2015 Offseason - Free Agent/Draft Tracker

[dead_poet]

They are going to sign a 36 year old corner (who will be 37 during the season) to help improve the defense?

A 37 year-old Newman may actually still be better than guys like Prater and/or Price. He may not even make the 53. Probably signing for vet minimum. Low commitment for veteran and depth player (hopefully).

[Cliff]

Zimmer is big on rotation too, I don't think he expecting an every down starter here.

[Purple bruise]

They are going to sign a 36 year old corner (who will be 37 during the season) to help improve the defense?

This offseason has made little sense to me.

I am just curious, what off-season moves would you have made?

[DK Sweets]

I'm not really upset about the idea of Newman possibly signing, but I'm not excited either. I guess time will tell. Besides, this could be a lot like the Chris Crocker signing.

[Texas Vike]

Looks like Terence Newman is going to be a Vikings, what are your guys thoughts? I think he should be a good corner and good mentor to these younger corners. Still really hoping we take Trae Waynes if he gets to us.

I think he will and unless Scherf is there, it's who I want.

Sounds like he ran well at his pro day:
http://espn.go.com/blog/nflnation/post/ ... te-pro-day

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I am just curious, what off-season moves would you have made?

Do you want me to go through a full mock offseason again? I can do that, but I would rather not divulge too much into hypothetical analysis than I have to.

However, here is what I would have done as GM keeping the assumption that Cassel was going to get traded, I was going to trade for Mike Wallace, and the assumption that Felton/Johnson were released.

- Adrian Peterson would be shopped but I would only trade him for a first round pick minimum and/or equivalent player.

- Cut Chad Greenway, keep Greg Jennings, restructure/release Brain Robison. Jennings was worth retaining one more year. Greenway and Robison are not worth their current contracts.

- Resign Joe Berger (a move the team made) for offensive center/guard depth. Solid contract the team gave him.

- Resign Tom Johnson (move the team made) for defensive tackle depth. Solid contract the team gave him.

- Made a play for a Derrick Morgan/Brandon Graham/Jabaal Sheard to replace Robison. Preferably, Sheard or Graham. Sheard's deal was a steal for New England and Graham's deal was easily doable.

- Sign Chris Hairston/Corey HIllard for offensive tackle depth instead of keeping Mike Harris. HIllard's deal was undisclosed and Hairston is still unsigned.

- Sign George Selvie for defensive end depth. Contract for him was 1.5 million from New York.

- Gauge the contract value for Brandon Spikes. If the contract was too much, focus my effort on signing Akeem Ayers (this was a player I really wanted Minnesota to take a chance on this offseason). Ayers' deal was 4 million over two years - hardly a back breaking contract for a young player with upside.

After that, I would see how the market played out. I would do like this team did and sign Taylor Mays for depth. Mays would probably be my last signing if all of the above worked out as planned.

In the draft, focus on BPA while maintaining emphasis on guard, corner, safety, linebacker, wide receiver, half back.

I think my offseason plan wouldn't be too aggressive or detrimental at all. The biggest contract I would be giving out would be the defensive end contract to Sheard/Graham/Morgan, and even that contract wouldn't be egregious at all. In the end, I would have plenty of cap room to absorb Peterson's contract (if he was not traded) and sign our draft picks. Plus, there would be more than enough cap room to give deals to Harrison Smith and Matt Kalil (if he earned it) during the season.

The biggest issue I have with this team right now is that it didn't appear to me that they sought to better themselves. There were options on the market to better this team. I am all for building through the draft, but trying to maximize compensatory picks (which was their strategy this offseason) isn't always the best way to make a team better.

The draft will be telling for this team. It is just that, IMO, there were some moves that we should have made (and can still make) to improve this team. Then again, I am not a GM and I don't have any say in this team's transactions.

[dead_poet]

@christomasson Terence Newman last week to me on Zimmer: "I've (played) some of my best football with Zimmer as my coach, so I would know what to expect."

@christomasson Newman on Zimmer “My relationship for Zimmer is one based on pure respect & admiration of who he is as a father a friend a mentor & coach. He is a great man.''

[Purple bruise]

Do you want me to go through a full mock offseason again? I can do that, but I would rather not divulge too much into hypothetical analysis than I have to.

However, here is what I would have done as GM keeping the assumption that Cassel was going to get traded, I was going to trade for Mike Wallace, and the assumption that Felton/Johnson were released.

- Adrian Peterson would be shopped but I would only trade him for a first round pick minimum and/or equivalent player.

- Cut Chad Greenway, keep Greg Jennings, restructure/release Brain Robison. Jennings was worth retaining one more year. Greenway and Robison are not worth their current contracts.

- Resign Joe Berger (a move the team made) for offensive center/guard depth. Solid contract the team gave him.

- Resign Tom Johnson (move the team made) for defensive tackle depth. Solid contract the team gave him.

- Made a play for a Derrick Morgan/Brandon Graham/Jabaal Sheard to replace Robison. Preferably, Sheard or Graham. Sheard's deal was a steal for New England and Graham's deal was easily doable.

