Minnesota Sports Forum

http://www.startribune.com/for-vikings-in-the-offseason-there-s-work-to-do/368268361/

Can they fix their offensive line?

Zimmer has made it clear this will be the top priority this offseason, though it probably should have been the top priority last offseason. Zimmer already has let offensive line coach Jeff Davidson go, replacing him with Tony Sparano. He also implied that there will be open competition along the offensive line, from left tackle Matt Kalil to longtime center John Sullivan (assuming he regains his health) to young right tackle T.J. Clemmings. There should be a number of quality veterans available in free agency, and it's a safe bet that the Vikings will draft a lineman in the first three rounds for the first time since 2012.

What are their other needs?

Beyond the offensive line, the Vikings don't have many glaring needs. Credit should go to Spielman and, to a lesser degree Zimmer, for stocking the roster with young talent. Wide receiver is one position the Vikings should look to upgrade. Stefon Diggs proved to be a nice find in the fifth round last year and Jarius Wright is a reliable option out of the slot, but they are lacking a physical wideout with size who can make contested catches downfield. They also should look to halt the revolving door at strong safety. Their lesser needs include depth at all three levels of the defense and competition at punter.

Will Chad Greenway be back?

Greenway is the team's most noteworthy unrestricted free agent, along with veteran cornerback Terence Newman, who could be back in 2016. Greenway started the 2015 season off with a reduced role as the third linebacker but ended up playing nearly 60 percent of the snaps because of injuries to Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks. Zimmer praised Greenway's leadership after the season but stopped short of saying he thought Greenway could be an effective player in a starting role again in 2016. Greenway, 33, wants to play one more season with the Vikings. But the team could decide to move on from him.

Who could be cap casualties?

Wide receiver Mike Wallace, who had only 39 catches for 473 yards and two touchdowns in his first season in Minnesota, is not expected to be back, and certainly not at his $11.5 million salary. Veteran right tackle Phil Loadholt just turned 30, missed 21 games the past two years because of season-ending injuries and has a $7.75 million salary cap number. He could be a goner. And then there is defensive end Brian Robison. The fan favorite turns 33 in April, has a $5.1 million cap hit and defensive end Danielle Hunter impressed as a rookie, so the Vikings could ask Robison to take a pay cut in order to stick around.

Hey, what about Blair Walsh?

No, the Vikings aren't expected to part ways with Walsh after his last-minute miss in the playoff loss to Seattle. After Walsh had a down year in 2014, the Vikings showed their faith in the 2012 first-team All-Pro by giving him a four-year, $13 million contract extension. Walsh had a fine bounce-back season before he missed wide left from 27 yards against the Seahawks. Walsh handled the devastating miss with impressive class and accountability. But it would be understandable for the Vikings to worry if he ever will recover mentally and emotionally and, as a result, bring in competition at kicker.

Will Harrison Smith get paid?

The time has come for the Vikings to open up the checkbook for Smith, one of the NFL's most versatile safeties. Smith made it to his first Pro Bowl in 2015, albeit as an injury replacement. One suspects it won't be his last invitation. The Vikings used their fifth-year option on the 2012 first-rounder, ensuring that he will be under contract for 2016. But Spielman, with the help of vice president of football operations Rob Brzezinski, typically has reached deals with ascending players before their contract years begin. It will be surprising if they don't get something done with Smith before the 2016 season opener.

Will the Vikings make a splash?

It has been Spielman's preference to patiently build through the draft and remain relatively quiet during free agency, a strategy with which Zimmer is on board. But could this year be an exception? The Vikings will have roughly $20 million in salary cap space, according to OverTheCap.com, and easily could create a lot more. They went 11-5 in 2015, won the NFC North and seem poised to be legitimate title contenders in 2016. And they are opening shiny, new U.S. Bank Stadium this summer. So the Vikings might be tempted to seize on the moment and bring in a pricey, "unique" talent for a potential Super Bowl push.

Gotta love these hindsight articles. People seem to forget the Vikings pursued some top free agents last year but they picked other teams including that FA guard. It's not like the Vikings don't play in the FA market.

As for the oline, the Vikings had one glaring need at guard and also needed depth so they did use some picks on guys. If the line would have stayed healthy they could have figured worst case scenario they just plus Berger in at guard and go. Of course we know Kalil and Fusco were underwhelming on the left side which is a problem but going into the season there was some legit hope that side would be at least adequate. Of course the problem is upgrading Kalil. Those above average LT are hard to get. My guess is Fusco is better next year a year out of being completely healthy and used to playing on the other side. The bright side was Harris was pretty solid at RG he will be back and they can sign him to a multi year deal cheap enough they can live with it even if he ends up being a top depth guy if they somehow bring in some more talent. With Loatholt and Sully question marks health wise its a little tricky for the Vikings to Know what they need to do on the line.

