Vikings Message Board.Com

Will update this intro for links.

Quarterbacks: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... arterbacks

Draft priority: Very high. Once again, the Vikings find themselves in the hunt for a player who could be a franchise quarterback, and if there's one available with the No. 8 overall pick, they'll likely take one. At the very least, it's tough to see them not drafting a quarterback in the first two or three rounds of the draft.

Running backs: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

Draft priority: Low. The Vikings might want to look at another young running back if Gerhart departs in free agency, but if they're able to get by with the backups they have on their roster, they might not address the position. Peterson still runs the show here.

Wide receivers: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

Draft priority: Low. It's possible the Vikings could take a flier on a young receiver in case they didn't re-sign Simpson and didn't feel like Wright could be a capable third receiver, but there's talent here, and much of it is young.

Offensive tackles: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

The good: The Vikings know they're set at the position, with Matt Kalil signed through 2015 and Phil Loadholt under contract until 2016. Both players got better after rough starts to the season; Loadholt allowed just one sack in the Vikings' final 13 games after giving up three in their first three, and Pro Football Focus ranked him the 10th-best tackle in the game. Kalil's best work came in the month of December, when he was credited with just two quarterback hits and no sacks, per Pro Football Focus. The Vikings know who both of their tackles will be for the foreseeable future, and they might have the best tackle tandem in the division.

Guards/centers: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

The good: The Vikings have a stable offensive line, even if the group as a whole regressed from the way it played in 2012. Center John Sullivan had a rough start to the season, but recovered to perform well in the second half, and guard Brandon Fusco seemed to show signs of development at times, particularly as a run blocker. Fusco is the kind of road grader the Vikings need at guard, to open holes for Adrian Peterson, and the running back gained 796 of his 1,266 yards going up the middle or running behind Fusco's right guard spot, according to ESPN Stats & Information.

Defensive ends: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

The bad: After enjoying more than a half-decade of stability at the position, the Vikings have some big decisions to make with their defensive ends. Allen hits free agency in March, after carrying a $17 million cap figure this season, and Griffen still disappeared too often to answer questions about whether he can be counted on consistently. As a result, the Vikings weren't able to get consistent pressure enough with their defensive line to control games the way they have in the past.

Linebackers: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

The good: The Vikings might have found something at the end of the year at middle linebacker. Second-year man Audie Cole stepped in for Erin Henderson in late November and played well at the position until a high ankle sprain kept him out of the last game of the season. The Vikings hadn't planned to build around Henderson at middle linebacker, as former coach Leslie Frazier acknowledged during the season, and Cole mostly held up well as a blitzer and in pass coverage.

Defensive backs: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... sive-backs

The money (2014 salary-cap numbers): Sanford ($2.75 million), Harrison Smith ($1.94 million), Rhodes ($1.77 million), Sendejo ($866,666), Robinson ($811,250), Mistral Raymond ($669,483), Blanton ($622,763), Prater ($570,000), Robert Steeples ($495,000). It wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings make a run at a free-agent cornerback like Tennessee's Alterraun Verner, whom new defensive backs coach Jerry Gray coached as the Titans' defensive coordinator. The Vikings need to add some quality corners to their roster, and just for the sake of opening up roster space, it might lead them to cut some of the low-priced corners at the bottom of their roster.

Defensive tackles: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... ve-tackles

Special teams: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... um=twitter

The bad: As explosive as the Vikings' return game was, they also allowed plenty of big returns, including a punt return touchdown from Green Bay's Micah Hyde and a kick return touchdown from Baltimore's Jacoby Jones. Chicago's Devin Hester also had 249 kick return yards against the Vikings in Week 2, and in his one regular-season game with the Seahawks, Harvin had a 58-yard kick return against his former team. Punter Jeff Locke was also just OK as a rookie, finishing with the 25th-best gross average (44.2 yards per punt) and 18th-best net (39.2 yards) in the league.

Thanks for the links. It will be interesting to read Goessling's take on some of the other positions.

dead_poet wrote:Will update this intro for links.

Quarterbacks: http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... arterbacks

I'm beginning to think the Vikings might go BPA with the 8th pick. There are some exceptional D players around that could be still be there.

If a player, maybe a LB, is better than any QB available at pick 8, then why let another team get the player?

If Cassel thinks he can earn more money and playing time as a starter somewhere else, he could opt out of his deal, but it's tough to see the Vikings letting him go when he might be the best bridge they have to a young quarterback.

Was Cassel really good enough that another team would sign him as their starter? I don't think so.

