The 2017 season didn't end well for the Minnesota Vikings. They were stomped by the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game, 38-7. The good news is that they made it to within a step from the Super Bowl. The bad news is that they made it to within a step of the Super Bowl. Making it to the Super Bowl and winning it is always the goal. To hopefully make those last steps the Vikings made some pretty major tweaks to a very talented team this offseason. General manager Rick Spielman stated after that final loss that the team's top two priorities of the offseason were 1) finding a new offensive coordinator and 2) securing their quarterback of the near, and hopefully long-term, future. They were aggressive in pursuing both priorities and arguably couldn't have filled those needs any better.
OC: John DeFilippo
QB: Kirk Cousins
John DeFilippo is one of the hot names in coaching. He was the quarterbacks coach of the Eagles last season and received a lot of credit for getting Nick Foles ready for his spectacular playoff run in relief of Carson Wentz. In addition to his quarterback coaching duties, DeFilippo also played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Eagles red-zone offense. His status as a "hot coach" was confirmed when he received some head coach consideration during this year's coaching search cycle. If the Vikings offense is successful this season it's highly likely that DeFilippo's time in Minnesota will be a short one. If that turns out to be the case it was a strong move to also retain long-time assistant coach and current quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski as the likely offensive coordinator heir.
Kirk Cousins was the hot free agent of the offseason. That's partly because of the position that he plays. It's mostly because of the way that he's played the position and his age. Quarterbacks with his resume' (3-straight 4,000+ yard and 25+ TD seasons) and age (29) simply don't become available very often. The Vikings had three starting caliber quarterbacks on the roster last season. Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford, and Case Keenum. Each has had a strong season as the Vikings starter, each probably factored into the team's quarterback discussion this offseason, and each had significant question marks moving forward. Bridgewater and Bradford have health issues. Keenum simply had never before had a season like he had last year. Can he do it again? Cousins had fewer questions. Since becoming the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback he hasn't missed a start. He's had three consecutive seasons of strong offensive production. It's the sort of production that has him ranked among the league's best over those three seasons. He just has to prove that he can win games. The Vikings will surround him with talent. It's the sort of talent that should help him win games. Playoff games too. The only cause for possible pause on a Cousins deal was the huge price of it. The Vikings' decision-makers had been planning for a big quarterback contract. It's the nature of the game. They figured that big contract would come this year. They thought that it would be for Bridgewater. Or Bradford. Or even Keenum after his big, fun 2017 season. Instead, that quarterback turned out to be Cousins. And the Vikings have their first relatively young "franchise" quarterback since they thought that they had one with Daunte Culpepper over a decade ago.
Head coach Mike Zimmer had a third priority for the Vikings offseason. Add a disruptive 3-technique to his defense. A strong push up the middle of an offensive line has always been the best way to rattle a quarterback. It's the shortest and quickest path. Every defensive coach wants defensive linemen that can get into the offensive backfield in a hurry. The Vikings needed one and Zimmer wanted one this offseason. They ended up getting one of the best.
DT Sheldon Richardson.
News of the Vikings wining and dining Sheldon Richardson popped about the time that they were closing on Cousins. It sounded like a pipe dream to this Vikings fan. Cousins and Richardson. There's no way. Then it became a possibility. Then it became a reality. The Vikings are adding Sheldon Richardson to a line that already included nose tackle Linval Joseph, and ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter. On paper it's one of the best defensive lines in the league. On the field, it might be even better than it looks on paper. Richardson is one of the most disruptive 3-techniques in the game. Off the field issues and occasional attitude flares have sometimes kept his performance from matching his potential. The Vikings signed him to one-year "prove-it" deal. He needs the Vikings as much as they need him. If it works out for team and player, the league's best defense in 2017 got much better.
