Minnesota Vikings outside linebacker Erin Henderson (50) before the game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Field. Tim Fuller-US PRESSWIRE

NFL free agency starts on March 13, only 33 days away. So now is the time to dissect our pending free agents. After the resigning of Pat Brown, the Vikings have 17 free agents to be.

Since we’re all Vikings fans and in need of some good news, I’ll start there. There are only four starters on this list: EJ and Erin Henderson, Husain Abdullah, and Visanthe Shiancoe. So not to worry, the team that went 3-13 and tied for the worst record in Vikings history will almost completely return! Oh, wait. Well, it’s news anyway.

In that list of four starters, the only guy I see as a lock for returning is Erin Henderson. With two-thirds of the Vikings’ linebacking core set to be free agents, at least one will need to be resigned. It could get a little awkward if they split up the brothers, but the NFL is a business and Erin is younger and healthier.

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5. Lorenzo Booker is a Mucking Foron

Sometimes the worst thing that can happen to a team is when stuff starts going wrong and each individual guy decides he wants to be the hero. Lorenzo Booker? Take a knee dude. This isn’t the preseason anymore – you’re out there to do the smart thing, not the thing that will get you attention. While we’re on the subject of kick returners: Why isn’t Percy out there? Yes I realize if he runs the kick back that takes him out of the first few downs on offense while he gets his wind, but Percy is always sitting for no reason anyway, so what’s the difference? I’m having a hard time figuring out some of these decisions.

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Letroy Guion

Maybe it’s not fair putting this much onus on Guion, since he will only be a part of the overall defensive line rotation, but Guion gets the focus because he’s the guy everyone keeps talking about as the possible successor to Kevin Williams at under-tackle. Williams has been a fixture for the Vikings for years, meaning few opportunities for Guion, but now Williams is suspended/hurt and Guion is getting his chance. If the Vikings hope to pressure Philip Rivers and throw off the Chargers’ offensive rhythm, they will have to get push up the middle. If Guion can’t do it, Fred Pagac will turn to Christian Ballard or maybe slide Brian Robison inside some of the time and put Everson Griffen at left end. Hopefully the Vikings won’t be forced to blitz because I think that would be totally suicidal against this offense.

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