Vikes Free agent news

[cybermuskie]

I wonder if the Vikes did what the Redskins did, and called and sent jets for players at 12:01am? They already missed the boat on Bentley if they were interested. Yeah the Vikes have money to spend, but it doesn't do any good if the players are already taken! -CM

Ok heres the real story I found on ESPN:

Minnesota news, the Vikings made contact with Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson and are trying to schedule a visit over the weekend. Hutchinson is the Seahawks' transition player and is going to command more than $6 million a year. The Seahawks would have seven days to match any offer.

[cybermuskie]

OK I had to do it...I joined Scout.com For More news:

As reported here last month from the NFL Combine, the Vikings are interested in Baltimore Ravens free agent running back Chester Taylor.

Taylor’s agent, Ken Sarnoff, told Viking Update Saturday morning that Taylor should be in the Twin Cities meeting with Vikings officials this afternoon. His flight was delayed, but Sarnoff sounded optimistic Saturday morning.

“It says a lot when the first trip he takes will be there,” Sarnoff said.

The Vikings have had a recent history of signing free agents they really want before letting them leave town.

[cybermuskie]

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) -- Armed with plenty of space under the salary cap, the Minnesota Vikings surged into free agency Saturday.

They signed running back Chester Taylor, kicker Ryan Longwell and linebacker Ben Leber after retaining receiver Koren Robinson and safety Willie Offord.

Story

[JIvers]

Chester Taylor is a good acquisition, as he beefs up a shaky RB corps. I should be happier about Longwell, given my disdain for Paul Edinger, but Longwell's performance this past season slipped a couple notches. I don't want to see the Vikings replace one NFC North castoff kicker prone to missing easy FGs with another NFC North castoff kicker prone to missing easy FGs, but I fear they may have done just that.

One larger issue I have thus far with the Vikings offseason moves is that I have heard no talk about signing any free agent offensive linemen. LG, RG, and RT are the Vikings' biggest needs, and they need to address them.

[cybermuskie]

Here ya go Eyehunter, looks like they are trying.

From Fanball:

03/12 03:44 Vikings: Hutchinson pays a visit

THE NEWS

The Vikings aren't done spending. Restricted free agent guard Steve Hutchinson arrived in the Twin Cities late Saturday night, according to the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The Vikings may begin negotiations Sunday on an offer sheet.

Our View

The Seahawks will be able to match any offer Hutchinson receives, but the Vikes have the cap room to throw a big pile of cash at the Pro Bowl guard. The Vikings are expected to hold off on announcing any further moves until Monday out of respect for the late Twins great Kirby Puckett, who will be honored with a memorial service at the Metrodome Sunday night. But if Hutchinson is still in Minneapolis Monday morning, you'll know something is up.

[A R Johnson]

Ben Leber? Where did he did he play last year? You thinl he has potential?

[cybermuskie]

Why are the Vikes letting players go visit other teams first? I would think they would try to make them get here asap. Like with the couple of safties that I have never heard of: Dexter Jackson and Will Demps. They have other stops first. Who are they anyway? Are the Vikes going for numbers of no namers rather than a few studs? I guess I just expected a bigger splash when free agency started!Right now the Browns are looking pretty smart! Yes Hutchingson would be huge, but it would be fun to know who they let slip threw their fingers!

[cybermuskie]

Leber played for the Chargers last year. He lost his starting job to Merriman. Plus he was hurt also. I guess anything might be a upgrade for us at LB. He was buddies with our Fran Foley guy. I would think they were pretty high on Leber otherwise go for a player that might be in more demand than him.

On ESPN's ratings of free agents Longwell is a 75, Leber is rated a 69 and C Taylor is a 70. Heck they have M Bennett rated a 73. So what does that say. We got a bunch of average players!

[Jarrod32]

This afternoon:

FOXSports.com has learned that the Vikings have signed Seahawks Pro Bowl offensive guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet for a whopping $49 million over seven years. The deal also includes $16 million in guaranteed money, huge money for a guard, and a very high cap number in the first year. The reason for the cap number is to prevent the Seahawks from matching the offer.

[cybermuskie]

Here is what ESPN's John Clayton had to say on the Hutchinson deal:

Seahawks in no position to lose Hutchinson: Even if the cap number is $13 million on Seahawks guard Steve Hutchinson's $49 million offer sheet, Seattle has no choice but to match it. He's one of their best players.

Two arguments will come up in the first few days of thinking, but only a mistake by Seattle would cause it to let Hutchinson go for no compensation. First, the Seahawks have $17 million of cap room and Hutchinson is already on the books for $6.3 million because of the transition tag. They can make up the $7 million cap difference by restructuring a couple of contracts.

Second, the Seahawks can argue $7 million a year is too much for a guard. That's a bogus argument. While it's true that $7 million is a lot for that position, the only reason he will make $7 million is because the Seahawks screwed up by putting a transition tag on him, letting the Vikings negotiate the contract. Hutchinson would have made $1 million less if he negotiated from a franchise tag. As one of their best players, they can't let him go. Don't compound a mistake by making another, particularly when you can manipulate the cap with $17 million of room and five-year proration of contracts.