Although the Vikings released guard Josh Kline on Wednesday, a reunion between the two parties “isn’t out of the question,” reports Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune (Twitter link).
Minnesota attempted to get Kline to restructure his contract before cutting him, per Goessling. In this case, “restructure” almost assuredly meant “pay cut,” something Kline was apparently unwilling to do. The 30-year-old Kline signed a three-year, $15.5MM pact with the Vikings just last offseason, but made it through only one year before being released. Minnesota saved $1.56MM in cap space by parting ways with Kline but absorbed $4.46MM in dead money.
Kline, who has also spent time with the Patriots and Titans, played in 13 games for the Vikings a year ago, missing the other three contests due to injury. Pro Football Focus graded him the league’s 42nd-best guard among 63 qualifiers. He now joins a free agent guard market that also includes Andrus Peat, Ronald Leary, and Daryl Williams, among others.
Unless he comes back for free, that would be stupid as sht…4.46 in dead cap to rehire him for what, 4 mil a year? That cost more than just keeping him in the first place? F no.
Yeah that just Klines agent talking there is no interest from the Vikings now.
The Redskins gave up Erick Flowers at 32 graded guard for $10 million/year. Picking up Kline at $3 or $4 million would make sense. I’m not putting the number higher as the Vikings must know something we don’t, to swallow that dead money and lose a starting offensive lineman.