The Minnesota Vikings are hoping to sign restricted free agent Kenny Onatolu without using their exclusive rights tender, according to The Pioneer Press. Via Jeremy Fowler:

The Vikings might want to sign Onatolu to a more cost-effective deal, with more years at less money per year.

An exclusive rights tender is a one-year offer ranging from about $1 million to $2.7 million. The NFL free agency period begins on Tuesday. The Vikings have two restricted free agents and 15 unrestricted free agents from last season's team.

Onatolu, a linebacker in his third season with the Vikings, is highly-regarded as a special teams player. He had 20 tackes last season and played in all 16 games. Onatolu played in the Canadian Football League until 2009.

For more on the Minnesota Vikings, check out The Daily Norseman. For more on the NFL Free Agency period in general, check out the SB Nation NFL Free Agency stream.