Highlighting Minnesota Vikings' Biggest Offseason Obstacles

A tumultuous 2013-14 season for the Minnesota Vikings is finally starting to wind down.

Coming off a big Week 13 victory against the Chicago Bears, the Vikings have shown us that no matter how bad things get, one thing they won't do is quit on their fans.

Now straddled with a 3-8-1 record, this Minnesota team has suffered through a dismal quarterback situation and a defense that's been equally bad.

But in the NFL, the silver lining in having a rough year is always the offseason. It's time to highlight some of the Vikings' biggest offseason obstacles in 2014 and dig a little bit deeper into how this team can be molded back into a playoff contender.

Find the Right Head Coach

Rebuilding the Minnesota Vikings starts with the search for a new head coach.

Although Vikings general manager Rick Spielman told the Associated Press (via Vikings.com) that Leslie Frazier's job is safe, the team's record tells a completely different story.

Despite a strong showing against the Chicago Bears in Week 13, the Vikings have been a disaster this season. While it's unfair to heap all of the responsibility on Frazier's shoulders, at the end of the day, he's still the man running this team.

So if Frazier were to get the boot after the season finishes up, who would be the best fit to come in and help right this ship?

Using Bleacher Report writer Matt Miller's rules to follow when hiring an NFL head coach, the search would start with a defensive-minded coach. Successful coaches Mike Tomlin, Marvin Lewis and John Fox all came from defensive backgrounds.

When one searches the market for elite defensive minds, one name stands out above the rest: Cincinnati Bengals defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer.

A scintillating football mind who has always thrived on conquering adversity, Zimmer is currently in charge of the NFL's sixth-ranked defense. And that success has carried on throughout the season, even after NFL Network's Mike Silver reported that superstar defensive tackle Geno Atkins suffered a torn ACL in Week 9:

"

It gets worse: bengals source says early indications are that Geno Atkins tore his ACL. @nflnetwork @nfl @NFL_ATL

— Michael Silver (@MikeSilver) November 1, 2013"

For Minnesota, the ultimate goal is bringing in a leader who can capture the hearts of the players and empower them to achieve greatness. Based on his track record of success and his ability to inspire a locker room, Zimmer would be a superb addition.

The Pursuit of a Franchise Quarterback

An obstacle more challenging than escaping Olmec's temple is the hunt for a franchise quarterback in Minnesota.

Realizing that Christian Ponder—the 34th-ranked quarterback this season, according to Pro Football Focus (subscription required)—is not the answer, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that the Vikings went out and signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Josh Freeman to a one-year deal:

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Vikings gave former Bucs QB Josh Freeman a one-year deal worth about $3 million.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 7, 2013"

After throwing for just 190 yards and one interception in his debut performance against the New York Giants, Freeman has spent the rest of his tenure with the Vikings resting on the bench.

Surprisingly, 31-year-old quarterback Matt Cassel has looked the best this season. But despite his flashes of productivity, it's apparent that Cassel isn't the long-term answer.

So what's next? With the NFL draft looming, Vikings fans will undoubtedly being paying close attention to the quarterback class of 2014.

With GoDucks.com reporting that University of Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota will be returning to school next season, that class looks a lot thinner than it did just a few days ago.

In order to get a better grasp of the talent out there, take a look at this table, which highlights some of the top QB prospects:

Name	School	Height	Weight
Teddy Bridgewater	Louisville	6'3"	210 lbs
Tajh Boyd	Clemson	6'1"	225 lbs
Johnny Manziel	Texas A&M	6'0"	210 lbs
Derek Carr	Fresno State	6'3"	215 lbs
Zach Mettenberger	LSU	6'5"	235 lbs
AJ McCarron	Alabama	6' 4"	214 lbs

For Spielman, all of these quarterbacks outside of Teddy Bridgewater realistically have a chance of falling to the Vikings on draft day.

Making a decision on the future signal-caller of this franchise is a task that will keep the Vikings front office guessing. Do you go with a polarizing figure like Johnny Manziel? Or do you settle for a more traditional quarterback like Fresno State's Derek Carr?

No matter whom the Vikings decide on, this offseason's biggest obstacle will be securing a quarterback to help guide this team for the next decade.

Infuse the Roster with Playmakers

The NFL is predicated on dynamic players and their ability to break through the clutter. Guys such as Percy Harvin, Rob Gronkowski, Russell Wilson and even Peyton Manning all fit that mold.

While their skill sets may be immensely different, it's their ability to make big plays that sets them apart from the rest of their peers.

This offseason, adding potential playmakers is a must for the Vikings. With a goal to accrue as much talent as possible, look for Spielman to go out once again and find guys who can help this team grow exponentially on both sides of the football.

Name	Position	Age
Eric Decker	Wide Receiver	26
Darren McFadden	Running Back	26
Hakeem Nicks	Wide Receiver	25
Jeremy Maclin	Wide Receiver	25
Matt Slauson	Offensive Guard	27
Henry Melton	Defensive Tackle	27
Michael Bennett	Defensive End	28
Alterraun Verner	Cornerback	24
Aqib Talib	Cornerback	27
Tim Jennings	Cornerback	29
Jairus Byrd	Safety	27
James Ihedigbo	Safety	30

Conclusion

For Vikings fans, it's clear that this team has plenty of hope moving forward. With Spotrac.com reporting that the contracts of Jared Allen, Chris Cook, Josh Freeman and Charlie Johnson are all coming off the books, Spielman will have some money to play with this offseason.

But as the 2013-14 season winds down, one of the major goals next year has to be embracing the art of communication.

Use ESPNBoston.com writer Mike Reiss' story on New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick as a lesson in team-building. For the Vikings to constantly be great, mastering the art of communication is crucial.

That's why, when it comes down to it—whether we're talking about the potential search for a new head coach or the arrival of a franchise quarterback—this offseason is going to be one bodacious time for the purple and gold machine.

*All stats courtesy of ESPN.com unless noted otherwise. 

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