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NFL Free Agency 2019: 3 targets for each team

By William Schneiderhan

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le'Veon Bell (26) looks on during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 10, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Pittsburgh Steelers Running Back Le'Veon Bell (26) looks on during the game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers on December 10, 2017 at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pa. (Photo by Mark Alberti/ Icon Sportswire) /
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Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) hands off to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Trevor Siemian (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 23, 2018. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) hands off to Minnesota Vikings quarterback Trevor Siemian (3) during the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Michigan USA, on Sunday, December 23, 2018. (Photo by Amy Lemus/NurPhoto via Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings

After being one game way from the Super Bowl the year prior, the Minnesota Vikings shelled out a lot of money to players in hopes they would be right back in that position in 2018. That wasn’t the case as the team went 8-7-1 and now management must get creative with very limited cap space this offseason.

K.J. Wright, OLB

Outside linebacker Anthony Barr will be a very popular free agent this offseason, which means he will be well priced out of the Vikings range.  He was a key player on the team’s defense, which means it’s crucial that they find a way to replace him.

Compared to Barr, Wright may be more limited in his range at age 29. However, the veteran can still play and would bring a lot of experience as a Super Bowl champ.

Before an injury limited Wright to only five games last season, he was on a four-year stretch where he averaged just about 119 combined tackles and around 75 solo tackles a season while missing one game during that time.

Rodney Gunter, DT

Sheldon Richardson was brought in on a one-year deal last offseason. He played well and now he, like Barr, will be fielding many calls as a free agent.

With a ton of money already divulged to members of the team’s defensive line, the Vikings need to look for lower-tier free agents at this position. Gunter has four years of experience in the NFL, and he has eight sacks in 64 games.

Gunter would benefit from the talent that would surround him on the team’s defensive line. He is a value signing waiting to happen and Pro Football Focus gave him a rating of 70.1 in 2018.

James Carpenter, OG

There are a plethora of reasons behind the Vikings unsuccessful season. However, the offensive line was one of the most glaring reasons. Pro Football Focus ranked them 29th in the league after Week 17, and Footballoutsiders.com had them as the 23rd ranked run-blocking team and ninth in pass protection.

Carpenter isn’t going to be anything too special as far as coming to town and reshaping the line on his own. But he could be an option to bring in to see what he can do.

The 29-year old (soon to be 30) has had himself some strong years in the past, and the Vikings need some help with the interior offensive line spots.

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