‘Pat Pete’ Tapped as Vikings Top Offseason Addition
Dustin Baker
|
It’s been a defense-only operation for the Minnesota Vikings from February through late April. General Manager Rick Spielman conducted a mini-bonanza in signing free agents, focusing solely on the defensive side of scrimmage.
No “outsider” free agents on offense have been signed to date.
Mason Cole, an offensive lineman from the Arizona Cardinals, was bartered to Minnesota for a 6th-Round draft pick, but that’s about it for offensive change. The strategy is curious as the Vikings are in desperate need of two starting offensive linemen to accompany Brian O’Neill, Garrett Bradbury, and Ezra Cleveland in 2021. Because the franchise has watched a copious number of free-agent offensive linemen flock to other teams, the working theory is that Minnesota must be content filling out the offensive trenches in next week’s draft. We shall see.
On the defensive side of things, new faces are plentiful. Dalvin Tomlinson from the New York Giants, Stephen Weatherly from the Carolina Panthers, Mackensie Alexander from the Cincinnati Bengals, Xavier Woods from the Dallas Cowboys, and Nick Vigil from the Los Angeles Chargers all turned purple and yellow via free agency.
Per Bleacher Report‘s Gary Davenport, though, the most impactful signing was Patrick Peterson from the Arizona Cardinals. Peterson inked with the team on St. Patrick’s Day — an apropos transaction for Peterson, holiday celebrators, and Irishmen/Irish women everywhere.
Davenport supported his assertion in saying:
Last December, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer didn’t pull any punches when describing his defense after the team allowed 52 points in a loss to the New Orleans Saints.
“Yeah, this is a bad defense,” Zimmer said, per ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “Worst one I’ve ever had.”
The addition of veteran cornerback Patrick Peterson isn’t going to fix all that ails the Vikings defensively, but the chance to play for Zimmer was one of things that Peterson found attractive about Minnesota.
“His defense has a very strong identity,” Peterson said, per Jack White of Vikings Wire. “And you know with me going into my 11th year, that’s something I want to be a part of. A guy that has a strong resume, a guy that taught Hall of Famers. [He] understands how to get the best out of great players.”
Peterson isn’t the perennial Pro Bowler he once was. But it’s no stretch to say he’s the best cornerback in a Vikings secondary that is long on youth but short on proven options. His experience is going to come in handy in 2021.
—
The Vikings require rejuvenation on defense — indisputably. In the Mike Zimmer era (since 2014), Minnesota’s defense never finished outside of the Top 12 for points allowed — ever. During the pandemic season, the defense succumbed to a fiery destruction.
The fall from grace was so foreign, so unbecoming of Zimmer — that something fell fundamentally rotten. And that was probably the injuries. Danielle Hunter, Anthony Barr, Michael Pierce, Eric Kendricks, and Mike Hughes all missed meaningful time.
On the topic of injuries and the misery that ensued, that’s likely why Spielman and Zimmer took free agency by the throat and signed only defensive personnel. If, indeed, this is Zimmer’s final year in Minnesota, it won’t be because of a flunky defense.
Echoing Davenport, the Vikings utilize young cornerbacks all over the place in Cameron Dantzler, Mike Hughes, and Kris Boyd. Alexander’s return also adds a veteran presence, but not quite like Peterson. With the Cardinals, Peterson was a three-time First-Team All-Pro.
Finally, the probable absence of Jeff Gladney will reverberate through the defense. Gladney is embattled in legal turmoil in Texas after an alleged, brutal assault of a woman near Dallas.
In light of that news, the Peterson signing is of the utmost importance.