There Has Never Been a Better Time For Vikings Fans to Check Out The Top 75 Free Agents
K. Joudry
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Well, that was a miserable game. The moronic decisions were on display from the first moment all the way until the final moment. By dropping their contest to the Kardiac Kitties, the Vikings essentially destroyed any credibility they previously had (which, frankly, wasn’t that much). As I’ve often said, the greatest asset the NFL has is the collective hope among its oodles of fans. When there’s no hope for the present, fans start placing their hope on the future. Let’s look toward that future by checking out PFF‘s list of Top 75 Free Agents.
Before getting there, let’s retrace our steps a little. Previously, I wrote about PFF‘s earlier article covering free agency, highlighting LB Foyesade Oluokun, iOL Connor Williams, and CB Carlton Davis. I also recently discussed the upcoming cap crunch, a piece that had some great help from Sean Borman. Josh Frey, moreover, recently highlighted the news that the NFL salary cap will likely be around $208 million. These pieces may help readers to follow the upcoming discussion.
With all that being said, here are some notable names from the PFF Top 75 Free Agents list.
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In my estimation, the Vikings would be wise to target players coming off their rookie deals. Ideally, this will be a player who is somewhat underrated. Price will be a major factor for Spielman and Friends (or whoever is calling the shots in the front office). Getting value will therefore be really important. There are routes to making cap space, but there will be several teams with more financial flexibility. It’s unlikely the Vikings could do much beyond one or two big-name free agents. From there, the team will likely need to prioritize Tier 2 players.
I began at the top, scrolling through names like Davante Adams, Chandler Jones, and Von Miller with the understanding that each one is likely outside of Minnesota’s budget. Furthermore, they’re all at a stage in their career that may not make sense for the Vikings. The 2022 offseason will be about establishing a new identity, a team approach that allows for both short and long-term success.
Depending on the price, Ryan Jensen may work. A reasonably short deal with a reasonable cap number may make sense for solidifying the center position in Minnesota. Mason Cole could be the answer, but he does get bullied in pass pro. Take a peak at the PFF assessment of the veteran center: “Jensen’s best fit is on a downhill rushing offense that takes advantage of his physicality, but he’s graded above the 75th-percentile of all centers in gap and zone run schemes over the past three seasons.” I don’t love the age, but it’s plausible he’s a quality center for a few more years.
The 26-year-old Donte Jackson is the kind of player Minnesota ought to be interested in. A former second rounder, Jackson is a capable corner with several years ahead of him. He’ll be overlooked in favor of more notable names like Davis and J.C. Jackson. The Panthers have a bit of a logjam at corner, so it’s very plausible he reaches the open market. He has 4.3 speed and is a better fit for zone coverage, as PFF explains: “Donte Jackson has the speed to burn, but is at his best in zone coverage where he can keep his eye on the quarterback and use his athleticism to break on the ball. His best plays come using that speed to attack out-breaking routes.”
Similar to Jensen, Laken Tomlinson is a touch older than Vikings fans will like. Be that as it may, he’s a great option if the team continues with the zone blocking scheme: “Tomlinson has picked up where he left off in 2020, earning a second consecutive grade above 75.0. However, this year features a much improved, career-best 79.2 pass-blocking grade halfway through the season. Tomlinson has allowed a quarterback pressure on just 2.5% of pass-rush snaps, the sixth-lowest mark among guards with at least 100 snaps on the season. The former first-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2015 may be in for a bigger deal this time around than his early extension signed in 2018 for three years, $16.5 million.” Improving the iOL ought to be among the top priorities when the Vikings are flirting with free agents.
If the Vikings want to prioritize youth along the iOL, then perhaps James Daniels makes sense. At 24, he still has several years ahead of him. He also offers great flexibility since he has lined up at different positions. He was a second rounder in 2018, and his time with the Bears means Minnesota ought to be very familiar with his abilities: “Since 2018, Daniels has been productive at both guard positions. He also has experience at center and will turn 25 just after opening day in 2022. Daniels is an excellent fit for a zone-blocking scheme and has been one of the best pass-blocking guards in the league over the last two seasons. His best football may still be ahead of him.”
Minnesota’s LB position will need an infusion of talent since Anthony Barr will be gone and Nick Vigil is a free agent. What about Josey Jewell? Check this out: “Jewell is good at everything without being great at anything. A former fourth-round pick, he makes up for a relative lack of athleticism and speed with excellent read-and-react skills and the technique to defeat blocks and make plays in all areas. He fits as a starter in most defenses in the NFL and would be a useful upgrade for a lot of teams.” His 2021 injury is concerning, though it does mean the Vikes will likely avoid needing to overpay. He will be 27 during the 2022 season.
Finally, consider the 25-year old B.J. Hill, a 3T with the Bengals. Here is the PFF description: “Hill is a solid all-around three-technique with the ability to generate relatively consistent pressure on the quarterback from the interior. With increased playing time, he has a career-high 76.6 overall grade through Week 12, and his five quarterback hits are one fewer than he had in his first three seasons combined.” I find it hard to believe that Michael Pierce will be back unless he restructures his deal. A Dalvin Tomlinson, Armon Watts, Hill trio offers some upside.
Any other names the Vikings ought to consider in free agency? Let me know by sending me a tweet @VikingsGazette. This roster still has a lot of talent, folks. Don’t be shocked if some savvy offseason moves and new leadership leads to the playoffs following the 2022 season.
