The Vikings have 24 hours to legally tamper with impending NFL free agents and they aren’t sitting back and watching other teams make headway in the race to improve rosters.
According to reports, the Vikings were “very much in on” soon-to-be former Baltimore Ravens offensive lineman Kelechi Osemele, who ESPN notes has been ranked as high as one of the three best free agents available.
In addition to the #Raiders, I'm told the #Vikings are surging for OG Kelechi Osemele. Expect his deal to land well in excess of $10M per.
— Rand Getlin (@RandGetlin) March 8, 2016
https://twitter.com/GoesslingESPN/status/707055769380737026
But the 6-foot-5, 330-pound guard capable of playing tackle has already reached an agreement in principal with the Oakland Raiders, according to Getlin.
The highest-paid guard in the league today is Mike Iupati at $8 million a season, but Getlin says the Raiders plan to give Osemele $11 million annually.
Vikings keeping Kalil
The Vikings could save $11.1 million if they part ways with left tackle Matt Kalil by Wednesday, but that’s not going to happen, reports ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who previously worked for the Pioneer Press. Fowler says:
“The Vikings could pay Kalil the one-year salary or work out an extension that lessens the cap hit.
The Vikings have tasked veteran offensive line coach Tony Sparano with maximizing the potential of Kalil in a crucial year.”
