5 Mistakes the Minnesota Vikings Can't Afford to Make This Offseason

Offseason mistakes can make or break NFL teams that are constantly searching for a successful formula in building their rosters. The Minnesota Vikings are certainly no exception.

Opportunities for blunders exist on many fronts for the Vikings. The team has a number of important decisions on its plate in the coming months. Numerous veterans, some of whom will hit free agency, need determinations made about their future in town. Decisions on how best to address positions of need will be made as well.

Minnesota will cross these bridges by weighing all options, including the players already under contract, those available in the free-agent market and the availability of talented prospects who will be drafted in May.

These are five potholes that general manager Rick Spielman and the Vikings must carefully steer around in the months to come.

5. Letting Tom Johnson Walk

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Tom Johnson hits free agency when it opens in March, and Minnesota needs to make a concerted effort toward bringing him back.

He played a bigger role in 2014 than his No. 3 defensive tackle designation leads one to believe. Per Pro Football Focus, Johnson played 444 snaps for an average of 28 per game, 73 percent of which came against passing plays. His specialist role paid off too. He was a highly efficient pass-rusher on just the right snap count.

Sharrif Floyd's inability to stay healthy for long stretches further increases Minnesota's need to bring Johnson back. Floyd started only 11 games in 2014. On three occasions, he played early on but could not continue. Maintaining depth behind Floyd is a must.

Getting younger might not be the right route here, even though the Vikings will ponder it. Johnson turns 31 years old before the start of the 2015 season, but he still possesses the skills to be effective in the smaller role he thrived in just a year ago.

4. Overspending for a Wide Receiver

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In solving their woes at wide receiver, the Vikings might splash some cash. Stars like Demaryius Thomas, Randall Cobb and Torrey Smith could hit the market after all. Even guys like Michael Crabtree or Jeremy Maclin could be appealing. The trick is to not drastically overpay.

Minnesota almost fell into that trap two years ago with Mike Wallace, but they were ultimately beat out by the Miami Dolphins. After two lackluster seasons in Miami, it appears the Vikings dodged a bullet.

Their need for a No. 1 receiver is high this time around. That much is true. Free-agent receivers cost a fortune, though. Minnesota would end up hemorrhaging future cap room in order to accommodate a top-level receiver in free agency.

Addressing the need through the draft is a wiser route. The supply of ready-made receivers in the draft is at an all-time high with so many college teams fielding spread sets and throwing the ball all over the place. This year's crop of receiver prospects looks strong again, so Minnesota should heavily consider holding off at the position until May.

3. Neglecting the Offensive Line

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As crazy as it sounds, the Vikings could be tempted to roll out the same starting five along the offensive line in 2015 that they did to open the 2014 season.

Injuries were a big reason for the unit's failing, after all. The losses of Brandon Fusco and Phil Loadholt left the right side of the OL in tatters. Losing Charlie Johnson at left guard did the group no favors later in the season, either.

All five of the previous starters entered the season with high expectations, too. Minnesota could believe its 2014 struggles were simply a blip on the radar.

Major reinforcements are needed, though. A replacement is needed for Johnson at left guard. The two tackle spots require more competition at the very least. The unit as a whole also needs to get deeper. Vlad Ducasse and Mike Harris were disastrous fill-ins at different points in the 2014 season.

If let alone, the OL might have Teddy Bridgewater scrambling for his life again next season.

2. Bringing Back Chad Greenway and Jasper Brinkley

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Minnesota will have crucial decisions to make on two veteran linebackers. Chad Greenway is likely to be cut for cap purposes. The Vikings could then opt to sign him to a short-term deal. Jasper Brinkley will become a free agent outright.

Both were average at best as starters in 2014, and both are on the downslopes of their careers at this point. The Vikings should be in no hurry to return both, even for the sake of continuity.

When younger backers like Gerald Hodges and Audie Cole were given opportunities late in the season, they flashed the type of skills Minnesota is looking for in starting linebackers. Logically, the next step is to up their responsibilities and see how they respond. Both possess more potential for the future than Greenway and Brinkley.

The draft is another viable avenue for Minnesota to quickly replace its aging veterans on defense. Bringing back both Greenway and Brinkley would be recommitting to two players who have proven to be average and may be in for even tougher seasons in 2015.

1. Doubling Down on Matt Kalil

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A majority of Matt Kalil's third year as the Minnesota left tackle was an abomination. Then he turned it around ever so slightly toward the end of the season, providing a glimmer of hope for the future.

As Kalil asserted back in December, via Andrew Krammer of 1500 ESPN, a lingering knee issue hindered his play earlier in the year:

"

Matt Kalil didn't allow a sack in final 3 games: "Took me about until five weeks ago to figure out" balance/set issues w/ knee. #Vikings

— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) December 28, 2014"

Does that fully excuse his performance? It certainly gives it some context, but his issues ran deep in terms of technique and perceived confidence on the field, and maybe they still do.

Minnesota handing the starting job back to Kalil in 2015 seems a formality at this point. The Vikings must not double down on Kalil, though. Contingency plans for his removal, and maybe even competition for his spot, should be brought in.

With a little bit of prior planning, the Vikings can shorten Kalil's chain and give themselves some insurance in 2015. Diving head-first back into Kalil as the franchise left tackle would be dangerous. That well may have run dry.