Matt Kalil Wants To Finish Career As Viking
The Vikings have not received the return they’d hoped after investing their highest first-round pick since 1985 on Matt Kalil, but the team kept him for just more than $11MM on a fifth-year option. The former No. 4 overall selection hopes to reward the team this season and wants to finish his career in the Twin Cities, Chris Tomasson of the St. Paul Pioneer Press writes.
Despite an inconsistent career, Kalil is set to out-earn every left tackle in football this season on his $11.09MM fifth-year salary. Tomasson writes that an extension for the 27-year-old blocker could happen, as could a re-signing after the season. Kalil owns one more Pro Bowl nod than Eric Fisher, 2013’s No. 1 overall pick who just inked a four-year, $48MM extension with the Chiefs despite middling production to date, and has started all 65 of the Vikings’ games the past four years. So, that kind of agreement could conceivably be in Kalil’s future if he can elevate his game this season.
The Vikings signed Andre Smith this offseason but saw Phil Loadholt retire. They do not have a long-term tackle option at this point. Last month, PFR’s Dallas Robinson checked in on the Vikings’ offensive front.
Here’s the latest from the North divisions, beginning with one of the Vikings’ top rivals.
Vikings Sign Terrance Plummer
- The Vikings signed linebacker Terrance Plummer, as Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press tweets.
Vikings Waive Keith Baxter, Jason Whittingham
- The Vikings announced that they have waived cornerback Keith Baxter and linebacker Jason Whittingham. Baxter, for his part, had recently been in the hospital, according to Ben Goessling of ESPN.com (Twitter link).
Vikings Notes: Harris, Greenway
- Offensive lineman Mike Harris is on the non-football injury list while he deals with an illness, and there’s not a specific timeline for his return to Vikings‘ camp, writes Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. As such, Harris’ training camp battle with right guard Brandon Fusco has essentially become a non-competition, and Minnesota’ starting offensive line is now all but certainly going to feature Matt Kalil, Alex Boone, John Sullivan, Fusco, and Andre Smith. I wrote about the Vikings’ depth up front earlier this year, but several of those options are now out of the picture.
- Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway hinted that 2016 will be his last year in the league, per Shari L. Jones of the Minneapolis Star Tribune (video link). That does not come as much of a surprise, as Greenway hinted even before signing his current one-year deal with Minnesota that he would be hanging up his cleats at season’s end.
Scoggins: Peterson Deal Likely To Be Restructed In 2017
- Adrian Peterson has two years left on his current contract, and as Chip Scoggins of The Star Tribune observes, the structure of Peterson’s deal will force the Vikings to take some sort of action after the 2016 season. Peterson is due a $6MM roster bonus in early March 2017 and would carry a gigantic $18MM figure if his contract is not addressed. No matter how good Peterson is, Scoggins writes that such a cap number would be untenable for a running back who will be 32 next season. Although the team is trying to build a more diverse offense for Teddy Bridgewater, Peterson is still likely to be among the league’s rushing leaders, but even if he is, Scoggins sees a restructure at season’s end as the most likely outcome.
Vikings Sign Claudell Louis
- The Vikings have signed defensive tackle Claudell Louis, reports Matt Vensel of the Star Tribune (via Twitter). Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com notes that the team considered bringing in rookie punter Taylor Symmank for their 90th roster spot, but the team ultimately opted for undrafted defensive lineman out of Fresno State.
Vikings QB Taylor Heinicke Out For 3 Months
Vikings quarterback Taylor Heinicke is expected to start the season on the non-football injury list after severing a tendon in his left foot, as ESPN.com’s Ben Goessling writes. The Old Dominion product reportedly suffered the injury while trying to help a friend get back into his apartment earlier this month. 
[RELATED: Q&A With Vikings Reporter Darren Wolfson]
Heinicke, in the process of being a helpful friend, apparently tried to kick open the door like Michael Chiklis on The Shield and gave himself a serious injury. There was no foul play or substance abuse involved in the incident, a source tells Goessling. The Vikings signed Heinicke as a UDFA last year and he managed to make the team as the No. 3 QB after an impressive preseason showing. Heinicke was said to be looking good in practice this year before the unfortunate injury.
