Vikings Free Agency 2012: Which Current Vikings Will Be Retained?

Coming off of a 3-13 season, you wouldn't think that the Minnesota Vikings would be in a tremendous hurry to keep many of the players from the roster that are facing free agency this off-season. Looking at the list of the players that could potentially hit the open market, that appears to be a pretty safe assumption.

The Vikings have 18 players set to hit the free agent market on March 13, and it doesn't look like very many of them are going to be retained. Here is the list of players, along with an idea of whether or not they'll be back in purple and gold next season.

Restricted free agents

RB Lorenzo Booker - Doubtful, due to a serious care of fumbilitis and the fact that he could be replaced in-house.

LB Kenny Onatolu - If he thinks he can be more than a special teamer somewhere else, then he might not be back.

Unrestricted free agents

S Husain Abdullah - He's had four concussions over the course of the last two years, but has been cleared to play again. One of the more interesting free agents the Vikings need to consider.

LB Xavier Adibi - Made no impact on the team this season, won't be back.

WR Devin Aromashodu - Only if he's interested in coming back on the cheap, wouldn't anticipate him being back.

WR Greg Camarillo - Barely saw the field in 2011, probably won't be back.

DT Fred Evans - I'd be surprised if he were back, unless the Vikings feel they need someone to jump offsides in crucial situations.

DT Letroy Guion - Young enough and has shown enough where he could be back on a relatively inexpensive deal.

S Tyrell Johnson - It appears that Johnson is officially out of chances in Minnesota, and that was likely the case even before he got injured last season.

LB E.J. Henderson - We love Henderson the Elder, and he's been a warrior after suffering a horrific injury, but he's not what he used to be in coverage. Likely won't be back.

LB Erin Henderson - Henderson the Younger, on the other hand, is the one in-house free agent that the Vikings almost have to retain. Had a fine season in 2011 and deserves a chance to do more.

LS Matt Katula - The return of normal long snapper Cullen Loeffler, coupled with the fact that Katula was awful in his limited stint with the Vikings in 2011, pretty much guarantees he won't be back in 2012.

TE Jim Kleinsasser - Hanging up the spikes, won't be back.

OL Scott Kooistra - Doubtful after suffering a serious neck injury in training camp last year, would be a backup at best if he did come back.

S Jarrad Page - Probably not going to be back.

QB Sage Rosenfels - Might be interested in staying as a veteran mentor to Christian Ponder and Joe Webb, wouldn't be surprising to see him back.

CB Benny Sapp - Helped out a little bit at the end of 2011, but with the Vikings' secondary needing a complete flush, he likely won't be back.

TE Visanthe Shiancoe - Likely the free agent the Vikings are having the most internal debate about. He's getting up in age and the Vikings want to give more snaps to Kyle Rudolph, but he can still be a capable receiver. Will be interesting to see if he comes back.