At least on paper, seeing as that's all we have right now, the signings of Cousins and Richardson alone give the Vikings their best free agency haul since the Steve Hutchinson, Chester Taylor, Ben Leber, Ryan Longwell haul of 2006. Adding Cousins and Richardson to a team that was one long step from the Super Bowl will help the Vikings contend in 2018.
The rest of free agency was used to add depth.
QB Trevor Siemian
WR Kendall Wright
WR Tavarres King
OL Tom Compton
DT David Parry
If everything works out as planned/hoped, Trevor Siemian will never see the field. The trade with the Denver Broncos that brought Siemian to Minnesota might be the second most important move of the offseason. An NFL team is often only as good as their backup quarterback. The Eagles proved that last season. Siemian has starting experience. He's had some strong moments as a starter. He's had some disappointing moments as well. That's why he was available. With the Vikings' recent issues keeping their starting quarterback in the lineup they have to feel better about having Siemian ready if needed. Hopefully, he remains on the sideline. Kendall Wright has been an effective slot receiver for several years. The Vikings essentially exchanged Wrights. They released Jarius Wright in a cap-saving move and signed Kendall Wight in what felt like one seamless transaction. If a player of Wright's talent is the team's fourth receiver the the team's in good shape at the position. Tom Compton should contend for a starting spot on the offensive line in camp. At worst he'll provide solid depth. Tavarres King and David Parry will fight for roster spots but could be on the wrong side of the numbers game.
Then we get to the draft.
The 2018 NFL Draft is where the Vikings offseason deviated from my "dream" offseason that had been taking place. I expected the Vikings to select a ready-to-play guard in the first round. A run on the position before the Vikings picked at #30 prevented that from happening. That's if they were even considering selecting a guard in the first round. They might've been eyeing Mike Hughes all along. Most, including myself, thought that he'd be long gone before the Vikings were on the clock. When he was still available maybe their plans changed. Who knows? I don't. As the draft played out I'm not so sure that I'd trade the combination of one of the top guards that was available at #30 and anyone in the second for Hughes and Brian O'Neill. A team in today's NFL can never have enough quality corners and Hughes has the talent to be an elite corner. The Vikings are currently set on the outside with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes but Hughes will compete for the nickel role this summer. The Vikings are in nickel about 2/3 of the time these days so that third corner position is essentially a starter. No matter how it plays out for Hughes on defense he'll make an immediate contribution as a returner. O'Neill will compete at right tackle but he's probably a year away from being truly ready for the NFL. Offensive line is still a little new for him and he needs to gain strength but the athletic ability and potential are there. He's likely a right tackle now but he might be Riley Reiff's eventual heir at left tackle.
Jalyn Holmes will back up Sheldon Richardson and factor into the defensive line rotation. Holmes might step into the starter role in 2019 if Richardson leaves for a giant deal after this season. Tyler Conklin should emerge as the third tight end. His unique athletic ability should give him an opportunity to make an impact as a rookie in the passing game, especially in the red zone. I already have Daniel Carlson penciled in as the Vikings kicker. He'll compete with incumbent Kai Forbath in training camp but it's probably a competition in name only. The Vikings wouldn't select a kicker in the fifth round if they had doubts about him winning the job. The guard position was finally addressed in the sixth round. I was surprised that Colby Gossett was still available. I thought that he'd be gone by the fourth. That's one of the reasons I'm doing this and not doing the real scouting stuff. Gossett will compete this summer for a starting spot but it's more likely that he provides decent depth as a rookie. Ade Aruna continues a Vikings draft tradition of adding a long, athletic defensive end late in the draft (or after). Like Stephen Weatherly, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and Tashawn Bower, Aruna is a developmental pass rusher with absolutely ridiculous test scores. Actually, his test scores are more ridiculous than the others. His look more like those of a back or receiver. He's probably a year from an NFL field unless he's a super-quick study. I thought that about Bower as well but he made the team last year. I think that Aruna's on the practice squad this year. If he makes the 53-man roster this year it could be because the Vikings don't want to make him available to the other 31 teams. His athletic ability is so ridiculous that another team could snatch him away if the Vikings aren't protective of him.
