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Analyzing the opponent: Minnesota Vikings offseason

By Parker Hurley

Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 3, 2017; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Florida State Seminoles running back Dalvin Cook goes through workout drills during the 2017 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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How did the Minnesota Vikings shape their roster to bounce back in the NFC North?

The Vikings led the Bears by five games but still sat in third place in the NFC North. Needless to say, they needed to make some changes to their roster. Here are their free agent acquisitions:

Datone Jones, Defensive End

Riley Reiff, Offensive Tackle

Mike Remmers, Offensive Tackle

Latavius Murray, Running back

And their draftees:

Dalvin Cook, Running back

Pat Elflein, Center/Guard

Jaleel Johnson, Defensive Tackle

Ben Gedeon, Linebacker

Rodney Adams, Wide Receiver

Danny Isidora, Guard

Bucky Hodges, Tight End

Stacy Coley, Wide receiver

Ifeadi Odenigbo, Defensive Line

Elijah Lee, Linebacker

Jack Tocho, Cornerback

The key to the Vikings offseason was the offensive additions. Sure, Datone Jones and Jaleel Johnson are scary depth additions to an already talented defensive line. Ben Gedeon is a potential poor man’s Chad Greenway replacement, and of the 15 players added via the draft and free agency, seven were defensive. However, the top heavy names and the players who will be seeing major action next year are offensive fits. They added three linemen who could very easily be starting next season, and a two-headed running back that is a major upgrade from Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata.

Next: Which Bears rookie will have biggest year one impact

It was later in the draft, but the Vikings added big play ability to their skill positions with Stacey Coley, Bucky Hodges, and Rodney Adams. After losing Charles Johnson and Cordarrelle Patterson both Coley and Adams have great chances of making the roster and Hodges is a tight end who can line up in the slot and stretch the field. Both Adams and Coley are deep play burners as well, and it was clear the sentiment around the Vikings was to establish a run identity without Adrian Peterson and find field stretchers to keep Sam Bradford away from having one of the lowest yards per attempt in the league.

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