OTOH, I have to agree with Goessling that Cassel might be the only one of the three QBs the Vikings might keep in an effort to bring a young QB along.

losperros wrote: I'm beginning to think the Vikings might go BPA with the 8th pick. There are some exceptional D players around that could be still be there.

If a player, maybe a LB, is better than any QB available at pick 8, then why let another team get the player?

Khalil Mack!

Edited with wide receivers

Re: Wide receivers.

I'm surprised at how lukewarm everyone is about resigning Jerome Simpson. The Vikings won't be drafting a WR with a high pick this year. Without Simpson, the Vikings have:

Greg Jennings
Cordarelle Patterson
Jarius Wright

Looking to the future, that's not a lot to work with. Jennings will be 31 and didn't quite light it up like the Vikings had hoped. He's probably good for another two, maybe three years, but it can be expected that his skills will be dropping off. Maybe Wright gets more targets with Simpson gone and he can become more of a possession receiver and not just a long ball threat. Or maybe he continues to catch 30 balls a year. Or maybe one of the young WRs comes out of nowhere, like Greg Childs or Rodney Smith, but don't count on them becoming a #2 WR anytime soon. Patterson is a huge big-play talent, but not yet ready to be counted on. If he can continue to develop into a bonafide #2, or even a #1, the Vikings will be OK for a couple of years. Near term, though, the Vikings would be taking a big chance without Simpson.

Eli wrote:Re: Wide receivers. I'm surprised at how lukewarm everyone is about resigning Jerome Simpson.

I'm sure not lukewarm about it. I thought Simpson played inspired football last year and hopefully he's back on the roster this upcoming season. The team needs him.

My biggest concern is what the NFL might yet do about Simpson's last arrest, which violated terms of the substance abuse policy. Has the NFL made a decision about that yet?

losperros wrote:
I'm sure not lukewarm about it. I thought Simpson played inspired football last year and hopefully he's back on the roster this upcoming season. The team needs him.

My biggest concern is what the NFL might yet do about Simpson's last arrest, which violated terms of the substance abuse policy. Has the NFL made a decision about that yet?

I don't believe so. The most recent article I could find (earlier this month) is here and it indicates no discipline has been imposed (yet).

Simpson still could face NFL discipline, though, after being arrested for the second time in two years. He was suspended for the first three games of the 2012 season for a drug-related arrest in Kentucky, and the terms of his probation from that conviction barred him from using alcohol. The receiver could face additional punishment for violating the terms of that probation.

Simpson's inability to stay out of trouble, even after the Vikings gave him a second second chance (I'm considering his completely underwhelming 2012 season the first chance), is why I'm lukewarm about the Vikes re-signing him. His 750 yards or so and 1 TD aren't just a snap to replace but even though he still has plenty to learn, I suspect Patterson could exceed Simpson's production and he should be starting at split end next year. Simpson is a suspension waiting to happen. The Vikes can do better.

Simpsons a good WR for a great price. I mean, he put up good number with a turd like Ponder throwing to him. He was very clutch, made some great catch, and took some huge hits. Hes a gamer. Then when Cassel came in, he looks just as good, even with Jennings looking like Cassels #1 guy. But Simpson has to learn to keep his nose clean. But if someone can get open enough for Ponder to see him, that's saying something.

Yeah, I want Simpson to stay and to stop being such a dumbass. He's probably out for several games AGAIN next year because of his stupidity. But he really looked good. Grow up Simpson, or kiss your career goodbye!

Mothman wrote:Simpson's inability to stay out of trouble, even after the Vikings gave him a second second chance (I'm considering his completely underwhelming 2012 season the first chance), is why I'm lukewarm about the Vikes re-signing him. His 750 yards or so and 1 TD aren't just a snap to replace but even though he still has plenty to learn, I suspect Patterson could exceed Simpson's production and he should be starting at split end next year. Simpson is a suspension waiting to happen. The Vikes can do better.

For me, the only reason I would be tepid about resigning him is because Turner calls a vertical offense and it's the only route the guy runs well. His hands are suspect catching the ball in traffic or over the middle. I agree that the Vikings can do better, he should have had a zero tolerance policy coming here after the drug arrest, I think he should be about out of second chances.

Just crossing my fingers but hope that Childs makes it back and stays healthy.

Has Childs ever played a snap? He's no reason to let any proven receivers get away because we have no idea what he can do. I wasn't happy about us giving Simpson a first chance (which I know is really his second overall), but after this year I think he deserves one and only one second chance with us. DUI is no laughing matter though, so I say that with considerable reservation. One more slip up and I'd be happy to slam the cell shut on him myself.

I'd rather see what a guy like Jeremy Maclin would cost over Simpson