Grading the Minnesota Vikings Free-Agent Signings so Far

The 2012 NFL Draft is a little more than two weeks away, and for fans of the Minnesota Vikings there is a lot of anticipation. The hope is the general manager Rick Spielman finds a way to make a big splash with 10 selections this year that will provide an immediate upgrade to the roster and a huge boost to the win column.

Since being named the team's general manager in January, Spielman has done little during the free-agency signing period leading up to the draft. Actually, in all fairness that's not true—he's done plenty, having signed 27 players so far.

The problem is the signings do little more than add depth to a weak roster.

At least Spielman is signing players at positions the Vikings need help, including five offensive linemen, four wide receivers, four cornerbacks and three tight ends. However, out of the 27 players signed so far, don't expect more than two or three to make the starting lineup.

After releasing veterans Steve Hutchinson, Anthony Herrera and Cedric Griffin, the Vikings had an estimated $40 million in salary cap space. The anticipation was that Spielman would be making some significant offers to add a No. 1 receiver, a top notch cornerback or a starting linebacker. 

Instead, the signings have left Vikings fans scratching their heads wondering where the money will be spent to upgrade the team. 

Here's a brief look at the grade that each of these signings earns towards improving the Vikings roster. 

Jan. 2, 2012: The Vikings Sign 7 Players to the Practice Squad

The day after the Vikings season ended with a 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears the team signed the following seven players to their practice squad:

WR Kris Adams went undrafted out of UTEP in 2011 . He was on the Rams, Bears and Vikings roster in 2011.

G Chris DeGeare was a fifth-round draft choice out of Wake Forest for the Vikings. He started five games his rookie season. 

CB Reggie Jones—According to Vikings.com Jones has two years experience from Portland State. There is information to be found for him on Pro-Football-Reference.com.

G Butch Lewis is an undrafted free agent out of USC.

LB Tyrone McKenzie was the Patriots third-round pick in 2009. He tore his ACL during rookie training camp that year and did not play that season. He was active for three games for Tampa Bay in 2010 and is credited with one tackle.

TE Allen Reisner, a rookie free agent from Iowa made one catch last season for the Vikings.

WR Kerry Taylor was with the Packers during training camp, but was released before the season. A 2011 undrafted free agent he was also briefly a member of the Giants and 49ers before signing with the Vikings.

Only DeGeare and Reisner have seen any regular-season action in the NFL.

Grade: C-minus—there is not a starter in the bunch, hence the reason they were signed to the "future/reserve" contract.

Jan. 10: The Vikings Add a Fullback

An undrafted free agent out of Utah, Matt Asiata made the Vikings practice squad last season.

He was an signed to a reserve/future contract by the Vikings on January 10th.

The Vikings desperately need to find a replacement for Jim Kleinsasser—Asiata is not it.

Grade: D

Jan. 13: The Vikings Sign a Quarterback, Sort Of...

The Vikings signed quarterback McLeod Bethel-Thompson from Sacramento State to a reserve/future free agent contract. 

Don't expect anything from Bethel-Thompson, who, after being cut from the 49ers, signed to play with the Sacramento Mountain Lions of the UFL, where is was the third -string quarterback last year.

Seriously, this addition must be because the Vikings are short on tackling dummies.

Grade: F

The Vikings Add a Tight End and a Guard

The Vikings signed TE Daniel Hardy and G Jose Valdez to reserve/future free agent contracts.

Hardy, a 2011 seventh-round draft choice from Idaho for Tampa Bay spent some time last season on the Buccaneers and Saints practice squads. He did not register any stats last season.

Valdez, an undrafted free agent form Arkansas spent the past two season with the Falcons.

These moves do no more than to add bodies to the roster for OTA's and mini camps.

Grade: D 

Jan. 31: The Vikings Actually Add a Player That Has Played Professionally

The Vikings signed linebacker Solomon Elimimian to a reserve/future free agent contract.

After playing for Hawaii he went undrafted in 2008, and spent the past two seasons playing for the BC Lions of the Canadian Football League.

In 2010 he won the CFL's Most outstanding Rookie award, and in 2011 he was named the league's hardest hitter in a TSN player poll.

At the very least Elimimian will make an impact on coverage teams for the Vikings, and should be given a shot to start at linebacker.

Finally a player that we will see on Sundays.