Then we get to Devante Downs. As a Cal alum I was thrilled with this pick. Downs might've been the best defensive player in the Pac-12 last year until a knee injury ended his season after seven games. That's in a conference that included Vita Vea. Downs was all over the field leading a surprisingly improved Bears defense. The Vikings need linebacker depth and if healthy Downs can provide that. The Vikings and Cal haven't always played well together. Joe Kapp, Todd Steussie, and Ryan Longwell are probably the most notable of former Golden Bears to make a mark as professionals in Minnesota. All three had fine moments with Longwell probably having the most sustained success. Downs is the sort of talent that can top those three players. If he's healthy and can stay healthy. Before the knee injury, I thought that he compared favorably to former Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks. Downs blitzed, ran down ball carriers, and covered like a bigger version of Kendricks. Again, if he's healthy and can stay healthy, the Vikings might've found a seventh round steal in Downs. But that could just be my Cal bias clouding things.
Northern Illinois receiver Chad Beebe was also signed after the draft.
It wouldn't have been a surprise if cornerback Holton Hill had been drafted at some point. He was an early round talent that dropped out of the draft due to off field concerns. He impressed during the Vikings' OTAs and mini-camp. There were some rumblings that the coaches see him as an eventual starter. That seems a bit premature seeing as corners can't press or do much of anything else against receivers during these offseason workouts. Despite that, it's still promising and Hill is a promising talent. Running backs Mike Boone and Roc Thomas are in contention for the third running back role. That battle could be one of the most interesting in training camp. Receivers Chad Beebe, Korey Robertson, Jeff Badet, and Jake Weineke could contend for one of the final receiver spots. Beebe was singled out by Zimmer as a player that impressed in offseaon work. Badet might be the fastest player on the team. As with Hill, it wouldn't have been a surprise if Hercules Mata'afa had been selected in the draft. Position uncertainty was the only apparent question to his game. That position uncertainty makes him perhaps the most interesting of the Vikings' rookies. At 6'2" and 254 lbs, he was a severely under-sized interior lineman on Washington State's defense. He was sturdy enough and strong enough to hold up against the pounding of players that sometimes outweighed him by nearly 100 lbs and he was often too quick for the big guys to block. The Vikings tried him at linebacker for some practices and ultimately moved him back to the line. He can rush the passer in a variety of ways. As a stand-up end, hand-in-the-dirt end, an interior rusher, or as a linebacker threatening the gaps. His style of play offers tremendous possibilities on every special teams unit. Hell, maybe he can even line up as a lead blocker on offense. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during one of the final practices. The bad news is that his season is over. The good news is that he's on the team for a year, rehabbing, and familiarizing himself with the Vikings defense, special teams, whatever as well as adjusting to NFL life and routines.
The Minnesota Vikings 2018 offseason stands out for some significant reasons. They were so close to the big prize last year. They return a tremendously talented, young roster this year. In Kirk Cousins, they add a proven, very productive, still young quarterback that hasn't missed a start in over three years. In Sheldon Richardson, they added a disruptive 3-technique. Those two players are the sort of players that really shouldn't be available but were this offseason. They also filled the Vikings two most glaring holes. The offensive line might be the area with the greatest need for improvement but quarterback and 3-technique were the most obvious holes. At the start of free agency they had no proven starter at either position. In John DeFilippo, they added one of the most promising play callers and offensive coaches in the league. The Vikings are a more talented football team right now than they were last season. If they play to that talent they should be in contention in January to play for that game in February.
