2016 Vikings Free Agency Thread (News, Rumors, Transactions)

[S197]

Just add Boone and a line that's given up 140 sacks in 3 seasons is now deep, eh? I'm not buying it... and yes, I know Sullivan and Loadholt are coming back,. Berger has been part of that depth all along and he's solid but I sure hope they're going to make OL a priority in this draft.

FiestaVike may be the only one who will agree with me on this though... if I'm lucky.

It is deep though. Other than Kalil you have multiple guys at each position. It's not so much just adding Boone, you're also getting Sullivan & Loadholt back plus the untested guys like Easton, Sirles, Shepherd, etc.

The quality of the starters is still a question mark but I think that's different than depth. In terms of depth, I think the lineup looks pretty good. If Fusco can return to his "PFF Superstar" days and Boone works out at LG, then that's a fairly good upgrade from last year's line and you can look to the draft for successors.

[dead_poet]

I also agree. I'll be livid if Kalil starts at LT without an attempt to replace him. It's nice to see improves elsewhere in the Oline however the LT usually gets the best rusher on the team, and Kalil is arguebly the worst on the line, not a good match up.

Well he certainly wasn't a huge liability for much of the year either. Meaning 2015 Kalil is useful/acceptable (in the short-term). They need to think about drafting a replacement, though. Same with Sully at center.

[Mothman]

No worries, I have been reading your posts for several years, just finally decided to contribute. I am still a rookie here so had to double check my math before posting

Well, I'm glad I made such a good impression after you decided to stop lurking! Now that you're here, can you help me wipe the egg off my face?

Seriously, I'm glad you decided to contribute. Please continue to do so!

So far the only player I am still hoping for is Reggie Nelson, I would like to see what he can do with Harrison Smith on the other side.

That still seems quite possible.

[fiestavike]

Thanks! I'm glad I'm not alone.

There are three of us...

It's not impossible that it works out...that between health, coaching, hard work, some of these guys improve, and they add a guy in the draft, the FA signing works out, etc. Its just not the approach I would take to what is, in some ways, the central unit of the entire team.

Taking a positive view on it, they are keeping a lot of flexibility. Kalil, Fusco, Sullivan, Harris and Loadholt, Sirles, Easton, Kiren, Bykowski, Shephard...pretty much everyone but Boone is on a 1 year deal. With the exception of Kalil's 11 mill, there isn't really a sense of commitment to any of these players even for this year. One could read into that a state of open competition which could yield some improvement. Also they have flexibility positionally with a number of these guys having the capability to play 2 or more spots. That could mean the next FA they bring in, or the next OL they draft could easily be a Tackle, Guard or even a Center. They are kind of in position to go BPA with the rest of the offseason in that regard. I'm stretching here, but I'm trying hard to put a positive spin on it.

Its not unlike what they did at WR, which yielded mixed results. Given you have a young QB and maybe the last gasp with a high paid RB coming up, I wish they would be more aggressive addressing this unit.

[fiestavike]

If you want to play that game go back and see how many sacks were given up during that time period from: Kalil's rookie year + 2015, Fusco's healthy year at RG, Phil's healthy years at RT, Sullivan from 2013-2014, Boone last year. Then compare those numbers to the league average over that span as a unit and pressure/sack per snap. Then let's talk

Oy Gevalt! Not necessary or informative. They haven't been good for a long time. All the spin in the world won't change that.

[dead_poet]

Oy Gevalt! Not necessary or informative. They haven't been good for a long time. All the spin in the world won't change that.

*sigh*...

[dead_poet]

Rhett Ellison's dad Riki posted a note on Facebook saying Rhett was moving on, then deleted. #Vikings have been looking for blocking TE.

*sniff*

Rhett...?

