You heard it here first folks. Next Thursday, the Minnesota Vikings will trade up into the 1st round of the draft to select an offensive lineman.

The Vikings need to bolster the offensive line in the draft. The problem is multiple other teams need offensive lineman as well – and the Vikes don’t have a 1st-round pick. What they do have, however, is a surplus of mid-round picks.

Using their mid-round picks as ammo to trade up into the 1st round makes a lot of sense. There are very few elite OL prospects in the draft and there’s not much depth at the position. By trading up the Vikings may be able to land a day-one starter in the 1st round.

The 5th-year team option that accompanies a 1st-round selection is an asset general manger Rick Spielman covets, and it would potentially give the Vikings 3 starters on the o-line that are under contract for the next 5 years (joining Reiff and Remmers). The team would still have enough picks to trade down later to take advantage of the depth at other positions in the draft such as RB and CB.

The Vikings need one more starter up front and drafting one in the 1st round would provide them with flexibility, stability and depth on the offensive line – none of which they had last season.

Here are the offensive line prospects with a 1st or 2nd-round projection in the draft. Their analysis is from Lance Zierlein of NFL.com:

TACKLES

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1. Ryan Ramczyk – Wisconsin (Age 22, 6′ 6, 310 lbs.)
   • Extremely confident tackle with the athleticism to stay on the left side and the technique to make an early impact as a starter. Ramczyk has the core strength and body control that should keep him connected to blocks in both the run and pass and he’s proven to be scheme versatile with his playing style. Ramczyk is an early starter with the potential to become a good starting left tackle provided his medicals hold up.
2. Garett Bolles – Utah (Age 24, 6′ 5, 297 lbs.)
   • Because he’s only played one year of FBS football and hasn’t been able to fully fill out his frame over the last five years, Bolles will require a projection and conjecture than most of the tackles in this year’s draft. He clearly has elite athletic ability and foot quickness, but his lack of core strength and ability to sustain blocks against power across from him is a concern at this time. While he has Pro Bowl potential for a zone-scheme team, his floor will be a little lower than you might like in an early round pick.
3. Cam Robinson – Alabama (Age 21, 6′ 6, 322 lbs.)
   • Five-star recruit and three-year starter at left tackle who is a road grader with impressive power at the point of attack and enough athleticism to function in diverse run schemes. Robinson has tape galore against SEC edge talent either playing in the NFL or who soon will be. The tape shows a player with the traits and physical ability to be a good NFL tackle, but his balance issues and inconsistencies as a pass protector are a concern. Robinson is a candidate to be overdrafted due to the position he plays and his size, but buyer beware as some of his deficiencies might not be easily correctable.
4. Antonio Garcia – Troy (Age 23, 6′ 6, 302 lbs.)
   • Consistently playing below 300 pounds, his lanky frame is the first thing that gets noticed. But his positive attributes show up on tape more than his weaknesses. Mass and functional strength are concerns and he still needs plenty of technical work, but a team could look to draft and stash him based on his starter’s traits and ability.
5. Taylor Moton – Western Michigan (Age 22, 6′ 5, 320 lbs.)
   • Four-year starter for ascending Western Michigan program. Size and potential to dominate at the point of attack with pure power should make him a coveted right guard prospect. He can be a little stiff in his movements and his footwork needs plenty of work, but he’s functional in both areas. Might need additional work before he is ready to take on the wily, athletic defensive tackles in the NFL, but his physical traits and power give him a chance to become a reliable NFL starter.

GUARDS

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1. Forrest Lamp – Western Kentucky (Age 22, 6′ 4, 305 lbs.)
   • Four-year starter at left tackle whose lack of length will likely force him inside on the next level. He has the athleticism to handle athletic interior rushers while being able to fit into diverse rushing attacks that ask more from the guards and centers. His ability to potentially line up at tackle, guard or center will only increase his value. Lamp’s 2016 performance against Alabama’s talented edge players was a resume-builder that shined a spotlight on his potential as a pro.
2. Dan Feeney – Indiana (Age 22, 6, 4, 305 lbs.)
   • Four-year starter and two-time team captain, Feeney has been the consistent anchor along an Indiana offensive line that helped to produce NFL running backs Tevin Coleman and Jordan Howard. Feeney is a quality zone blocker with an ability to pull and lead the charge, but he might lack the play strength to become a reliable base blocker. His intelligence and ability to operate in space and protect the quarterback could make him an early starter with a ceiling of above-average NFL guard or center.
3. Dion Dawkins – Temple (Age 22, 6′ 4, 315 lbs.)
   • Quality tackle who operates with good balance and solid technique. Shows some good initial quickness and a smooth kick-slide out of his stance, but might be better in short areas as a guard rather than in open space as a tackle. He’s athletic enough to operate in space, but power appears to be his calling card. His wide-hand approach in pass protection could be a difficult habit to break, but he has the natural power to withstand bull rush that might come with that. Dawkins is a well-schooled, three-year starter who has chance to transition into an early starter.
4. Dorian Johnson – Pittsburgh (Age 22, 6′ 5, 300 lbs.)
   • Five-star prospect coming out of high school, Johnson was a full-time starter for three years at Pitt and was known for his consistency and well-rounded game. He has functional power to turn defenders out of the hole and enough athleticism to match any run-game scheme. Johnson doesn’t carry bad weight and should be able to add more bulk with no problem. While he has some weaknesses, nothing appears to be glaring and he should set into a starter’s role right away and become a solid NFL guard.

