2015 Offseason - Free Agent/Draft Tracker

[CbusVikesFan]

Using the free agency simulator was great. I suggest everyone mess around with it. The first one I did I screwed it up and didn't really make the team better. But after a couple tries I did okay. Restructured Jennings, AP, Rudolph, and a couple others. Resigned Berger, T. Johnson, and Loeffler.
Signed McClain and Boling. Still had 16 million in cap space left. Could have done better, settling into the GM office I have been busy remolding. lol

[Pondering Her Percy]

If they think Scherf is worth #11, I'm good with that pick. Otherwise, I'd love for a top WR at 11 and Kouandjio or Josue Matias in the 2nd.

I just can't see them going OL with their first pick though. I like Scherff and in my first mock I did this year, I had us taking him. But the more I think about it, I can't see us going OL with that pick. I think you'll see us take OL somewhere between rounds 2-3 maybe 4. There is too much talent in the early part of the draft. We haven't taken a guard with our first round pick in a long time....if ever. Basically because they are fairly easy to find in the middle rounds. I mean our best offensive lineman is Fusco and Sully and they were 6th rounders. If you look at all the top guards in the league this year, very little, if any, are first round picks. Its much harder to find a Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, or Odell Beckham in the middle to late rounds. That's why I feel we will go WR or even CB with our first pick

[Texas Vike]

I just can't see them going OL with their first pick though. I like Scherff and in my first mock I did this year, I had us taking him. But the more I think about it, I can't see us going OL with that pick. I think you'll see us take OL somewhere between rounds 2-3 maybe 4. There is too much talent in the early part of the draft. We haven't taken a guard with our first round pick in a long time....if ever. Basically because they are fairly easy to find in the middle rounds. I mean our best offensive lineman is Fusco and Sully and they were 6th rounders. If you look at all the top guards in the league this year, very little, if any, are first round picks. Its much harder to find a Mike Evans, Sammy Watkins, or Odell Beckham in the middle to late rounds. That's why I feel we will go WR or even CB with our first pick

I think you have a valid point, but there's this: our line was atrocious last year and Scherf gives you an elite OL prospect who can potentially fill various needs. If Kalil does not improve, he can man the LT position. If he does, he can instantly upgrade your LG position, which has been neglected for too long.

Our talent at WR is respectable. I do agree that we lack a clearcut #1 WR that can blow the top off coverages and fight for contested balls and win consistently. Parker, in most scouts' eyes, can do the latter but not the former. White is the opposite, IMO. I think Cooper is the only one clearly worthy of #11, but it looks like he'll go in the 5-10 range.

[slapnut19]

as much as i like scherff and even la el collins i think we shore up left guard in free agency. very rarely do your biggest needs match up with free agent talent, but this year iupati, boling and franklin are all going to be available and would instantly upgrade our line. i think we spend the money on a left guard and a starting corner leaving #11 wide open for a wr, safety like collins or any other defensive player they rate highly. but, if scherff is there at #11 he may be too good to pass over even if we sign a vet guard. i'd really like to know how the team feels about kalil and his long term future with the team.

[Pondering Her Percy]

as much as i like scherff and even la el collins i think we shore up left guard in free agency. very rarely do your biggest needs match up with free agent talent, but this year iupati, boling and franklin are all going to be available and would instantly upgrade our line. i think we spend the money on a left guard and a starting corner leaving #11 wide open for a wr, safety like collins or any other defensive player they rate highly. but, if scherff is there at #11 he may be too good to pass over even if we sign a vet guard. i'd really like to know how the team feels about kalil and his long term future with the team.

As I said before though, we have a lot of money on our offensive line right now and Kalil is our youngest lineman. We need youth and talent on that line. I don't see a need to overpay a guard in free agency when you can get one for next to nothing in the draft

[slapnut19]

As I said before though, we have a lot of money on our offensive line right now and Kalil is our youngest lineman. We need youth and talent on that line. I don't see a need to overpay a guard in free agency when you can get one for next to nothing in the draft

is it really overpaying if you land a boling and iuapti? adding a pro bowl caliber player at a need position is always good if you ask me. especially since we won't have to pay big money to the qb spot for at least two or three more years.

[slapnut19]

As I said before though, we have a lot of money on our offensive line right now and Kalil is our youngest lineman. We need youth and talent on that line. I don't see a need to overpay a guard in free agency when you can get one for next to nothing in the draft

i hear that alot, but outside of qb you can basically insert any position into that sentence and it will still be true. we need a starting caliber lg asap. i don't see the team waiting to the draft to fill that hole considering how much of a crapshoot the draft can be. i think land a vet very early in free agency.

