The cash-strapped Vikings didn’t waste any time Monday in freeing up $10 million.
The Vikings released guard Mike Remmers and declined the contract option on safety Andrew Sendejo. The move on Remmers, who signed a five-year, $30 million contract two years ago, saves them $4.55 million on the salary cap. Letting Sendejo go clears $5.5 million.
Minnesota then agreed to a three-year contract with defensive tackle Shamar Stephen, ESPN reported. Stephen, a seventh-round pick who played with the Vikings from 2014-17, returns after spending last season with Seattle.
The Vikings also offered one-year restricted free-agent tenders to safety Anthony Harris for $3.095 million and to tackle Rashod Hill for $2.025 million. The Vikings would get a second-round draft pick as compensation if they lose Harris but would not get anything if they lose Hill. They have the right to match any offer either player might get.
Free agency began Monday with the legal tampering period, and outside free agents can sign contracts when the new league year starts Wednesday. The Vikings began Monday with just $4.94 million in cap room before letting Remmers and Sendejo go.
Remmers started at right tackle for the Vikings in 2017 before moving to right guard in 2018 and struggling at that spot. Remmers’ agent, Brett Tessler, wrote on Twitter that his client declined the opportunity to restructure his contract, preferring to become a free agent.
“They approached us with the idea of restructuring, but this is the decision that was made and we look forward to our next opportunity,” Tessler wrote.
On the NFL transaction report, Remmers had a designation of “failed physical” on his release but Tessler declined comment on that. Remmers missed some practice time before the Dec. 29 finale against Chicago with a lower back injury but played all 57 offensive snaps in that game.
A league source said it’s not out of the question Remmers could end up returning to Minnesota this offseason. It depends on what offers Remmers might get and what the Vikings do moving forward.
Remmers was due to make $5.75 million in 2019. With his release, the Vikings will carry $1.8 million in dead money on Remmers.
The move on Sendejo was expected. He played in just five games last season because of a groin strain. Harris took over the job and was rated the NFL’s No. 3 safety by Pro Football Focus.
Sendejo had been with Minnesota since 2011. He was a starter during much of his tenure, starting 58 of the 93 games in which he appeared.
Sendejo signed a four-year, $16 million contract extension in 2016. In 2019, he was due to make a base salary of $5.45 million with a $50,000 workout bonus.
With Sheldon Richardson and Tom Johnson both free agents, Stephen provides insurance for the Vikings at three-technique defensive tackle. Stephen started at the position in 2016, Johnson in 2017 and Richardson in 2018.
It remains to be seen if the Vikings can afford to re-sign Richardson, who played in 2018 under a one-year, $8 million deal. The Vikings already have lost free-agent linebacker Anthony Barr, who will sign with the New York Jets. Barr made $12.3 million last season.
There also is uncertainly on the defensive line on whether Everson Griffen will be back. His contract would become guaranteed for 2019 if he’s on the roster Friday.
The three-time Pro Bowl selection at defensive tackle has a salary-cap number of $11.74 million, and the Vikings could look to restructure his deal. If they want to do that and Griffen isn’t in agreement, the Vikings could trade or cut him.
The Vikings will need cap room to retool their offensive line, especially at guard. In addition to Remmers being gone, last season’s starting left guard, Tom Compton, and the 2017 starter at left guard, Nick Easton, are both free agents.
Easton missed all of season after undergoing neck surgery. He has been cleared by a doctor to return, and the Vikings could re-sign him.
There has been speculation the Vikings might consider in free agency versatile offensive lineman Billy Turner, a Shoreview native and former Mounds View High School star who started five games last season for Denver. However, a source said Monday that Turner has good offers from other teams and likely won’t sign with Minnesota.
“To be completely honest, I don’t know where I’m going to end up,’’ Turner said. “I’ll just have to wait until Wednesday and see what happens. I could end up anywhere. I believe good things are going to happen wherever the destination is.’’
Turner, whose father Maurice Turner was a Minnesota running back from 1984-85, makes his offseason home in Roseville. He has been working out at Training Haus, which is next to the Vikings’ TCO Performance Center in Eagan.
