NFL Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings Would Be Wise To Part Ways With Greg Jennings

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Greg Jennings

Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Greg Jennings‘ 2015 salary cap hit will be $11 million, second highest on the Minnesota Vikings roster behind only Adrian Peterson. Peterson isn’t yet a certainty to return in 2015, but neither is Jennings as his mediocre numbers and veteran leadership no longer warrants a star contract. Jennings lined up in the slot 67 percent of the time this past season, yet he finished the year with only 195 yards after the catch, third on the team behind Matt Asiata and fellow slot receiver Jarius Wright.

Wright finished the 2014 season with career highs in receptions and yards, and with the 5-foot-10 speedster entering his fourth NFL season, the Vikings could be looking to sign the former fourth-round draft pick to a long-term contract. Wright has proven to be a consistent contributor in his three years as a Viking, and with Jennings gone, he’d play more snaps and put up similar numbers all on a much cheaper contract.

Aside from already having a replacement for Jennings on the roster, another reason to cut the nine-year veteran is his inflated contract. With three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons he may have warranted that money when signed by the Vikings in 2013, but now two years later that $11 million could be better spent on the offensive line, or defensive side of the ball.

The Vikings have some holes to fill this offseason, most notably on the left side of the offensive line currently occupied by tackle Matt Kalil and guard Charlie Johnson. Kalil is on the last year of his rookie contract and will likely get one more year to start, but Johnson, who underperformed once again, is likely out the door along with free agent-to-be right guard Vladimir Ducasse.

The Vikings are lucky in that they have no major holes to fill on defense, giving them the flexibility to upgrade at any position. This means the Vikings can go after a real defensive game-changer, someone who will demand a high salary, but improve a defense that has already made strides in the right direction.

The Vikings are set to head into free agency with just over $5.5 million in free cap space, 12th in the league, and not nearly enough to lure a high-profile free agent to town. There are a few overpaid veterans the Vikings should be looking to cut, and Jennings is an easy target with his 2015 cap hit ranking seventh-highest among wide receivers.

Nick Baker is a contributing writer for Rant Sports and you can follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and add him to your network on Google.

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