The Top 3 Players To Re-Sign
Henrique Gucciardi
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We have covered how the Vikings could open cap space. I obviously don’t think every move will happen (nor that they should), but our cap situation is manageable, especially to a man with a Wall Street background. The franchise/transition tag window is open, and we’re closer to free agency. Looking at our roster, I don’t believe we’ll use any of the tags, but that doesn’t mean the front office will let every free agent walk away. So, before talking about new players that could come, let’s start by talking about who should stay in purple and gold.
Anthony Barr, Linebacker
He wasn’t on my list until Kevin O’Connell’s press conference. When a new coach mentions only three defensive players by name, it’s fair to assume he has a plan for them.
With that, I decided to study a little about Fangio’s system, since the team hired his right-hand-man, Ed Donatell, as defensive coordinator. Barr could have a major role on this new defense if he manages to stay healthy. When coming out of UCLA in 2014, many believed he would be best suited as a 3-4 OLB, but Zimmer played him as a 4-3 LB.
So why do I believe he will be good here? In the last 8 years, he had to improve as a pass defender. He isn’t close to a guy like Kendricks, but he knows what to do. Now he’s a player that’s good against the run, excels rushing the QB, can cover, and will probably play in a system that uses his skill set in a better way.
Barr is set to have a $10 million dead money, due to the void years added to his contract. I don’t know about you guys, but I prefer to pay a good player to be on the Vikings rather than paying him to play somewhere else.
Sheldon Richardson, Defensive Line
My argument for Richardson to be here is similar to Barr’s: versatility. Richardson was a 3-tech for most of his career, but, due to injuries, moved outside last year. It’s always good to have players that play multiple positions, but it’s even better when changing schemes. With the ability to pressure the QB both inside and outside the tackles, Richardson can be a chess piece on the Vikings’ defensive line.
It may be difficult to re-sign him if he came back to Minnesota to play under Andre Patterson, as he’s now with the Giants. But, at 31 years old, Sheldon Richardson wouldn’t take too much of the cap with a new deal. Maybe a contract paying close to his $3.6 million in 2021 will be enough.
Patrick Peterson, Cornerback
Say whatever you want about P2, but he can still play. He didn’t make many splashy plays this year, but that’s because most of the time the QBs weren’t throwing at him. Even when he lost badly on the route, most of the time the ball didn’t go there. He also is a great leader and an important voice not only in the locker room as a whole but especially with the other cornerbacks.
He said a few times that he’d like to stay in purple, and I think the Vikings would like for that to happen. Last year he signed an $8 million dollar contract, and, like Richardson, he’ll turn 32 this year, so it can be cheaper to bring him back. A two-year, $14 million dollar contract can be enough to re-sign P2. In the meantime, he can help to develop Dantzler, Boyd, or whoever we draft at the end of April.
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