[Mothman]

That needs a mountain of context, Jim. Many of those sacks have come from:

1) Kalil playing injured
2) Sullivan out
3) Clemmings at RT
4) Loadholt out
5) Fusco out
6) Fusco playing out of position/possibly injured
7) Charlie Johnson at LG

It depends on which lens you choose to view the players now (Kalil getting healthy, Loadholt going to be at or close to 100%, Fusco back at RG, etc.). Even the most pessimistic should admit a few of those should go our way. Boone's addition will make the unit even greater.

If you want to play that game go back and see how many sacks were given up during that time period from: Kalil's rookie year + 2015, Fusco's healthy year at RG, Phil's healthy years at RT, Sullivan from 2013-2014, Boone last year. Then compare those numbers to the league average over that span as a unit and pressure/sack per snap. Then let's talk

That sounds like a lot of work.

I see your point so let's take the simpler approach and set that stat aside. I was just using it as a means to drive home a point anyway. Even with all of those players healthy, the line has never been that good. I'm not idealistic enough to view this group through a lens that says they'll stay healthy and perform at an optimal level all season.

[Mothman]

There are three of us...

It's not impossible that it works out...that between health, coaching, hard work, some of these guys improve, and they add a guy in the draft, the FA signing works out, etc. Its just not the approach I would take to what is, in some ways, the central unit of the entire team.

Taking a positive view on it, they are keeping a lot of flexibility. Kalil, Fusco, Sullivan, Harris and Loadholt, Sirles, Easton, Kiren, Bykowski, Shephard...pretty much everyone but Boone is on a 1 year deal. With the exception of Kalil's 11 mill, there isn't really a sense of commitment to any of these players even for this year. One could read into that a state of open competition which could yield some improvement. Also they have flexibility positionally with a number of these guys having the capability to play 2 or more spots. That could mean the next FA they bring in, or the next OL they draft could easily be a Tackle, Guard or even a Center. They are kind of in position to go BPA with the rest of the offseason in that regard. I'm stretching here, but I'm trying hard to put a positive spin on it.

Its not unlike what they did at WR, which yielded mixed results. Given you have a young QB and maybe the last gasp with a high paid RB coming up, I wish they would be more aggressive addressing this unit.

I do too. You're right about the flexibility although they've also built a lot of uncertainty in there. Good post!

It will be interesting to see how their plans unfold.

[dead_poet]

That sounds like a lot of work.

I see your point so let's take the simpler approach and set that stat aside. I was just using it as a means to drive home a point anyway. Even with all of those players healthy, the line has never been that good. I'm not idealistic enough to view this group through a lens that says they'll stay healthy and perform at an optimal level all season.

I'm just saying we've yet to see the group (original starters) perform together at their original positions at moderate to close to 100% so I can't feel comfortable judging them as a unit. That's all. You have seen enough and that's ok too. Let's hope whoever ends up starting kicks ####.

[Mothman]

*sniff*

Rhett...?

Bummer.

[Norv Zimmer]

The Vikings just added a linebacker from the Bengals. He is guy that I've never heard of but he seems to be one of the starters on the Bengals and the guy that Zimmer knows well and hopefully knows that he can come in and contribute. Last name is like lamur

[Mothman]

I'm just saying we've yet to see the group (original starters) perform together at their original positions at moderate to close to 100% so I can't feel comfortable judging them as a unit. That's all. You have seen enough and that's ok too. Let's hope whoever ends up starting kicks ####.

Amen to that!

[Texas Vike]

That's no so bad, right, Texas Vike?

Oh, you meant he's a Houston Texan!

Funny, I had to read that twice too.

I don't know how many years a guy has to live in TX to become a Texan, but I think I will always consider myself a Minnesotan, even though I've come to like TX quite a bit. Now, being a HOUSTON Texan? I'd take the salary, but that's a weak sauce team. I don't dislike them like the Cowboys, but they're just kind of meh. I liked the old Oilers: four wideouts, very exciting ball.

[Norv Zimmer]

Emmanuel Lamur 6 foot 4, outside linebacker. Looks really athletic.