5 Impact Free Agents Who Could Help The Vikings
Free agency has been moving incredibly slowly for the Vikings. As a result, fans far and wide are bemoaning the inactivity. This is a team that has been stuck in football purgatory for several years. Why isn’t there more urgency to bring in talent?
Thankfully, free agency isn’t done. In fact, there are several players who may be attractive to the Vikings if they can be had at the right price. These names are being pulled from a PFF piece that lists the Top 100 remaining free agents. The quotes are also pulled from this same piece.
Jadeveon Clowney, EDGE
I know what you’re thinking: isn’t Clowney a bust? In some senses, yes. He hasn’t lived up to the #1 overall selection. That said, he isn’t a bad edge rusher. In fact, he’s a good NFL player, one who can have a sizeable impact: “Clowney is one of the better run defenders in the league and he has the speed and power to move around the defensive line to create mismatches in pass-rushing situations. He’s a No.2 pass-rusher and should not be relied upon as a No. 1 option.”
J.C. Tretter, Center
The veteran center would be a welcome addition to the Vikings in this free agency period. He is older, but he is consistently one of the best centers in the NFL: “Tretter has been a rock-solid part of the Cleveland offensive line since they signed him from Green Bay. He has five consecutive seasons starting and has earned at least a 72.0 overall PFF grade in the last four of them. Pass protection is his strength, and he now has seven straight years with PFF pass-blocking grades in the 80s, but his run blocking is typically very solid, as well.”
Justin Houston, EDGE
Like Tretter, Houston is older. He has experience as a 3-4 EDGE, though, and he is still effective. If the plan is to bring young talent aboard in the draft, might a veteran like Houston make sense for a year or two? Take a peak at what PFF has to say: “Houston fits into the cluster of edge defenders in this free-agent class who can still provide value to a defense but are best utilized situationally at this stage of their career. He has shown in his time with Kansas City, Indianapolis and Baltimore that he can operate both as a 4-3 defensive end and 3-4 outside linebacker.”
Bryce Callahan, Corner
Bring him in and use him in the right role. He can be an excellent slot corner, so let him thrive in that role. To do so, the team will also need to bring aboard someone to help along the outside. Don’t be shocked if the team also opts for someone high in the draft. Callahan has a strong history with Donatell: “Callahan stepped up and played some outside cornerback for Denver in 2020 when he was called on, but that’s not where he’s at his best. Callahan has been one of the best nickel cornerbacks in the NFL with a 96th percentile slot coverage grade since 2017. Brandon Staley’s defense in Los Angeles stands out as a scheme fit for Callahan if the Chargers aren’t planning on re-signing Chris Harris Jr. this offseason.”
Jayron Kearse, Safety
Kearse made an appearance in a piece about former Vikings the team may look to bring back. The reports are that he has matured and is in a good spot. He can be an excellent football player, one who fits what the Vikings want to do: “Kearse is at his best using his size and length to cover tight ends one on one as the answer to how that position has developed in recent years. He has the size to combat those bigger bodies, but real coverage skills man-to-man. Teams that play a lot of man coverage or matchup zone should consider him specifically for that assignment.”
So, there you have it, folks. These are players that could still make a sizeable impact in Minnesota. The team needs to develop a greater sense of urgency, though, in order to start acquiring talent.
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