Fansided

3 veteran free agents the Vikings should sign to cheap contracts

By Brad Berreman

ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Carlos Dunlap II #43 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during warmups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 08: Carlos Dunlap II #43 of the Seattle Seahawks looks on during warmups before the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium on November 08, 2020 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Bryan M. Bennett/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 3
Next
Malik Hooker, Indianapolis Colts
Mandatory Credit: Douglas DeFelice-USA TODAY Sports /

2. S Malik Hooker

With the departure of Anthony Harris in free agency, it’s now Harrison Smith and little else at safety for the Vikings. If only for the experience aspect, a free agent signing is virtually mandatory. If they draft a safety, early or at all really, a lot of fans and analysts will have a meltdown. Next to Smith, who is still playing at a high level, they don’t need a star at the other safety spot.

Hooker was drafted 15th overall by the Colts in 2017, but a dismal start to his career made it inevitable they would decline his fifth-year option. Then he missed almost all of last season after suffering a torn Achilles (against the Vikings in Week 2). So the fact he’s still on the market isn’t surprising–he has missed 28 of 64 possible regular season games. That said, he is still only 24 years old (25 on April 2) with seven interceptions in his career.

The Vikings have some options as they look at the market for veteran safeties (Tre Boston, Will Parks, Kenny Vaccaro, Ricardo Allen, Karl Joseph). But Hooker’s youth and potential stands out some. A bet he can stay healthy won’t be expensive.

Home/Minnesota Vikings