OC: John DeFilippo
QB: Kirk Cousins
John DeFilippo is one of the hot names in coaching. He was the quarterbacks coach of the Eagles last season and received a lot of credit for getting Nick Foles ready for his spectacular playoff run in relief of Carson Wentz. In addition to his quarterback coaching duties, DeFilippo also played a significant role in the development and implementation of the Eagles red-zone offense. His status as a "hot coach" was confirmed when he received some head coach consideration during this year's coaching search cycle. If the Vikings offense is successful this season it's highly likely that DeFilippo's time in Minnesota will be a short one. If that turns out to be the case it was a strong move to also retain long-time assistant coach and current quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski as the likely offensive coordinator heir.
Kirk Cousins was the hot free agent of the offseason. That's partly because of the position that he plays. It's mostly because of the way that he's played the position and his age. Quarterbacks with his resume' (3-straight 4,000+ yard and 25+ TD seasons) and age (29) simply don't become available very often. The Vikings had three starting caliber quarterbacks on the roster last season. Teddy Bridgewater, Sam Bradford, and Case Keenum. Each has had a strong season as the Vikings starter, each probably factored into the team's quarterback discussion this offseason, and each had significant question marks moving forward. Bridgewater and Bradford have health issues. Keenum simply had never before had a season like he had last year. Can he do it again? Cousins had fewer questions. Since becoming the Washington Redskins' starting quarterback he hasn't missed a start. He's had three consecutive seasons of strong offensive production. It's the sort of production that has him ranked among the league's best over those three seasons. He just has to prove that he can win games. The Vikings will surround him with talent. It's the sort of talent that should help him win games. Playoff games too. The only cause for possible pause on a Cousins deal was the huge price of it. The Vikings' decision-makers had been planning for a big quarterback contract. It's the nature of the game. They figured that big contract would come this year. They thought that it would be for Bridgewater. Or Bradford. Or even Keenum after his big, fun 2017 season. Instead, that quarterback turned out to be Cousins. And the Vikings have their first relatively young "franchise" quarterback since they thought that they had one with Daunte Culpepper over a decade ago.
Head coach Mike Zimmer had a third priority for the Vikings offseason. Add a disruptive 3-technique to his defense. A strong push up the middle of an offensive line has always been the best way to rattle a quarterback. It's the shortest and quickest path. Every defensive coach wants defensive linemen that can get into the offensive backfield in a hurry. The Vikings needed one and Zimmer wanted one this offseason. They ended up getting one of the best.
DT Sheldon Richardson.
News of the Vikings wining and dining Sheldon Richardson popped about the time that they were closing on Cousins. It sounded like a pipe dream to this Vikings fan. Cousins and Richardson. There's no way. Then it became a possibility. Then it became a reality. The Vikings are adding Sheldon Richardson to a line that already included nose tackle Linval Joseph, and ends Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter. On paper it's one of the best defensive lines in the league. On the field, it might be even better than it looks on paper. Richardson is one of the most disruptive 3-techniques in the game. Off the field issues and occasional attitude flares have sometimes kept his performance from matching his potential. The Vikings signed him to one-year "prove-it" deal. He needs the Vikings as much as they need him. If it works out for team and player, the league's best defense in 2017 got much better.
At least on paper, seeing as that's all we have right now, the signings of Cousins and Richardson alone give the Vikings their best free agency haul since the Steve Hutchinson, Chester Taylor, Ben Leber, Ryan Longwell haul of 2006. Adding Cousins and Richardson to a team that was one long step from the Super Bowl will help the Vikings contend in 2018.
The rest of free agency was used to add depth.
QB Trevor Siemian
WR Kendall Wright
WR Tavarres King
OL Tom Compton
DT David Parry
If everything works out as planned/hoped, Trevor Siemian will never see the field. The trade with the Denver Broncos that brought Siemian to Minnesota might be the second most important move of the offseason. An NFL team is often only as good as their backup quarterback. The Eagles proved that last season. Siemian has starting experience. He's had some strong moments as a starter. He's had some disappointing moments as well. That's why he was available. With the Vikings' recent issues keeping their starting quarterback in the lineup they have to feel better about having Siemian ready if needed. Hopefully, he remains on the sideline. Kendall Wright has been an effective slot receiver for several years. The Vikings essentially exchanged Wrights. They released Jarius Wright in a cap-saving move and signed Kendall Wight in what felt like one seamless transaction. If a player of Wright's talent is the team's fourth receiver the the team's in good shape at the position. Tom Compton should contend for a starting spot on the offensive line in camp. At worst he'll provide solid depth. Tavarres King and David Parry will fight for roster spots but could be on the wrong side of the numbers game.
