Kevin

Williams

He may be the best defensive tackle in the NFL. Williams finishes the year with 12 sacks and has 22 1/2 in his two-year contract. He is going to earn a monster contract extension before too long.

Both players should be involved in all offseason minicamps. Williams is the top IDP DT in the league, while Winfield is among the leaders at DB.

Williams will play Weeks 3-4 without a weekly salary -- the NFL suspended him two weeks and fined him four game checks -- but his StarCaps ban is officially over. Williams dealt with plantar fasciitis in training camp. The time off has him “feeling pretty good,” Williams says, and “helped my foot.” An elite run defender, Williams also has 15.5 sacks over the past three years.

An NFL source tells ESPN 1500 Twin Cities it’s a “minor” issue that’s expected to be resolved this summer. It’s likely the sides are in dispute over a bonus or incentive in Williams’ contract. Now the Vikings’ longest tenured player, Williams notched 38 tackles and five sacks in 14 games last season, grading out as Pro Football Focus’ eighth best defensive tackle in the process.

Beat writer Tom Pelissero has seen the contract himself and is assured by those in know that there is no two-year, $16.76 million option. Turning 32 in August, the six-time Pro Bowler is entering a contract season.

"(The Vikings) might not feel the same way,” Williams admitted. “My main thing is to have a good year and whatever happens after that happens after that.” Williams is entering the final season of a five-year, $33.2 million contract, but the pact includes a two-year, $16.76 option the Vikings can exercise next offseason. It’s doubtful Williams’ contract is revisited before then.

Williams and Floyd play the same three-technique position, but the Vikings plan to use Floyd to “spell” Williams rather than replace him in year one. Williams’ contract is up after the year -- and he’ll be going on 34 -- so this is likely his final season in Minnesota. Coach Leslie Frazier wouldn’t rule out using Williams at nose tackle if Floyd proves too good to keep off the first team.

Winfield will be 36 in June, but is owed a reasonable $3 million thanks to salary de-escalators and is coming off a standout season in the slot. Williams could be asked to renegotiate his $7 million base salary for 2013 whether Frazier likes it or not. “To have star players with the demeanor and the leadership qualities that they both possess helped our football team in 2012...That’s something that we’re going to talk about when we have our personnel meetings with [GM] Rick [Spielman],” Frazier said.

There have been conflicting reports on the option in Williams’ contract for 2013-14, but it looks like he will not reach free agency. The Vikes may ask him to restructure, however. The 32-year-old finished as Pro Football Focus’ 10th-rated defensive tackle in 2012.

It’s a big number for a player that entered his decline phase a few years ago. Williams, a five-time All-Pro selection between 2004 and 2009, will be 33 in August. The Vikings may ask him to restructure his deal, especially if they want to go after a big-ticket wideout in free agency.