10 Keys to the Minnesota Vikings' 2012 NFL Free Agency Period

The Minnesota Vikings are approaching one of the most important periods in the team's history. They have the third pick in the NFL draft, the highest selection since 1985 (when they selected Chris Doleman with the fourth pick) and are in need of making a quick turnaround.

For a team that finished 3-13, there are plenty of opportunities to improve at almost every position. The Vikings' greatest needs are within the offensive line and the defensive backfield, along with needing to upgrade at wide receiver, linebacker, defensive tackle and add some depth at running back.

Newly promoted general manager Rick Spielman will have 10 draft picks to address these needs, but don't expect him and the Vikings to find any more than one or possibly two starters from the draft.

That leaves free agency and trades to plug many of the holes the Vikings have.

According to spotrac.com, the Vikings' 2012 payroll is currently at $96.3 million with 42 players under contract. That means (with the salary cap expected to be in the neighborhood of $125 million) Minnesota will have approximately $28 million to sign their draft picks and shop in the free-agent market.

Not a team to typically make a huge splash in free agency, Minnesota will need to make some offers in order to improve the roster to avoid a third straight last-place finish in the NFC North.

What positions the team targets and the players they might make offers to will depend a lot on some questions currently surrounding the team.

Which of their own free agents they can retain, as well as the health of many of their significant players, will dictate what happens.

Here are 10 keys to how active the Vikings will be in the free-agent period that begins March 13th.

The Health of AP and Toby

The Minnesota Vikings finished last season with their two top running backs nursing knee injuries.

Adrian Peterson suffered a devastating injury in Week 16 when he tore both the MCL and ACL in his left knee.

AP has a goal of being ready to go by the start of the 2012 season, but that will be a stretch at best. How effective he will be once he returns will be a question left unanswered until he actually gets the ball in his hands.

For his backup, Toby Gerhart, it was a tear to his MCL a week later. Fortunately for Gerhart and the Vikings, his injury did not require surgery, and he should be ready for the team's OTAs.

The level of confidence the Vikings have in Peterson making an effective return in 2012 will dictate how actively they pursue a free agent running back. At this point, they're hoping it would be as a backup.

The Outcome of Cornerback Chris Cook's Trial

The Minnesota Vikings' second-round draft choice from 2010, cornerback Chris Cook, has yet to live up to the potential as the Vikings' starting cornerback.

It was issues with his knees that limited Cook to six games during his rookie season, and a couple of felony assault charges that prompted head coach Leslie Frazier to dismiss Cook from the team after playing in only another six games.

That's only 12 games over two seasons.

His trial is scheduled to begin March 5th, just a week before the start of free agency.

The outcome of that trial and any potential consequences from the NFL will have a huge impact on if the Vikings make any forays into free agency searching for a starting cornerback

What to Do with Everson Griffen

The Minnesota Vikings are high on Everson Griffen, a defensive end selected two rounds after Chris Cook in 2010.

Griffen had four sacks for the Vikings as a backup defensive end.

The Vikings also experimented at playing the 6'3", 280-pounder at linebacker and as a gunner on the punt coverage team. 

If the Vikings decide he can make the move to outside linebacker, it could affect what the Vikings do with free agent linebacker Erin Henderson, or if they pursue another linebacker.

The Health of Their Projected Starting Middle Linebacker

The most likely scenario with the Vikings' starting middle linebacker situation has them replacing free agent E.J. Henderson with Jasper Brinkley, the Vikings fifth-round draft choice from 2009.

My concern with this move is that Brinkley has only four starts in his career and spent the entire 2011 season recovering from a hip injury that required surgery.

With little experience and an entire year without playing football, the Vikings should at least look to add some depth, if not spend big for a starter, just as an insurance policy in case Brinkley isn't ready to step up and produce. 

Staying with the linebacker position...

Will the Vikings Be Able to Retain the Services of Erin Henderson?

While the Vikings have little interest in re-signing middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, they do want to retain the services of first-year starter Erin Henderson.

Last season the younger Henderson cost the Vikings $1.2 million, and although the crop of free agent outside linebackers is not that deep or impressive, it will cost the Vikings a bit more to retain him. 

According to Pro Football Focus, Henderson is the top-rated OLB available.

The key will be if the Vikings can re-sign him before the free agency period begins.

According to a report from the Pioneer Press, Henderson wants to stay in Minnesota. 

If the undrafted free agent from 2008 and the Vikings cannot reach a deal, they will need to find another veteran to plug into the defense. 

What to Do with Steve Hutchinson

Steve Hutchinson is a seven-time Pro Bowl selection and five-time First-Team All-Pro.

The problem is the 11-year veteran, who turns 35 this November, has not been able to finish the last two seasons due to injuries.

The fact that his contract is an $8.4 million hit to the Vikings' salary cap in 2012 makes it likely that he could be a salary-cap casualty.

The Vikings will need to determine if Hutchinson is the best option for the money at left guard, or if they cut him loose, can they find another lineman to fill his shoes.

Speaking of salary-cap casualties...

Are Cedric Griffin's Days Numbered?

Cedric Griffin has not been the same player since suffering two torn ACLs to both knees within 10 months in 2010.

The ACL tear to his left knee occurred in the 2009 NFC Championship game against the Saints in January of 2010.

After successfully making his way back to the starting lineup in Week 3 of the 2010 season, he tore his right ACL in Week 5 and was limited to two games for the 2010 season.

Upon his return in 2011, Griffin was not as effective, and even with a depleted defensive backfield, he was benched at the end of the season.

With a $5.2 million hit to the 2012 salary cap, the Vikings' second-round draft pick from 2006 could find himself released along with Steve Hutchinson.

How Many Free-Agent Backups Will the Vikings Re-Sign?

The Vikings have a total of 17 free agents from their 2011 roster.

Only four of them opened the season as a starter—safety Husain Abdullah, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson, his younger brother Erin at weak side linebacker and tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. 

The remainder were backups that saw anywhere from no action to a few who were thrust into the starting lineup due to injuries.

The Vikings will need to take a long, hard look at these 13 backups and determine who is worth signing to a new contract.

Where Will the Vikings Look for a Tight End?

After 13 seasons in the NFL, Jim Kleinsasser called it quits following the 2011 season.

The Vikings also need to make a decision on what they want to do with free agent Visanthe Shiancoe.

There are currently four tight ends signed to the Vikings' roster—Kyle Rudolph, Daniel Hardy, Allen Reisner and Mickey Shuler Jr.

Combined, they have 26 games, with 10 starts and only 29 catches. 

While Shiancoe's receptions have declined over the past three years, the nine-year veteran has played in 88 games with 243 receptions and 27 touchdowns.

The only way he stays with the Vikings in 2012 would be as a backup to Rudolph at a reduced salary from the $4.5 million he cost the team last season.

How Easy Will It Be to Sell Minnesota to Free Agents?

General manager Rick Spielman will have his hands full during the free agency signing period.

Not only will it take the right contract to lure the right free agent to the Vikings, but it could be a tough sell to get a talented player to come to a team that has seen its win total cut in half in each of the two seasons.

Add to that the weather that arrives at the Twin Cities typically about halfway through the long NFL season and the fact the Metrodome is considered one of the worst, if not the worst, stadium in the NFL, it could be downright difficult to persuade someone to come to Minnesota.

Perhaps that's the reason the Vikings have not made a lot of big moves in free agency.