vikingdan
Drengr (1,322)
Feb 8, 2017
Valhalla
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Post by vikingdan on Mar 12, 2017 12:06:15 GMT -6
So FA for me has been blah. I didn't really expect anything big nor am I overly disappointed as it seems like we improved our line to some degree. My question is what's next? Any moves between now and the draft that would wow any of you? Any other improvements you feel we could make with any of the FA's still available?
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Uncle
Berserker (7,565)
Feb 8, 2017
Valhalla
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Post by Uncle on Mar 12, 2017 13:41:52 GMT -6
To me, these are key areas to at least sign some sort of FA prior to the Draft so we don't have to draft for need:
- Slot CB or additional outside CB depth (possibly both): Newman coming back would answer the outside depth as Rhodes and Waynes are the expected starters in 2017, but with Captain gone and Alexander probably not ready to start full-time, we really need some veteran slot depth there until Alexander is ready. To me, the best available is Nickell Robey-Coleman. Yes, he's somewhat undersized at 5'8" or 5'9" (and we all know how Zimmer likes big & long secondary players like Rhodes, Waynes, Harrison & Kearse), but he actually graded out better than Captain did in 2016 and is just the type of solid veteran to hedge against Alexander not being ready. Plus, Alexander is big enough that he could play the outside depth CB role if Waynes goes down and Newman isn't back. Robey-Coleman is a complete no-brainer guy you bring in and I have no idea why we haven't kicked the tires and brought him to Winter Park yet w/ Captain gone. Really boggles my mind and is one of the many reasons of the completely "underwhelming" feeling of this very critical offseason/FA period.
- Veteran RB to hedge against the 2017 draft rookie not making any sort of immediate impact. We all know the Vikings are going to draft a RB in the 2017 Draft at some point. Regardless of who that is, we need to bring in a veteran just in case the rookie doesn't work out. McKinnon isn't enough - we need another veteran body. Obviously Lacey has been in Minnesota over the weekend, but look at Seattle - they have brought in Lacey, Murray, J Charles and are also bringing in Peterson. They've casted a wide net and will probably make an appropriate offer. Meanwhile, Rick brought in Lacey only, and if he doesn't sign, we may be forced into a corner where we're overpaying Peterson. What leverage we had against AP may be pissed away when Lacey and Murray sign elsewhere. I've stated many times that I'm on the Murray bandwagon, but hopefully not at a high level, but I wouldn't mind Lacey as long as he's not paid like a bell-cow RB and paid at the Asiata level. Murray would be the best hedge against the 2017 rookie not performing well because he could potentially be a decent bell-cow RB, especially in a Shurmur offense.
- Outside WR depth: with Treadwell busting is rookie year and perhaps not the #1 WR he was drafted to be, we really lack a true, outside #1 WR. Diggs is the top guy, but he's often hurt and sometimes is lost when he plays outside due to the #1 opposing CB blanketing him. He's best when in the slot and able to expose holes in the defense. To hedge against Treadwell not improving at all to be that #1 or #2 WR on the outside opposite Thielen, we need another outside WR body. We were "in" on Britt, Jeffrey and Pryor to some extent but lost on all of them (Britt was too expensive as Cleveland could outbid anybody) and Philly just paid stupid money for Jeffrey at $14m or 1 year. Pryor wants the opportunity to "prove" himself and Washington was the best place because they have nobody other than himself and TE Reed. The best WR left is probably Michael Floyd who needs to sign a "prove it" deal to give himself the opportunity for a big payday next offseason. But we're back to the reason that Pryor chose Washington - can you really shine in Minnesota when we'll have limited opportunities w/ Diggs, Thielen and Rudolph all wanting opportunities too, or would you rather play for a team w/ less options on offense where he'll have the opportunity to get more catches and "prove" himself? Floyd is option #1, but another option might be Andre Holmes who has a big body and is a solid red-zone threat. Both should be cheap, but again, we'll be looking for someone in the Draft, too.
- Either DT or ILB (or both): obviously our run defense needs an upgrade in 2017 and with Greenway retiring and Floyd probably sitting on his butt in 2017 collecting his guaranteed paycheck (and Tom Johnson not getting any younger), we need someone - either on the interior of the Dline or another ILB who is a solid run-stuffer. The LB options are Zach Brown and Gerald Hodges - both should come reasonably-priced and both are coming off very solid 2016 seasons, and both are relatively young. A 1-yr deal w/ further optional years allows them to show off their 2-down prowess w/ the option to opt-out for more money or continue w/ the team. The options along the Dline are slimmer, but the Giants Hankins is a solid option - he's a solid interior run-stopper that's not great at pass-rushing. He'll be more expensive, but again, we lost out on Cincy's Peko to the Broncos so options are limited.
- Backup QB: with Teddy likely on the PUP for the majority of the 2017 season (maybe all of it), and Shaun Hill older than dirt, we'll need another veteran QB to backup Bradford. Heinicke may or may not be that guy, but there should at least be another veteran brought in. Foles for the right money would be nice, but perhaps he might want an opportunity to start somewhere else. The QB market won't shape itself out until the Romo situation gets cleared up and the losers of Romo figure out what they do, so this will take a while. Foles is a guy who can actually manage a game if Bradford is out for multiple weeks, but the rest of the veteran QB backups are not much more than Shaun Hill level.
Those are the critical slots to fill prior to the 2017 Draft. Other areas that are possible are additional OL depth signings (TJ Lang signed w/ Detroit today so that ship sailed), and a K and P - both of which can be settled in Training Camp really.
Some of the above spots can be potentially filled via camp cuts, but outside of Hankins, the players mentioned above won't cost much at all and shouldn't hinder bringing anybody else if they're cut. The team to watch cuts is Philly right now; because they spent $14m on Jeffrey alone and they didn't have much cap space heading into FA, they have less than $1m left and will need to cut or trade players to make space for the 2017 Drafted rookies. They are reportedly trying to trade some players, but Rick shouldn't bite because the trade is only to shed cap space - he should wait until they are released outright. The player to watch, IMO, is Jason Kelce - he has been rumored to be a cap casualty for a while now and they have a capable backup. If he does get released, I seriously think Rick should pounce immediately because Easton isn't ready to start and Berger is one concussion away from being done. Kelce would solidify the interior of the OL by allowing Berger to kick over to G and would allow Easton into that backup role he's more suited for. That will then allow us to properly groom a G replacement for Berger in the 2017 Draft.
Right now I think our offseason has been a C- and it's trending downwards into "D" territory. If we don't address the above, it really forces Rick and the Scouts to 100% have to nail the 2017 Draft and we don't want to be in that position. We need some roster spots shored up before then so we're not trading away picks and forced to move up to fill a spot. This 2017 Draft is loaded with depth/developmental players in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds - we have to keep all of those picks and Draft replacements for guys we'll be losing in the next 2-3 years.
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Post by SmokedPears on Mar 13, 2017 6:41:23 GMT -6
Uncle, you need to write for a living if you don't already.
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