2015 Offseason - Free Agent/Draft Tracker

[PurpleMustReign]

Have we really only signed one player (Hill) and traded for another (Wallace)? Is that really it? I am not saying I want them to overpay for someone, but how can we have only one new player come in?

[Purple bruise]

Have we really only signed one player (Hill) and traded for another (Wallace)? Is that really it? I am not saying I want them to overpay for someone, but how can we have only one new player come in?

Plan to build through the draft (which I like a lot) and the AD situation has caused some plans to be on hold or change depending on the outcome.

[The Breeze]

Don't forget we re-signed the long snapper and got 2 more guys off the packers scrap heap.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Plan to build through the draft (which I like a lot) and the AD situation has caused some plans to be on hold or change depending on the outcome.

I agree! I also think that there are plenty of good FAs out there. Especially at LB with both Spikes and Foster still being available. I really don't care about free agency. You build through the draft.

[dead_poet]

A good read.

Ranking the 2015 Impact of the Minnesota Vikings' Free Agent Signings so Far

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2406 ... ngs-so-far

[Mothman]

A good read.

Ranking the 2015 Impact of the Minnesota Vikings' Free Agent Signings so Far

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2406 ... ngs-so-far

Thanks for the link. I found what they had to say about Asiata particularly interesting.

Unfortunately, the bottom line for the Vikings here is that none of these signings likely represent any real improvement to the team. They are largely "maintenance" signings. Thus far, the only offseason move they've made that I think could lead to actual improvement is the trade for Wallace and it's unclear if that will be a significant upgrade or not. Free agency obviously isn't over yet and I'm sure the Vikes will make more roster moves before the season begins but in terms of getting better, it looks more and more like they'll be counting on improvement from within and improvement via the draft. They have quite a bit of ground to make up in the division, and the conference, so I hope that's enough.

[mmvikes]

I put this in a Draft thread, but I thought I would put it in this one also. Link to win tickets to this years draft in Chicago.

https://nfldraft.fishsoftware.com/prereg/

[mondry]

Thanks for the link. I found what they had to say about Asiata particularly interesting.

Unfortunately, the bottom line for the Vikings here is that none of these signings likely represent any real improvement to the team. They are largely "maintenance" signings. Thus far, the only offseason move they've made that I think could lead to actual improvement is the trade for Wallace and it's unclear if that will be a significant upgrade or not. Free agency obviously isn't over yet and I'm sure the Vikes will make more roster moves before the season begins but in terms of getting better, it looks more and more like they'll be counting on improvement from within and improvement via the draft. They have quite a bit of ground to make up in the division, and the conference, so I hope that's enough.

Well, we have 3 or 4 years worth of draft picks "stewing" right now with one of the youngest teams in the league so plenty of guys have not reached their maximum potential yet and some of them like Barr and Patterson have a ton of room for growth. Will it be enough? No one knows that obviously but of all the teams in the league, I'd be the least worried about us.

But that also means we're at the point now where cap space over the next couple years is going to be extremely important to lock down and re-sign the talent we have developed and want to keep. Overpaying some high priced day 1 free agent (because thats basically how day 1 of free agency works) may help more in the short term but how much and who do we let walk because of it? All in all I'm really happy with the way things are being handled now, while we still have some holes (most teams do) I don't feel like anything is so glaringly bad anymore that it will 100% sabotage the season.

I think the best use of free agent is the second or third tier of guys, guys you can get relatively cheap, maybe have a tiny bit of upside or something to prove, and can fill depth so we'll see how that goes.

Then there's having a year of experience in zimmer and norv's systems so guys know what to expect now and what needs to be done. I think that can also account for a lot of improvement, a guy like Floyd last year was working on making changes for the system, even mechanical things like his footwork and how he'd come out of his stance. Now he can probably just play football and not have to think about it. Lot of things seemed to start coming together at the end of the season last year, if we can get that improvement from the start this year and add to it I think we'll be in good shape.

[Mothman]

Well, we have 3 or 4 years worth of draft picks "stewing" right now with one of the youngest teams in the league so plenty of guys have not reached their maximum potential yet and some of them like Barr and Patterson have a ton of room for growth. Will it be enough? No one knows that obviously but of all the teams in the league, I'd be the least worried about us.

But that also means we're at the point now where cap space over the next couple years is going to be extremely important to lock down and re-sign the talent we have developed and want to keep. Overpaying some high priced day 1 free agent (because thats basically how day 1 of free agency works) may help more in the short term but how much and who do we let walk because of it? All in all I'm really happy with the way things are being handled now, while we still have some holes (most teams do) I don't feel like anything is so glaringly bad anymore that it will 100% sabotage the season.

I think the best use of free agent is the second or third tier of guys, guys you can get relatively cheap, maybe have a tiny bit of upside or something to prove, and can fill depth so we'll see how that goes.

Then there's having a year of experience in zimmer and norv's systems so guys know what to expect now and what needs to be done. I think that can also account for a lot of improvement, a guy like Floyd last year was working on making changes for the system, even mechanical things like his footwork and how he'd come out of his stance. Now he can probably just play football and not have to think about it. Lot of things seemed to start coming together at the end of the season last year, if we can get that improvement from the start this year and add to it I think we'll be in good shape.

We'll see. They looked to me like a mediocre team at the end of last season (let's not forget, they finished 3-4 after the bye and their only division win came in the unimpressive season finale against the crumbling, last place Bears). They've been a mediocre team, or worse, for too long. I have nothing against building through the draft and avoiding expensive free agent deals that can lead to cap issues and disappointing returns. I was just observing that the Vikings are clearly counting on doing most of their improvement from within and via the draft because they've basically done nothing to improve this offseason beyond the Wallace trade. I hope their plan works out because I'm tired of the aforementioned mediocrity.

[mondry]

We'll see. They looked to me like a mediocre team at the end of last season (let's not forget, they finished 3-4 after the bye and their only division win came in the unimpressive season finale against the crumbling, last place Bears). They've been a mediocre team, or worse, for too long. I have nothing against building through the draft and avoiding expensive free agent deals that can lead to cap issues and disappointing returns. I was just observing that the Vikings are clearly counting on doing most of their improvement from within and via the draft because they've basically done nothing to improve this offseason beyond the Wallace trade. I hope their plan works out because I'm tired of the aforementioned mediocrity.

And I was just explaining why I don't think it's the end of the world but actually a good plan.

[MusicCityViking]

@RapSheet: Former #Eagles LB Casey Matthews visited the #Vikings today, source said.

[Mothman]

And I was just explaining why I don't think it's the end of the world but actually a good plan.

It's clearly the end of the world.

[dead_poet]

Here you go, jackals. FREE AGENT SIGNING!

@JosinaAnderson Source: S Taylor Mays has agreed to a 1-year deal with the #Vikings.

[Mothman]

Here you go, jackals. FREE AGENT SIGNING!

YAY! We got us on o' them "free agents" I hear tell about. Now the Vikes is goin' places!

[Demi]

Here you go, jackals. FREE AGENT SIGNING!

And he's the best safety on the team not named Harrison Smith.