The Minnesota Vikings may look at wide receiver son the free agent market, as names like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Cecil Shorts, Larry Fitzgerald and Hakeem Nicks could be in the mix to help Teddy Bridgewater in 2015 and this comes as the Vikings may release Adrian Peterson or Greg Jennings as a salary cap cut this offseason.
The Vikings are coming into 2015 with some optimism after getting strong play from rookies Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon last season and now the team could look to add on offense. According to Over the Cap, the team should have around $18-$20 million in cap space for 2015 and that could make things a bit tight. Greg Jennings is a player that could be released, according to Ben Goessling, while Peterson is no lock to stay either.
Jennings is making $9 million next year and will cost over $10 million on the cap and that is one reason why the team could look at letting him go. Ben Goessling writes that Kevin White could be a draft target if that happens, while names on the market like Randall Cobb, Jeremy Maclin, Cecil Shorts and potentially Larry Fitzgerald also could be options. Maclin and Cobb are expected to stay with their teams, but getting a nice offer from the Vikings could sway them.
Goessling talked with fans about the possibility of Fitzgerald coming to Minnesota, writing that he could be a target if he is released by the Cardinals. Fitzgerald has numerous connections to the area, including his father being a columnist and the fact that he works out at the University of Minnesota in the offseason. Arizona and Fitzgerald have been working on a new contract to lower his cap number and if they can't agree, he could be released.
Jennings comes in after putting up 59 catches for 742 yards and six touchdowns and his receptions and yards were his lowest totals since 2011, not counting his 2012 injury season. Jennings has been a solid pickup for the Vikings over the past two years, but that money could be spent better elsewhere. The team has been without a playmaker on offense at WR since Percy Harvin was shipped out and after a down year from Cordarrelle Patterson, they could look at adding a free agent.
Maclin comes in after putting up career numbers with 85 catches for 1318 yards and 10 touchdowns and right now him and the Eagles are not close on a deal. Cobb is also an intriguing option, as the Packers are not known as big spenders and they just gave Jordy Nelson a long term deal. Cobb reportedly wants to stay in Green Bay, but after making 91 catches for nearly 1300 yards and 12 touchdowns, Cobb could be wooed by money from another teams.
While Peterson has expressed interest in staying, there is a good chance the team ditches him into 2015, as he is getting paid a ton of money. Peterson has been as productive as anyone at his position, but with the running back position being devalued in the NFL, his price tag is awfully high. The team could use that money to spend in other areas and it would mark a fresh start for both the Vikings and Peterson after all that has gone on.