I think for the other safety spot if there is a guy they like sure they will pick them in the draft but Sendejo does his thing (even if it would obviously be better if he was depth ST guy because there was a better option at safety) and they have some young players they like in Exum and Ant Harris. There are some in house options. We would all love to see them find a great safety in this draft or FA but Zimmer is picky about Safeties so if they spend on guy either by higher draft pick or money he is gonna have to be able be to good at coverage and against the run and not many guys really do that and the ones that do get paid.

Monster - I agree they did swing and miss a few times in FA. That Bengals DE being the guy I was most suprised about.

If you could sign a FA offensive lineman that didn't play LT who would you go with? I honestly am not sure. It would be between LG and RT. I think a LG will help Kalil and shift Fusco back to RG and Harris to RT. I wouldn't plan on Sullivan and Loadholldt next year. I would be happy if we got a possible future LT and Center in the draft.

Cut Wallace and use that money to sign Jeffrey from the Bears. He's exactly what we need on the outside. Re-sign Newman, draft a safety in the early rounds and let the rookie and Waynes fight it out for who plays and Newman gets the other spot at either safety or corner and then we have better depth on the backend. Cut Loadholt because he's not coming back from that injury at his size and try to bring in an elite RG and have Clemmings and Harris fight for the RT spot. Draft a LG and let Sully, Berger and that guy fight for the LG and C spots and give Kahlil one more year. So you build a lot of depth with two major signings and two top picks. That should be feasible with the 20 million plus 15+ from Wallace and Loadholt cuts while leaving some money for Smith's extension. Then use the rest of the picks on depth.

How much is Jeffrey going to cost?

bleedspeed177 wrote:How much is Jeffrey going to cost?

Thomas got an average of 14 per year so Jeffrey will probably get that as a starting point given the market for number 1 wideouts. So about $3 million more than Wallace to upgrade to Jeffrey. I think that's worth it.

khans2k5 wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:How much is Jeffrey going to cost?

Thomas got an average of 14 per year so Jeffrey will probably get that as a starting point given the market for number 1 wideouts. So about $3 million more than Wallace to upgrade to Jeffrey. I think that's worth it.

I think I would rather spend it on the OL or a top safety.

bleedspeed177 wrote:

khans2k5 wrote:

bleedspeed177 wrote:How much is Jeffrey going to cost?

Thomas got an average of 14 per year so Jeffrey will probably get that as a starting point given the market for number 1 wideouts. So about $3 million more than Wallace to upgrade to Jeffrey. I think that's worth it.

I think I would rather spend it on the OL or a top safety.

We had a top 5 scoring defense with crap starting next to Smith and something like the 31st ranked passing offense. Why should we spend our off season money on our strength (defense) and ignore one of our biggest weaknesses (passing)? There will be money after Jeffrey to sign an O-lineman and there will be plenty of them available in the draft as well. Legit top receivers are much more difficult to find in the draft. I'd cut Wallace and Loadholt and sign Jeffrey to 14/year and Weddle to 10-12 per year and use the draft to build depth everywhere else and hopefully a top pick or two happen to land on the O-line.

I get where you are going Khans. I just don't see Jeffery leaving with Forte being let to walk.

Weddle is done with the Chargers. I would love to see him line up next to Smith at US Bank next fall. I wonder if there is any chance to get George Iloka. Would he be able to work next to Smith?

I think think we take a good hard look at the health of Sullivan and Loadholt and either cut them or restructure them. I would love to find a LG. Kelechi Osemele would be awesome. Young LG that has played LT/LG/RT. Stefen Wisniewski would be a good pickup at center. It will be interesting how many of these guys actually change teams. Adding both of them would and subtracting Sullivan and Loadholt would get this teams line a lot younger and huge improvement in depth.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2016/02/12/pro-top-5-free-agent-guards-and-centers/

I prefer to approach it from position groups

They may need 4 CB's. If Newman is moved to S to replace Blanton, if Sherals is signed by a team desperate for a PR (like GB), if they walk away from Munnerlyn for cap issues, and they will almost assuredly not bring back Robinson. The thing about replacing CB's is that good ones don't usually become FA's, so they'll have to use draft picks.

I think they bring back Sendajo, unless another team gives him a crazy offer. I like Weddle, but not enough to cave to a crazy contract demand.

They could easily tell Robison he has to play two years to make the $5.1m left on his contract and give the $2.55m to Greenway. That would mean the only LB/DL they would need to replace is Cole, and Zach Moore and Edwin Robinson could do that easily.

The OL is their worst position group, and another position group that needs to be drafted because good ones don't usually become FA's

Zach Line could play FB and learn TE/HB to play Ellison's snaps if he doesn't make it back.

Wallace needs to be waived, and I totally think Jeffrey could end up a Viking.

Don't go crazy with Asiata and maybe give his carries to CP.

How about maybe TJ Yates as the new backup QB to save some money?

Give Sherals PR's to CP and Diggs.

I trust Spielman, not as much as I trust Ryan, but I trust him.