Then we get to the draft.
| Round | Player | Position | College | Ht | Wt |
| 1 | Mike Hughes | CB | Central Florida | 5'10" | 189 |
| 2 | Brian O'Neill | OT | Pittsburgh | 6'7" | 297 |
| 4 | Jalyn Holmes | DE | Ohio State | 6'5" | 283 |
| 5 | Tyler Conklin | TE | Central Michigan | 6'3" | 254 |
| 5 | Daniel Carlson | K | Auburn | 6'5" | 213 |
| 6 | Colby Gossett | G | Appalachian State | 6'5" | 315 |
| 6 | Ade Aruna | DE | Tulane | 6'5" | 262 |
| 7 | Devante Downs | LB | California | 6'2" | 252 |
The 2018 NFL Draft is where the Vikings offseason deviated from my "dream" offseason that had been taking place. I expected the Vikings to select a ready-to-play guard in the first round. A run on the position before the Vikings picked at #30 prevented that from happening. That's if they were even considering selecting a guard in the first round. They might've been eyeing Mike Hughes all along. Most, including myself, thought that he'd be long gone before the Vikings were on the clock. When he was still available maybe their plans changed. Who knows? I don't. As the draft played out I'm not so sure that I'd trade the combination of one of the top guards that was available at #30 and anyone in the second for Hughes and Brian O'Neill. A team in today's NFL can never have enough quality corners and Hughes has the talent to be an elite corner. The Vikings are currently set on the outside with Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes but Hughes will compete for the nickel role this summer. The Vikings are in nickel about 2/3 of the time these days so that third corner position is essentially a starter. No matter how it plays out for Hughes on defense he'll make an immediate contribution as a returner. O'Neill will compete at right tackle but he's probably a year away from being truly ready for the NFL. Offensive line is still a little new for him and he needs to gain strength but the athletic ability and potential are there. He's likely a right tackle now but he might be Riley Reiff's eventual heir at left tackle.
Jalyn Holmes will back up Sheldon Richardson and factor into the defensive line rotation. Holmes might step into the starter role in 2019 if Richardson leaves for a giant deal after this season. Tyler Conklin should emerge as the third tight end. His unique athletic ability should give him an opportunity to make an impact as a rookie in the passing game, especially in the red zone. I already have Daniel Carlson penciled in as the Vikings kicker. He'll compete with incumbent Kai Forbath in training camp but it's probably a competition in name only. The Vikings wouldn't select a kicker in the fifth round if they had doubts about him winning the job. The guard position was finally addressed in the sixth round. I was surprised that Colby Gossett was still available. I thought that he'd be gone by the fourth. That's one of the reasons I'm doing this and not doing the real scouting stuff. Gossett will compete this summer for a starting spot but it's more likely that he provides decent depth as a rookie. Ade Aruna continues a Vikings draft tradition of adding a long, athletic defensive end late in the draft (or after). Like Stephen Weatherly, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and Tashawn Bower, Aruna is a developmental pass rusher with absolutely ridiculous test scores. Actually, his test scores are more ridiculous than the others. His look more like those of a back or receiver. He's probably a year from an NFL field unless he's a super-quick study. I thought that about Bower as well but he made the team last year. I think that Aruna's on the practice squad this year. If he makes the 53-man roster this year it could be because the Vikings don't want to make him available to the other 31 teams. His athletic ability is so ridiculous that another team could snatch him away if the Vikings aren't protective of him.
