So far, the big news hasn't been too big for the Minnesota Vikings. Here's a quick summary of the Vikings' current free agent status:
Vikings Free Agents
| Player | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Morten Andersen, K | Unrestricted Free Agent | Rip van Andersen would like to play another season, perhaps because he's only a year or two away from getting his Social Security cheque. |
| Michael Bennett, RB | Under contract | Bennett's name is constantly popping up in trade rumours with teams like Miami, Arizona and Oakland. |
| Kelly Campbell, WR | Restricted Free Agent | Campbell's recent arrest in Georgia may cause teams to pass (even if he's not charged). |
| Chris Claiborne, LB | UFA, signed with St. Louis | When he was healthy, he was the best linebacker for the Vikes. |
| Jose Cortez, K | RFA | Vikings may re-sign him if they can't get one of the few higher quality kickers signed. |
| David Dixon, OG | UFA | Dixon would like to finish his career in Minnesota, but he'd be coming back as a reserve, not a starter on the offensive line. |
| Gus Frerotte, QB | UFA | Frerotte would like a starting job, but may return as Culpepper's backup if he can't find a team to give him a chance to start. |
| Chris Hovan, DT | UFA | He won't return to the Vikings. Dennis Green might bring him in to the Arizona organization. Update 11 March: Hovan is being fingered as the anonymous tipster who informed the league about Mike Tice's ticket scalping. |
| Randy Moss, WR | Under contract. Traded to Oakland | Vikings receive LB Napoleon Harris and Oakland's 1st round and 7th round picks in the April draft. |
| Larry Ned, RB | UFA | Claimed off waivers by the Cardinals, then cut two days later. Update, March 6: Apparently, Ned was arrested in Phoenix on suspicion of stealing a laptop from a fellow passenger on a flight. |
| Rhett Nelson, CB | UFA | Claimed off waivers by the Cardinals. |
| Keith Newman, LB | UFA | Provided good depth at outside linebacker as the season wore on: he'd like to return. |
| Willie Offord, S | RFA | Played well in relief of an injured Corey Chavous in the playoffs. |
| Brian Russell, S | RFA | The only restricted free agent to get more than a veteran minimum tender offer from the Vikings. Signing him would cost another team a first-round draft pick. |
| Jermaine Wiggins, TE | UFA Re-signed with Vikings | Vikings want him back, but have not yet offered the right deal. Update 9 March: The Minneapolis Star Tribune reports that Wiggins has accepted a " five-year deal worth $7.3 million with a $1 million bonus". |
| Brian Williams, CB | RFA | Update, 11 March: Now that Smoot has signed, Williams will become the nickelback, if he stays with the team. |
| Corey Withrow, C | UFA | Another player who'd like to start, but may return to the Vikings as a backup if he can't find a team to give him a starting role. |
Other Teams' Free Agents
| Player | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Pat Williams, DT | UFA, Buffalo | Signed multi-year deal with Minnesota. Will start at Nose Tackle beside Kevin Williams. |
| Antonio Pearce, LB | UFA | Accepted a deal with the New York Giants over the Vikings offer, which included deferring part of this compensation package to the summer (after the new owner of the team takes charge). |
| Plaxico Burress, WR | UFA, Pittsburgh | His agent has contacted Minnesota about a possible deal. Update, March 11: Burress is in the Twin Cities today, after a deal with the New York Giants fell through. He may still be asking for more money than the Vikings are willing to pay. |
| Travis Taylor, WR | UFA, Baltimore | Another player whose agent has approached the Vikings. Update, March 6: Taylor is said to be comfortable with the idea of signing on as the #3 or #4 receiver. |
| Freddie Jones, TE | UFA, Arizona | Will visit Minnesota on Monday Update 11 March: With Wiggins re-signing, Jones will probably not be offered a contract. |
| Rod Gardner, WR | Under contract with Washington | His agent has permission from the Redskins to seek a trade for Gardner, and Minnesota is one of the teams he has contacted |
| Donovin Darius, S | Franchised by Jacksonville | Update, 8 March: Darius has taken the unprecedented step of contacting the Minneapolis Star-Tribune to practically beg for the Vikings to trade with Jacksonville to get him into a purple uniform. Darius has been the Jaguars' franchise player for three straight years. |
| Fred Smoot, CB | UFA, Washington Signed with Vikings | Update, 8 March: The St. Paul Pioneer Press is announcing that the Vikings have come to terms with Smoot. No details were made public. Update 9 March: The Minneapolis Star Tribune confirms the original report and adds details of "a six-year contract worth $34 million with a $10.8 million bonus." |
| Darren Sharper, S | UFA, Green Bay | Sharper is visiting Minnesota today (11 March), and may be willing to sign a cap-friendly deal to showcase himself for next year's free agent market, according to some sources. |
Visitors since 17 August, 2004