With Heinicke potentially out until November, one has to wonder if Minnesota could have extra motivation to pursue free agent QB Nick Foles. Foles, released by the Rams on Wednesday, was quickly linked to the Vikings as well as the Cowboys. Last night, Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News reported that there were ten teams doing their due diligence on the 27-year-old.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Three Teams In Lead For Nick Foles?
7:14pm: There are approximately 10 teams, including the Vikings, doing their due diligence on Foles, according to Darren Wolfson of 5 Eyewitness News (Twitter link). Foles is “laying low” and could take a few days to make a decision, per Wolfson, who adds that a deal isn’t close.
1:47pm: Foles is eyeing a one or two-year deal, according to Cole (video link).
10:10am: Despite reports to the contrary, Vic Carucci of The Buffalo News (on Twitter) hears that the Bills aren’t among the teams interested in signing Foles.
7:53am: Nick Foles became a free agent on Wednesday and his market emerged pretty quickly. Foles is likely to sign with the Vikings, Bills, or Cowboys, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (on Twitter) hears. Cole adds that the Jets also expressed interest in Foles, though it’s not immediately clear if there is still room for the veteran after Ryan Fitzpatrick re-signed with the club on Wednesday night. 
The Vikings currently have veteran Shaun Hill and rising sophomore Taylor Heinicke behind starter Teddy Bridgewater. Hill, 36, offers plenty of experience, but Minnesota may prefer Foles as their veteran backup. Alternatively, they could add Foles and likely sneak Heinicke, a UDFA out of Old Dominion, on to the practice squad.
The Bills drafted Cardale Jones this year as a backup for starter Tyrod Taylor and although E.J. Manuel has been bumped from the No. 1 role, the team has been high on him as an understudy.
“I’m not done with EJ Manuel, either (as a backup to Taylor),” coach Rex Ryan said in February. “I think EJ’s got the talent, the size and all that stuff. Sometimes, guys just take a little bit longer to develop, so we’ll see how that goes.”
The Cowboys surprised some observers this offseason when they did not address add a veteran backup quarterback, opting instead to stick with Kellen Moore, draft Dak Prescott out of Mississippi State, and add 2015 UDFA Jameill Showers. Last year, Dallas rolled out Moore, Matt Cassel, and Brandon Weeden while Tony Romo was sidelined and they had a 1-11 record to show for it. Of the four teams mentioned by Cole, the Cowboys arguably make the most sense for Foles.
The Broncos, meanwhile, have no interest in adding Foles, coach Gary Kubiak said in a radio interview (Twitter link via James Palmer of NFL.com).
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Why Did Phil Loadholt Retire?
Earlier this week, Vikings offensive lineman Phil Loadholt announced his retirement from football. While Loadholt cited his health as the driving factor in his decision, Mike Florio of PFT wonders if the veteran’s recent pay cut was an even greater motivation to walk away from the sport. This spring, the Vikings pushed Loadholt to amend his ~$5.5MM base salary to a $2MM base for 2016 with up to $3.5MM in incentives. Ultimately, Loadholt may have opted for early retirement rather than playing for a reduced salary this season.
- Yesterday, we discussed the Vikings’ offseason with reporter Darren Wolfson.
Vikings Sign Mike Zimmer To Extension
The Vikings and coach Mike Zimmer have reached agreement on a contract extension, GM Rick Spielman announced. Spielman did not disclose the length or terms of the deal, saying only that Zimmer will be the Vikings’ coach “for a long time.” Spielman said that talks started right after the playoffs, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. 
“Mike has instilled a very positive atmosphere over the past three years and our players have thrived under his tutelage and leadership,” team owner Zygi Wilf said in a press release. “His focus on helping our players develop and maximize potential, individually and collectively, is critical for our current and future success. We believe the continuity established with Mike leading our football team is a very positive step for our organization.”
Zimmer led the Vikings to an 11-5 record last season and the club’s first NFC North title since 2009. Zimmer holds an 18-14 record in his two seasons as a head coach, the second-most wins by a Viking head coach in his first two seasons, trailing only the late Dennis Green who had 20 wins.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.