Vikings Receive Middling Offseason Grade from Bleacher Report
Dustin Baker
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While a few eyebrow raises have occurred during the Minnesota Vikings 2021 offseason, most followers of the team are generally pleased with general manager Rick Spielman’s work over the last four months.
The most glaring concern on the offensive side of the ball involves the continued ignorance of the WR3 position. Minnesota has not showcased a true-blue WR3 since Jarius Wright — and he was decent, not stellar. Before that, the year was 2014, and the Vikings saw aerial distribution among Greg Jennings, Charles Johnson, and the aforementioned Wright — not exactly Murder’s Row. And preceding that, it was 2009. Brett Favre willed his pass-catchers to prominence.
For now with the 2021 Vikings, head coach Mike Zimmer will either enact his usual tricks in starting a player like Chad Beebe or Bisi Johnson at WR3. He might put immense faith in rookie wide receiver Ihmir Smith-Marsette for WR3. The Vikings could target tight end Irv Smith Jr. like a third wideout, making onlookers forget about a robust WR3 altogether. Or, you know, Vikings brass could actually go out and sign one — like Dede Westbrook who has serious ties to franchise’s WR coach, Keenan McCardell.
Bleacher Report has a different little grievance, however. Brad Gagnon of BR assigned the Vikings a cumulative offseason grade of ‘B-‘ with a brief write-up that is surprisingly positive despite the average score. The only dissent he has for Minnesota is the lack of emphasis on an RDE opposite Danielle Hunter:
“If Darrisaw and Davis can hit relatively early for the Minnesota Vikings offensive line, this offseason will be a complete success regardless of the fact that they could miss Wilson, Odenigbo and Harris on defense. At least they might also have replacements for Wilson in Surratt and Harris in Woods, although neither is likely to fill the shoes they’re tasked with stepping into. And they’re banking heavily on a healthy return from top pass-rusher Danielle Hunter, with only Weatherly and Jones providing support. Weatherly is not an ideal starter, and Jones might need time. That said, Darrisaw and Davis were tremendous value picks in Rounds 1 and 3, respectively, and the cap-strapped Vikes have at least kept themselves in a position to compete if quarterback Kirk Cousins and star back Dalvin Cook can excel in 2021. Plus, even with Harris gone, the secondary looks stauncher on the whole.“
For inquiring NFC North minds, the Green Bay Packers received a ‘B-,’ the Detroit Lions a ‘C’ grade, and the Chicago Bears a ‘B‘ mark.
Spielman focused on the defense — and that alone — for the first part of free agency, adding Patrick Peterson (CB), Dalvin Tomlinson (DT), Mackensie Alexander (CB), Nick Vigil (LB), Stephen Weatherly (DE), Xavier Woods (S). On offense, Minnesota traded for offensive lineman Mason Cole, which now looks more and more like a depth signing.
Notably, the Vikings subtracted the following men from their 2021 depth chart: Riley Reiff (LT), Anthony Harris (S), Eric Wilson (LB), Ifeadi Odenigbo (DE), and Kyle Rudolph (TE).
As for the draft, the spoils are as follows:
- Virginia Tech — OT Christian Darrisaw
- Texas A&M — QB Kellen Mond
- North Carolina — LB Chazz Surratt
- Ohio State — G Wyatt Davis
- Pittsburgh — DE Patrick Jones II
- Iowa State — RB Kene Nwangwu
- California — S Camryn Bynum
- Florida State — EDGE Janarius Robinson
- Iowa — WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette
- Central Missouri — TE Zach Davidson
- Pittsburgh — DT Jalen Twyman
That’s the broad picture. Gagnon is unimpressed with the Weatherly signing, indicating that without someone more star-studded opposite Hunter — the product may be lacking. And Gagnon might be correct. Weatherly did not fair well starting in Carolina during the pandemic season. After him on the Vikings current depth chart, the options are all incredibly young — D.J. Wonnum, Patrick Jones II, Janarius Robinson, and a handful of others.
Minnesota will hope that Hunter’s return to terror instant, freeing up space and attention for Michael Pierce, Dalvin Tomlinson, and an RDE to be named later. If that theory is incorrect, then, yes, the Vikings will have deserved a ‘B-‘ grade for the 2021 offseason.
There are always other EDGE rushers on the market, too. Justin Houston, Melvin Ingram, Everson Griffen, Ronald Blair, and Vic Beasley all need some love.