INDIANAPOLIS — The start of the 2018 NFL league year is 14 days
away, and the Minnesota Vikings are getting closer to figuring out
how they will proceed at quarterback with three of their four
returning players expected to be unrestricted free agents.
General manager Rick Spielman insisted Wednesday at the Scouting
Combine that “no decisions have been made with how we move
forward,” but added, “We have a pretty good idea of what we feel.
Obviously, contracts are a factor.”
Vikings GM Rick Spielman has plenty on his plate this offseason both under center and beyond
The only quarterback under contract is Kyle Sloter, while 2017
starter Case Keenum and Sam Bradford will be unrestricted unless
agreements are reached prior to March 14. The NFL is expected to
make a ruling prior to March 12 whether Teddy Bridgewater will be
unrestricted or if his contract will toll for 2018 because he was
on reserve/physically unable to perform for the first six weeks of
the 2017 season. If the latter occurs, Bridgewater would be forced
to play in 2018 for the same salary he earned in 2017.
Spielman said, “It’s a league decision, but I don’t believe it will
toll. I expect the league to address it in the near future, but it
hasn’t been resolved yet.”
Asked if he expects it to be decided by March 12 when a three-day
negotiating period for free agents begins before the start of the
league year, Spielman said, “It’s up to the league.”
A league source told The Sports Xchange it will be decided prior to
March 12, and said, “We have to.”
With speculation swirling that the Vikings will make a run for
Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins, Spielman would only say, “We
will always look at options.”
He also said there have been ongoing conversations with the agents
for Keenum, Bradford and Bridgewater.
Of Keenum, who led the Vikings to the NFC North title last season
and helped them advance to the NFC Championship Game, Spielman
said, “He has a knack for making plays and he made a lot of big
plays for us.”
But Spielman would go no further concerning the chances of Keenum
being back.
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