Oct 7, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings fullback Jerome Felton (42) comes onto the field to start the game with the Tennessee Titans at the Metrodome. The Vikings win 30-7. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Let’s run down the list of Vikings free agents and decide who they should keep or dump. You listening Rick Spielman? I’m about to tell you what to do.
Unrestricted
Devin Aromashodu – Dump. Okay blocking downfield but totally useless as an actual receiver. Letting that one pass bounce off his shoulder pad cooked him for me. No ability to adjust to the ball in the air.
Joe Berger – Keep. O-line depth is always important.
Jasper Brinkley – Keep but only as a back-up. Must upgrade at MLB.
Jerome Felton – Keep. I’d even overpay for him a tad if necessary. He was huge for the running game this year. Would be bad to lose him.
Erin Henderson – Keep. He’s an okay weak-side backer. But you need a better middle man, someone who can also play nickel. I never want to see Henderson or Brinkley in nickel again. Neither guy can keep their assignments straight. They’re too undisciplined.
Phil Loadholt – Keep…at the right price. Solid right tackle. We all know his occasional issues. But he’s a good enough player. You’re not going to have Pro Bowlers all the way across the line. This depends on him not getting a big dumb offer from some other team of course. I wouldn’t get in a bidding war over him. If some team wants to overpay for him, let him go.
Marvin Mitchell – Dump because you’re going to go after linebacker help in the draft or free agency. Won’t need him.
Jamarca Sanford – Keep. Good special teams guy. Have to find a better safety to line up alongside Harrison Smith though. Don’t want to see either Sanford or Mistral Raymond starting at safety next year.
Geoff Schwartz – Dump. He was only brought in as insurance behind Fusco. With Fusco developing, he becomes expendable. Reportedly the coaches aren’t thrilled with Schwartz’s physicality anyway. He’s a tad soft.
Jerome Simpson – Dump. He’s a clown. If you can’t find a better receiver than this guy, fold up the organization.
Restricted
Troy Kropog – Keep. I don’t say this cause I know anything about Kropog. I say it because the Vikings clearly like this guy. They elevated him from the practice squad specifically to protect him from being snapped up. So this guy is sticking around as a back-up offensive tackle. That’s clear.
A.J. Jefferson – He had his struggles. It’s obvious he’s nothing more than a 4th corner. He has no value whatsoever in the return game. I say keep only because you need warm bodies. He could get cut in camp no problem.
Exclusive Rights
Marcus Sherels – Keep. Good punt returner though he still sometimes messes up calling fair catches inside the ten. Horrible corner though.
Andrew Sendejo – Don’t care. If you pick up a better safety he’s first man to go so I guess dump.
Oh and what about Kevin Williams? Some sources list him as a free agent but Tom Pelissero didn’t list him on his rundown. Does anyone know this guy’s actual status? I’m confused.
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