The Minnesota Vikings may look at wide receivers on the market this offseason and players like Percy Harvin, Larry Fitzgerald or Mike Wallace could be targets if they are released by their teams, while names like Cecil Shorts, Wes Welker, Jermaine Kearse, Hakeem Nicks and Eddie Royal could be targets to help Teddy Bridgewater along with Cordarrelle Patterson on offense.
The Vikings have a lot up in the air with Adrian Peterson, but if he doesn't return the team will have more cap money to work with and that could lead to some free agent moves. Teddy Bridgewater had a very solid rookie season and the team feels that he has the chance to be a great quarterback. Bridgewater needs some more support on offense though, as Cordarrelle Patterson had some struggles last season and that is why the team may look at signing some players.
Greg Jennings could be on his way out, as he is aging and has not been as productive as in past years. According to ESPN.com, cutting Jennings would have the team $9 million and that could lead to the team signing someone like Percy Harvin or Larry Fitzgerald if they are released. Vikings beat reporter Ben Goessling at ESPN took questions about the offseason and mentioned both players as potential options if they are released from their teams.
Harvin is expected to be released, while Fitzgerald has said he wants to stay with the Cardinals, but if he doesn't take a pay cut or restructures his contract, he also is likely to be released. According to ESPN.com, Harvin is almost guaranteed to get cut, as he is worth $10.5 million next season -which is not guaranteed-because he has draft compensation attached to his roster status. If Harvin is on the Jets roster in 2015, they send a fourth round pick to the Seahawks, but if he is not, the team only sends a sixth round pick.
For new GM Mike Maccagnan, who reportedly puts a lot of stock in the draft, this is not a tough decision at all. Harvin was previously with the Vikings and if he gets cut loose, there is a chance he could come back to Minnesota, as a new coaching staff is in charge since he was traded. Fitzgerald is a very interesting option, as he easily could end up on the market if he doesn't work things out with the Cardinals.
Fitzgerald is set to be worth over $20 million on the salary cap and that is just an unmanageable number for the Cardinals to deal with. If the team doesn't work that out, Fitzgerald likely will be released and if that happens, the Vikings are a realistic option. Fitzgerald's father is a sports writer in the area and he has ties to Minnesota and works out there each summer. Fitzgerald is a good leader and could be a strong veteran presence for the Vikings in the locker room whether Adrian Peterson comes back or not.
The Vikings come into the offseason after ranking 28th in the league in passing yards per game and that should lead to the team adding some help in the passing game. Welker could be a cheap option along with Shorts if Fitzgerald is not released, while Eddie Royal, Hakeem Nicks, Kenny Britt, Miles Austin, Torrey Smith and Denarius Moore are also on the market.
