With the official start of free agency looming in roughly 24 hours, the Vikings have only agreed to deals with a pair of their own free agents. But they continue to have discussions with the agents of players from other teams. One of the positions they have been targeting is at left guard.
The Vikings released starting left guard Charlie Johnson two weeks ago and Joe Berger and Vlad Ducasse, a pair of veteran backups, are scheduled to hit free agency tomorrow afternoon. So the left guard position, perhaps the weakest spot on the offensive line in 2014, is an obvious need heading info free agency.
The Vikings have expressed some interest in bringing Berger back, but a deal is not imminent, according to a league source. It is unclear if the team sees Berger, who will turn 33 in May, as a potential starter in 2015 or if they want him to resume his role as a valuable backup who can play all three interior positions in a pinch. He ended up starting nine games in that role last season.
The top guards in free agency are considered to be Mike Iupati, Orlando Franklin and Clint Boling. But Iupati is reportedly signing with the Cardinals and Franklin is joining the Chargers.
Still, Boling is an intriguing option. While he does not have the accolades of Iupati, a three-time Pro Bowler, the former Bengal is a good run blocker who would likely come cheaper than Iupati.
Plus, it probably doesn't hurt that Mike Zimmer was on Cincinnati's staff his first three seasons.
Boling, 25, was a fourth-round draft pick of the Bengals in 2011. He has been a full-time starter for them since 2012 and has started 47 games in his career. Most of those starts were at left guard.
Other free-agent options include Justin Blalock, James Carpenter and Dan Connolly. Or if the Vikings don't sign a starting guard in free agency, they could look in next month's NFL draft for someone who can compete with second-year guard David Yankey, who did not play as a rookie.
