The Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North division title for the first time since 2009 under second-year head coach Mike Zimmer, and they are only looking to improve heading into the 2016 season.
The Vikings dominated the ground game during the 2015 season with the NFL's leading rusher in running back Adrian Peterson, but they struggled to develop an aerial attack, finishing second to last in passing yards per game in the NFL. Offensive line was a major priority for the Vikings heading into the offseason, and general manager Rick Spielman has since bolstered Minnesota's pass protection acquiring offensive tackle Andre Smith and guard Alex Boone.
"I think that if we fix this one area, I think it's going to help him (Teddy Bridgewater) a lot more than getting a receiver in here," Zimmer said. "When we were trying to get Andre Smith in here, I had Teddy text him, and Adrian (too). And then after we signed him, my text back to those guys was, 'OK, we got Boone. We got Smith. Now there's no excuses. You can't say we didn't have this or this. It's time to go now."
While the Vikings have made revamping their offensive line the priority this season, don't expect them to forget about defense, as they are "expected" to re-sign free agent linebacker Chad Greenway. The veteran linebacker recorded 68 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and an interception during the 2015 season, and he is not only a leader on the field, but in the locker room, as well.
The Vikings currently have $11.2 million in salary cap space and would need to use a large portion of that to retain Greenway, as well as sign their incoming draft picks. While Minnesota is expected to retain Greenway, the Vikings are expected to "explore a new deal" with safety Harrison Smith that could make him one of the highest-paid players at the safety position.
The Vikings safety is heading into the final year of his contract in 2016, but don't expect a new deal to come soon as the Vikings front office tends to wait until training camp before discussing contract extensions with players. The 6-foot-2, 214-pound safety has developed into top-tier safety in the league and is coming off another productive season in which he recorded 66 combined tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and two interceptions.
The Vikings finished to 2015 season with the fifth best defense in the league in terms of points allowed last season, and with a strong roster returning in 2016, Minnesota should be considered one of the favorites in the NFC.
