Questions Answered: Big Name Free Agents, Vikings Needs Ranked, Adam Thielen
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the February 28th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Big Name Free Agents, Vikings Needs Ranked, Adam Thielen
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: If the Vikings do land one of free agency’s biggest fish, who do you think it will be?
Answer: We’ll roll with Miami Dolphins safety Jevon Holland.
It could play out like this:
- Harrison Smith retires.
- Camryn Bymum isn’t re-signed because his price tag is too fat.
- Minnesota would need a starting safety or two.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would take the money he could’ve used on Bynum and spend it on Holland. Brian Flores helped draft Holland in Miami four years ago.
Holland has also mentioned his positive relationship with Flores. He tweeted two years ago when Flores landed Minnesota’s defensive coordinator job: “Flo was apart of the reason I got drafted making my lifelong dream come true. I got nothing but love for him!”
Other possibilities: Milton Williams (DT), Drew Dalman (C), or a high-profile WR like Cooper Kupp or Amari Cooper.
Q: Rank the Vikings’ top roster needs in your opinion.
Answer: Sure —
- Cornerback
- Interior Defensive Line
- Interior Offensive Line
- Safety — if Smith and Bynum leave
- Running Back
- Backup Inside Linebacker
It’s worth mentioning that these positions need upgrades. Minnesota won 14 games last year with its current setup, which, of course, isn’t awful.
Q: What percentage would you calculate for an Adam Thielen reunion this offseason?
Answer: 30%
The Panthers have actually turned around their [mis]fortune or have begun to, anyway.
Carolina can, however, save up to $6 million if it releases Thielen, so the theory can reasonably be in play. Let’s put it this way: if the Panthers cut Thielen, we believe he would join the Vikings’ roster instead of a new team.
The beloved former Viking probably has one or two seasons left. Why not Minnesota if he’s dropped by Carolina? It’s just a waiting game to see the Panthers pull the trigger.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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