Tracking the Vikings in Free Agency–There is More To Do

If you ever needed to see truth in the adage that every year in the NFL brings a new team because of roster changes, than look no further than the 2018 Minnesota Vikings to be. Already in free agency there have been so many losses coupled with big-name acquisitions that the people responsible for putting together the next game program are as hard at work as Rick Spielman and the personnel office staff.

Even though the Vikings went to the NFC Championship game last season and were considered “close” (especially according to a few betting sites), they will indeed have a new team in 2018. With two weeks gone since the legal tampering period began on March 12, the Vikings have been very active indeed—plus the number of former Vikings has grown considerably. Let’s take a look at where we are in free agency on March 26th—just one month away from the 2018 NFL Draft.

The Vikings made the biggest splash league-wide in free agency by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins to a whopping three-year, 84-million dollar (fully guaranteed) deal. They made him the highest paid player in the league and slotted him in as the new starter. That meant the Vikings were going to change at the most important position on the field and their three free agent quarterbacks were going to be looking for new jobs (more on that to come).

Cousins comes in with plenty of fanfare, as three other teams were interested in his services and two made bids. But he comes with plenty of expectations at the same time. With the Vikings on the verge, Cousins will be expected to get them over the hump, as he joins a team with decent offensive weapons (Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook and Kyle Rudolph) and a top-five defense to help him out.

But Cousins will have to quickly assimilate incoming offensive coordinator John DeFilippo’s new offense (as will the rest of the offense) and hit the run ground running since the Vikings have a tough schedule and likely face a team on opening week that should have playoff implications. There is little time for a break-in period for the new signal caller, and certainly Sam, Teddy and Case fans will be expecting the moon from him.

That will be an interesting challenge since the unit paid to protect said quarterback, the offensive line, has not fared well in the depth department since free agency started. Guard/center Joe Berger announced his retirement, which creates a hole on the right side and backup swingman Jeremiah Sirles left for the Carolina Panthers, which is quickly becoming Vikings East. The Vikings lost two solid and very versatile players, and it could preclude an offensive lineman being taken by the Vikings with their first selection in the draft (they needed to so before this even happened, in my opinion).

The Vikings did trade for former Denver Bronco starting quarterback Trevor Siemian to back up Cousins, which is a good move since the three quarterbacks on the Vikings roster last season all could be starting for another team in 2018—Case Keenum went to the Broncos, Sam Bradford to the Arizona Cardinals and Teddy Bridgewater to the New York Jets. It is still slightly jarring to think the Vikings, who have forever had problems at the quarterback position, had three potential NFL starters in the fold last season and they are all now gone. But like we said, every year is a new team.

Regardless, it is good to get Siemian in the fold, even though his track record was not great in Denver. With the aforementioned questions about the line depth in transition, a backup with starting ability is important—and no one knows that more than the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings did sign former Chicago Bears offensive lineman Tom Compton, who hails from Rosemount, Minn. This appears to be a depth signing to replace Sirles, as Compton has just 15 starts in 71 NFL games, although he is versatile and can play guard and tackle. But in Minnesota, backup offensive linemen are always called to start throughout the season, it seems. That is just how we roll.

The other big free agent signing (other than the re-signing of their own players) the Vikings made was to lock down defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, recently of the Seattle Seahawks. This a huge (pun intended) acquisition by the Purple, as the 6’ 3’’, 295-pound Richardson is known as a beast and will help Linval Joseph improve the interior pass rush of the Vikings. The pair should wreak havoc up the middle by disrupting opposing quarterbacks and plugging up interior gaps when running backs try to run between the tackles. The fact that Richardson is signed for only year is a little concerning—perhaps both sides want to see how it works out and an extension will come later.

But the signing apparently signaled two other Vikings interior defensive linemen that their services were no longer needed, as both Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen quickly raced out of town. And, being smart players, they both signed in Seattle, where Richardson’s departure left a big hole in the defensive line. While it makes sense for them to make the move, the loss of depth on the Vikings line is troubling, as Stephen was credited by his teammates as a player who did so much to help out on the line—and allow players such as Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter get after the quarterback. Johnson, who played well, is on the downside of his career, but the loss of Stephen creates a depth hole on the line that the Vikings will have to fill with the (hoped for) emergence of Jaleel Johnson and perhaps a draft pick.

The Vikings also signed tight end Josiah Price, who is returning to the team after spending the 2017 offseason with the Vikings. He joined the team as an undrafted free agent last May but was released during roster reductions. The Vikings certainly need some depth at this position, and could look to bolster it in the draft.

In addition, they signed long snapper Nick Dooley, who will come in and compete for the job with Kevin McDermott. McDermott is returning from a late-season injury—he had surgery on the labrum in his left shoulder, so the Vikings want to be sure they have the position covered. They likely won’t tender long snapper Jeff Overbaugh, who finished off last season for the Vikings and is an exclusive rights free agent.

Regarding the Vikings free agents they have brought back, it has been a slow but effective situation. The Vikings signed backup free safety Anthony Harris (good move), kicker Kai Forbath (important move), running back Mack Brown (good for depth) and defensive tackle Dylan Bradley (yet to be determined how good this is, but the Vikings need some depth at the position).

The bigger news is whom else the Vikings lost via free agency. We have mentioned the three quarterbacks, but the team also lost (as was expected) running back Jerick McKinnon, who signed with the San Francisco 49ers. This bad news was somewhat mitigated by the news that running back Latavius Murray renegotiated his contract. Murray and McKinnon split time in the wake of Cook’s injury last year in Week 4, but Murray got the lion’s share of the work. The Vikings might still need to find someone to fill the McKinnon change of pace role, as neither Murray or Mack do that as well as Jet did.

The Vikings also lost wideout Jarius Wright, which was not unexpected given his limited role, but not without regret given his production in that role. Wright moves on to Vikings East as a Panther and perhaps the Vikings will elevate Stacey Coley to take Wright’s role as a slot receiver. Coley could also get the job of kick/punt returner, as there are rumors of Marcus Sherels being close to signing with the Panthers–although those reports are now being reported as false. (Still, it makes sense that the Minnesota native would want to be a Viking/Viking East player for life–just kidding). So, nothing is official as of this writing, and I would personally like to see Sherels return.

The Vikings also lost defensive back Tramaine Brock to the Broncos and linebacker Emmanuel Lamur to the Oakland Raiders. Both defections affect the team’s depth but are not major blows to the roster.

The Vikings have two restricted free agents still out there that they can (if they match any offer) and should bring back: left guard/center Nick Easton and running back Bishop Sankey. They have to bring back Eaton, who played well at left guard last season, and the return of Sankey would be a great help to the running back room as a replacement for McKinnon.

That leaves wide receiver Michael Floyd, who is likely gone, Sharrif Floyd, who is (sadly) likely done and Terrence Newman, who will entertain other offers but is likely to return.

Historically, the Vikings have been busy during the latter part of free agency, as opposed to making big splashes early. But they flipped that script with the Cousins and Richardson signings. They have more to do, as the number of defections (10) versus the number of acquisitions (six, not counting the four re-acquisitions of their free agents) is a little lopsided. Look for more news coming from the Vikings in free agency.

 

 

 

 

 

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