Minnesota Vikings' Offseason Ledger-Style

This has been and offseason of change for the Minnesota Vikings. Most of that change has taken place on the defensive side of the ball. The changes on the defense included coaches as well as players. Perhaps some change was needed as there'd been very little since Mike Zimmer was hired as head coach of the Vikings in 2014. Had six years of stability allowed a little stagnation creep into the defense? Maybe shaking up the defense will spark something new and exciting. I guess we'll find out when Zimmer and a re-organized defensive coaching staff get their hands on a bunch of young, talented football players. Until then, here's a ledger-style look at who's new and who's gone in an offseason of change.

Players gone:

Everson Griffen

Linval Joseph

Xavier Rhodes

Trae Waynes
Andrew Sendejo
Mackensie Alexander
Marcus Sherels
Jayron Kearse
Kentrell Brothers
Reshard Cliett
Stephen Weatherly
Laquan Treadwell
Curtis Cothran
Josh Kline
Stefon Diggs

As long as Everson Griffen and Josh Kline remain unsigned, I suppose there is a chance that either, or both, could be re-signed.

Players added:
Free agency:
Michael Pierce, NT
Tajaé Sharpe, WR
Anthony Zettel, DE

XFL signing:
DeMarquis Gates, LB

CFL signings
Marcus Sayles, CB
Bralon Addison, WR

Draft:

1. Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU

1. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU

2. Ezra Cleveland, OT, Boise State

3. Cameron Dantzler, CB, Mississippi State

4. D.J. Wonnum, Edge, South Carolina
4. James Lynch, DT, Baylor
4. Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
5. Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
5. K.J. Osborn, WR, Miami (Fla)
6. Blake Brandel, OL, Oregon State
6. Josh Metellus, S, Michigan
7. Kenny Willekes, Edge, Michigan State
7. Nate Stanley, QB, Iowa
7. Brian Cole II, S, Mississippi State
7. Kyle Hinton, G, Washburn

Undrafted free agents:
Brady Aiello, OL, Oregon
Nevelle Clarke, CB, Central Florida
Jake Bargas, TE, North Carolina
Dan Chisena, WR, Penn State
Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M
Myles Dorn, CB, North Carolina
Jordan Fehr, LB, Appalachian State
Nakia Griffin-Stewart, TE, Pittsburgh
Tyler Higby, OL, Michigan State
Jake Lacina, OL, Augustana
Blake Lynch, LB, Baylor
David Moa, DT, Boise State

The Vikings lost seven starters, five on defense and two on offense.

Everson Griffen

Linval Joseph

Xavier Rhodes

Trae Waynes
Mackensie Alexander
Josh Kline
Stefon Diggs

As the nickel corner, Mackensie Alexander was essentially a starter. On paper, in early June, one can guess that the following players are the leading contenders to step in for the lost starters.

Everson Griffen-Ifeadi Odenigbo

Linval Joseph-Michael Pierce

Xavier Rhodes-Holton Hill

Trae Waynes-Jeff Gladney
Mackensie Alexander-Mike Hughes
Josh Kline-Dru Samia
Stefon Diggs-Justin Jefferson

Most of those projections are pretty straight forward. Cornerback isn't. The Vikings lost their top three corners. I see Mike Hughes, Jeff Gladney, and Holton Hill as the new top three corners. Kris Boyd and rookie Cameron Dantzler are in the mix as well. Where they fit on the field is only a guess right now. I like Hughes and Gladney as the top 2. In nickel, I currently like Hill taking the field and Hughes moving to the nickel spot. But it's all just a guess right now. The competition at cornerback will be a blast. It's a very talented group. It's also a very inexperienced group. Perhaps it's just the mystery of it all but I'm more excited about this group than I would've been if any combination and number of Rhodes, Waynes, and Alexander had returned.

There were some painful departures this offseason. Everson Griffen, Stefon Diggs, and Xavier Rhodes are among my favorite Vikings players of the past decade. I still have a tough time with the Diggs trade. I wish that it didn't have to happen. If he didn't want to be here it was right to move him. It was just so sad to see. The business of NFL team-building isn't swayed by feelings. At least the Vikings received a strong return for Diggs. And Justin Jefferson could develop into a special player.

Player change wasn't the only change on defense. There was something of an overhaul of the defensive coaches.

2019 Defensive Coaches:
Defensive Coordiantor: George Edwards
Defensive line: Andre Patterson
Assistant Defensive line: Robert Rodriguez
Linebackers: Adam Zimmer
Defensive backs: Jerry Gray
Assistant Defensive backs: Jeff Howard

2020 Defensive Coaches:
Co-Defensive Coordinator/DL coach: Andre Patterson
Co-Defensive Coordinator/LB coach: Adam Zimmer
Assistant Defensive line: Imarjaye Albury
Defensive backs: Daronte Jones
Assistant Defensive backs: Roy Anderson
Senior Defensive Assistant: Dom Capers

The coaching change that excites me most is the change in the defensive backfield. The possible stagnation of the defense last season most seen with the corners. Jerry Gray did some great work in his years with the Vikings. The defensive backfield was a team strength for nearly all of the past six seasons. I don't want to guess at some failing but the cornerbacks just didn't look right last season. As with the players, perhaps a shake up of the coaches was necessary. Enter Daronte Jones and Roy Anderson. The addition of Anderson is the one that intrigues me. He's spent significant coaching time with terrific NFL defenses in Baltimore and Chicago. He was also at LSU last season. The national champs has long been a Pez dispenser of defensive back talent. He was in Baton Rouge for a single season but it was a strong season.

I can't skip over the addition of Dom Capers to the coaching staff. He's been one of the league's best defensive coordinators for three decades. His voice and ideas in a room headed by Mike Zimmer, Patterson, and Adam Zimmer will be very interesting.

I'm an optimistic sort but this offseaon of change in Minnesota feels like changes in the right direction. It's easy to say that in June. We'll see this fall.