Grade: C-plus/B-minus—if he makes the team as a starting linebacker the grade will step up considerably.

Feb. 7: Re-Sign Guard Patrick Brown

The Vikings re-signed tackle Patrick Brown to a one-year deal worth $540,000.

An undrafted free agent out of Central Florida, Brown started his career with Carolina in 2009.

He has been a practice squad player with the Patriots, Vikings, Jets, Dolphins and Vikings (again).

Last season he was finally activated by the Vikings for one game but did not see any action.

At best Brown makes the team as a backup.

Grade: C-minus

Mar. 12: The Vikings Secure a Third-Stringer

Quarterback Sage Rosenfels joined the Vikings for the second time after they claimed him off waivers from the Giants, the team they traded him to before the 2010 season.

The Vikings re-signed him to a two-year deal.

A fourth-round draft choice of the Redskins in 2001, Rosenfels has played in 44 games over 10 seasons.

In 2009, before the Vikings convinced Brett Favre to join the team, Rosenfels was the best quarterback on the Vikings roster during the preseason.

This is a good signing in that it adds a serviceable backup and should not present any threat of a quarterback controversy to Christian Ponder.

Even so, it does little to improve the Vikings.

Grade: C

Mar. 14: The Vikings Re-Sign a DT

The Vikings re-signed defensive tackle Letroy Guion to a three-year deal.

Guion, the Vikings' fifth-round pick in 2008, made three starts last season, two of them while Kevin Williams was serving his suspension to open the season.

After the poor season last year's starter Remi Ayodele had, Guion, along with Fred Evans and Christian Ballard will be given a shot to claim the starting role.

This signing retains some depth at defensive tackle, and just by how poorly Ayodele played can be considered an upgrade.

Grade: C-plus—just above a passing mark.

Mar. 14: The Vikings Add Depth at Tight End

This is the first of a couple of head-scratching moves the Vikings have made so far.

The Vikings signed John Carlson to a five-year, $25 million contract. The head-scratching part is the fact they paid this much for a player who sat out the entire 2011 season after suffering a shoulder injury during training camp.

In three years with the Seahawks he has 137 catches and 13 touchdowns.

This move should be an upgrade over Visanthe Shiancoe

Grade: B minus

Mar. 16: The Vikings Re-Sign Depth at DT and Add a Point Guard?

While the re-signing of free agent Fred Evans makes sense to retain some depth for the Vikings on the defensive line, the signing of Nicholas Taylor is the second head-scratching move by the Vikings.

According to a report from Kevin Seifert from ESPN.com, the Vikings signed Taylor, a former collegiate basketball player from Florida International.

Taylor, who did not play football at FIU, was signed after a private workout with the Vikings.

If the move doesn't workout for the Vikings perhaps they can trade him to the Timberwolves.

Grade: F—there is no way this move improves the Vikings roster. It's worse than the signing of Brock Lesnar when he tried to make it as a defensive lineman.

Mar. 18: The Vikings Add Some Depth at Runing Back

A sixth-round draft pick of the Dolphins in 2008, Lex Hilliard has only 39 carries in three seasons for 130 yards.

Last year he started four games for Miami and had a whopping 16 carries.

On the bright side, he has four career touchdowns and no fumbles—a marked improvement over Lorenzo Booker, who had zero touchdowns and four fumbles while playing for the Vikings the last two seasons.

Grade: C-plus—just above passing since it is an improvement.

Mar. 21: Vikings Add a Some Depth at Offensive Tackle

The Vikings continued to add players that might help the team if they can recover from injuries that prevented them from playing last season.

They signed tackle Geoff Schwartz to a one-year, $700,000 contract. Like tight end John Carlson, Schwartz, a seventh-round draft pick out of Oregon for Carolina in 2008, did not play last season because of a hip injury.

He did start all 16 games in 2010. At 6'6" and 331 pounds he has the dimensions to be an effective lineman.

This is a good signing if Schwartz can provide some depth as a former starter.

Grade: B-minus—at least he has started in the NFL.

Mar. 18: The Vikings Sign Another RB to the Stable

The Vikings signed fullback Jerome Felton to a one-year $700,000 deal. 

Felton, a fifth-round draft pick of the Detroit Lions in 2008, played three years in Detroit before being released last August.  He opened the 2011 season with Carolina.

