The Minnesota Vikings could be an active team this offseason as they try and build things around Teddy Bridgewater, as they could look at releasing Greg Jennings to free up cap space and if that happens, players like Wes Welker, Torrey Smith, Michael Crabtree, Brian Orakpo, Byron Maxwell, Mike Iupati, Stevan Ridley, Cecil Shorts and Hakeem Nicks could be potential targets for the team.
Bridgewater had a strong rookie season and showed that he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL and now the Vikings will try and put more around him on offense. According to ESPN.com, the team could ask Greg Jennings to take a pay cut this offseason and if that doesn't happen, it's likely that he will be released. Cordarrelle Patterson had a slump year last season after showing promise as a rookie and if Adrian Peterson is let go, Jerick McKinnon will step up as the starting running back.
The Vikings are fairly young at the main offensive positions and if they get rid of Jennings, they could look at adding a WR in the draft or from the free agent market. Ben Goessling writes that the team could target Kevin White in the draft, while players like Torrey Smith and Cecil Shorts could be affordable options. Welker is a free agent after spending two seasons with the Broncos and he is not likely to return and also could be a cheaper option on the market. Jennings is coming off of a so-so season that saw him make 59 receptions for 742 yards and six touchdowns.
Goessling wrote that the Vikings will have about $14.4 million in cap space before making any moves and they could free up more if they release Jennings. Jennings counts for $11 million against the cap and that is a high number for a player his age and the team also could look at cornerbacks on the market. The team may target Brandon Flowers or Byron Maxwell, while Goessling writes that Iupati could be a strong option for the offensive line. Orakpo is coming off of a tough couple seasons and could be a high upside addition.
Goessling took questions last week on ESPN about moves the Vikings could make and a number of options came up, including names like Michael Crabtree, Wes Welker, Torrey Smith, Brian Orakpo, Byron Maxwell, Mike Iupati, Stevan Ridley, Cecil Shorts and Hakeem Nicks as potential targets. The team likely will not make a major move at wide receiver until the fate of Jennings is determined, but they will look at options on the market and in the draft, as Kevin White and Jaelen Strong make up a deep class of players.
The Vikings will be looking to build around Teddy Bridgewater going forward and they also could look at running backs if the team opts to move on from Adrian Peterson. The team has been open about wanting Peterson to return and while many think he will for 2015, there is a chance he could get released. Peterson has a high cap number and the team could look at asking him to take a pay cut and that could cause some issues. Peterson also came out to say that his return is not guaranteed, as he was dismayed during the season at the way the organization pushed him towards the exempt list, which took him out of action after one game in 2015.
