Vikings preview: Sam Bradford has reins to offense — for now
Training camps are still in the distance, but USA TODAY Sports is providing five things you need to know about every team in the NFL to catch you up on the offseason. Today, the Minnesota Vikings ...
1. Decisions loom at quarterback
It’s Sam Bradford’s show as he enters the last year of his contract, which is set to pay him $18 million. But there are no signs of an extension coming – perhaps in part because the Vikings are waiting to see when or if Teddy Bridgewater will play again after his catastrophic knee injury. Bridgewater is making significant progress, but he’s still trying to regain his lateral mobility. The most likely plan is to start him on the reserve/physically unable to perform list and reevaluate in October. That’d leave former Los Angeles Rams starter Case Keenum as the backup to Bradford, 29, who played the most efficient football of his career last season after a cutdown-day trade from the Philadelphia Eagles, despite widespread problems on offense that forced Minnesota to rely heavily on a short passing game. Play well in 2017, and Bradford will get paid somewhere.
2. There’s no Adrian Peterson on the roster
But the Vikings have juice at running back after letting the former NFL MVP go. Free-agent signing Latavius Murray’s power doesn’t really match his size (6-3, 230), but he showed over the past three seasons in Oakland he can be effective when healthy. Top draft pick Dalvin Cook – a first-round talent who slid to No. 41 because of concerns about his shoulders, poor workout and off-field circle – is a big-play threat who’s stronger between the tackles than you’d think. Jerick McKinnon is still around as a complementary piece, too. And adding Michael Floyd on a one-year contract upgraded the receiver group led by Stefon Diggs. They have weapons.
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3. They might be able to block somebody
That was a constant battle in 2016 as injuries decimated the offensive line. The Vikings used a lot of resources there in free agency (left tackle Riley Reiff and right tackle Mike Remmers) and the draft (third-round pick Pat Elflein, a former Ohio State standout who will get a shot to start at center, and Danny Isidora, a fifth-rounder from Miami who could factor at right guard). Veteran left guard Alex Boone may be the only starter who returns at the same spot.
4. The defense is loaded
Some of those guys (linebacker Anthony Barr) need to play better, and defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd’s career is in jeopardy because of a nerve issue. But the talent under age 30 is impressive, led by defensive end Everson Griffen, nose tackle Linval Joseph, safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and linebacker Eric Kendricks. This was the year coach Mike Zimmer believed that group would hit its stride. If that happens, watch out. Extending Rhodes’ contract is a priority.
5. They want to beat you up
Zimmer will sit out organized team activities after having another surgery on his right eye – the eighth since he tore the retina during a game last Halloween in Chicago. But at age 60, he isn’t taking his foot off the gas. He has pledged to practice longer and bring back to a “blue collar” mentality to a team that wasn’t as tough as he liked in 2016. Avoiding any more emergency surgeries would help, too.
Follow Tom Pelissero on Twitter @TomPelissero.
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