Which Minnesota Vikings now find themselves on the hot seat following the team’s moves so far during the 2021 offseason?
To say it’s been an eventful offseason for the Minnesota Vikings would be a big understatement. After missing the playoffs in 2020, the Vikings came into a critical preparation period with some substantial financial struggles to overcome. It’s been a monumental effort from those in power to give the team enough wiggle room to make some eye-catching signings this spring.
What comes next for the Vikings will be equally as important. They have plenty of 2021 NFL Draft selections at their disposal to strengthen problem areas, and if they can hit it big with some of their picks later this month, it might see them challenge the Green Bay Packers for the NFC North crown next season.
The additions of Patrick Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, and Nick Vigil this year are going to help Minnesota’s cause tremendously next season. Although the Vikings lost some established veterans, such as Kyle Rudolph and Riley Reiff, the roster should be more competitive during a 2021 campaign that represents a crossroads in this particular window of opportunity.
With this in mind, which members of the Vikings organization now find themselves on the hot seat following the decisions made so far this offseason?
Viking No. 1
Rick Spielman – General Manager
This was a big offseason for Rick Spielman, to put it mildly. Some of the contracts dished out by Spielman have played a leading role in Minnesota’s current financial complications, and although he deserves some credit for maneuvering money around to keep the franchise competitive in 2021, if the team’s recent moves blow up in their faces, then it’s going to result in some increased pressure for the Vikings general manager.
Everyone knows that the NFL is a “what have you done for me lately?” business. Spielman has had his fair share of critics during his stint in Minnesota, so it won’t take much for the fan base to get restless if the team starts poorly once again next season.
Spielman’s failed trade for Yannick Ngakoue last year means the Vikings are without a second-round pick during the upcoming NFL Draft. So Minnesota’s general manager might need to pull some rabbits out of a hat with the team’s 2021 draft selections at his disposal to keep the momentum going in the right direction.