Alert: The Vikings need help in their secondary. And a lot of it.

This is not breaking news. But the team may have a chance to address that need sooner than expected with the Raiders releasing cornerback Stanford Routt on Thursday.

According to a report on ESPNDallas.com, Routt's agent Vann McElroy has identified five teams with early interest in the 28-year-old corner. The Vikings are one of them.

McElroy said Routt is scheduled to take visits to Tennessee and Buffalo with the Chiefs and Cowboys also expressing interest.

Routt played his first seven seasons in Oakland and started 15 games this past season, recording 49 tackles, four interceptions and 15 passes defensed. Routt also allowed nine touchdown passes in 2011.

Because he was released by the Raiders, who reportedly made the move to avoid paying a 2012 salary bonus, Routt is immediately free to sign elsewhere.

The major free agent market opens March 13. And if you're curious as to the comprehensive list of cornerbacks whose contracts expire next month, we've got you covered. Here's the list, in order of NFL experience, including all unrestricted, restricted and exclusive rights free agents:

  • Ronde Barber
  • Al Harris
  • Will Allen
  • Phillip Buchanon
  • Lito Sheppard
  • Roderick Hood
  • Rashean Mathis
  • Donald Strickland
  • Frank Walker
  • Nathan Jones
  • Benny Sapp
  • Travis Daniels
  • Kelvin Hayden
  • Carlos Rogers
  • Jason Allen
  • Will Blackmon
  • Jarrett Bush
  • Cortland Finnegan
  • Kelly Jennings
  • Tim Jennings
  • Richard Marshall
  • Dimitri Patterson
  • Leigh Torrence
  • Michael Coe
  • William Gay
  • Cletis Gordon
  • Corey Graham
  • David Jones
  • Adam Jones
  • Brandon McDonald
  • Paul Oliver
  • Aaron Ross
  • Eric Wright
  • Zack Bowman
  • Brandon Carr
  • Reggie Corner
  • Brent Grimes
  • Justin King
  • Patrick Lee
  • Elbert Mack
  • Antwaun Molden
  • Tracy Porter
  • Reggie Smith
  • Terrell Thomas
  • Justin Tryon
  • Jonathan Wilhite
  • Marquice Cole
  • Bruce Johnson
  • Jacob Lacey
  • Keenan Lewis
  • Roy Lewis
  • William Middleton
  • Greg Toler
  • Lardarius Webb
  • Byron Westbrook
  • Cary Williams
  • Tramaine Brock
  • Kennard Cox
  • Danny Gorrer
  • A.J. Jefferson
  • Bryan McCann
  • R.J. Stanford