2013 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[Eli]

The enthusiastic reaction to the Vikings signing Felton is a pretty stark contrast to the reaction when he was signed last year:

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24418&hilit=sign+fe ... ow#p425812

I'm glad he'll be back.

Last year he was just another castoff and something like the fourth or fifth fullback-type brought into camp. Too bad the Vikings can't use the shotgun approach with every position. Sign ten QBs and keep the three you like.

[Purple bruise]

I just read that talks broke off between Welker and the Patriots. He would make a great addition.
Ian Rapoport @RapSheet
Per sources: Talks between Wes Welker and Patriots are over at this point. Welker exploring free agency

[saint33]

no thank you, he's worse than Simpson. Signing a guy just to say we signed a guy is not a good plan

[Eli]

Erin Henderson re-signed 2 years.

Not a thrilling signing, but it makes sense. He was the most versatile of their three UFA linebackers. I wouldn't be surprised to still see Mitchell re-signed.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Erin Henderson re-signed 2 years.

Glad we chose him over Jasper Brinkley.

[John_Viveiros]

Grantland has a nice article about the new age of free agency. Their take in a nutshell - let the crazy teams sign high priced free agents on the first day. Wait a week, and then swoop in and pick off the guys who now know they can't command top dollar.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/903 ... -landscape

My favorite line:

take 90 percent of the player for 50 percent of the price in free agency

So I hope to God we don't sign Wallace or Jennings early in free agency. Two weeks down the line, when they don't have such inflated views of their worth, sure.

[dead_poet]

Phil Loadholt four-year Vikings extension is worth $25 million, including $7 million signing bonus, per source. Under contract through 2016

RT by Tom Pelissero on Twitter

So per @RavensInsider, Phil Loadholt got $6.25M/year. Makes one of 5 highest-paid RTs in NFL. Higher than I expected number to go.

[Eli]

Face it, the Vikings were between a rock and a hard place with regard to Loadholt. They don't have another offensive tackle waiting to take his roster spot, they don't have one of the top 11 picks to take a sure-thing tackle in the draft, and they'll probably be forced to rely on their running game again next year. Without Loadholt, the future of any facet of the Vikings offense would have looked grim.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Unfrickin believable.

[dead_poet]

Vikings letting the dust settle before considering re-signing. RT @caplannfl: MLB Jasper Brinkley visiting the Giants today, per source.

Tom Pelissero on Twitter

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If Brinkley is gone who starts at MLB? #23 or #25 draft pick?

[Eli]

I'd love to see Audie Cole get his shot, but more likely they just aren't in love with Jasper Brinkley. They know they need to upgrade the talent level at linebacker. Henderson's re-signing is for depth and special teams. After that it's going to be either draft picks or some mid-level free agent.

[mansquatch]

I'd love to see Audie Cole get his shot, but more likely they just aren't in love with Jasper Brinkley. They know they need to upgrade the talent level at linebacker. Henderson's re-signing is for depth and special teams. After that it's going to be either draft picks or some mid-level free agent.

I agree with your take. IMO it says more about how much of a dissapointment Brinkely was than about the talent in the draft or FA pool. It seems like the Vikings think they can get comparable talent for less $$$ or even an upgrade for less $$$.

[Eli]

The word "disappointment" for Brinkley might be a little strong. He was a fifth rounder who eventually became a starter and you can't really be disappointed with that. But he had no additional upside and he didn't fit well in their Cover 2 defense. The Vikings just haven't invested much in finding linebacking talent since drafting Greenway in 2007, and that's how you end up with ill-suited fifth rounders and undrafted free agents as your starters.

[UltraNasty850]

Signing back their own yesterday was a great way for us to start of free agency. Signing Felton, Loadholt, Sanford, and Simpson were all big deals in their own way. Its only been one day of FA, but it seems as if Spielman is sticking to his guns about drafting players and building the team that way. I hope we don't overpay Jennings, but I would really like to see them go after Cruz with our extra first round pick. If we have to overpay a receiver, Id much rather have it be Cruz over Jennings or even Wallace. Wallace will flop after this year and Jennings may be a little too old for Spielman's plans.

Either way, I look forward to watching Jarius Wright play this year. Hopefully Childs can make some impact even though it doesent sound like his recovery is going very well.

[losperros]

Either way, I look forward to watching Jarius Wright play this year. Hopefully Childs can make some impact even though it doesent sound like his recovery is going very well.

It's unfortunate that Childs has been hampered so severely by injuries. I was excited when they drafted him. The guy was a terror for the Razorbacks.

Given that Childs and Wright were both Razorbacks, I'm wondering if Spielman might look to the SEC again to draft a WR. Maybe Cordarrelle Patterson? Patterson might need some development time but his upside is off the charts.