If I Were GM – Filling The Holes
The Vikings have missed out on signing some key players in free agency, including defensive end Michael Johnson and guards Mike Iupati and Clint Boling. So…now what?
Aside from acquiring Shaun Hill after trading Matt Cassel to Buffalo, the Vikings have only addressed two positions in free agency thus far (DT – Tom Johnson and WR – Mike Wallace).
Not to worry. With the top-tier free agent options now unavailable, there are still economical options out there to fill the team’s positions of need. If I were GM, here’s how I would upgrade:
- Left Guard – sign Joe Barksdale/Justin Blalock or draft Brandon Scherff/La’el Collins/Cameron Erving
- Middle Linebacker – sign Brandon Spikes/Mason Foster or draft Denzel Perryman/Bernardrick McKinney/Eric Kendricks
- Safety – sign Taylor Mays or draft Landon Collins/Gerod Holliman/Jaquiski Tartt
- Cornerback – sign Patrick Robinson or draft Trae Waynes/Jalen Collins/Kevin Johnson
- Defensive End – sign George Selvie/Greg Hardy/Da’Quan Bowers or draft Dante Fowler Jr./Shane Ray/Arik Armstead/Henry Anderson
- Outside Linebacker – sign Geno Hayes or draft Vic Beasley/Shaq Thompson/Randy Gregory
- Wide Receiver – draft Amari Cooper/Kevin White/Devante Parker/Dorial Green-Beckham/Devin Funchess
My draft strategy differs from most fans in that I prefer to draft interior lineman early in the draft rather than “sexy” position players. Interior lineman are the building blocks of NFL teams and the men on the front lines that allow position players to be great. There are exceptions, however.
That being said, Vikings GM Rick Spielman made a fantastic trade for Mike Wallace, sending a 5th-round pick to Miami in exchange for the speedy Wallace as well as the Dolphin’s 7th-round pick. Although the team cut veteran wideout Greg Jennings as a result of the trade, I feel the Vikings are better off having a deep threat at receiver. It’s still possible and even likely the team will draft a receiver, but it’s very unlikely one will be taken in the first round.
As fun as it would be to draft Cooper, White, or Parker as a weapon to pair with Wallace, if I were GM, I would look to draft a player like Scherff, Armstead, Waynes or trade down from the 11th pick overall. Like I’ve said previously, the team needs to adequately protect its franchise quarterback before it surrounds him with weapons.
If I Were GM 