Minnesota Vikings: 5 Musts for Winning in the Offseason

In many cities the offseason drama is the same: key free agents to re-sign or acquire, aging holes to fill and not enough picks on draft day.  This is where the Vikings find themselves as they face a healthy host of hurdles in a strange offseason marred by a player lockout. 

Instead of solidifying their free agent situation in order to understand draft day needs, the Vikings cannot contact their free agents.  With zero resolution in free agency issues by draft day the resulting feeling is one of draft day being an even greater crap shoot that is somehow minimized in the positive impact that teams hope to achieve. 

Challenges aside, the Vikings stand to earn a winning offseason if they can negotiate these five issues:

Professional Owner

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MINNEAPOLIS - NOVEMBER 7: Owner Zygi Wilf of the Minnesota Vikings looks on during warmups for the game with the Arizona Cardinals at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on November 7, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)

First comes less of an issue but more of a way of doing things, and its maintenance is key.  Since his purchase of the Vikings Zygi Wilf's philosophy has been that building a championship teams starts with running a professional organization. 

Having a Super Bowl ring of his own, head coach Leslie Frazier's very hiring last season was in line with Wilf's aim for the Vikings: place proven professionals in charge.  Expect Frazier and staff to be prepared on draft day, something former Viking staff notoriously hasn't been every draft day.  At least not every draft day before Wilf.

Key Free Agents

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MINNEAPOLIS - JANUARY 17: Line backer Chad Greenway #52 of the Minnesota Vikings reacts while playing against the Dallas Cowboys during the second quarter of the the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on January 17, 2010 in Minne

A second key issue is for the Vikings to weather the free agent storm.  This is exponentially more difficult than usual with this year's lockout.  The Vikings have over a dozen free agents presently and desperately need to either re-sign some key players, or recognize new and large needs. 

It seems likely the draft will come and go before the lockout is resolved; in the Vikings' worst case scenario free agents could be rotating as volleyball players do when the labor dispute finally ends.

Value Acquisition

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ARLINGTON, TX - DECEMBER 19: Quarterback Donovan McNabb #5 of the Washington Redskins on the sidelines against play against the Dallas Cowboys at Cowboys Stadium on December 19, 2010 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

In addition to retaining key free agents, the third issue is to scout and woo experienced talent from around the league.  This is also difficult to discuss with the present lockout, but as with anything in football, the key is preparation. 

The playing field is level for everyone if not preferable, and the key for the Vikings is to know what they want ahead of time and to have well laid contingency plans before the bulk of  NFL experience vaporizes.  A journeyman quarterback for immediate starting job, offensive and defensive linemen, wide receivers and safeties are all on the purple wish list of free agency acquisition.

Value Pick

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CHICAGO - NOVEMBER 14: Percey Harvin #12 of the Minnesota Vikings celebrates a touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on November 14, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Vikings 27-13. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Imag

I've listed it fourth, but obviously just as important as free agency, is that the Vikings maximize pick value on draft day.  The Vikings have so many gaps to bridge that obtaining much value will happen, but in a lockout it becomes simultaneously imperative and more difficult to be fully prepared. 

To have a strategy in place is essential.  Acquiring an experienced quarterback through free agency frees up one pick (in a draft in which the Vikings have no third round pick), and prevents losing value by drafting a college quarterback that cannot begin preparing with his team in a lockout. 

Linemen and receivers many times have great draft value because they can be ready to contribute early in their rookie seasons.  Only the Vikings know where they wish to go on April 28 (or not, yet), but we should at least assume they will be well enough prepared to not miss any picks.

Ripped Roof

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MINNEAPOLIS, MN - DECEMBER 13: A torn section of the roof sags inside the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome on December 13, 2010 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Metrodome's roof collapsed under the weight of snow after a powerful blizzard hit the area on Decemb

Nearly as bad as the lockout, but far more humorous for the rest of the nation is our fifth issue of needing to build or mend a facility in which to play football.  Proponents of a new stadium hoped the collapse of the Metrodome's roof would send an unmissable message that an updated facility was necessary. 

Easier said than done in a common sense state where voters and local governments are grappling with a $5 billion deficit, and cannot justify parting with 300 million tax dollars to help football.  Most realistic may be fixing the roof of the Metrodome as a temporary solution until the Vikings' lease runs out at the end of the upcoming season;  but so long as the Vikings handle this and other key offseason issues professionally and preparedly, no second guessing or second hand roof with stop them this coming in-season.