Chris Ransom follow @DraftUtopia Posted on 7/22/2019.

Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Recap

Right guard Josh Klein and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen were the Free Agents. Shamar Stephen is replacing Stephen Richardson and honestly I feel that's a downgrade even though Klein could be an upgrade. Minnesota also signed kicker Dan Bailey. Former Detroit Lions running back Ameer Abdullah is a return specialist at kick returner and would make a better punt returner than Minnesota's current punt returner.

Minnesota Vikings Draft Recap

The Minnesota Vikings drafted North Carolina State center Garrett Bradbury in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft and will move their current center Pat Elflein inside to left guard despite his strong play at center. Alabama tight end Irv Smith Jr. was a prospect with a first round grade. Irv Smith Jr. will begin as a backup tight end to Kyle Rudolph, but will be groomed to succeed Rudolph in a very good situation for him. Boise State running back Alexander Mattison, a third round draft pick is the replacement for Latavius Murray and will start as a rookie if Dalvin Cook gets injured again. Oklahoma right guard Dru Samia, Minnesota's fourth round pick is the backup right guard to Josh Kline and the insurance plan if Kline gets injured. USC middle linebacker Cameron Smith is the middle linebacker to Minnesota also snagged Oregon wide receiver Dillon Mitchell in the seventh round, and I had a first round grade on him.

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Summary: Minnesota has Kirk Cousins for another season. Sean Mannion, Kyle Slotter, and Jake Browning are competing to be the mediocre backup behind Cousins. If anything happens to Cousins this season, then Minnesota would be screwed.

Offensive coordiantor Kevin Stefanski was the quarterbacks coach with the Minnesota Vikings for two years. Gary Kubiak is the assistant head coach with the Minnesota Vikings and his son Klint Kubiak is the quarterbacks coach taking over for Stefanski. Now Kevin is the offensive coordinator with the Minnesota Vikings. Stefanski has experience coaching quarterbacks, running backs, and tight ends. In fact, I liked him more then John DeFillipo as an offensive coordinator and even had this to say about Stefanski in my 2018 Vikings Season Preview a year ago.

"I'm not saying Stefanski would make a good head coach. I do think he deserves a shot as offensive coordinator, if Minnesota's offense does worse this year with all their offseason moves. Someone who can develop players at nearly every position on the offensive side of the ball outside of the wide receiver and offensive line positions deserves a shot to be an offensive coordinator at some point so teams can measure if they have a future head coach on their hands."

Minnesota Vikings Running Back Summary: Minnesota has Dalvin Cook as the starting running back. Alexander Mattison compliments him as the backup running back.

Kennedy Polamalu did well as Minnesota's running backs coach for the last two seasons. Polamalu has done well coaching Dalvin Cook since Minnesota drafted him out of Florida State.

Minnesota Vikings Wide Receiver Summary: Stefon Diggs remains Minnesota's #1 target despite having the size of a slot receiver. Adam Thielen is the secondary wide receiver due to his work ethic. Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota's first round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is set to move to slot receiver. Minnesota also has Chad Beebe and Dillon Mitchell competing for the number four receiver job for depth.

Drew Petzing is now the wide receivers coach with the Minnesota Vikings. He has experience coaching the quarterbacks and running backs coach. Petzing is another offensive coach that could get promoted to offensive coordinator. Remember, last year I said Kevin Stefanski should be the offensive coordinator instead of John DeFillipo. Minnesota came to their senses and promoted Stefanski to offensive coordinator. Petzing could be another future offensive coordinator that Minnesota has stashed for the future.

Minnesota Vikings Tight End Summary: Kyle Rudolph is one of the leagues best starting tight ends when healthy. Irv Smith Jr. their 2019 second round pick out of Alabama gives Minnesota a second tight end for a two tight end set as well as a tight end for the future behind Kyle Rudolph. I don't think Irv Smith Jr. will have the impact Rudolph has down the road, but he gives Cousins the luxury of using a two tight end set in Minnesota. Minnesota hired Brian Pariani who coached Shannon Sharpe way back when. Pariani was the tight ends coach on all of the last three Super Bowl teams that the Denver Broncos had when Denver won Super Bowl 32, Super Bowl 33, and Super Bowl 50.

Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Summary: Minnesota was stacked on the offensive line last year. Riley Reiff kept his job at left tackle. Pat Elflien is moving to left guard. Garrett Bradbury is the new center. Josh Kline is the new right guard with Dru Samia for depth. Brian O'Neill did well enough to start at right tackle as a rookie and enters his second season as the starting right tackle.

Nick Eason is out for the year at left guard. That means Tom Compton will start at left guard in 2018.

Pat Elflein did better then I expected in his first year. Mike Remmers has regressed to the point where he got kicked inside to right guard. That leaves Rashod Hill and rookie Brian O'Neill in an intense competition for that right tackle job. Minnesota traded a 2019 seventh round pick for New York Giants starting center Brett Jones.