[Pondering Her Percy]

is it really overpaying if you land a boling and iuapti? adding a pro bowl caliber player at a need position is always good if you ask me. especially since we won't have to pay big money to the qb spot for at least two or three more years.

Well Boling isn't a pro bowl caliber player. Iupati is going to command ridiculous money. Kalil and Loadholt count for over 6 million each against the cap, Fusco counts for 3.5, and Sully counts for 5.75. That is already $22.2 million against the cap this year on our offensive line only. Iupati is going to command way more than anyone on our current offensive line is getting. We'll be close to $30 million on our offensive line if we were to sign Iupati. That is way too much money tied up into that unit IMO.

I would have to imagine if you look at any other offensive line in the NFL, we would be paying above and beyond everyone else. You see middle round guards start on offensive lines every year across the NFL. It would end up costing us under $1 million to pay a 3rd round guard. I think thats a much better route to go IMO and then we can spend our money elsewhere in free agency. My guess is that money will be spent at CB and MLB but I could be wrong.

[DK Sweets]

I have been advocating for a few weeks to spend the money on the guard because I would view it as an investment in Teddy. It will further his development (in theory) and around the time he starts commanding a larger salary those big numbers will be coming off the books. It seems fairly seamless and logical, to me.

Additionally, with Kalil struggling I would feel more comfortable with a proven high quality NFL player next to him as opposed to Johnson or a rookie. It will make sure there are absolutely no built in excuses for Kalil next season.

Then again, I view our needs differently than others. I see the value in picking up an offensive playmaker, but I want to see CB and LB addressed high in the draft, and I wouldn't mind seeing competition at DE and Safety. I think it makes more sense to make a dominant unit on one side of the ball, and our defense has some very solid young pieces and could be close.

Also, if Adrian returns, a strong O-Line is a smart investment. It improves his chance of holding down our offense, and as I said earlier, should help Teddy stay confident and give him precious milliseconds to find our average level receivers down the field.

And this has nothing to do with the O-Line, but another reason I don't think WR is a must draft position is because when Adrian is in the backfield, gadget plays to talented WRs have been very effective. We could see CP return to a dynamic force, and Johnson, Wright, and Jennings are every bit as good as that group in Seattle. I really have faith in that blueprint: strong defense, strong lines, and a reliable RB/QB duo to move the ball consistently.

[VikingPaul73]

I have been advocating for a few weeks to spend the money on the guard because I would view it as an investment in Teddy. It will further his development (in theory) and around the time he starts commanding a larger salary those big numbers will be coming off the books. It seems fairly seamless and logical, to me.

Additionally, with Kalil struggling I would feel more comfortable with a proven high quality NFL player next to him as opposed to Johnson or a rookie. It will make sure there are absolutely no built in excuses for Kalil next season.

Then again, I view our needs differently than others. I see the value in picking up an offensive playmaker, but I want to see CB and LB addressed high in the draft, and I wouldn't mind seeing competition at DE and Safety. I think it makes more sense to make a dominant unit on one side of the ball, and our defense has some very solid young pieces and could be close.

Also, if Adrian returns, a strong O-Line is a smart investment. It improves his chance of holding down our offense, and as I said earlier, should help Teddy stay confident and give him precious milliseconds to find our average level receivers down the field.

And this has nothing to do with the O-Line, but another reason I don't think WR is a must draft position is because when Adrian is in the backfield, gadget plays to talented WRs have been very effective. We could see CP return to a dynamic force, and Johnson, Wright, and Jennings are every bit as good as that group in Seattle. I really have faith in that blueprint: strong defense, strong lines, and a reliable RB/QB duo to move the ball consistently.

Very well said, DK!!!!

[HardcoreVikesFan]

As I said before though, we have a lot of money on our offensive line right now and Kalil is our youngest lineman. We need youth and talent on that line. I don't see a need to overpay a guard in free agency when you can get one for next to nothing in the draft

But, PHP, with that logic, this team should have never went out and sought Steve Hutchinson all those years ago. They should have just drafted the next Steve Hutchinson instead of using the poison pill.

I am a proponent of adding the best players at every position in any way possible - period. Yeah, sure, we could draft someone and they may turn out to be a Pro Bowl player, but I mean, how often (if he does indeed hit the market) does someone of Iupati's caliber hit the free agency market? Is Iupati on the same level as Steve Hutchinson? No, but he is very close in my opinion. You know as well as I do that although it sounds great in theory to draft an impact player, the draft isn't black and white - it is a crap shoot.

