Minnesota Vikings free agency 2021: Top 5 targets

CARSON, CA - DECEMBER 15: Melvin Ingram III #54 of the Los Angeles Chargers in action during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Dignity Health Sports Park on December 15, 2019 in Carson, California. The Vikings defeated the Chargers 39-10. (Photo by Rob Leiter via Getty Images) /

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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – JANUARY 03: Minnesota Vikings head football coach Mike Zimmer watches the action during the second quarter of the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field on January 03, 2021 in Detroit, Michigan. Minnesota defeated Detroit 37-35. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

The Vikings need to do their free agent shopping on a tight budget. Here are five players Minnesota can sign to relatively cheap deals this offseason.

Vikings fans might want to see their favorite team spend big in free agency this offseason, but it’s not going to happen. Minnesota already needs to cut salary just to get below next year’s projected salary cap. Any free agent shopping they do is going to happen in the NFL’s bargain basement.

The bad news is that Minnesota does have significant needs to fill on the open market. Mike Zimmer desperately needs to add an impact edge rusher to tie his defense together. Finding that on the cheap will be challenging, but this year’s free agent class does have a lot of intriguing pass-rushers that will be looking for new homes.

The offensive line is the other area where the Vikings need to concentrate their resources. Minnesota has great skill on that size of the ball but Kirk Cousins needs more time to throw the football in 2021. The likelihood that Riley Reiff will be cut to clear salary cap space only complicates matters up front for the Vikings.

None of the following targets are gigantic names on the open market, but each of these five players should draw strong interest from the Vikings.

5. Raekwon McMillan

McMillan won’t solve the Vikings’ need for an edge rusher, but he is just the sort of reclamation project that Zimmer can turn into a massive find. At worst, he can impact the team positively as a special teams ace. At best, the former second-round pick can become a difference-maker at linebacker for the Vikings. He still has excellent speed that gives him a chance to blossom into a solid starter in the right system.

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