Minnesota Vikings Offseason Summary and Grades
By Scott Carasik
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Key Losses
RB Chester Taylor, OT Artis Hicks, CB Karl Paymah contracts expired
Trades
The Vikings traded 2010 1st round pick (#30 overall - used on RB Jahvid Best) and 2010 4th round pick (#128 overall - used on OT Jason Fox) to the Lions for 2010 2nd round pick (#34 overall - used on CB Chris Cook), 2010 4th round pick (#100 overall - used on DE Everson Griffen), and 2010 7th round pick (#214 overall - used on TE Mickey Shuler)
The Vikings traded 2010 2nd round pick (#62 overall - traded to Patriots) and 2010 3rd round pick (#93 overall - traded to Chiefs) to the Texans for 2010 2nd round pick (#51 overall - used on RB Toby Gerhart)
Free Agency
Re-signed QB Travaris Jackson, FB Naufahu Tahi, OT Ryan Cook, DT Fred Evans, DT Jimmy Kennedy, S Eric Frampton
Signed DE Michael Montgomery, CB Lito Sheppard, CB Benny Sapp, K Rhys Lloyd
Signed as undrafted free agents QB R.J. Archer OG Thomas Austin OT Matt Hanson OT Marlon Winn C Tommy Hernandez WR Aaron Rhea WR Ray Small WR Kelton Tindal CB Angelo Williams S Terrell Skinner
Draft Grade = B+
34 Minnesota Vikings - CB Chris Cook - 6'2" 212 - Virginia
The needed a CB and he fits the cover 2 well, but this is a HUGE reach here. I don't like this pick. Grade: D
51 Minnesota Vikings - RB Toby Gerhardt - 6'0" 231 - Stanford
They bring in a guy who can duplicate Peterson's running style, while being better than Peterson in the passing game. Worth the trade up. Grade: A+
100 Minnesota Vikings - DE Everson Griffen - 6'3-3/8" 273 - Southern California
They didn't really need the DE spot, but Griffen is an excellent fit here. Grade: A+
161 Minnesota Vikings - OG Chris DeGeare - 6'3-1/2" 325 - Wake Forest
They need someone who can come right in and compete for a starting spot. DeGeare can do that. Grade: B
167 Minnesota Vikings - LB Nathan Triplett - 6'3" 250 - Minnesota
They need someone who can play the Mike role. Tripplet is a good fit for it. Grade: A
199 Minnesota Vikings - QB/WR Joe Webb - 6'3-5/8" 223 - UAB
They get a guy here who can play either the QB or the WR spot. Webb is fast and will allow the Vikings another weapon on offense. Grade: A
214 Minnesota Vikings - TE Mickey Shuler - 6'4-1/8" 251 - Penn State
The Vikings have a good pair of TE's already in Shiancoe and Kleinsasser, but Kleinsasser won't be around forever. Grade: B
237 Minnesota Vikings - LB/FB Ryan D'Imperio - 6'1-3/8" 241 - Rutgers
They love their linebackers in Minnesota. Here is another one who can add depth. Grade: B
Overall Grade based on talent acquired and team needs met: B
The Vikings acquired a lot of talent and filled a lot of needs in this years offseason. Hoever, they didn't do enough to propel themselves past the Saints, and may have been passed up by their own division mates the Packers this offseason.
Projected Depth Chart heading into training camp:
QB - Brett Favre/Travaris Jackson/Sage Rosenfels/R.J. Archer
RB - Adrian Peterson/Toby Gerhart/Ian Jonson/Darius Reynaud/Albert Young
3DRB - Toby Gerhart/Ian Jonson/Darius Reynaud/Albert Young
FB - Naufahu Tahi/Jeff Dugan/Ryan D'Imperio
WR Featured - Sidney Rice/Joe Webb/Kelton Tindal
WR Possession - Bernard Berrian/Jaymar Johnson/Ray Small
WR Slot - Percy Harvin/Greg Lewis/Aaron Rhea
TE - Vinsanthe Shiancoe/Jim Kleinsasser/Mickey Shuler/Garrett Mills
LT - Bryant McKinnie/Chris Clark/Patrick Brown
LG - Steve Hutchinson/Thomas Austin
C - John Sullivan/Tommy Hernandez/Ryan Cook
RG - Anthony Herrera/Chris DeGeare/Ryan Cook/Jon Cooper
RT - Phil Loadholt/Ryan Cook/Marlon Winn/Matt Hanson
LDE - Ray Edwards/Everson Griffen/Jayme Mitchell
NT - Pat Williams/Jimmy Kennedy/Temaine Johnson
UT - Kevin Williams/Fred Evans/LeTroy Guion
RDE - Jared Allen/Brian Robison/Mike Montgomery
WLB - Chad Greenway/Kenny Onatolu/Erin Henderson
MLB - E.J. Henderson/Jasper Brinkley/Nate Tripplett
SLB - Ben Leber/Heath Farwell/J Leman
LCB - Antoine Winfield/Chris Cook/Benny Sapp/Angelo Williams
RCB - Lito Sheppard/Cedric Griffin/Asher Allen/DeAndre Wright
FS - Madieu Williams/Terrell Skinner/JaMarca Stanford/Eric Frampton
SS - Tyrell Johnson/Husain Abdullah/Colt Anderson
K - Ryan Longwell/Rhys Lloyd
P - Chris Kluwe
LS - Cullen Loeffler
KR - Percy Harvin
PR - Darius Reynoud
Starter is Bolded
Free Agent/Trade Acquisitions are Italicised
Draft picks are Underlined