After nine games he was released by the Panthers and claimed off waivers by Indianapolis.

In four seasons he has 42 carries for 136 yards.

Grade: C-minus—The Vikings will be his fourth team since 2010, not much to get excited about here.

Mar. 23: The Vikings Re-Sign Some a Wide Receiver

The Vikings signed wide receiver Devin Aromashodu to the veteran minimum of one year for $700,000.

The good news is that Aromashodu led the Vikings with an 18.0 yard average per catch.

The bad news, he only caught 26 balls, and his 33.3 percent catch rate was the lowest among receivers in the NFL.

At 27-years-old time is running out for him to make his mark.

Grade: D-plus

Mar. 23: Finally the Vikings Sign Their First Bona Fide Starter

According to WalterFootball.com, Erin Henderson was the third-best free-agent linebacker available.

The Vikings were able to re-sign their starting outside linebacker for a very reasonable one-year contract for $2 million.

Henderson must not have had a lot of calls for his services. This could be a great contract for him if he continues to get better, and the Vikings will have to spend a little more to retain him after next season.

On the other hand he will need to prove he deserves to continue to start. Last season in 15 starts he finished fifth on the Vikings defense with 44 tackles.

Grade: B—Henderson needs to step up his game and help the Vikings defense to improve.

Mar. 26: The Vikings Add More Depth to Cornerback

The Vikings signed former Chicago Bears cornerback Zackary Bowman to a one-year, $615,000 contract.

Bowman, a fifth-round draft pick out of Nebraska for Chicago in 2008, started 12 games in 2009, and led the Bears with six interceptions.

The problem is he has only three starts since, including just one last season.

Grade: C-minus—While no doubt this is an upgrade from the cornerbacks the Vikings finished with last season, it does little to improve the defense.  

Apr. 2: The Vikings Add Another Wide Receiver

The Vikings added WR/KR Bryan Walters to a two-year deal worth a total of $1.02 million.

Walters, an undrafted free agent in 2010, played in four games for the San Diego Chargers last season, making only thee catches for 27 yards, with eight kickoff returns for an average of 5.6 yards per return.

This is another under-the-radar acquisition by Rick Spielman that does little to upgrade the roster. Why Walters received a two-year deal in another head-scratcher.

Grade: D—No more than an emergency return man to help save Percy Harvin from the pounding of returning kicks.

Apr. 4: The Vikings Add More Depth at Corner

The signing of former Ravens cornerback Chris Carr potentially brings some depth to the third cornerback position.

It's a low risk signing with a one-year contract worth only $825,000.

Carr, an undrafted free agent out of Boise State played three years in Oakland, followed by a season in Tennessee before getting a chance to be a regular starter for the Ravens in 2009.

In 2010 he started all 16 games for Baltimore when he had two interceptions and a career-high 54 tackles.

Limited to only seven games last season due to injuries, the Vikings are hoping Carr can contribute at the nickel corner on defense.

Grade: C-minus—Like the Zackary Brown signing, there is a lot of potential for an upgrade over last season, but then again it doesn't require much to do that.

Apr. 10: The Vikings Add Some Special Teams Help

The Vikings most recent acquisition is linebacker Marvin Mitchell.

A seventh-round draft pick of the Saints in 2007, he spent four years in New Orleans as a special teams player.

In 2011 he played with the Dolphins as a reserve. Even so, his one interception last season was one more than the entire Vikings starting linebackers had combined.

Perhaps he can help fill the void the Vikings coverage teams have had since losing Heath Farwell.

Grade: C—The Vikings need to upgrade at special teams, and perhaps Mitchell can help.

Final Assessment: The Best Is Yet to Come

If you actually made this far, you've proven you are a true Vikings fan with exception intestinal fortitude.

What Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is waiting for confounds me. After making moves that cleared some significant space under the salary cap, it sure signaled that perhaps he was going to make some bold moves to improve the team.

So far the moves made have done little to move the needle on the Vikings talent level. On the positive side, there will be plenty of bodies competing to make the team.

The approach seems to be: Sign as many mediocre, and basement bargain players as possible and hope that the cream rises to the top and he finds some players to improve the roster.

Time will tell, but the future is not looking too bright right now.

Perhaps he's waiting to pull of a mega deal during the NFL draft—we can always hope.

Overall Grade: D