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Minnesota Vikings free agency 2017: Top 5 targets

By Brad Berreman

Aug 18, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) walks the sidelines during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Vikings won 18-11. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 18, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) walks the sidelines during a preseason game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. The Vikings won 18-11. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mandatory Credit: Joe Robbins-Getty Images
Mandatory Credit: Joe Robbins-Getty Images /

2. RG Kevin Zeitler

The Cincinnati Bengals and owner Mike Brown are notably shrewd in free agency, so coming off a season where Pro Football Focus had him as their seventh-best guard Zeitler seems sure to hit the market. To that end, Paul Dehner of the Cincinnati Enquirer expects fellow free agent offensive lineman Andrew Whitworth to be a greater priority than Zeitler for the Bengals to re-sign.

By already cutting Brandon Fusco, and the mysteriously absent for all of last season Mike Harris, the Vikings have what looks like a clear cut opening at right guard now. They should be in the market for a guard in free agency to some degree, and Zeitler is the biggest fish in that particular pool.

The best comp for Zeitler’s free agent contract is the five-year, $50 million contract extension David DeCastro signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers last offseason, since both are right guards. The Vikings also invested heavily at guard last offseason by signing Alex Boone, so going back to that well might make future deals for other players difficult to manage.

Zeitler has to be on the Vikings’ radar when free agency officially starts. But if the price gets too high, or a bidding war is coming, it may be hard for them to stay in on him.

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