Captain Munnerlyn Expected To Test Market
Although the Vikings would like to re-sign slot cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, the club is expected to allow the veteran defensive back to first gauge his value on the open market, reports Chris Tomasson the St. Paul Pioneer Press (Twitter link). Indeed, no deal is expected between Minnesota and Munnerlyn before free agency begins on Thursday, tweets Ben Goessling of ESPN.com.
[RELATED: Latest On Adrian Peterson’s Market]
Entering his age-29 season, Munnerlyn said earlier this month he’s targeting a four- to five-year deal once he reaches the free agent market. While that length of contract might be hard to come by given his age, Munnerlyn is certainly still a solid player, and his role as a slot corner is all the more important as offenses increasingly utilize three-wide receiver sets. In 2016, Munnerlyn played in 15 games and defensed three passes, grading as the No. 49 CB among 112 qualifiers, per Pro Football Focus.
Munnerlyn rates high in PFR’s free agent rankings, placing as the No. 11 cornerback available and earning an honorable mention of PFR’s list of the top 50 free agents. The former seventh-round pick isn’t the only Vikings defensive back scheduled to hit free agency this week, however, as Terence Newman is also heading for the open market on Thursday.
Latest On Adrian Peterson’s Market
A number of teams will have interest in free agent running back Adrian Peterson, but at least two teams are considered “desirable landing spots” for the veterans. According to Stacey Dales of the NFL Network (via Twitter), the Seahawks and Raiders are teams that Peterson has on his radar. The seven-time Pro Bowler could seek $4MM to $6MM per year on his next deal, tweets Yahoo Sports’ Charles Robinson, who adds that the Patriots – with whom Peterson could take a discount – are also in the mix. Peterson has spent his entire career with the Vikings to this point, but they’re prioritizing their offensive line and might not make him an offer until next week, relays Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
The 31-year-old Peterson only appeared in three games this past season as he recovered from a torn meniscus in his right knee. Still, the veteran’s previous performance is a big reason why PFR’s Zach Links pegged Peterson as the projected highest-earning running back this offseason (he was also listed as the second-best available running back behind Eddie Lacy).
There shouldn’t be any worry that Peterson can bounce back from his injury. After playing in only one game in 2014, the running back finished the 2015 campaign with 1,485 yards and 11 touchdowns on 327 carries (4.5 yards per carry). The veteran also finished that campaign with 30 receptions.
Neither the Seahawks nor Raiders would deny a player of Peterson’s talent, but they currently have solid depth at the position. Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise are set to compete for the starting gig in Seattle, while Jalen Richard and DeAndre Washington are among the intriguing options is Oakland. The Raiders could also look to re-sign Latavius Murray.
Adrian Peterson Could Return To Vikings
- NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport reports (via Twitter) that players in need of medical clearance (Jamaal Charles, Adrian Peterson, T.J. Lang) will take visits but won’t sign quickly. The reporter also notes that Peterson could ultimately stay with the Vikings.
- When it comes to offensive lineman D.J. Fluker, the Saints, Lions, Seahawks, Colts, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and Falcons are among the potential teams to watch, according to Josina Anderson on Twitter.
[SOURCE LINK]
Bears Interested In Cordarrelle Patterson
The Bears are expected to make a push for wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, according to Alex Marvez of The Sporting News (on Twitter). 
Patterson is an excellent kick returner, but he has yet to do much as a receiver in the NFL. This past season, he set a new career high with 52 receptions, but he averaged just 8.7 yards per catch. The Bears might see Patterson as a late bloomer and they could find a gem in the former Viking if they can get him to clean up his route running.
Patterson, 26 later this month, has been breaking the hearts of fantasy owners for years. Last season, however, he earned a second career All-Pro nod by averaging 31.7 yards per kick return. For his career, he has averaged 30+ yards per kick return attempt (it’s a lot higher if you subtract his 2014 showing) and has five TDs off of returns over the last four years.
He can get a nice paycheck as a return specialist, but he’ll get far more if some team out there believes he can grow into a legitimate offensive weapon. In theory, a player like Patterson could help lessen the blow for the Bears if they lose Alshon Jeffery to free agency.
Audie Cole To Test Free Agency
- Linebacker Audie Cole will reach free agency without inking a new Vikings deal, but a return to Minnesota is possible, per Andrew Krammer of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (Twitter link). Cole, 27, appeared in all 16 games for the Vikings last year but didn’t start a single contest. While played only 35 defensive snaps, Cole did play on more than 65% of the Vikes’ special teams snaps.
