Minnesota Vikings: 3 Bargain targets still available in 2019 NFL free agency

One year after reaching the NFC title game, the Minnesota Vikings missed the playoffs. Could a few more free-agent additions get this team back on track?

There is little doubt that Mike Zimmer paid his dues when it came to making the rounds in the NFL. He built himself quite the reputation as a defensive mastermind. And in 2014, all his many stops around the NFL would finally pay off as he was hired as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. But in five seasons at the helm of this storied franchise, there have been plenty of ups and downs.

In his second season with the organization, the Purple Gang won the NFC North for the first time since 2009. Of course, the year ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 10-9 home setback to the Seattle Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs.

In 2016, third-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was lost in August was a horrible knee injury. The team traded for Sam Bradford and started 5-0, but dropped eight of their final 11 outings and missed the playoffs.

Bradford returned in 2017, but the injury bug struck again a few weeks into the season and it was Case Keenum to the rescue. There was a 13-3 finish and a trip to the NFC title game. But the Vikings were pushed around at Philadelphia in a 38-7 loss to the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.

General manager Rick Spielman and the organization looked to upgrade the quarterback position. They inked Washington Redskins’ signal-caller Kirk Cousins to a three-year, $84 million deal. He and the offense struggled throughout the season and there was plenty of blame to go around. It resulted in a disappointing 8-7-1 season and a failure to return to the playoffs.

The Vikings have seen their share of offseason departures. But is the club ready to add a few veterans at minimal cost?