With more than $40MM in cap room available, Vikings GM Rick Spielman and his staff will be busy adding talent to their roster once free agency officially opens at 3:00pm Tuesday. In addition to cornerback Alterraun Verner, Minnesota has also called to express interest in former Bengals defensive end Michael Johnson, tweets ESPN.com reporter Ben Goessling. Following up on that tweet was ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan, who tweeted that at least six teams should be involved for Johnson’s services.
More free agency notes from Minnesota and elsewhere around the league…
- Fullback Jerome Felton is pessimistic that the team will be able to re-sign running back Toby Gerhart, per Chris Tomasson of TwinCities.com.
- A league source told Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio that free agent quarterback Michael Vick is not likely to have interest in the Vikings or Jaguars after the re-signings of Matt Cassel and Chad Henne.
- The Bears and defensive lineman Michael Bennett have mutual interest, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Bennett is the older brother of Chicago tight end Martellus Bennett.
- Free agent safety Mike Mitchell has drawn interest from the Bears, Eagles, Broncos and Falcons, reports Joe Person of The Charlotte Observer.
- Recently released linebacker Jameel McClain has already visited the Bills and Giants, and is expected to visit the Vikings on Monday, said CSNBaltimore.com’s Bo Smolka.
- Due to the increased salary cap, Caplan tweets that it will be hard for the Rams to re-sign offensive lineman Rodger Saffold.
- Kevin Sherrington of The Dallas Morning News opines that the Cowboys should go ahead and release defensive cornerstone DeMarcus Ware, saving the team $7.8MM against the cap in 2014.