The Official Vikings Offseason Thread!

[soldoncass]

I like a lot of the Vikes pics....got good value, strengthened positions, and got a great QB prospect. With all the later round pics we had , the FEW early round pics, we still got our QBOLF and TEOTF. As good as can be expected....considering the hand we were dealt, GOOD JOB F.O.

I see our division returning to the BLACK AND BLUE division. The Pack has been stockpiling for years, The Bears have improved themselves, the Lions have started putting it all together, and now the VIKINGS are stronger, with lots of key pieces along with a GOOD coaching staff.Nobody will run away with the division this year....it'll be a tough race.

[Scott K]

I hate to sound like Lmit, but I think your a koolaid drinker! None of those picks will make our team better then we had last year! Not a one of them. Younger, yes, better then what we had, nope! Maybe with a top 3 pick next year, they will take a punter

[soldoncass]

I much prefer purple koolaid to the "bitter stew" you guys are drinking.

I would have preferred the Vikes to have 8 picks in the first 2 days, instead of 8 on the last day.....but, they did well for when they picked.

Gotta get the camps going.

[creepworm]

I think they did O.K. in the draft. They were in the worst spot possible to need a QB, and not a having a third rounder hurt them. I do not think there is a superstar in the bunch they drafted, but I think a couple of them will turn into solid players.

[FISHINGURU]

Nice draft by the Vikes, you'll always have the negative nancy's out there mad they didn't get the guy they wanted. There is no way that anyone can know which QB is the best in this draft so just wait and see.

I find it funny that people think not 1 player in this draft can help the team. Ponder can end up being one of the best QB's in this draft, Rudolph has the capability to be a massive red zone target like Gronkowski.

Our other picks are nice value for what we had left. Ballard had a 2nd-3rd round grade and when he slipped he was the best rated available player on the board coming into the 4th round for all you guy's that hang on the "experts" nuts. Burton in the 5th was also a nice pick, he's one of the guys I was hoping we would get later in the draft.

We can do some great things in Free Agency this year when it happens. Check out the list of players that we might be able to pick up this season.

http://walterfootball.com/freeagents.php

I'm hoping their plan is to get one or two elite players in positions like we need, CB, Oline, LB, Safety.

[goblueM]

ballard was probably the vikes best value pick

as with most everything, things aren't as bad as the bitter folks would have you believe, and probably won't be as good as the koolaid drinkers hope they'll be

[FISHINGURU]

I hear ya, but no one can know until they actually see them play. After that call them pie stains all ya want lol.

Rudolph was actually a pretty good value pick also, he was projected as a late first and was the best projected tight end in the draft. If he wouldn't of hurt his hammy and missed half the season he would of been a top 15-20 talent.

He's compared to Gronkowski who is a beast out there, except he is faster, taller, and has a bigger vertical then Gronkowski. I think he'll be a big time mismatch and will let us run an effective 2 TE set.

This draft was messed up for every team from the beginning without free agency. Alot of people went where they shouldn't because of the uncertainty about free agency.

[koonie]

Pay no attention to the trolls.

The Vikings improved their talent base and that's all that matters. It's obvious we need to do a little rebuilding and add some more young talent at key positions. We won't be competing for the S.B. in the next couple years so it's time stock the shelves for the future.

I'm not a big fan of the Ponder pick but we'll just have to see what happens. He is extremely intelligent and very accurate. Musgrave will get the most out of him. The rest of the draft was excellent.

[soldoncass]

I agree....excellent draft. More picks the first 2 days would have been better, but.....we could have had 10 picks in the first round, and it wouldn't have any more affect than this actual draft has so far. Gotta get a cba settled, so they can get to work.

[FISHINGURU]

Eric Weddle would be an awesome pick up.

[Scott K]

Quote:

Free agent DE Ray Edwards told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune that he will not play for the restricted tender the Vikings assigned him before the March 15 lockout.

