2016 Vikings Free Agency Thread (News, Rumors, Transactions)

[dead_poet]

I bet he was hoping for more.

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By a lot. That's not a contract suggesting they have confidence in Harris as a potential starter. That's even pretty bad "backup" money for a vet with position flexibility and starting experience. If that's really their offer Harris will surely test the market. I know I would.

[Mothman]

By a lot. That's not a contract suggesting they have confidence in Harris as a potential starter. That's even pretty bad "backup" money for a vet with position flexibility and starting experience. If that's really their offer Harris will surely test the market. I know I would.

I'm not sure he'd get much more on the open market. He's a career backup who had an adequate season as a starter on a bad line. That's my take anyway. I know there are people who feel he was better than that but I don't think there's going to be a much more lucrative market for his services out there and the nature of the Vikings offer speaks to that.

[mansquatch]

The question on Harris if you are a GM for any team is how he compares to other OL. Even if a team needs help at Guard (like the Vikings) they are still not going to damage their cap on mediocre talent unless the GM is an idiot.

Spielman knows better, my guess is they offered Harris market value. More than anything, this tells us where the Vikings feel Harris is is talent wise.

[dead_poet]

I'm not sure he'd get much more on the open market. He's a career backup who had an adequate season as a starter on a bad line. That's my take anyway. I know there are people who feel he was better than that but I don't think there's going to be a much more lucrative market for his services out there and the nature of the Vikings offer speaks to that.

Yeah, it definitely depends on your perspective. The way we differed in our descriptions of Harris, as an example. How will other teams view him? He's also just 27, so we're not talking about a Berger-like older vet.

[Mothman]

Yeah, it definitely depends on your perspective. The way we differed in our descriptions of Harris, as an example. How will other teams view him? He's also just 27, so we're not talking about a Berger-like older vet.

... and that's why he might be wise to do what you're suggesting and test the market. If just one team has a different perspective and makes him a better offer, it might be worth it for him.

On the other hand, I suppose he could stand to lose too...

[halfgiz]

There is a lot of teams looking for OL help. Just look at the mock drafts.
He could make out testing the waters, I think he is worth more than what the Vikings offer was for.
He is suppose to be flying out to Minnesota this weekend hopefully they can work something out that works for both parties.

[Mothman]

There is a lot of teams looking for OL help. Just look at the mock drafts.
He could make out testing the waters, I think he is worth more than what the Vikings offer was for.
He is suppose to be flying out to Minnesota this weekend hopefully they can work something out that works for both parties.

You might very well be right that he could do better in free agency. As you said, teams are looking for OL help. To me, he's another Herrera/ Johnson/Fusco type and a player they shouldn't over-reward for a decent season and tie themselves to with a lucrative contract. They have settled for mediocrity at guard for too long.

Maybe I'm wrong but in terms of the general perception of Harris that I read in the media, I get the feeling he's a player whose profile has been raised by the seemingly all-pervasive grades of Pro Football Focus. They like him. The press now uncritically refers to PFF's stats and grades as if it's a given their assessments are accurate and that seems to have a real influence on player reputations.

I'm not saying people here haven't formed their own opinions based on their own observations. I just find the overall view of Harris in the press at odds with both what I saw on the field and the offer the Vikes made, which was the type of offer I thought they should make. Their offer leads me to think my perception of him as a merely adequate guard may be on target. After all, they know teams are looking for Ol help, they know he could choose to test the waters and they still made an offer that might tempt him to do so. that suggests they see value in bringing him back (I do too) but that they also aren't afraid of losing him in free agency.

Does that make sense?

[S197]

You might very well be right that he could do better in free agency. As you said, teams are looking for OL help. To me, he's another Herrera/ Johnson/Fusco type and a player they shouldn't over-reward for a decent season and tie themselves to with a lucrative contract. They have settled for mediocrity at guard for too long.

Maybe I'm wrong but in terms of the general perception of Harris that I read in the media, I get the feeling he's a player whose profile has been raised by the seemingly all-pervasive grades of Pro Football Focus. They like him. The press now uncritically refers to PFF's stats and grades as if it's a given their assessments are accurate and that seems to have a real influence on player reputations.

I'm not saying people here haven't formed their own opinions based on their own observations. I just find the overall view of Harris in the press at odds with both what I saw on the field and the offer the Vikes made, which was the type of offer I thought they should make. Their offer leads me to think my perception of him as a merely adequate guard may be on target. After all, they know teams are looking for Ol help, they know he could choose to test the waters and they still made an offer that might tempt him to do so. that suggests they see value in bringing him back (I do too) but that they also aren't afraid of losing him in free agency.

Does that make sense?

Basically, he's Anthony Herrera 2.0.

[halfgiz]

Does that make sense?

Yep it does!
My thoughts on Harris is that he's a backup. We had a couple guys go down and he stepped in and didn't do a bad job.
That's what backups is suppose to do.

Edit: My thoughts was if we could get him signed with a 2 year deal for 4 mil. I would be happy with that.

[dead_poet]

I don't know why I'm defending him because I ultimately agree his ceiling might be very good backup G/T, however how much difference is there between good backup and average/above average starter (see: Berger). Also, this was his first year playing RG I believe. It's possible he can improve.

[dead_poet]

Vikings like Mike Wallace and Phil Loadholt — at right price

The Vikings want wide receiver Mike Wallace and tackle Phil Loadholt back next season, if the price is right.

A source said Friday the Vikings have interest in both returning under restructured contracts. Wallace has a salary-cap number next season of $11.5 million, while Loadholt’s is $7.75 million.

Each would have to take a significant pay cut to avoid being released. The Vikings can dump Wallace with no further obligation; releasing Loadholt would save $6 million in cap space.

http://www.twincities.com/2016/03/04/vi ... ght-price/

[Funkytown]

Vikings re-signed S Andrew Sendejo to a four-year, $16 million contract.

Sendejo was scheduled to be an unrestricted free agent. The Vikings have been crystal clear in their desire to find a top-end starter next to Harrison Smith, and it did not appear they viewed Sendejo as that guy. $4 million annually is starter-level money, however, suggesting Sendejo has the inside track to open 2016 in the starting lineup. This move all but assures impending free agent S Robert Blanton will be playing elsewhere next season. Sendejo has been with the Vikings since 2011.

Source: Ian Rapoport on Twitter

[Pondering Her Percy]

Yep it does!
My thoughts on Harris is that he's a backup. We had a couple guys go down and he stepped in and didn't do a bad job.
That's what backups is suppose to do.

Edit: My thoughts was if we could get him signed with a 2 year deal for 4 mil. I would be happy with that.

Harris starting had nothing to do with guys getting injured. He flat out won the job. And was our best/most consistent lineman. I just don't understand anyone's logic behind viewing him as "just a backup". Has anyone that said this even watch this guy play or read anything about him for that matter? He's our best lineman right now and now people think he's "just a backup"??

it's a borderline-insulting offer for a player coming off a breakout season. 27-year-old Harris can play both guard and tackle, and finished 2015 as PFF's No. 22 overall guard amongst 82 qualifiers, excelling as both a pass and run blocker and starting all 16 games.

Not only was he our best lineman but he has a lot of versatility to him. He should be our #1 in house priority

[Pondering Her Percy]

This disgusts me. We give that idiot $4 mill a year and can't offer Harris more than $1.5??? Not a good start to the offseason

[Bigwehrm]

Wtf. Sendejo should have got backup money. Maybe 1mil a year. This is F n stupid. He sucks. Now no way we go after Iloka. What a crock of sheet. Wtf wtf wtf wtf wtf.