It's been a crazy week around the NFL with big name free agents flying off the shelves left and right but so far through the first few days of his first free agency period as the General Manager of the Minnesota Vikings, Kwesi Adofo Mensah has remained patient.
It's tough to guess whether this will be the new GM's approach going forward or if he's just making the best of a salary cap situation in which he didn't have a hand in creating. If the latter, next season will be our first real glimpse into how the new GM approaches free agency.
Nonetheless, here's what's already happened this week for the Minnesota Vikings in free agency...
ACQUIRED:
QB Kirk Cousins - While this isn't a new acquisition, it started the moves with a 1-year extension that shifted nearly $14 million off the books in 2022 allowing the team some flexibility this year while giving Kirk another year of guaranteed money, $35 million to be exact in 2023.
DT - Harrison Phillips - Filling a void left in the middle Harrison Phillips comes over to the Vikings from the Buffalo Bills. In four seasons with the Bills, Phillips started 11 games including 8 a year ago where he tallied a sack and 28 solo tackles.
LB - Jordan Hicks - Coming from the Arizona Cardinals, Hicks has started in 51-straight games, the third longest streak for active LBs in the league right now. Signing a two year deal, Hicks brings with him 117 tackles, 5 passes defensed and 2 fumble recoveries from a year ago.
P - Jordan Berry - He's a familiar name because he's spent last season with the Vikings but he'll return for 2022 again. Berry averaged 46.5 yards per punt in 2021 for the Vikings.
TE - Johnny Mundt - Following his former offensive coordinator from the Rams, Johnny Mundt is a big bodied, run blocking tight end that could fill the vacancy with tight end depth in Minnesota.
G/C - Austin Schlottmann - Coming from the Denver Broncos where he started one game last season, Schlottman offers the Vikings depth and flexibility on the line.
LOST:
C Mason Cole - signed with Steelers
TE Tyler Conklin - signed with New York Jets
CB Jeff Gladney - signed with Cardinals after being released by the Vikings before the 2021 season