- Sign Chris Hairston/Corey HIllard for offensive tackle depth instead of keeping Mike Harris. HIllard's deal was undisclosed and Hairston is still unsigned.

- Sign George Selvie for defensive end depth. Contract for him was 1.5 million from New York.

- Gauge the contract value for Brandon Spikes. If the contract was too much, focus my effort on signing Akeem Ayers (this was a player I really wanted Minnesota to take a chance on this offseason). Ayers' deal was 4 million over two years - hardly a back breaking contract for a young player with upside.

After that, I would see how the market played out. I would do like this team did and sign Taylor Mays for depth. Mays would probably be my last signing if all of the above worked out as planned.

In the draft, focus on BPA while maintaining emphasis on guard, corner, safety, linebacker, wide receiver, half back.

I think my offseason plan wouldn't be too aggressive or detrimental at all. The biggest contract I would be giving out would be the defensive end contract to Sheard/Graham/Morgan, and even that contract wouldn't be egregious at all. In the end, I would have plenty of cap room to absorb Peterson's contract (if he was not traded) and sign our draft picks. Plus, there would be more than enough cap room to give deals to Harrison Smith and Matt Kalil (if he earned it) during the season.

The biggest issue I have with this team right now is that it didn't appear to me that they sought to better themselves. There were options on the market to better this team. I am all for building through the draft, but trying to maximize compensatory picks (which was their strategy this offseason) isn't always the best way to make a team better.

The draft will be telling for this team. It is just that, IMO, there were some moves that we should have made (and can still make) to improve this team. Then again, I am not a GM and I don't have any say in this team's transactions.

Fair enough. IMO Jennings was too old and overpriced and I really liked the Wallace signing, as far a Selvie who know how that went down or if the Vikes wanted him that much. As far a Spikes, he is still out there isn't he and might end up in purple yet. You mentioned it but this team will fill many voids via the draft (I am more than okay with that). Thanks for taking your time to respond to my question

[dead_poet]

‏@Andrew_Krammer Capt's spot RT @GoesslingESPN: Zimmer at coaches breakfast, on how he envisions using Newman: "Left corner -- where he's always played."

[Purple bruise]

Sounds like a smart signing, low risk, and lot's of experience to pass along. If Munnerlyn hits the bricks, no big loss.

[vatusay]

Hmmmmm, i like the signing, really.

Does this open up trading back into first for Marcus Peters out of Washington (I think he goes late 1st early 2nd). Risky pick but could pay huge dividends. probably most talented corner in the draft but character issues. Zim/Newman could do great things for him.

Scherff/Cooper or Parker at 11. Would still be hard to pass on Waynes tho.

[saint33]

I wouldn't guarantee anything, but I'm thinking scherff is starting to look a lot more likely

[dead_poet]

I wouldn't guarantee anything, but I'm thinking scherff is starting to look a lot more likely

He had a hell of a Pro Day (not that they mean anything ). I, for one, wouldn't be opposed to him. If he can be another Steve Hutchinson over there he'd be well worth pick #11. Then I'd go LB or WR (or CB) in R2.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Fair enough. IMO Jennings was too old and overpriced and I really liked the Wallace signing, as far a Selvie who know how that went down or if the Vikes wanted him that much. As far a Spikes, he is still out there isn't he and might end up in purple yet. You mentioned it but this team will fill many voids via the draft (I am more than okay with that). Thanks for taking your time to respond to my question

You are welcome Purple Bruise.

To me, Wallace for Jennings is a wash - right now. That could change as the season plays out, but for now, trading a civilized, veteran presence for a volatile receiver who is almost 30 isn't really that big of a gain in my mind.

I would like Spikes on this team, but I haven't heard any interest in him from Minnesota's end.

The draft will be crucial, but it would be remiss of me to expect our draft class to lead us to a championship this season. Heck, even getting into the playoffs this year will be a stretch.

At this point in time, I personally don't see an improvement in this team. Then again, this team can easily improve to a 9 win team at least if Teddy Bridgewater takes the next major step (which I fully expect him to do).

[Mercy Percy]

You are welcome Purple Bruise.

To me, Wallace for Jennings is a wash - right now. That could change as the season plays out, but for now, trading a civilized, veteran presence for a volatile receiver who is almost 30 isn't really that big of a gain in my mind.

I would like Spikes on this team, but I haven't heard any interest in him from Minnesota's end.

The draft will be crucial, but it would be remiss of me to expect our draft class to lead us to a championship this season. Heck, even getting into the playoffs this year will be a stretch.

At this point in time, I personally don't see an improvement in this team. Then again, this team can easily improve to a 9 win team at least if Teddy Bridgewater takes the next major step (which I fully expect him to do).

I see this as more of we have a lot of young talent, that Zimmer, Spielman and the coaching staff have a lot of faith in that they will turn out. Wallace and Jennings are very different receivers. Wallace is a burner and that is huge, we needed a guy with Elite Speed to stretch the defense, Greg wasnt exactly a burner. There's no point in signing some of these free agents, over spending when we believe we have some young talent that can step up. The vikings were one of the youngest teams in the NFL, and they just got a little older a little more mature right now time is good for us.