It's the time of year when the Vikings and the NFL play tag--as in franchise tags for top pending free agents.
The Vikings have several premier players in this category of heading towards free agency when the 2019 NFL league year opens on March 13, and they could use the franchise or transition tag on four-time Pro Bowl linebacker Anthony Barr or their fine defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson. The franchise tag involves a one year contract tender at the average of the top five players at the position, while the transition tag is at the average of the top 10 players.
Don't count on either tag being used on Barr or Richardson as both players should hit the free agent market. The franchise tender for either player is an estimated $15.7 million.
Start with the reality that the Vikings currently have just $5-7 million of room under the 2019 salary cap. They will free up $10-20 million dollars of cap room in the next couple weeks by cutting several players (most likely to include safety Andrew Sendejo, guard Mike Remmers), and trading, releasing or seeking pay cuts from high-salaried players such as defensive end Everson Griffen, cornerback Trae Waynes and wide receiver Laquon Treadwell. A trade involving two-time Pro Bowl corner Xavier Rhodes also is possible as he's coming off an injury-filled down season (but not likely with the result being a $7.2 million dead money hit against the cap).
Barr is a talented player. But I see a guy who should make more plays on a consistent basis before he is worth a long term deal or a one year deal at that high franchise number. He also has battled hamstring problems that caused him to miss three games last season.
Richardson should be easier to sign on a cap-friendly deal after making $8 million last season. And he helps make the Vikings defensive line one of the league's best, even if Griffen is no longer there and an emerging player in Stephen Weatherly becomes the starter opposite Pro Bowler Danielle Hunter (as he did very effectively during Griffen's extended absence last season for mental health reasons).
The bottom line is that Barr is a luxury the Vikings can't afford when they need to address the beleaguered offensive line in free agency with a major signing (along with a likely first round draft pick at offensive tackle or guard plus perhaps a second or third rounder). That's what a team must do when they have invested in a $28 million per year quarterback in Kirk Cousins who had an up and down first season in Minnesota due in large part to his lack of protection and inconsistent running game.
And speaking of Cousins, his recent Tweet about the great weather in Miami was probably not the best idea as Minnesotans are buried in a record February snowfall and his up and down first season with the Vikings is still very fresh. Cousins said "In 2010, I was mad at @KingJames (LeBron) for leaving Cleveland...but I've been in Miami for a total of 5 min and now I totally understand." Hmmm--it's perhaps the wise choice to stay off social media for awhile unless you're promoting charity causes, Kirk.
Around the NFL Observations:
Draft season and pre-free agency hits high gear next week with the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis February 26-March 4. More on what goes on at the Combine in next week's column, but it will be a busy week for Vikings GM Rick Spielman as he talks contracts with agents for Vikings potential free agents and contract extension candidates, while also whispering in the ears of the agents for pending free agents from other teams (hopefully to include some quality offensive linemen). These conversations on potential free agent signings are one of the key activities for GMs at the Combine even though it's technically not allowed until the legal tampering period--love that description--begins on March 11.
Spielman and his player personnel/scouting staff along with Mike Zimmer and his assistant coaches will be attending workouts of the top 300 or so college players entering the April draft, and interviewing those players in the evenings. Meanwhile the team's doctors and athletic trainers will be closely examining all the Combine attendees to assess their physical status. A very long and busy week in Indy for the 32 NFL teams and the incoming rookie class.