Vikings open to re-signing left tackle Kalil

Left tackle Matt Kalil never quite became the player the Minnesota Vikings hoped he would be when they made him the fourth pick of the 2012 draft, but the team is open to extending his relationship with him.

Kalil is set to his free agency after a season in which he missed all but two games due to a hip injury, and general manager Rick Spielman hinted his tackle-needy team could try to retain Kalil.

"We have a plan in place on everything," Spielman said, according to Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune. "But I also know I have a pretty good history of trying to keep our own guys as well."

The Vikings might not have a better option. Good left tackles are very difficult to find outside the early rounds of the draft, and the Vikings don't have a first-round pick.

It's possible a one-year "prove it" deal will be in the best interest of both parties. The Vikings would address their glaring need at left tackle for a season, and Kalil would get the chance to prove he can stay healthy before hitting free agency again in a year in hopes of cashing in.

- With H/T to Rotoworld