Six Vikings veterans who might not be back next season
January 12, 2016 at 3:25PM
Their talented young core is not going anywhere this offseason, but the Vikings could say goodbye to a handful of starters, whether they are free agents or potential salary cap casualties. Vikings beat reporter Matt Vensel lists six starters who might not be back in Minnesota next season.
Chad Greenway, LB: The veteran leader had to take a pay cut the past two offseasons to stick around and now is a free agent. He has said he would like to play one more season with the Vikings, but they could move on and slide Eric Kendricks over to his weak-side spot.
Zach Line, FB: Line will be a restricted free agent, meaning the Vikings can keep him if they want to. They liked Line enough to carry him as a second fullback throughout the 2014 season, and even though he played only 13.8 snaps per game in 2015, he would be cheap to keep.
Phil Loadholt, RT: For the second consecutive year, Loadholt was lost to a season-ending injury. This time it was a torn Achilles' tendon that sent him to injured reserve during the preseason. Loadholt, who turns 30 next week, has a $7.8 million cap hit for 2016. It's seems unlikely he plays at that number.
Terence Newman, CB: Newman proved to be a great signing for the Vikings, starting all 17 games, including the wild-card game, at 37. But it was just a one-year deal. Trae Waynes, the team's 2015 first-round draft pick, is waiting in the wings, but coach Mike Zimmer might be able to coax Newman into coming back.
Brian Robison, DE: The team could move on from Robison, who is 32 with a $5.1 million cap hit for 2016, and give his starting job to youngster Danielle Hunter. That would free $3.1 million in cap space. The Vikings might ask him to restructure his deal, like Greenway has done.
Mike Wallace, WR: It would be surprising if Wallace is not one-and-done in Minnesota. He proved to be a poor fit for the offense, and he certainly was not thrilled about his lack of production. He has a 2016 cap hit of $11.5 million, but the Vikings can cut him with no penalty.
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Mike Conley was in Minneapolis, where he sounded the Gjallarhorn at the Vikings game, on Sunday during the robbery.
