Restructuring old contracts aside, this offseason has been quiet for the Minnesota Vikings. Last season, the front office was focused on splash acquisitions like Javon Hargrave, Jonathan Allen, and Ryan Kelly. Unfortunately, the production for this trio never matched the cost, and all three are no longer on the team. Will Fries and Isaiah Rogers were the big winners of last year, and both are looking like foundational pieces for the future. Still, a 50% hit-rate on free agency acquisitions is not sustainable, so it makes sense that acting GM Rob Brzezinski would be more conservative this offseason. Still, there were some notable acquisitions, so I thought I’d grade them and give my takes on why or why they won’t make a huge impact.
Johnny Hekker: B+
We’re starting with the big special teams addition: Johnny Hekker. The 36-year-old punter has both the experience and skill to be a solid piece for Matt Daniels’ special team room. He’s earned a reputation as a reliable holder as well, which is good news for kicker Will Reichard. With the departure of Ryan Wright, the Vikings needed a suitable replacement, and based on his resume, they definitely got one in Johnny Hekker.
James Pierre: B-
PFF loves cornerback James Pierre, and so do the Vikings apparently. He earned the 2nd highest PFF rating amongst cornerbacks last season in his limited reps with the Pittsburgh Steelers. At first, this signing felt like more of a C rating, but I remembered that Isaiah Rodgers was signed under similar circumstances. He was a depth corner for the Eagles who Brian Flores and the team identified as someone who could be an every-down kind of guy. For that reason, James Pierre gets the benefit of the doubt. There’s no denying that he made an impact in Pittsburgh, and even with as crowded as the Vikings corner room is, he could still make a major impact in Minnesota.
Ryan van Demark: C
It’s not flashy, but tackle depth is something that the Vikings have always been aiming to cultivate. Last year, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill both missed some time, forcing Justin Skule into action. Skule struggled against some solid defensive lines, so it’s only natural that the Vikings would continue to hunt for depth. The hope is that offensive tackle Ryan van Denmark never needs to make an impact, but in case of injury, it’s always nice to have some insurance. As an aside, the future of Walter Rouse is put into question by this move as the Vikings seem to be cleaning out many of the draftees of former GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah.
Kyler Murray - A
At the veteran minimum, with the Arizona Cardinals paying most of his salary, Kyler Murray is the best value the Vikings could have possibly gotten at quarterback. J.J. McCarthy still hasn’t blossomed the way the Vikings wished, so rolling with a quarterback with long-term potential like Murray is a no-brainer. Even in the unlikely scenario in which Murray crashes and burns, there is no money or investment in the young McCarthy lost. Regardless of which side of the Vikings’ QB debate you are, this was a homerun for the front office that will have a major impact on the teams’ future. He raises the floor of the quarterback room and could prove to be a longterm solution as well.