Rick Dennison is the offensive line coach/running game coordinator. Last year Minnesota had a shaky offensive line and Tony Sparano died before the season so they had no offensive line. Minnesota improved this area of their offense. Only time will tell if the Vikings actually fixed their offensive line.

The Vikings should be a top 10 offense in points scored, total yards, passing yards, and rushing yards. Minnesota fixed their offensive line, upgraded at offensive coordinator, brought in Gary Kubiak as an assistant head coach to mediate the offense without calling plays so he will have less stress on him and can just motivate the offense and mentor the other offensive coaches. Kubiak's son is also the quarterbacks coach. If Minnesota's offensive line does well, this offense could be a top 5 offense in the NFL this season.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Line Summary: Minnesota is loaded with 4-3 defensive ends. They have Everson Griffen as a starting 4-3 right end with Danielle Hunter complimenting him as a starting 4-3 left end. Minnesota has Linval Joseph and Shamar Stephen as their starting 4-3 defensive tackles with Jaleel Johnson for depth. Shamar Stephen has no buisness starting at defnesive tackle. I feel Jaleel Johnson is a better player. Minnesota's defensive tackle situation is suspect for the first time in years since the Vikings are historically known for having good defensive tackle play from John Randle to the Williams brothers Kevin and Pat. Minnesota has usually had historically good defensive tackle play, and now that is a glaring weakness for the first time in years. Minnesota did not address this position in a loaded 2019 NFL Draft at defensive tackle. It makes you wonder doesn't it.

Andre Patterson was the Vikings defensive line coach in 1998-1999 when the Vikings went 15-1 before rejoining the team. Patterson is a great defensive line coach which is one reason why the Vikings usually get pressure on the opposing quarterback. Mike Zimmer specializes in developing defensive linemen as well.

Minnesota Vikings Linebacker Summary: Anthony Barr, Eric Kendricks, and Ben Gedeon form an great linebacking core. Minnesota has three players that consistently produce at linebacker. Kendricks is a middle linebacker while both Gedeon and Barr are versatile to play either outside linebacker role. Ben Gedeon out of Michigan is expected to be a backup outside linebacker after being a middle linebacker at Michigan. Kentrell Brothers is moving to outside linebacker where he will be a backup to both Barr and Gedeon. Also, Minnesota has former USC middle linebacker Cameron Smith as a backup to Eric Kendricks.

Head coach Mike Zimmer can develop defensive linemen or linebackers in a 4-3 or 3-4 scheme. Defensive coordinator George Edwards specializes in developing linebackers, but he's learned a lot about developing defensive linemen as well as Mike Zimmer's understudy. Edwards may be a future head coach candidate in the waiting. Linebackers coach Adam Zimmer is Mike Zimmer's son so the Vikings have three coaches that specialize in developing linebackers as well as defensive linemen. Mike Zimmer handles play calling with the linebackers, Edwards handles run stuffing and blitz schemes, and Adam Zimmer focuses on having the linebackers drop back into coverage. Each coach plays a critical role in how the Vikings linebackers develop.

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Backs Summary: Xavier Rhodes is the Vikings #1 field cornerback. Trae Waynes did enough to solidify himself as the boundary cornerback. Mike Hughes outplayed Trae Waynes before his season ending injury as a rookie. Mackensie Alexander has also done well in workouts this offseason.

Strong safety Anthony Harris and strong safety Jayron Kearse are pushing each other for the starting strong safety job. Neither safety has proven themselves as strong safety is a glaring weakness. Harris and Kearse were both highly coveted prospects coming out of the ACC, but neither player took that next step.

Minnesota has Harrison Smith as the teams starting free safety. Minnesota does not have depth behind Harrison Smith. So if Harrison Smith gets injured, Minnesota will also have suspect safety play in addition to suspect play at defensive tackle.

Minnesota is loaded on the secondary. Jerry Gray is a great defensive backs coach, but a horrible defensive coordinator. Gray is back as the defensive backs coach.

The Vikings have one of the leagues best defenses. All of their defensive coaches are back and that is one reason why I believe the Minnesota Vikings as well as the Detroit Lions are the two best teams in the NFC North Division. Chicago still has the best defense in this division, but Trubisky did well enough to win, Vic Fangio is on Denver, and Chicago extended two below average offensive tackles long-term.

Minnesota Vikings Special Teams Summary: Minnesota has Dan Bailey at kicker. Ryan Quigley is their punter. Mike Hughes will be both a kick returner and punt returner on the Vikings. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer will have his hands full.

Minnesota Vikings Worst Case Scenario: Minnesota misses the playoffs again and goes 9-7. This is a good team on paper and there are no excuses by the coaching staff if everyone stays healthy.

Minnesota Vikings Best Case Scenario: Minnesota goes 12-4. They somehow end up winning the NFC North as a result.

Minnesota Vikings 2019 NFL Schedule

Minnesota Vikings 2019 Projected Record (8-8): Minnesota goes 8-8. Their tough schedule is why they probably miss the NFL Playoffs this upcoming season.