{"id":13781,"date":"2017-02-25T18:38:26","date_gmt":"2017-02-25T23:38:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/?p=13781"},"modified":"2021-03-20T09:41:27","modified_gmt":"2021-03-20T13:41:27","slug":"minnesota-vikings-2017-off-season-top-3-needs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2017\/02\/25\/minnesota-vikings-2017-off-season-top-3-needs\/","title":{"rendered":"Minnesota Vikings: 2017 Off-Season Top 3 Needs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Now that the Super Bowl has been played and free agency is approaching next month, the Last Word on Sports NFL department will be looking at the top three needs for each team. Today, the\u00a0Minnesota Vikings are the focus. The Vikings do not hold a first round pick but do posses the 14th pick in the second round (46th overall) in the 2017 NFL draft. Several key players are slated to hit free agency this year, including wide receivers\u00a0Adam Thielen<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Cordarrelle Patterson<\/a><\/strong>, slot corner\u00a0Captain Munnerlyn<\/a><\/strong>, and punter\u00a0Jeff Locke<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Minnesota Vikings: 2017 Off-Season Top 3 Needs<\/h2>\n

Offensive Line<\/h3>\n

It is well documented that the Vikings offensive line\u00a0was an unmitigated disaster last season. The team played 12 different linemen over the course of the season, more than teams generally carry on the roster. The line allowed 41 sacks and the team only ran for 3.2 yards per carry.<\/p>\n

With three offensive tackles who started games last season,\u00a0Matt Kalil<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Andre Smith<\/a><\/strong>, and\u00a0Jake Long<\/a><\/strong>, slated to hit free agency, the team may need two new starting tackles next season.\u00a0After releasing guards\u00a0Brandon Fusco<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0Mike Harris<\/a><\/strong>, the team will need a new starting right guard as well.<\/p>\n

Both center Joe Berger<\/a><\/strong> and left guard\u00a0Alex Boone<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>will be back. But both are over 30 and both have position flexibility, so the team should not be averse to adding talent to those positions.<\/p>\n

The Vikings will most likely add talent to the line both in free agency\u00a0and the Draft, given general manager Rick Spielman’s recent comments on the O-line evaluation process in the draft and the relative lack of talent available in the draft compared to free agency. There are several mid-tier and above average tackles available in free agency, including right tackle\u00a0Ricky Wagner<\/a><\/strong> and left tackles\u00a0Andrew Whitworth<\/a><\/strong> and\u00a0Russell Okung<\/a><\/strong>. The draft offers several strong interior linemen and college tackles who may shift inside to guard in the NFL including players like\u00a0Dan Feeney<\/strong> and\u00a0Forrest Lamp<\/strong>, who the team would likely spring for if available in the second round.<\/p>\n

Running Back<\/h3>\n

Adrian Peterson<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is as good as gone from the Minnesota Vikings. After Rick Spielman admitted he has not been in contact with the 32-year-old or his agent and given the washed up former star’s $18 million dollar cap hit next season, there is absolutely no reason to hold onto Peterson.<\/p>\n

Regardless of if the team moves on from Peterson, they need an infusion of talent at running back. Both\u00a0Matt Asiata<\/a><\/strong> (a pending free agent) and\u00a0Jerick McKinnon<\/a><\/strong> are solid situational players. But neither has shown the consistency, durability, or talent to carry the run game.<\/p>\n

In a draft class Spielman called “the deepest\u00a0I’ve ever seen” at the running back position, the team can find a player or two to greatly impact the offense without expending a high pick or overspending in free agency. Players like\u00a0D’Onta Forman<\/strong>,\u00a0Kareem Hunt<\/strong>,\u00a0Jamaal Williams<\/strong> and several others all have the potential to be game changers in the NFL and most if not all should be available after the first round.<\/p>\n

Secondary<\/h3>\n

Although the defensive side of the ball is undoubtedly the strength of the Vikings team, they may have some holes to fill in the secondary. Corner backs\u00a0Captain Munnerlyn\u00a0and\u00a0Terence Newman<\/a><\/strong> are pending free agents, and at 38 years old, Newman is unlikely to play more than 1-2 more years, if he does not retire this off season. Munnerlyn, one of the top slot corners in the NFL will likely command a high price tag in a league that plays nickel defense 80 percent of the time, but both he and his teammates have expressed a strong desire for him to remain in Minnesota.<\/p>\n

At safety,\u00a0Harrison Smith<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>is a top player at his position, but he is already 28 years old. On the other side,\u00a0Andrew Sendejo<\/a><\/strong> made great improvements last season, but $4 million is a lot to pay a safety who struggles in coverage.<\/p>\n

While it is likely\u00a0for the team to draft at least two defensive backs in the draft, the team may also look to add a more proven commodity in free agency.\u00a0Players like\u00a0Tony Jefferson<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Stephon Gilmore<\/a><\/strong>,\u00a0Morris Claiborne<\/a><\/strong>, or\u00a0Dre Kirkpatrick<\/a><\/strong> all should be intriguing to the Vikings for the right price.<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n