MINNEAPOLIS -- After the first 10 days of free agency, which saw them sign four players from other teams and sign cornerback Terence Newman to a new one-year deal, the Minnesota Vikings still have roughly $17.8 million left in cap space.
That's still plenty to make some selective moves, sign draft picks and retain some flexibility heading into the season -- and as they head into the calmer phases of free agency, the Vikings will have to consider how they'll address several positions.
Cornerback might remain at the top of that list, following the departure of Captain Munnerlyn to the Carolina Panthers. The Vikings will have to determine whether they can count on second-year man Mackensie Alexander to assume Munnerlyn's spot as a nickel cornerback, or whether they'll need to go in a different direction. They weren't one of the teams scheduled to bring in former Buffalo Bills corner Nickell Robey-Coleman for a visit, after initially expressing some interest in him, but they could still be in the market for a veteran at the position. Former Tampa Bay Buccaneers corner Alterraun Verner, for example, played for Vikings defensive backs coach Jerry Gray in Tennessee and wouldn't factor in the team's calculations for compensatory picks, since he was released by the Buccaneers before the start of free agency.
Here is a look at four other positions where the Vikings have decisions to make:
Wide receiver: With Cordarrelle Patterson and Charles Johnson leaving in free agency, the Vikings have just two receivers on the roster who caught more than 11 passes last season (Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen). Jarius Wright could be looking for a rebound season after spending last season on the fringes of the offense, and the Vikings will certainly hope for more from Laquon Treadwell after a one-catch rookie year. Isaac Fruechte, who was promoted to the Vikings' active roster at the end of the season after he returned from Detroit's practice squad, also has seen his stock rise and could be in line for a bigger role. But after the Vikings made a push for Alshon Jeffery, it's hard not to think they'd like to add one more receiver. Veteran Anquan Boldin is still on the market, as is St. Paul native Michael Floyd.
Quarterback: With Teddy Bridgewater's status still uncertain, the Vikings have just two quarterbacks whose health is a known commodity (Sam Bradford and Taylor Heinicke). There are plenty of notable names left on the veteran quarterback market (Colin Kaepernick, Jay Cutler, Robert Griffin III), though the Vikings would seem more likely to consider a passer that knew he was coming in to back up Bradford. Players like Ryan Fitzpatrick, Mark Sanchez and T.J. Yates could fit into that category.
Tight end: The Vikings' pursuit of Jared Cook stemmed from an interest in another vertical threat over the middle of the field (according to ESPN Stats and Information, Cook's average target was the third-longest in the league last season). David Morgan returns as a blocking tight end, but if the Vikings want another pass-catcher to pair with Kyle Rudolph, they could look at a deep draft for tight ends that includes athletic options like Mississippi's Evan Engram.
Punter: With Jeff Locke moving on to the Colts, the Vikings' only punter on the roster is Taylor Symmank, whom they worked out last spring and signed in January. It's worth watching whether they bring in competition for the Texas A&M product, or if they move forward with Symmank as their new punter.
































