The Minnesota Vikings ended their offseason program on June 15. Here’s a look at how they fared:
Offseason goals/grade: The Vikings made no secret of the fact they intended to invest in their offensive line, and they gave $36.8 million in guaranteed money to tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers, before drafting Pat Elflein in the third round. They also added options to the middle of their defensive line and brought in running back Latavius Murray to help replace Adrian Peterson. The success of their offseason, in the end, will be determined largely by whether they found the right people to help their offensive line. They also said goodbye to kick returner Cordarrelle Patterson and nickel cornerback Captain Munnerlyn, among others, and watched Jared Cook sign with the Raiders after visiting Minnesota. Grade: B-minus.
Move I liked: It seemed time for the Vikings to make a change at running back, swapping out Peterson for younger, more versatile and more affordable options. Murray is a strong pass protector who has caught 74 passes the past two seasons, and rookie Dalvin Cook should be useful as both a runner and receiver. The Vikings' triumvirate of Murray, Cook and Jerick McKinnon will cost a combined $4.25 million in cap space this season, after Peterson accounted for $12 million last year.
Move I didn’t like: The Vikings needed to sign two tackles, and Remmers gives them an experienced option on the right side of the line, but it remains to be seen whether he'll provide a big enough upgrade over the Vikings' other options to justify a contract that included $10.5 million in guaranteed money. The Vikings can essentially get out of the deal after next season, and its fifth year is a team option, but Remmers is slated as the starter for 2017. He's a serviceable tackle who's better as a run blocker than a pass protector.
Biggest question still to be answered in training camp: Do the Vikings have the right solution to replace Munnerlyn in the slot? The cornerback played reliably over the past two seasons after struggling in his first year with the Vikings, and Minnesota could turn to second-year corner Mackensie Alexander to succeed Munnerlyn, who returned to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. Terence Newman also could get a chance to play there at age 39, but the Vikings probably will need one of the two players to fare well in what has essentially become a starting role.
Salary-cap space: $13,911,756 (source: Overthecap.com)
2018 draft picks: 2. RB Dalvin Cook, 3. C/G Pat Elflein, 4. DT Jaleel Johnson, 4. LB Ben Gedeon, 5. WR Rodney Adams, 5. G Danny Isidora, 6. TE Bucky Hodges, 7. WR Stacy Coley, 7. DE Ifeadi Odenigbo, 7. LB Elijah Lee, 7. CB Jack Tocho.
Undrafted rookie free agents signed: DB Tommy Armstrong, DE Tashaun Bower, DE Dylan Bradley, T Aviante Collins, DE Caleb Kidder, QB Wes Lunt, DE Sam McCaskill, RB Terrell Newby, TE Josiah Price, CB Horace Richardson, WR R.J. Shelton, LB Shaan Washington, LB Eric Wilson.
Unrestricted free agents signed: WR Michael Floyd, QB Case Keenum, DT Datone Jones, RB Latavius Murray, T Riley Reiff, T Mike Remmers, DT Will Sutton.
Restricted free agents signed: None
Players acquired via trade: None