{"id":12689,"date":"2017-02-13T21:35:18","date_gmt":"2017-02-14T02:35:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=12689"},"modified":"2017-02-13T21:35:18","modified_gmt":"2017-02-14T02:35:18","slug":"minnesota-vikings-free-agency-moves","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/02\/13\/minnesota-vikings-free-agency-moves\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Moves the Team Needs to Make"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Minnesota Vikings have a lot of room to grab some free agents, especially if they let Adrian Peterson<\/a><\/strong> walk. They have $23 million after releasing \u00a0Brandon Fusco<\/a><\/strong> and Mike Harris<\/a><\/strong> on Friday, and that will rise to $40 million should Peterson not return. Whatever the Minnesota Vikings free agency picture looks like, it will be critical to their success next year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Moves the Team Needs to Make<\/h2>\n

What should they do with that $40 million? The injury-riddled offensive line should be a priority, but what about the receiving corps? In part, that depends on Cordarrelle Patterson<\/a><\/strong>, and whether he is back in the mix, and the young Laquon Treadwell<\/a><\/strong>, the team\u2019s 23rd pick last season. <\/span><\/p>\n

The Receiving Corps<\/h3>\n

Treadwell had a disappointing season, to say the least. He finally got his first catch, and then went down with a special teams injury against Jacksonville. \u201cI was feeling more comfortable, and they was ready to put me out there, but I just went down on special teams,\u201d Treadwell said. \u201cThat\u2019s a tough break for me, but you\u2019ve got to get healthy and come back ready.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s definitely a <\/span>psychology behind coming back from an injury<\/span><\/a>, and the mind needs to recover as much as the body does. It\u2019s unknown how much support Laquon Treadwell is getting. Mike Zimmer<\/strong> said he was not giving up on him, and stated: \u201cHe is very quick in and out of his breaks, he has good acceleration, he\u2019s a good stop and start guy, I think he\u2019s going to be a good player.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

But with players like Kenny Britt<\/a><\/strong> or Terrance Williams<\/a><\/strong>, both similarly sized receivers available to fill his role, what the Vikings do will speak volumes. Picking up one of these players would definitely leave Treadwell on the outside looking in. <\/span><\/p>\n

One variable we do know will be different this season is the coaching staff. <\/span>George Stewart<\/b>, the wide receivers coach, took a job with the Chargers. It was never clear if Treadwell was on the same page with <\/span>Norv Turner<\/b> and Stewart, but new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur<\/strong> has a <\/span>completely different leadership style<\/span><\/a>\u00a0and may be just what Treadwell and Patterson<\/a>\u00a0if he sticks around, need. <\/span><\/p>\n

Run Defense<\/h3>\n

If there is anything the Vikings have been consistent about, it is their defense, or lack thereof, against the run. Of course, there are many reasons a run defense will suffer. A team is more likely to give up yards when they are behind, somewhere the Vikings spent a lot of time this season. <\/span><\/p>\n

But still, you have to be able to stop the run in the first place, and the last time the Vikings had a top ten run defense was 2010, when <\/span>Brad Childress<\/b> and <\/span>Leslie Frazier<\/a><\/b> were coaching. The Vikings should look at Von Miller<\/a><\/strong> and Kawann Short<\/a><\/strong>, both likely to be available. If not either of these, Jabaal Sheard<\/a><\/strong> of the Patriots showed up as a great pass rusher and run defender this year\u00a0and should be somewhere on the list. <\/span><\/p>\n

Kicking<\/h3>\n

At least once, a missed extra point cost the Vikings the game this season. The poor percentage of successful kicks caused Blair Walsh<\/a><\/strong> to be cut midseason and Kai Forbath<\/a><\/strong> brought in to replace him. But Forbath was not much better\u00a0and was on track to miss just as many, or more, extra points than Walsh did. <\/span><\/p>\n

There are a couple of good options in this area. The Vikings could pick up an aging, but seemingly timeless Adam Vinatieri<\/a><\/strong>, although he does not handle kickoffs. However, his incredible successful percentage makes him still pretty desirable, and he should have at least a few good years left in him. <\/span><\/p>\n

Or they could go the other way, and grab Greg Zuerlein<\/a><\/strong>, who despite an injury in 2015 has made a good comeback, and provided he regains his old form, should make a huge difference in the kicking game of any team that acquires him. <\/span><\/p>\n

To be a real contender next year, the Vikings need to make the best use of free agency and the draft this offseason. The Minnesota Vikings free agency moves will determine whether or not they will make the playoffs in 2017. <\/span><\/p>\n

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