Then we get to Devante Downs. As a Cal alum I was thrilled with this pick. Downs might've been the best defensive player in the Pac-12 last year until a knee injury ended his season after seven games. That's in a conference that included Vita Vea. Downs was all over the field leading a surprisingly improved Bears defense. The Vikings need linebacker depth and if healthy Downs can provide that. The Vikings and Cal haven't always played well together. Joe Kapp, Todd Steussie, and Ryan Longwell are probably the most notable of former Golden Bears to make a mark as professionals in Minnesota. All three had fine moments with Longwell probably having the most sustained success. Downs is the sort of talent that can top those three players. If he's healthy and can stay healthy. Before the knee injury, I thought that he compared favorably to former Cal linebacker Mychal Kendricks. Downs blitzed, ran down ball carriers, and covered like a bigger version of Kendricks. Again, if he's healthy and can stay healthy, the Vikings might've found a seventh round steal in Downs. But that could just be my Cal bias clouding things.
In recent years, the Vikings have spent more work, time and money on the undrafted free agent market. That extra effort paid off last year with defensive end Tashawn Bower, linebacker Eric Wilson, and offensive lineman Aviante Collins. There might be some keepers among the players signed at the conclusion of this year's draft.
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Northern Illinois receiver Chad Beebe was also signed after the draft.
It wouldn't have been a surprise if cornerback Holton Hill had been drafted at some point. He was an early round talent that dropped out of the draft due to off field concerns. He impressed during the Vikings' OTAs and mini-camp. There were some rumblings that the coaches see him as an eventual starter. That seems a bit premature seeing as corners can't press or do much of anything else against receivers during these offseason workouts. Despite that, it's still promising and Hill is a promising talent. Running backs Mike Boone and Roc Thomas are in contention for the third running back role. That battle could be one of the most interesting in training camp. Receivers Chad Beebe, Korey Robertson, Jeff Badet, and Jake Weineke could contend for one of the final receiver spots. Beebe was singled out by Zimmer as a player that impressed in offseaon work. Badet might be the fastest player on the team. As with Hill, it wouldn't have been a surprise if Hercules Mata'afa had been selected in the draft. Position uncertainty was the only apparent question to his game. That position uncertainty makes him perhaps the most interesting of the Vikings' rookies. At 6'2" and 254 lbs, he was a severely under-sized interior lineman on Washington State's defense. He was sturdy enough and strong enough to hold up against the pounding of players that sometimes outweighed him by nearly 100 lbs and he was often too quick for the big guys to block. The Vikings tried him at linebacker for some practices and ultimately moved him back to the line. He can rush the passer in a variety of ways. As a stand-up end, hand-in-the-dirt end, an interior rusher, or as a linebacker threatening the gaps. His style of play offers tremendous possibilities on every special teams unit. Hell, maybe he can even line up as a lead blocker on offense. Unfortunately, he tore his ACL during one of the final practices. The bad news is that his season is over. The good news is that he's on the team for a year, rehabbing, and familiarizing himself with the Vikings defense, special teams, whatever as well as adjusting to NFL life and routines.
The Minnesota Vikings 2018 offseason stands out for some significant reasons. They were so close to the big prize last year. They return a tremendously talented, young roster this year. In Kirk Cousins, they add a proven, very productive, still young quarterback that hasn't missed a start in over three years. In Sheldon Richardson, they added a disruptive 3-technique. Those two players are the sort of players that really shouldn't be available but were this offseason. They also filled the Vikings two most glaring holes. The offensive line might be the area with the greatest need for improvement but quarterback and 3-technique were the most obvious holes. At the start of free agency they had no proven starter at either position. In John DeFilippo, they added one of the most promising play callers and offensive coaches in the league. The Vikings are a more talented football team right now than they were last season. If they play to that talent they should be in contention in January to play for that game in February.
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