We are now over 32 hours into the NFL free agency period and news keeps pouring in from all corners of the league. Rather than create a separate post for each smaller Vikings related rumor or tidbit, I figured I'd condense it all into one post to not flood the blog!
Read on for the contract details for Matt Cassel and Linval Joseph, as well as the identities of two offensive lineman the Vikings have inquired about.
Vikings show interest in Vlad Ducasse and Daryn Colledge
After expressing interest in a cornerback and a defensive tackle earlier today, it would appear the Vikings are also checking in on the market for offensive lineman.
The Vikings will be hosting guards Vlad Ducasse and Daryn Colledge in the coming days, now that the team has a hole at left guard according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News.
Ducasse is a former second round pick of the New York Jets in 2010 who was never able to gain a prominent role on the team. Ducasse started the first four games of 2013 for the team, but then was benched after allowing to many sacks of Geno Smith.
Colledge is a much more interesting name who could step right in as the team's next starter, but of course that means his price tag is higher. Colledge will be entering his ninth year in the league last year and just finished a season playing for the Arizona Cardinals.
Colledge is an adequate pass blocker who struggles in the run game, though it has been suggested a system change could help him. Colledge could be a one to two year bridge option while the team tries to bring Jeff Baca along or develop another young guard.
Linval Joseph Contract Breakdown
The Vikings signed their new nose tackle to a five-year, $31.5 million contract yesterday, and the details were just released tonight. Joseph has a very small signing bonus, $3 million, as instead the team chose to give him a $2.4 million roster bonus which will be good on Monday.
In total, the contract contains $12.5 million in guaranteed money, but like Everson Griffen's new contract almost all of that guaranteed money comes up front. All of that guaranteed money comes in the first two years of Joseph's deal, meaning the Vikings would incur only a $1.8 million cap hit if they cut him after 2015.
Joseph will carry a $6.6 million cap charge in 2014, which then becomes $4.6 million the next year, then $6.35, $6.85 and $6.85 according to ESPN's Ben Goessling.
The Vikings definitely appear to be eschewing signing bonuses to avoid possible dead money later into these deals, which may prove to be crafty a few years down the road.
Matt Cassel Contract Breakdown
Along with Linval Joseph, the Vikings released the terms of Matt Cassel's new contract with the team today as well. Cassel's deal is worth $10.5 million total over the next two years.
Interestingly enough, Cassel's new deal comes with no signing bonus or guaranteed money. It does come with a $3 million roster bonus like Joseph's, however, that will become guaranteed on Monday.
Cassel's cap hit will be $5.75 million in year one of this deal, and then $4.75 the following year, according to Ben Goessling.
All in all, this new contract represents a $2.05 million raise for Cassel, so it's no wonder he decided to opt out of his contract about a month ago and seek a new deal.
That's all the news for today Vikings fans, but check back tomorrow for the latest free agency updates!
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