2014 Free Agent Tracker & Discussion

[maembe]

Some good things are being said about Leonard, and like I said there's some great scouting reports out there that just gush about his ability as a receiver. I think the Vikes should definitely give him a shot as the #2 TE, or at least as a pure receiving option behind Rudy. I always like it when your team gets a top high school recruit in the later rounds/undrafted just because it seems like there would be more potential for one of those guys to succeed as opposed to someone who really hasn't been coveted at all, which is the case with many UDFAs and late round picks.

He definitely has a shot. We don't have much beyond Rudolph, so I could see us running with Rudolph, Ford, and Leonard. He could definitely create some matchup issues for defenses.

[dead_poet]

He definitely has a shot. We don't have much beyond Rudolph, so I could see us running with Rudolph, Ford, and Leonard. He could definitely create some matchup issues for defenses.

Seriously...Rhet Ellison is still a player on the Vikings, right?

[Eli]

Seriously...Rhet Ellison is still a player on the Vikings, right?

Yeah, but Ellison's presence certainly doesn't negate the statement "We don't have much beyond Rudolph". Ellison isn't much of a receiving threat.

The Vikings will keep at least three TEs. Ford, Reisner or Leonard will be the third, unless some FA falls into their laps. Ultimately, TE should end up being one of the least interesting position battles going into the season.

[dead_poet]

The Vikings will keep at least three TEs. Ford, Reisner or Leonard will be the third, unless some FA falls into their laps. Ultimately, TE should end up being one of the least interesting position battles going into the season.

Rhett (who is 6'5) is probably the best blocker of the group and he's under-appreciated as a pass-catcher. He's likely safe. Leonard is probably the most athletic of the bunch but is the shortest and has some off-the-field stuff. He may end up on the practice squad, if he doesn't get scooped up. I'm guessing Reisner will be the odd man out. It wouldn't surprise me if Ford was cut either. It will be an interesting position battle, though.

[Eli]

Rhett (who is 6'5) is probably the best blocker of the group and he's under-appreciated as a pass-catcher.

Yeah, he probably is. Teams usually feel a need for at least one highly capable blocking TE, so Ellison is safe. I don't know what makes him underappreciated as a pass catcher, though, other than the fact that he wasn't thrown to that often. This could probably be said for any of the TEs. But great hands on TEs these days are a dime a dozen. Reisner has great hands, and Ford seems to, as well. What matters most is matchups against defenders. If TEs don't run circles around linebackers and consistently get open, then they're just another body on the field.

[maembe]

Seriously...Rhet Ellison is still a player on the Vikings, right?

Yeah, I guess I don't really think of him as being in competition with those other three because he's sort of a Fullback/Tight End hybrid who is more valued for his blocking ability. He's going to get his reps regardless of who we keep at tight end. He's not the kind of guy who you really use to create a matchup nightmare for defenses in the passing game like you do for the others.

[Funkytown]

Now that the offseason has reached June, the interest in Williams might pick up. Post-June 1 signings don't count against the NFL's mysterious compensatory pick lottery for each team.

Asked by USA Today's Tom Pelissero if the Patriots might be a good fit, Williams expressed an interest in teaming up with Vince Wilfork.

"Well, give them a call," Williams said. "Tell them to look me up."

A couple of other NFL teams have called, but Williams seems content to wait until August -- or even to contemplate retirement.

"I've done well managing my money. I think I'd be fine if I don't play," Williams told Pelissero. "But that's my hope -- I hope to be on somebody's team before summer's out."

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap200000 ... -look-me-u

[dead_poet]

Ex Vikings DT Kevin Williams is visiting the Patriots today. He's 33 and would be entering 12th year. Mulling retirement.

@tomecurran on Twitter

[PurpleKoolaid]

Kwill could still help out our Dline. I wonder what the bottom dollar would be to keep him on as a fresh body and Vet experience. And for the love of god I know they want to go young.

[Eli]

Kwill could still help out our Dline.

That's one of my greatest fears for this upcoming season. That Floyd and Joseph and whoever will all prove to be worse than a 34 year old Kevin Williams. And that after two or three games we're all going be asking why the hell the Vikings didn't re-sign him.

[Slick Rick]

That's one of my greatest fears for this upcoming season. That Floyd and Joseph and whoever will all prove to be worse than a 34 year old Kevin Williams. And that after two or three games we're all going be asking why the hell the Vikings didn't re-sign him.

Take some yoga classes if you're that uncomfortable about something that unrealistic. I don't even know how our interior line could be worse than it was over the last 4 years, but apparently you're really worried about it happening. Just relax, it's definitely better. I don't know how to prove it to you if nothing I've already said has worked, but think about it in the only way you really can. Our defense was historically bad, and let's just say a big part of it was because we were softer up the middle than uhhh... Well, we were soft up the middle. It was disgusting watching every running back pick up 5-6 yards at will, and it's been that way since 2010. If you don't think Joseph's a monster of a nose tackle, and if you don't think that our DL depth has significantly improved, then I don't think I'll convince you of that. You'll have to sweat it out for a while and see for yourself I guess.

[Eli]

If you don't think Joseph's a monster of a nose tackle

He's big. He's a little above average. But he's not even close to being a monster.

and if you don't think that our DL depth has significantly improved, then I don't think I'll convince you of that.

No, you won't. The middle of the line all hinges on Joseph and Floyd. Floyd had a few promising moments last year, but he's still mostly an unknown who could go either way.

[VikingPaul73]

That's one of my greatest fears for this upcoming season. That Floyd and Joseph and whoever will all prove to be worse than a 34 year old Kevin Williams. And that after two or three games we're all going be asking why the hell the Vikings didn't re-sign him.

sounds like the secondary last year.....antoine winfield was too old, overpaid, blah blah blah. He still would have been the best corner on the team BY FAR last year. I think the vikes would have won the division had they kept winfield last year. Now, would that have been the best thing long term???? maybe. maybe not. But it certainly would have been better for last year. Slick Rick pulled the rug out from under Frasier....but it's all Frasier's fault!!!!

OK OK relax. Just want to provide a little counter to the "Zimmer is God" , "Frazier is a degenerate" talk.

Go Zimmer and go Vikes!!!!!!

[PurpleMustReign]

Take some yoga classes if you're that uncomfortable about something that unrealistic. I don't even know how our interior line could be worse than it was over the last 4 years, but apparently you're really worried about it happening. Just relax, it's definitely better. I don't know how to prove it to you if nothing I've already said has worked, but think about it in the only way you really can. Our defense was historically bad, and let's just say a big part of it was because we were softer up the middle than uhhh... Well, we were soft up the middle. It was disgusting watching every running back pick up 5-6 yards at will, and it's been that way since 2010. If you don't think Joseph's a monster of a nose tackle, and if you don't think that our DL depth has significantly improved, then I don't think I'll convince you of that. You'll have to sweat it out for a while and see for yourself I guess.

I have the same fear... on paper it may be better, but with new schemes and new players on the team, you never know how it will work out.

[Slick Rick]

He's big. He's a little above average. But he's not even close to being a monster.

Where'd you hear that? He's a top 15 defensive tackle. There's a reason that the Vikings paid 6M for him. Nose tackles with his kind of athleticism don't come along very often.

No, you won't. The middle of the line all hinges on Joseph and Floyd. Floyd had a few promising moments last year, but he's still mostly an unknown who could go either way.

Yeah, it all hinges on Floyd and Joseph, and not the 5 or 6 other interior linemen that they drafted/signed. Most of them being upgrades over the guys who were our best from last year.