RFA/ERFA Tender Decisions: 3/6/17
Here are today’s ERFA decisions as teams make their final preparations for free agency.
- David Irving emerged as a viable pass-rusher for the Cowboys down the stretch last season, and the team will understandably extend an ERFA tender offer to the defensive end, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports. He will make $615K in 2017.
- Two Panthers wide receivers, though, won’t be tendered and will thus become free agents. RFAs Philly Brown and Brenton Bersin will become UFAs, Joseph Person of the Charlotte Observer reports. Brown started 22 games for the Panthers and had a key role in Super Bowl 50. In three seasons, Brown caught 79 passes for 1,019 yards and seven touchdowns. Bersin also spent the past three seasons on Carolina’s roster but wasn’t utilized nearly as much.
- The Bears have re-signed ERFA tight end Daniel Brown to a one-year deal, the team announced. The team also tendered ERFAs Josh Bellamy, a wide receiver/special-teamer, and Bryce Callahan, a cornerback.
- The Saints plan to submit a tender to retain wide receiver Willie Snead, Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune writes. However, his camp is hoping New Orleans will pay him more than the one-year minimum salary. The 24-year-old Snead is an ERFA despite arriving in New Orleans in 2014. However, the standout target only has two accrued seasons since he spent his rookie year on the practice squad. In those, he’s combined for more than 1,800 yards and scored seven touchdowns.
- The Vikings have agreed to tender offensive lineman Zac Kerin at the one-year, $615K level, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press writes.
Vikings P Jeff Locke To Test Market
- The Vikings have interest in re-signing punter Jeff Locke, but it looks like he’ll test the market, Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.
Chad Greenway To Retire
The Vikings announced Chad Greenway will retire after 10 seasons. A Tuesday press conference is on tap for the UFA linebacker to retire as a member of the Vikings, with whom he played all 10 of those campaigns.
Greenway signed a one-year contract in 2016 to return to the team, but last season was expected to be his last. The 34-year-old linebacker will make good on those intentions. This will mark a new era for the Vikings, who drafted both Greenway and Adrian Peterson in the first round of the 2007 draft.
The former Iowa standout made two Pro Bowls, in 2011 and 2012, and 144 career starts. He became a full-time starter beginning in Week 1 of the ’07 slate and didn’t relinquish his spot on the outside in the Vikings’ 4-3 scheme. Greenway made nine Vikings starts last season, playing for $2.75MM. Greenway played in all 16 games last season and made 41 tackles, a career-low mark. Finishing his career with 1,334 tackles, Greenway made more than 100 in six of his 10 seasons, with a 148-stop 2012 campaign representing his high-water mark. He also registered 18 career sacks.
Minnesota still has Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks and Emmanuel Lamur under contract for 2017. Lemur signed a two-year deal in 2016 as well.
Vikings To Retain ERFA Jeremiah Sirles
- The Vikings are expected to retain ERFA offensive lineman Jeremiah Sirles, as Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes. Sirles will receive a one-year tender for the league minimum of $690K. Injuries forced Sirles into the starting lineup for Minnesota last year, and he ended up starting 10 games for the club, including nine at right tackle.
Matt Asiata Unlikely To Return To Vikings
Running back Matt Asiata is eligible for free agency next week and it sounds like he’ll wind up signing elsewhere. Asiata plans to test the open market and chances of him returning to the Vikings are low, a source tells Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. 
[RELATED: Vikings CB Captain Munnerlyn Seeking Long-Term Deal]
Asiata, 30 in July, first broke into the NFL as a UDFA signing in Minnesota in 2011. Ever since 2012, he has been on the Vikings’ active roster. His workload increased in 2014 and 2016, seasons in which Adrian Peterson missed the majority of games. Asiata provides solid pass-catching ability – he averaged 38 catches between those two aforementioned campaigns – but he’s not an ultra-athletic ball carrier like teammate Jerick McKinnon.
Last year, Asiata re-signed with the Vikings on a one-year, $840K deal with a $60K signing bonus. The pact also included up to $500K in incentives based on playing-time, rushing yards, and receptions. It remains to be seen whether he can fetch a deal with significant guarantees this offseason. At his age, he may have to settle for a pact that doesn’t include any sort of safety net.