CENTERS

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1. Ethan Pocic – LSU (Age 21, 6′ 6, 310 lbs.)
   • Flexible, natural athlete with starting experience all along the LSU offensive line. Scouts say Pocic has the intelligence teams look for from a center and is highly regarded by LSU coaches and teammates in the locker room. Pocic is an excellent “work-up” blocker with the ability to thrive in a running game that operates in space, but his lack of power will produce some extremely challenging matchups for him at times.
2. Pat Elflein – Ohio State (Age 22, 6′ 3, 303 lbs.)
   • Elflein is a smart, tireless worker with a winning background and experience at all three interior offensive line spots. While his feet are just average, his core strength and wrestling background could make him a favorite of teams looking for more strength at the center position. Elflein will have occasional issues in pass protection, but his strength as a run blocker and ability to play with excellent hands and plus body control should make him one of the first interior linemen to come off the draft board.

It’s unlikely Minnesota would trade up for one of the centers in the draft, but if offensive lineman go quicker-than-expected as I predict, the Vikings may be forced to make a proactive move to ensure they get the player they want.

If I were GM there’s no question what I would do: Trade the 2nd-round pick, a 3rd-round pick and a 4th-rounder for a late 1st-round pick and select a quality o-lineman with the most potential. Then I’d trade the other 3rd-round pick for more picks.

Reiff, Boone, Berger, Remmers, Ramczyk looks pretty good on paper. Doesn’t it?

Sharrif Floyd’s NFL career may be over.

The former first-round pick may be forced to retire due to complications from surgery to clean up the meniscus in his right knee. During the surgery, a nerve that controls his quadriceps was disrupted. That nerve (and thus, his quad) is still not firing.

Floyd, 25, was becoming one of the better 3-technique defensive tackles in the NFL. Paired with run-stuffer Linval Joseph, they formed perhaps the best duo of interior defensive lineman in the league.

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As Floyd continues to visit some of the best doctors in the country in an effort to rehab his leg, football fans everywhere are hoping the nerve begins to fire and Floyd is able to resume his NFL career.

The Vikings may have the worst luck of any team I’ve ever seen when it comes to season-ending and potentially career-ending injuries. At some point these freak injuries will cease to happen. Until then, Vikings fans will continue to roll with the punches.

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Hope to see you on the field soon Sharrif!

The Vikings have signed veteran punter Ryan Quigley (Age 27, 6′ 3, 188 lbs.). Quigley, an undrafted free agent out of Boston College, played 6 games for the Arizona Cardinals last season but struggled. According to this photo, his knee can bend both ways.

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Quigley will compete with Taylor Symmank (Age 24, 6′ 2, 185 lbs.) for the starting job in Minnesota. Symmank was in rookie minicamp with the Vikings last year but did not make the team. According to this photo, he’s very flexible.

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The Vikings punter from last season, Jeff Locke, was signed by the Indianapolis Colts in free agency this offseason. Locke, a 5th round pick in 2013, was widely hated among Vikings fans because he sucked at punting. He had a decent year (for his standards) in 2016 but will be considered a bust because his draft position.

As a GM, this is the way to approach the punter position. YOU SHOULD NEVER SPEND A DRAFT PICK ON A PUNTER unless you’re in real trouble or the punter can kick the ball 90 yards in the air.

Both of these punters will come very cheap and because no draft pick was used on acquiring them, they can easily be cut if there’s a better option that becomes available after Training Camp or preseason roster cuts.

My prediction is that Symmank will earn the job, but I wouldn’t mind the return of legend Chris Kluwe.

Starting quarterback Sam Bradford is arguably Minnesota’s most important asset heading into the 2017 season. Bradford, the 1st overall pick of the 2010 draft, set an NFL record in 2016 for completion percentage in a season despite having one of the worst offensive lines in team history.

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The Vikings paid a hefty price (2017 1st and 4th-round picks to Philadelphia) to acquire Bradford, now they’ve paid a fortune (Reiff – 5 years, $58M, Remmers – 5 years, $30M) to protect him.

The team’s new offensive coordinator, Pat Shurmur, is implementing an offense scheme that complements Bradford’s skill set.

Yet, for whatever reason, the Vikings have chosen not to extend Bradford. The obvious reason is they are waiting to see what happens with Bridgewater’s recovery. And if that’s the case, they’re making a big mistake, and they’re already paying for the incompetence.

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The Vikings have a 24 year-old quarterback on the roster in Teddy Bridgewater that seemingly everyone in the organization loves (I do too). Teddy Two-Gloves, who was being groomed as the team’s franchise quarterback before suffering a potential career-ending injury, has made progress in his rehab, recently posting a video online of him throwing a football to a receiver. It’s a promising sign, but there’s still a chance he will never play in the NFL again. And frankly, even when Bridgewater is healthy, Bradford is a better quarterback.

