Vikings Offseason

Fans of NFL teams do a lot of stupid things. Among them is planning/predicting their team's offseason plans. For one thing, it really doesn't matter. The teams will, hopefully, do whatever it takes to get better, to get closer to a Super Bowl win. The real decision-makers may have an entirely different view as to how best get to the Super Bowl than the fans. It's also easy for the fans to play with other people's money. Even if it's the fans that supply that money. Anyway, no matter how pointless it is for fans to map out their team's offseason path, we still do it. I do it. Every year since free agency provided a means for offseason player movement I've done it. Here's my early plan for the Minnesota Vikings 2014 offseason. It changes often. Even daily.

New head coach Mike Zimmer joins the Vikings decision-making team. He's never been a head coach so his views on team building is something of mystery. What isn't a mystery is that the Vikings have to get better at quarterback and on defense. All of the defense. Here we go:

Re-sign:
DE Everson Griffen
CB Chris Cook
QB Matt Cassel
G/C Joe Berger
CB/PR Marcus Sherels
DT Fred Evans
WR Jerome Simpson

While Matt Cassel isn't the long term answer at quarterback, I think that he's the best veteran option this offseason. He knows the Vikings offensive players and I think that he'll adjust well to new offensive coordinator Norv Turner. I wish that the Vikings could keep running back Toby Gerhart but he deserves a shot at being the top ball carrier for a team.

Sign:
CB Alterraun Verner  Tennessee Titans
DT/DE Arthur Jones DE/DT Baltimore Ravens

For a while, I've felt that the Vikings needed a big-body defensive tackle to plug up the middle of the offense and take blockers away from linemates and linebackers. The Vikings have been missing that type of player since Pat Williams retired/was let go. We don't yet know what sort of football players Zimmer wants on his defensive line. I'm guessing that his players might be more versatile than set in one position. I'm thinking that he might go quicker over bigger. I'm thinking that a defensive tackle like Arthur Jones might fit Zimmer's plans better than a big guy. Lamarr Houston of the Oakland Raiders might be another player like that. The Raiders have a ton of cap space so if they have interest in keeping Houston, and they should, he'll likely be off the market. At 315 lbs, Jones isn't all that small. And, at 300+lbs, Houston isn't either. Both are versatile. Either one would be a terrific addition. Alterraun Verner might be headed for a real big payday in the next month. I'm not sure that the Vikings will get in a bidding war for any player. I've been intrigued by Verner since his UCLA days. Right now, he's my top choice if the Vikings make a big splash in free agency. A corner like Sam Shields of the Green Bay Packers or Captain Munerlyn of the Carolina Panthers might be more realistic. I could see the Vikings adding a safety, maybe a guard, maybe a change-of-pace back but I think that adding a veteran quarterback (Cassel), re-signing Griffen, and adding a couple of defensive players are the Vikings top priorities in free agency. Then we get the draft. The best event of the NFL offseason.

Draft:
1. C.J. Mosley  LB  Alabama
2. Aaron Donald  DT  Pitt
3a. Zach Mettenberger  QB  LSU
3b. Stanley Jean Baptiste  CB  Nebraska
4. Deone Buccanon S  Washington St.

Predicting the draft at any time is ridiculous. This early in the process is just nuts. But, there it is. With the hiring of Mike Zimmer, this draft, and the additions in free agency, I think that the Vikings defense will be greatly improved. Even if Cassel starts in 2014, while a youngster, like Mettenberger heals, learns, and develops, I think that the Minnesota Vikings will be in the race for the division title.