The dramatic end to the New Orleans Saints’ 2017 playoff run proved to live up to its namesake: a Minnesota Miracle. The Minnesota Vikings peaked in that game and fell down to earth right after, losing in a big way to the eventual Super Bowl champions and then going 8-7-1 the following year, missing the playoffs entirely. It’s clear now that the Saints are the better team, but they could still find some upgrades among the Vikings’ free agents.
We’re continuing to survey the NFL’s free agency landscape, checking in on each team in the weeks leading up to the March 13 signing period kickoff. Here’s every previous entry:
- Arizona Cardinals
- Atlanta Falcons
- Baltimore Ravens
- Buffalo Bills
- Carolina Panthers
- Chicago Bears
- Cincinnati Bengals
- Cleveland Browns
- Dallas Cowboys
- Denver Broncos
- Detroit Lions
- Green Bay Packers
- Houston Texans
- Indianapolis Colts
- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Kansas City Chiefs
- Los Angeles Chargers
- Los Angeles Rams
- Miami Dolphins
Now, we’re on to Minnesota:
Unrestricted free agents
- CB Marcus Sherels
- DT Sheldon Richardson
- DT Tom Johnson
- FS George Iloka
- K Dan Bailey
- LB Anthony Barr
- OC Brett Jones
- OC Nick Easton
- OG Tom Compton
- QB Trevor Siemian
- RB Latavius Murray
- RB Ameer Abdullah
- WR Aldrick Robinson
Options for the Saints
Linebacker Anthony Barr is the top name on this list, but not for why you’d expect. Barr was trained to play a typical outside linebacker position after excelling as a pass rusher in college, and the Saints should give him the opportunity to get back to his roots in the NFL. Signing the 6-foot-6, 255-pound athlete to a one-year contract and letting him use his blinding speed on passing downs could do wonders for his career outlook. Whether Barr is interested in such a move or short-term deal isn’t known, but it could be a home run for the Saints if he’s interested.
Either of the two Vikings defensive linemen, Sheldon Richardson or Tom Johnson, could help the Saints in 2019. Richardson is another player the Saints were briefly connected to in the 2018 signing period, but he decided to go to Minnesota. There, Richardson has his best season in years, logging 4.5 sacks, 16 quarterback hits, and 49 combined tackles. Johnson also had a solid year, posting 4.5 sacks and 7 hits. However, he’s 35 years old, and likely wouldn’t be more than a member of the rotation in New Orleans — as it happens, the city where he first started playing in the NFL. With so many holes in their defensive line, the Saints would be wise to consider either player.
