The free agency window officially opens on March 17. As of now, Vikings are not in a great place to make more moves.
Minnesota has already agreed to DE Stephen Weatherly’s terms. However, the team appears to be above the floor of the salary ceiling. If the $ 180 million floor turns out to be the salary cap, Minnesota will have to make some tough decisions to free up space.
Here are some of the decisions the team can make before hiring more players. Well, I don’t agree with all of that, but they are all possibilities at the moment. Here is the complete list:
K Dan Bailey
Minnesota Vikings striker Dan Bailey. Photograph; AP Photo / Jason Behnken
The Vikings accumulate $ 1.7 million in limit savings and $ 2.1 million in dead money from the move to cut Bailey, according to Over The Cap.
Bailey struggled a lot during the last season. Two of his past three seasons in the NFL have been inconsistent. The team also hired Greg Joseph this off-season. Maybe it’s time to leave Bailey.
P Britton Colquitt
Minnesota Vikings punter Britton Colquitt. Photo: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
By letting Colquitt go, Minnesota saves more than $ 1.7 million in limit savings and incurs more than $ 1.4 million in dead money, for Over The Cap.
This is another movement that would not create a massive boundary space. However, it is a movement that makes sense. Colquitt has struggled a few times in the last season and has an expensive contract for a bettor. Minnesota could cut it and hire a cheaper client during the free agency’s window.
DT Shamar Stephen
The Minnesota Vikings face Shamar Stephen. Photo: AP Photo / David Berding
Shamar Stephen had a PFF of 61.7 in the nose tackle position. With Michael Pierce presumably in Minnesota next season, it may not make much sense to keep Stephen’s contract. Okay, Pierce is not going to play more than 600 snaps, but Stephen continuing with his current deal is still difficult to rationalize.
Vikings get $ 3.75 million in limit savings and take a hit of more than $ 1.3 million in dead money with the move to cut it, by Over The Cap. If Stephen is not the holder on the nose or in defense with three techniques next season, your contract may be too expensive to maintain.
LT Riley Reiff
The Minnesota Vikings offensive faces Riley Reiff. Photo: AP Photo / David Berding
This one I especially don’t want the Vikings to do. I think the team should prioritize trying to keep Reiff in that off-season. He is a good left player and, based on that, his contract is not shocking at all.
Chris Tomasson of Pioneer Press reported that the Vikings want to restructure with Reiff in this off-season. Hopefully, the team can do that, but if not, the limit savings would make this change tempting for them.
Vikings save $ 11.75 million if they cut it and incur $ 3.2 million in dead money. Overall, they shouldn’t be separated from Reiff, but the team can do so to stay below the salary cap.