The Minnesota Vikings had a decent 2021 campaign though they fell short in securing a playoff berth this season. After finishing with an 8-9 record, the front office will now shift its focus on the offseason where they will aim to strengthen the team's roster upon heading to next season. Anyway, it's time to looking at the Vikings 2022 NFL Free Agency outlook.
Without a doubt, the Vikings already have significant talent on their side though they will have to determine who among their current players with expiring contracts should be retained on the team for 2022. Successfully inking these players to new deals will surely put Minnesota in a good position to reach the playoffs next season.
With that said, here are the three best players that the Vikings must prioritize to re-sign in the upcoming free agency:
Vikings 2022 NFL Free Agency
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3. Greg Joseph
Over the past years, the team has been missing a reliable kicker who can perform consistently for them on the field. The Vikings tried their luck until they landed a journeyman in Greg Joseph who suited up for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season.
The 27-year-old was given a one-year, $780,000 contract to showcase his capabilities and prove his worth to the team. Yes, he didn't have a perfect campaign as he missed a potential game-winning 37-yard field-goal attempt in Week 2 against the Arizona Cardinals.
However, Joseph was able to redeem himself as he successfully nailed a 54-yard field goal to win their Week 5 outing against the Detroit Lions. He followed it up by kicking another game-winning field goal via a 29-yard attempt against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11.
Joseph concluded his 2021 campaign with career-highs of 86.8% in field goals and 90.0% in extra points which placed him as one of the most accurate kickers in the league this season. Kickers remain to be a crucial component for any team and the Vikings would be wise to not part ways with a talent like Joseph anytime soon.
2. Mason Cole
Undoubtedly, Minnesota's offensive line has shown evident improvements as compared to the previous seasons though they can still tweak it more in order to get to the next level. One of the main concerns for them is center Garrett Bradbury who has yet to live up to the billing of being a first-rounder.
Another weak spot on the unit is their right guard position with Oli Udoh struggling throughout their campaign. Fortunately for the Vikings, they had Mason Cole who possesses the versatility to slide in the interior slots of the offensive line when needed.
Keeping the Michigan product around would continue to allow the Vikings to have a reliable lineman who can provide depth and can fill in a hole whenever a starter would be out. Signing him to a new contract would also be a strategic move for the front office as it will not entail them giving up a hefty sum in exchange for the services of a quality player in Cole.
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1. Tyler Conklin
After TE1 Kyle Rudolph's departure last year, the Vikings have elevated Irv Smith Jr. to be their primary tight end for 2021. He is indeed a promising talent though injuries have haunted him for quite a while now as he continues to be sidelined with a torn meniscus.
Amid his absence, a backup in Tyler Conklin eventually got the starting job and proceeded to have a breakout season for the Vikings. He tallied career-high numbers with a total of 593 receiving yards on 61 receptions and three touchdowns in 17 appearances.
After a productive campaign, the former fifth-rounder will surely gain a ton of attention in free agency as he is now set to become an unrestricted free agent in the offseason. With that, the Vikings will have to move quickly and offer him a new deal to remain with the team before he sets his sights on relocating to a new squad for next season.
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