All in all, it doesn't really matter I suppose. If this team decides that Iupati or Boling are good choices for them, they will sign either player. If they feel that they can draft someone better, they will draft someone. I am very curious to see what happens.

[frosted]

I have been advocating for a few weeks to spend the money on the guard because I would view it as an investment in Teddy. It will further his development (in theory) and around the time he starts commanding a larger salary those big numbers will be coming off the books. It seems fairly seamless and logical, to me.

Additionally, with Kalil struggling I would feel more comfortable with a proven high quality NFL player next to him as opposed to Johnson or a rookie. It will make sure there are absolutely no built in excuses for Kalil next season.

Then again, I view our needs differently than others. I see the value in picking up an offensive playmaker, but I want to see CB and LB addressed high in the draft, and I wouldn't mind seeing competition at DE and Safety. I think it makes more sense to make a dominant unit on one side of the ball, and our defense has some very solid young pieces and could be close.

Also, if Adrian returns, a strong O-Line is a smart investment. It improves his chance of holding down our offense, and as I said earlier, should help Teddy stay confident and give him precious milliseconds to find our average level receivers down the field.

And this has nothing to do with the O-Line, but another reason I don't think WR is a must draft position is because when Adrian is in the backfield, gadget plays to talented WRs have been very effective. We could see CP return to a dynamic force, and Johnson, Wright, and Jennings are every bit as good as that group in Seattle. I really have faith in that blueprint: strong defense, strong lines, and a reliable RB/QB duo to move the ball consistently.

Nice take, DK. I get where PHP is coming from as well, but there is a good argument to be made that typical guidelines regarding the amount of cap space invested in a position group are not as relevant when you are paying as little as we currently are (and will be for a minute) paying our QB. Another beautiful nuance of the new CBA in regards to rookie contracts being slotted.

I also happen to agree with you about the defensive end position, and I know it's an unpopular opinion, but I STILL wouldn't mind us drafting a defensive end high.


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[LondonViking]

I would seriously consider Boling as he should be alot cheaper than Iupati. But would be very happy with either to be honest

Dont hurt me I dont post much

[Pondering Her Percy]

I have been advocating for a few weeks to spend the money on the guard because I would view it as an investment in Teddy. It will further his development (in theory) and around the time he starts commanding a larger salary those big numbers will be coming off the books. It seems fairly seamless and logical, to me.

Additionally, with Kalil struggling I would feel more comfortable with a proven high quality NFL player next to him as opposed to Johnson or a rookie. It will make sure there are absolutely no built in excuses for Kalil next season.

Then again, I view our needs differently than others. I see the value in picking up an offensive playmaker, but I want to see CB and LB addressed high in the draft, and I wouldn't mind seeing competition at DE and Safety. I think it makes more sense to make a dominant unit on one side of the ball, and our defense has some very solid young pieces and could be close.

Also, if Adrian returns, a strong O-Line is a smart investment. It improves his chance of holding down our offense, and as I said earlier, should help Teddy stay confident and give him precious milliseconds to find our average level receivers down the field.

And this has nothing to do with the O-Line, but another reason I don't think WR is a must draft position is because when Adrian is in the backfield, gadget plays to talented WRs have been very effective. We could see CP return to a dynamic force, and Johnson, Wright, and Jennings are every bit as good as that group in Seattle. I really have faith in that blueprint: strong defense, strong lines, and a reliable RB/QB duo to move the ball consistently.

I agree Dakota. You make some valid points. I'm not saying I'm completely against going after Boling or Iupati, it's just that it's a lot of money we're investing. Especially for Iupati. Also, chances are, we're going to be in the market for another OL in the next year or two because the average age of our offensive line after signing Iupati would be 27.2. That's fairly old and the youngest starting OL we have (Kalil) isn't looking all that great. We're lacking some youth right now IMO.

Granted, I would trust Iupati a lot more over a rookie but the difference is pay and age comes into play as well if you know what I mean. Honestly, I wouldn't be mad either way with what happens. It's just I'm on the fence a bit throwing out so much money for a guard when they've been found fairly easy the past few years via the draft.

[frosted]

I'm going to update the OP this week to give a more accurate picture of where we're now at, from a roster and cap point of view.

One player I'd like us to explore in free agency is Jeron Johnson, backup SS from Seattle. I think he could be a solid starter in this league.

He's a special teams standout as well.