the bidding war didn’t go in the Vikings’ favor.
Update No. 10 — Justin Jefferson Will Be Pleased
Given that he’s working through a four-year contract for $140 million, Justin Jefferson isn’t likely to struggle to pay the bills. Nevertheless, there’s a case to be made that he’s looking underpaid. After all, his most modest, humble season still involves more yards than someone who just cashed in.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
