The Minnesota Vikings wanted to sign free agent receiver Pierre Garçon two weeks ago -- right up until they found out how much they’d have to pay to get him.
The Redskins were very aggressive in reeling in Garçon, signing him almost instantly after the free agency period started. Jeremy Fowler of the Pioneer Press reports that the Vikings acted aggressively in contacting Garçon, too, but they exited the Garçon sweepstakes just as quickly when they decided that the five-year, $42.5 million deal with $21.5 million guaranteed that Garçon got from the Redskins was too rich for their blood.
Minnesota thought that if they could team Garçon with receiver Percy Harvin and have them both catching passes from quarterback Christian Ponder, they’d be putting together one of the best young pass-catch combinations in football. But Minnesota wouldn’t pay Garçon the kind of money that Washington paid.
Instead, the Vikings turned their attention to tight end John Carlson, who signed a five-year, $25 million contract with $11 million guaranteed. And they’ll hope a talented young receiver can be theirs in the NFL draft.