2015 Offseason - Free Agent/Draft Tracker

[Pondering Her Percy]

Free agent market is drying up relatively fast and a lot of it is due to players resigning with their respective teams. I figured we would see more lateral movement this year in free agency. I was wrong.

Patience my friend

[dead_poet]

Clint Boling’s trainer says free-agent guard has ‘a lot of interest in the Vikings’

The Vikings are making a push to sign guard Clint Boling in free agency and he is said to be strongly considering them. Boling played the past four years with Cincinnati, three when Mike Zimmer was defensive coordinator.

Zimmer is now the Vikings coach. Ryan Goldin, Boling’s trainer in suburban Atlanta, said Monday that’s a key reason why Boling is considering the Vikings.

“He has a lot of interest in the Vikings,’’ Goldin said. “I know he likes the Vikings organization. It’s going to be an interesting 24 hours.’’

Free agents from other teams can be signed beginning at 3 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

Goldin also works out Vikings guard David Yankey, who didn’t get into any games last season as a rookie and needs to get stronger. Goldin believes it would be a positive for Yankey if Boling ended up on the same team.

“It would be a good thing,’’ Goldin said. “It would help David Yankey out.’’

Goldin said a number of teams have reached out to Boling. Others include Atlanta, the New York Jets and Cincinnati, which is trying re-sign Boling.

http://blogs.twincities.com/vikings/201 ... t-vikings/

[dead_poet]

If this is true (sounds like there's mutual interest with Boling), do you guys think/want the Vikings to draft Scherff at 11?

[Mothman]

If this is true (sounds like there's mutual interest with Boling), do you guys think/want the Vikings to draft Scherff at 11?

I'd rather see them sign Boling and use that pick on another position.

[dead_poet]

I'd rather see them sign Boling and use that pick on another position.

I know what you're saying but I'm torn. If Kalil plays like one of the worst LTs in the league again we'll suddenly have a gaping hole at LT in 2016 with no real options. Of course, if he does well enough to get extended, Scherff will be a high-round backup/swing for quite awhile with a fairly young offensive line (from left to right at the start of the 2015 season: Kalil: 26, Boling: 26, Sullivan: 29, Fusco: 27, Loadholt: 29). Not that quality depth is a bad thing.

They really need Kalil to step up though.

Edit: Is Loadholt really 29? That was a little shocking when I looked that up and I don't know why.

[frosted]

If Scherff is the BPA by the Vikings board, I still think you have to draft him. Whether they view him as a better talent than others likely to be available at that spot is another story, but I tend to go with BPA, unless the difference is very negligible or there are extenuating circumstances involved (like the same position being the BPA in every round of the draft, in which case trading down makes sense)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dead_poet]

If Scherff is the BPA by the Vikings board, I still think you have to draft him. Whether they view him as a better talent than others likely to be available at that spot is another story, but I tend to go with BPA, unless the difference is very negligible or there are extenuating circumstances involved (like the same position being the BPA in every round of the draft, in which case trading down makes sense)

I agree with that. Though it'd be interesting to see their grades/board. I don't know what the differential is on guys in the top-15. My guess is it's probably negligible and position needs/upside probably start weighing in at that point.

[frosted]

I wonder how much Boling will cost - I hope we don't get in a bidding war for him.

Measured is the buzz word for free agency. Measured, mindful, and thrifty.

And compensatory picks.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[frosted]

I agree with that. Though it'd be interesting to see their grades/board. I don't know what the differential is on guys in the top-15. My guess is it's probably negligible and position needs/upside probably start weighing in at that point.

Good point.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dead_poet]

I wonder how much Boling will cost - I hope we don't get in a bidding war for him.

Probably less than Iupati will get. FWIW, Orlando Franklin's deal with the Chargers: $36.5 million with $20 million guaranteed but he can play both guard and tackle.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Patience my friend

Oh don't worry, I am not disappointed. I was making an observation haha. I just expected more movement this year, but it appears the players are willing to stay home this year.


On the Boling note, I am glad the team has interest as well as he has interest in the team. However, Minnesota's eagerness to sign a free agent guard must mean David Yankey is not developing the way the team thought.

[The Breeze]

I consider the guard spot the biggest need to fill at present.....more critical IMO.

I guess I want Boling because he comes in and plays like a pro from day 1 which makes the whole line quicker to gel.....especially to make it more smooth for Kalil.

I suppose it's not for certain that Sherf will be there when we pick either. It would be cool to have either one or both even....but I sure would hate not getting one or the other.

I'd take my chances with Boling if I could sign him....I guess.

[frosted]

Waiting until the initial surge is over and then picking through the gems that are left is the way to go.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[dead_poet]

On the Boling note, I am glad the team has interest as well as he has interest in the team. However, Minnesota's eagerness to sign a free agent guard must mean David Yankey is not developing the way the team thought.

I'm not sure about that. He's only going to be a second-year player drafted last year in the fifth round. He may take some time to develop, especially if he was "NFL strength" deficient. I don't know how many teams would start a guy in his position. Let's give him another season or two and see how he does in hopefully preseason and spot duty here and there.

[The Breeze]

Free agent market is drying up relatively fast and a lot of it is due to players resigning with their respective teams. I figured we would see more lateral movement this year in free agency. I was wrong.

Patience my friend

Oh don't worry, I am not disappointed. I was making an observation haha. I just expected more movement this year, but it appears the players are willing to stay home this year.


On the Boling note, I am glad the team has interest as well as he has interest in the team. However, Minnesota's eagerness to sign a free agent guard must mean David Yankey is not developing the way the team thought.

It's a concern to me too. But given his known size/strength issues coming in to the league, it may take a little longer for him to get up to speed (if it happens at all). It does look like a funny pick in retrospect to draft a project guy before having a decent starter. I really thought Yankey was going to be the guy from what I read about him. Now I've seen a lot to suggest that may have been a popular notion but more wishful thinking in reality.