Vikings Offseason, So Far

The biggest addition of the Minnesota Vikings offseason was the hiring of head coach Mike Zimmer. He wanted teachers on his coaching staff and I think that he has them. This is the most confident that I've been with the coaching since Bud Grant led the team. If the Vikings had made no moves in free agency, I think that they are improved simply with the Mike Zimmer hire. Fortunately, the Vikings did sign some players. They really had to improve the talent on the team. Especially on defense. Here's what they've done so far:

Re-signed
QB  Matt Cassel
DE  Everson Griffen
WR Jerome Simpson
OL  Joe Berger
 G   Charlie Johnson
CB  Marcus Sherels
DT  Fred Evans
LB  Larry Dean

Signed
DT  Linval Joseph
CB  Captain Munnerlyn
CB  Derek Cox
LB  Jasper Brinkley
DT  Tom Johnson
DE  Corey Wootton
 G    Vladimir Ducasse
 S    Kurt Coleman
WR Lestar Jean
LB  Terrell Manning
TE  Allen Resiner

The Vikings really made no splashy signings. Re-signing Griffen and signing Joseph were probably the closest to splashy. They were certainly the biggest in terms of salary. The most significant signings were Cassel, Griffen, Joseph, and Munnerlyn. The Vikings had to keep Cassel. He's certainly not the long term answer at quarterback but they needed someone reliable in the sort term. They needed omeone that could lead the team as they transition to the "hopeful" franchise quarterback that is added in the draft. Griffen has a ton of football talent. He's ready to explode onto the football scene. Some in the media have winced at the contract that was given to him. I don't think that those people have taken the time to see enough of Griffen to judge since he's been a backup to Jared Allen for the past four years. When Griffen is on on the field he's been a difference-maker. Joseph will provide the big interior presence that the Vikings have greatly lacked since Pat Williams. Munnerlyn will help a secondary that was pretty shitty last year. He'll be a welcome presence opposite the very promising Xavier Rhodes. Cox was a big free agent signing of the San Diego Chargers last year. He was terrible in his one year with the team. Prior to that, he showed a lot of promise in his four years with the Jacksonville Jaguars. If Zimmer and secondary coach Jerry Gray can get Cox back to the way he was playing earlier in his career, the Vikings might have a steal. Johnson and especially Wootton will be nice additions to the defensive line rotation. Brinkley and Resiner are making their second appearances on the Vikings roster.

The Vikings didn't do a lot in free agency but they did what they had to do. They maintained some stability at quarterback. They kept some key starters. They added a couple of new starters in Linval Joseph and Captain Munnerlyn. They improved the team's depth. The most important part of the offseason is the NFL Draft. The Vikings have put themselves in a position where they aren't forced to concentrate on one position. The work done in free agency has given them options in the draft.