VT’s Full Position-By Position Free Agency Preview
Adam Warwas
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Today marks the opening of the three-day opening for “legal” tampering. Deals are starting to be made at a consistent pace and Vikings action is sure to be picking up soon.
Over the last couple of months we here at VT have put together some previews of each position that includes current roster situations, players potentially departing from the team this offseason, and look at who might be on the market to bring aboard and help get this team into the playoffs.
Here is a quick look at what we wrote in each Preview and the links to the more in-depth articles:
QUARTERBACKS
January 18 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Teddy Bridgewater starting. Christian Ponder and Matt Cassel gone. (Cassel has since been traded)
TARGETS: Brian Hoyer, Matt Flynn, lower-level camp arms.
RUNNING BACKS
January 19 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Adrian Peterson situation matters greatly and, at the time, was unpredictable. Matt Asiata and Joe Banyard back. Minimal investment at the position to form a decent committee with or without Peterson.
TARGETS: Lower-level free agents to compete for a roster spot in the case of a committee approach.
FULLBACKS
January 26 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Jerome Felton leaves the team (he since has opted out of his contract) for a larger role and the Vikings are content utilizing Zach Line and Rhett Ellison to fill the void.
TARGETS: Again, lower-level guys to possibly compete with undrafted free agents.
TIGHT ENDS
February 1 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: That they ignore tight end outright in free agency (they have since claimed Brandon Bostick off of waivers) with Kyle Rudolph, Chase Ford and Rhett Ellison manning the depth chart.
TARGETS: Training camp and practice squad fodder.
WIDE OUTS
February 11 – Brent LaBathe
PREDICTION: Use free agency, not the 11th overall pick, to add weapons to the offense. Seek out players willing to provide economical value as well as on-the-field talent.
TARGETS: Cecil Shorts and Michael Crabtree fit that mold of guys that might be willing to sign a “prove it” deal.
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
March 4 – Brent LaBathe
PREDICTION: They target a swing tackle, but no big names, as Matt Kalil and Phil Loadholt remain the presumed starters at least until Draft Weekend.
TARGETS: Depth players like Eben Britton or the re-signing of Mike Harris.
INTERIOR O-LINE
February 21 – Brent LaBathe
PREDICTION: A measured approach will be taken to eventually replace Charlie Johnson (since been released), but the Draft might be the better place to find that guy if David Yankey isn’t a satisfactory option. John Sullivan and Brandon Fusco will remain sure-fire starters.
TARGETS: Mike Iupati, Clint Boling, Joe Reitz and Joe Berger
THE SPECIALISTS
February 9 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Blair Walsh will, of course, be back. Cullen Loeffler to leave in free agency or retire (indications since this post suggest they will actually be bringing Loeffler back) and that a replacement for punter Jeff Locke might be found if the level of investment is minimal.
TARGETS: Punter Brett Kern is the only specialist free agent that sticks out as really exciting. Isn’t that sad?
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
March 2 – Austin Belisle
PREDICTION: Starters are set, re-signing Tom Johnson should be a top priority, and depth behind Linval Joseph should be solidified.
TARGETS: Tom Johnson, Jared Odrick, Henry Melton, and C.J. Mosley
DEFENSIVE ENDS
February 28 – Austin Belisle
PREDICTION: Brian Robison becomes a rotational player and Corey Wootton leaves in free agency. A safe approach to finding more pass rushing talent to fill out the depth chart.
TARGETS: Robert Geathers, Adrian Clayborn, Anthony Spencer, and George Selvie
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
March 5 – Carl Knowles
PREDICTION: A creative approach that includes value acquisitions, maximizing talent, and an on-field rotation of roles might be the best way to improve in 2015. One example could be to move Gerald Hodges inside and take advantage of the deeper value at outside linebacker in free agency that what is available at inside linebacker.
TARGETS: Bruce Carter, Akeem Ayers, Sean Weatherspoon, Malcolm Smith, and Justin Durant
INSIDE LINEBACKERS
March 3 – Carl Knowles
PREDICTION: A chance of Jasper Brinkley returning in a limited role. Perhaps moving Hodges inside and utilizing the current roster will be the most likely option with a very limited free agency class at the position.
TARGETS: Brandon Spikes, Rey Maualuga (since re-signed with Bengals), Mason Foster, and Nate Irving
CORNERBACKS
February 19 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Rhodes starts. Munnerlyn is back, possibly under a restructured deal. Robinson and Sherels are expected to play up to expectations with it being their contract years. The Vikings use both free agency and the Draft to invest, perhaps heavily, into the cornerback position.
TARGETS: Brandon Flowers, Byron Maxwell, Kareem Jackson, Patrick Robinson, Chris Culliver, and Tramon Williams
SAFETIES
February 10 – Adam Warwas
PREDICTION: Harrison Smith gets an extension at some point during 2015 and the Vikings make a serious push to pair him with another high-quality safety.
TARGETS: Devin McCourty, Rahim Moore, Louis Delmas, Da’Norris Searcy, Mike Adams, Antrel Rolle, and Dawan Landry