Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Questions Answered: Vikings’ Finest Free Agent Transfer, the Different Guard Spot, Cam Robinson
Additionally, please word: These are opinion-based responses. Some solutions will likely be incorrect on occasion. However we’ll attempt to hold that to a minimal.
Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Photos.
Q: Which free-agent signing was greatest general for the Vikings to date?
Indianapolis Colts heart Ryan Kelly (78) warms-up on the sphere Sunday, Sept. 8, 2024, forward of the sport towards the Houston Texans at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. © Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK.
Reply: We’ll say heart Ryan Kelly.
For six years, whereas Garrett Bradbury performed admirably blocking for operating backs, he was just about assured to be destroyed by a imply defensive sort out like Kenny Clark or Dexter Lawrence. And all of us simply accepted it as a result of that’s the best way it was.
We don’t have to do this anymore.
Kelly, a four-time Professional Bowler who doesn’t get mauled by Clarks and Lawrences, will set up legitimacy in the course of the offensive line. He’ll additionally work with J.J. McCarthy throughout McCarthy’s first voyage — assuming this Aaron Rodgers stuff fizzles — which ought to kick off that period in the correct method.
Most, this web site included, didn’t foresee Kelly changing into a Viking as a result of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah prefers youthful free brokers, however Kelly was a pleasing shock.
Q: Will Blake Brandel begin at guard on this new group, or will or not it’s another person?
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports activities.
Reply: In all probability Brandel — however a substitute can’t be dominated out.
Some rookies may make sense if Minnesota bends within the iOL course with “best player available” within the draft. Tyler Booker (Alabama), Gray Zabel (North Dakota State), Donovan Jackson (Ohio State), Marcus Mbow (Purdue), Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona), and Tate Ratledge match the factors.
By way of free company, guards like Shaq Mason, Brandon Scherff, and Teven Jenkins are nonetheless on the market.
So, we’ll maintain out hope for a complete iOL facelift, however Brandel wouldn’t be the worst choice on this planet with a lot expertise round him.
Q: What’s the holdup with Cam Robinson signing someplace?
Minnesota Vikings offensive sort out Cam Robinson (74), left, holds up a signed jersey of Jacksonville Jaguars offensive sort out Anton Harrison (77), and vice versa, after the sport of an NFL soccer matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024, at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]
Reply: Generally, free brokers simply take longer than others. For instance, Stefon Diggs has not signed wherever, and he’s nonetheless a fairly rattling high-quality vast receiver.
Robinson will nonetheless fetch a deal value $15 million yearly. Bear in mind — the extra, the merrier for Vikings functions as a result of it might improve the compensatory draft choose method.
New England is taken into account the present frontrunner for Robinson.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options friends, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple group, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as intently because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual data offered by OverTheCap.com.