Minnesota Vikings (Last Year: 8-8)
2008 NFL Draft Grade:
Good Moves:
I like Tyrell Johnson as a player, but I can't agree with the pick (more on this in the next section.) ... Letroy Guion and John Sullivan were both very decent late-round selections. Sullivan doesn't fill an immediate need, but he'll take over for Matt Birk once the Pro Bowl center leaves or retires. Guion will be a rotational player at defensive tackle ... Oh, and the Vikings traded for some guy named Jared Allen. You may have heard of him. All he did was generate 15.5 sacks in 2007. No biggie.
Bad Moves:
How can you let Brian Brohm get away at No. 43 and allow your most hated rival to take him off the board? Tarvaris Jackson will be the death of the 2008 Minnesota Vikings ... I don't like John David Booty for one small reason - he has tiny hands. Daunte Culpepper and Alex Smith also have small hands. Culpepper has the NFL record for most fumbles in a single season, while Smith is good for 4-5 turnovers per game.
Grade give on 4/28/08: B
2008 NFL Draft Picks:
43. Tyrell Johnson, SS, Arkansas State
Tyrell Johnson is a solid prospect, but how do you pass up on Brian Brohm at 43 when he was an option at 17? Minnesota's defense will be great next year, but Tarvaris Jackson will once again debacle the team's Super Bowl aspirations.
(Pick Grade: C)
137. John David Booty, QB, USC
I like the fact that the Vikings drafted a quarterback, but Andre' Woodson would have been a better option. John David Booty has the smallest hands of any significant quarterback in this draft. Don't think that's a big deal? Daunte Culpepper and Alex Smith have tiny hands too - and they're renown for fumbling.
(Pick Grade: C)
152. Letroy Guion, DT, Florida State
An eventual replacement for Pat Williams. The Vikings better hope he gets over his off-the-field issues.
(Pick Grade: B)
187. John Sullivan, C, Notre Dame
John Sullivan was a Round 2 prospect last year. He'll be able to take over for Matt Birk once he moves on.
(Pick Grade: B)
193. Jaymar Johnson, WR, Jackson State
Receiving depth is needed, but Jaymar Johnson isn't the best wideout on the board.
(Pick Grade: C)
Season Summary:
Vikings 41, Giants 17. It's hard to believe Minnesota stormed into the Meadowlands as huge underdogs and upset the eventual Super Bowl champion. Thanks to Adrian Peterson, who broke Jamal Lewis' single-game rushing record (296 yards), the Vikings came within one victory of reaching the postseason. Unfortunately, Tarvaris Jackson's ineptitude thwarted that possibility.
Offseason Moves:
Vikings cut OLB Dallas Sartz
Vikings cut WR Joel Filani
Vikings receive DE Jared Allen from the Vikings for pick Nos. 17, 73, 82 and an exchange of sixth-round selections
Vikings sign QB Gus Frerotte
Vikings re-sign OLB Heath Farwell
Vikings sign CB Benny Sapp
Vikings sign SS Michael Boulware
Vikings sign DT Kenderick Allen
Vikings sign DT Ellis Wyms
Vikings re-sign OLB Dallas Sartz
Vikings re-sign WR Robert Ferguson
Vikings sign OLB Derrick Pope
Vikings sign RB Maurice Hicks
Vikings sign WR Bernard Berrian
Vikings sign FS Madieu Williams
Vikings sign FB Thomas Tapeh
Vikings cut QB Kelly Holcomb
Vikings trade WR Troy Williamson to the Jaguars for a sixth-round pick
Vikings cut FS Dwight Smith
Offseason Needs:
- Quarterback: I'm not sure if Tarvaris Jackson is color-blind, or if he's just brutally inaccurate. But the fact remains that the Vikings cannot advance deep into the Doggone Playoff with Jackson under center (even with Adrian Peterson carrying them there). Trading for Donovan McNabb, giving up picks for Derek Anderson or taking a quarterback in the third round are all options. Drafted John David Booty; signed Gus Frerotte