The Vikings should have given Bradford an extension after the season. First of all, he earned it. The team has no reason not see Bradford as it’s unquestioned starter for the foreseeable future. By doing so, you make Bridgewater earn the right to become starter again. Secondly, if the Vikings would have extended Bradford before free agency, NFL free agents would have known the team’s future direction. Because he only has 1 year left on his contract, the future of Bradford and Minnesota’s QB situation is uncertain. That uncertainty hurt the Vikings badly in free agency as they attempted to sign multiple free agents that ultimately signed with other teams, despite them offering a larger sum of money.

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Standing pat in this circumstance is not economical or logical. The Vikings can’t afford to “wait and see what happens” with Bradford and Bridgewater this season – they need stability at the most important position in sports. Fans argue having too many QB’s is a “good situation,” but when has creating a quarterback controversy ever been good for a team?

Bradford will play out the last year of his contract (in essentially a prove-it season) for $18M. Bridgewater, who likely won’t play this season, will make $2.17M.

By procrastinating on Bradford’s extension, the front office has created many questions that will need to be answered next offseason. If Bradford excels again, how much will he want? Does he even want to stay in Minnesota? Should you franchise tag him? If he struggles, do you let him go for nothing after giving up so much to get him? Also, Bridgewater has a 5th-year option for 2018 worth $11M. Will the Vikings really be willing to pay $11M to a backup QB that hasn’t played in 2 years? Do they see him as a starter if he’s healthy? Do they extend both quarterbacks? Do they try to trade one?

Right now it appears the Vikings are willing to wait and see what happens.

After signing Case Keenum yesterday, the Vikings now have Bradford, Bridgewater, Keenum, and Taylor Heinecke rostered at quarterback. Only Bridgewater and Heinecke remain under contract post 2017.

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Perhaps the plan all along was to keep Bradford for 2 years, then reinstate Bridgewater as starter. I really hope that’s not the case…but I’m starting to think it was. Bridgewater may be seen by the team as the future and Bradford may be seen as injury-prone, but the latter has outplayed expectations and there’s no reason to think he can’t continue his stellar play with an improved offense around him.

Bradford has proven he can be a Pro-Bowl caliber asset. The team needs stability. Extend him. $3 years, $60M.

The Vikings have just signed quarterback Case Keenum.

Age 29. 6′ 1, 205 lbs. Played college football at Houston.

2016 stats (with the Los Angeles Rams): 9 TD’s, 11 INT’s, 2201 yards, 60.9 completion %.

Career stats: 24 TD’s, 20 INT’s, 5,224 yards, 58.4 completion %.

Keenum was signed to a one-year, $2M deal plus incentives.

Keenum and Taylor Heinecke will compete for the backup quarterback gig behind starter Sam Bradford.

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Do I like the signing? No I don’t. I thought we should have signed Johnny Manziel, but the Vikings could have done worse. Keenum is essentially a camp body that might make the team if he impresses in Training Camp and during the preseason. I suspect the Vikings will draft a QB in the later rounds who will be kept on the roster along with Bradford and Heinecke.

Teddy Bridgewater is throwing again, but there’s still no timetable for his return.

So, with only Sam Bradford and Taylor Heinecke on the roster at quarterback, head coach Mike Zimmer wants a veteran backup.

Let’s take a look at who’s available:

• Colin Kaepernick (Age 29, 6′ 4, 230 lbs.)
• Jay Cutler (Age 33, 6′ 3, 233 lbs.)
• Matt Cassel (Age 34, 6′ 4, 228 lbs.)
• Robert Griffin III (Age 27, 6′ 2, 220 lbs.)
• Johnny Manziel (Age 24, 6′ 0, 210 lbs.)
• Ryan Fitzpatrick (Age 34, 6′ 2, 223 lbs.)

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Linebacker Rey Maualuga is now a free agent after being released by the Cincinnati Bengals.

Signing Maualuga to a one-year deal may or may not be a wise investment for Minnesota. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of picking him up.

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CON – Maualuga is 30 years old.

PRO – He’s 6′ 2, 258 lbs.

CON – He hasn’t played a full season in 4 years.

PRO – His best years have come under Mike Zimmer.

CON – He suffered a fibula injury last season.

PRO – Quality inside linebackers are hard to find in the NFL.

PRO – Zimmer could have a linebacker rotation utilizing Maualuga as a run stopper.

CON – Playing Maualuga would take away snaps for Kentrell Brothers and Edmond Robinson and Emmanuel Lamur.

PRO – Maualuga could start until Brothers or Robinson (or a draft pick) is ready to be starter.

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PRO/CON – Signing Maualuga would potentially give the Vikings the following starters:

• SLB – Anthony Barr
• MLB – Rey Maualuga
• WLB – Eric Kendricks

In my opinion it wouldn’t hurt to sign Maualuga. Bringing in a veteran who knows Zimmer’s system after the loss of Chad Greenway would make sense. Plus, when is the last time the Vikings have had a surplus of starter-able linebackers? However, I think he may be out of Minnesota’s price range and I don’t know if the Vikings would add an older player due to the team’s recent youth movement.