Edwards is especially displeased that the Vikings gave his backup, Brian Robison, a three-year, $14.1 million extension. "They put a first-round tender on me [one-year, $2.8 million], but even if that holds up, there's no way I will play for less than what my backup got," Edwards said. The 26-year-old pass rusher is expected to go on the trade block once the lockout ends. The Falcons are believed to have strong interest.

Whats that word I am looking for, oh ya, Waaaaa!

[Scott K]

Quote:

A Lynchburg (VA) judge has dismissed firearm charges against Vikings CB Chris Cook.

Cook was arrested in March following an argument with a man he had known since childhood. The two men exchanged words, but it never got physical. There was no evidence that Cook ever brandished a gun. He should be in the clear from the NFL.

[FISHINGURU]

I hope Gay Edwards gets his butt whooped at his boxing match coming up. He's not even worth the 2.8 million he's a mediocre pie stain.

[FISHINGURU]

Here we go Weddle here we go!! Lets finally get a safety that knows how to play.

[FISHINGURU]

God darn Weddle the bed had to go and re-sign with the Chargers and became the highest paid safety in the NFL.

[FISHINGURU]

Still need a solid safety IMO.

I see the Pats just cut Meriweather, if we got the money we should make a run for him. He's young and has game, hopefully the price is right.

[zepman]

I see the Vikes just cut some pay-roll...maybe they were anticipating another signing like this before the season starts.

[bucketmouth64]

I saw that too of Merriweather being cut. First thought was Vikes need to consider him for the right price. Would feel better with a 2 time pro bowler back there than what we have now. I think with the kickoff being moved up and the potential of more touchbacks vikes decided they didn't need specialist Heath Farwell.

[FISHINGURU]

To late already, Bears signed him up in a flash, LAME.

[klecker]

Queens should have picked up C. Taylor off waivers. Cards got him. Nevera god fit for Martz.

[bucketmouth64]

Whose this LB we signed? Bears seem like they're putting together a team not on the scale of the Eagles, by signing some name FA's.

[FISHINGURU]

Xavier Adibi from the Texans, he should add some pretty decent depth. We are pretty scarce at LB depth right now, that should help.

[FISHINGURU]

Got Greenway locked up until 2015, nice signing there, time to get AP taken care of next.

[Scott M]

On to another off-season, plenty to figure out in the draft, not sure how much salary cap space is available offhand, but I see plenty of holes in the roster! There are some decent names at all of the positions, they can't get all of them but I think they should go after some of them.

Safety

Chris Hope, TEN, UFA

LaRon Landry, WAS, UFA

Brandon Meriweather, CHI, UFA

Wide Receiver

Big crop of UFA receivers this year, but many of them will probably stay with their home teams

Wes Welker, Dwayne Bowe, Marques Colston, Vincent Jackson, DeSean Jackson, Brandon Lloyd, Mario Manningham, Reggie Wayne, Steve Smith (PHI), Stevie Johnson, Early Doucet, Braylon Edwards

Guard

Logan Mankins, NE, UFA

Ben Grubbs, BAL, UFA

Carl Nicks, NO, UFA

Brian Waters, NE, UFA

Jake Scott, TEN, UFA

Tackle

Joe Thomas, CLE, UFA

Jared Gaither, SD, UFA

Jeff Backus, DET, UFA

Defensive Tackle

Albert Haynesworth, TB, UFA

Antonio Garay, SD, UFA

Aubrayo Franklin, NO, UFA

Tommie Harris, SD, UFA

Cornerback

Cortland Finnegan, TEN, UFA

Tracy Porter, NO, UFA

Terrel Thomas, NYG, UFA

Marcus Trufant, SEA, UFA

Linebacker

London Fletcher, WAS, UFA

Curtis Lofton, ATL, UFA

Geno Hayes, TB, UFA

Running back

Even though Peterson expects to play next year, they need a decent backup RB. They can't target the marquee names, they need a sneaky good pick up. I don't have any suggestions, we'll have to see what the market dictates before I start looking for names.

[FutbolGuru]

Ooo... let's snag LaRon Landry...