The Vikings have two big free agents on the defensive side in linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson.
With the cap set at $188 million for 2019, the Vikings have less than $5 million available in free agency.
There will certainly be some cap casualties, but that doesn’t mean even one of these guys will return.
“We would love to have them both back,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said Thursday at the combine via ESPN. “The question is where is the market going to go and can we afford them? If we can afford them, we’re going to bring them back. If we can’t afford them, then we’re going to have to move on, unfortunately.”
From the outside looking in, I’d be surprised if either player returns. The Vikings have done a good job of developing young players, for the most part and it feels like Rick Spielman will go that route than investing big money in two somewhat inconsistent players.
Both players are in NFL.com’s top 20 free agents of the 2019 season, so there will certainly be some sort of bidding war you’d imagine.