- Free Safety: Current starter Dwight Smith is terrible, and was one of the main reasons the Vikings were ranked dead last versus the pass. Minnesota could draft a free safety in one of the earlier rounds. Getting a corner and moving Cedric Griffin to safety could also work. Signed Madieu Williams
- Strong Safety: Darren Sharper, who turns 33 at some point during the 2007 campaign, has lost a step. More assistance for the Vikings' secondary needs to come here. Tom Zbikowski, Jamar Adams and Craig Steltz wouldn't be bad choices in Round 3. Drafted Tyrell Johnson; signed Michael Boulware
- Wide Receiver: As inconsistent as Jackson was last year, I'll admit he didn't have much of a chance, given how horrendous his receiving corps was. Thankfully, Minnesota can grab one of the wide outs in this extremely deep draft class. Signed Bernard Berrian; re-signed Robert Ferguson; drafted Jaymar Johnson
- Defensive End: The Vikings needed a premier pass-rusher even before Kenechi Udeze was diagnosed with Leukemia. No one on Minnesota's roster had more than five sacks in 2007. Derrick Harvey and Calais Campbell could both be there at No. 17. Traded for Jared Allen
- Nose Tackle: Pat Williams is an awesome force in the middle of Minnesota's defensive front. Unfortunately for them, he turns 36 in October. Time to find a successor. Drafted Letroy Guion; signed Kenderick Allen
- Re-Sign Tony Richardson: Even though he's 36, the Vikings must re-sign the guy who blocked for Peterson on his record-setting day. They have the money to do so.
- Tight End: The Vikings didn't get much production out of their tight ends this year. Jermichael Finley and Jacob Tamme could be available in Round 4.
Minnesota Vikings Free Agents:
Salary Cap (As of Feb. 15): $14.88 million
-
Tony Richardson, FB. Age: 36. 
Signed with Jets (1 year)
Tony Richardson's still one of the better lead-blockers in the NFL, but age is definitely a concern at this point.
-
Heath Farwell (RFA), OLB. Age: 26.
Re-signed with Vikings (1 year, $1.417 million)
A top reserve and a solid special-teams player, Heath Farwell will likely be re-signed.
-
Dwight Smith, FS. Age: 30.
Lions sign Dwight Smith (2 years, $5 million)
In the same boat as Sammy Knight; any team that needs Dwight Smith as a starter really sucks.
- Mewelde Moore, RB. Age: 26.
- Signed with Steelers (3 years, $4.95 million)
- Spencer Johnson, DT. Age: 26. - Signed with Bills (5 years)
- Robert Ferguson, WR. Age: 28.
- Dontarrious Thomas, Vikings. Age: 28. - Signed with 49ers (2 years)
- Darrion Scott, DE. Age: 26.
- Tank Williams, SS. Age: 28. - Signed with Patriots (1 year)
- Mike Doss, S. Age: 27.
- Kelly Holcomb, QB. Age: 35.
- Chase Johnson (ERFA), OT. Age: 24.
- Dallas Sartz, OLB. Age 25.
- Joel Filani, WR. Age 24. - Signed with Seahawks
Divisional Rival History:
Chicago Bears: The home team has claimed 10 of 12.
Detroit Lions: Pure domination. The Vikings have somehow won 16 of the past 18 meetings.
Green Bay Packers: Remember when Favre couldn't win domes? Yeah, not the case anymore. The Packers have won four in a row and six of eight.
Features to be Posted This Offseason:
- Detailed season preview
- Fantasy football projections
- Positional rankings
- Daily updates on free-agent signings
More 2008 NFL Offseason Pages:
DAL / NYG / PHI / WAS
CHI / DET / GB / MIN
ATL / CAR / NO / TB
ARZ / SF / SEA / STL
BUF / MIA / NE / NYJ
BAL / CIN / CLE / PIT
HOU /IND / JAX / TEN
DEN / KC / OAK / SD
Back to the 2008 NFL Offseason Page
