Coming off a disappointing 2020 season, the Minnesota Vikings are looking to carve out a path back into the playoffs in 2021. After finishing 7-9 a year ago, there were brief whispers about whether or not there would be any turnover on the staff up top. Those notions were quickly put to rest and Mike Zimmer is back leading the charge yet again for the Vikings. With the legal tampering portion of free agency underway, the Vikings have already signed Dalvin Tomlinson to add even more depth upfront in the middle of their defensive line. But what else could they have in mind and will they step outside the box to make some unpredictable moves? Let's forecast four bold predictions for the Viking's 2021 offseason.
1.) The Vikings will draft a quarterback in the first three rounds
I had to stretch this to the first three rounds because the Vikings don't have a second-round selection. It's still bold nonetheless. The Vikings will have Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback by all accounts for the 2021 season. But I don't believe he's the long-term solution at the position.
Cousins is coming off a very good year individually despite the struggles the Vikings had as a team. He's a good quarterback and sometimes gets too much of the blame when things go south. Even so, he isn't a Super Bowl winning quarterback, and isn't that what everyone should be striving to get?
The Vikings select No. 14 in round one. That takes them out of the Trevor Lawrence sweepstakes along with almost certainly eliminating them from any chance of Zach Wilson or Justin Fields. Trey Lance could slide to No. 14 but most see him going before that. Enter Mac Jones and Kyle Trask.
Both were Heisman finalists a year ago and Mac Jones is truly the wild card in this quarterback class. Jones is projected by almost every outlet to go somewhere in the first round it's just a matter of when. The drop off to Trask is steep, as he could go anywhere from round two to round three. Let's slot him at that spot.
First bold prediction: the Vikings draft Kyle Trask with one of their two, third-round picks.
2.) Minnesota entertains offers for Danielle Hunter
This doesn't mean they will trade him. But the stud defensive end is coming off a neck injury that cost him his 2020 season and is apparently unhappy with his current contract.
Danielle Hunter could potentially hold out or demand a trade if he isn’t given a new contract with the Vikings, per @ChadGraff pic.twitter.com/tKPxnYJqln
— B/R Gridiron (@brgridiron) March 15, 2021
While almost all Vikings fans on Twitter are asking for Minnesota to put down a blank check for Hunter, perhaps they entertain trade offers instead and see how serious Hunter is about a holdout or demanding a trade.
There's no doubt there would be suitors for the 26-year-old who has molded into one of the most relentless sack getters in the NFL.
I'm not saying the Vikings will trade him, but they will entertain offers and take calls.
3.) Patrick Surtain is the first-round selection at No. 14
Minnesota's secondary was young last year, filled with inexperience after losing all of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander all in one offseason. While a couple of corners stepped up, there's still a need at the position for the Vikings. They whiffed on adding Shaquill Griffin after he chose the Jacksonville Jaguars so why not look towards the draft.
The Vikings are no strangers to taking a cornerback in the first round. They did it last year (Jeff Gladney), in 2018 (Mike Hughes), and in 2015 (Trae Waynes). That's correct, three first-round corners taken for Minnesota since 2015. Why not add another?
Mike Zimmer is a defensive-minded coach who wants to constantly add to that side of the ball.
The Vikings will be getting Michael Pierce back after he opted out a season ago, they just signed Dalvin Tomlinson and it sounds like a rework of Anthony Barr's contract is on the horizon. So why not look right back to the corner spot?
Patrick Surtain very well could be the first corner off the board and could be an instant impact, a starter from the get-go in Minnesota. The Vikings fill an important need at a primary position in the secondary and select Patrick Surtain at No. 14.
4.) The Vikings look for a wide receiver in free agency
Minnesota is well equipped at wideout with Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson providing one of the best one-two punches in the league. But as the story goes, you can never provide your quarterback and your offense with enough weapons.
The wide receiver class in free agency has a ton of depth.
I don't foresee the Vikings forking over big cash for someone like Kenny Golladay but one of those second or third-tier wideouts, yes.
A player like Curtis Samuel who the Vikings saw up close and personal last year would be a great fit. Samuel is a versatile wideout with great speed that can be lined up all over the place, including the backfield.
While it's not necessarily a need for the Vikings, it sure wouldn't hurt to add another wideout to the mix, taking more attention off Thielen and Jefferson.
Bold prediction: the Vikings sign a wideout in a free agency.
The Vikings can go many ways this offseason. But coming off a 7-9 season and having some cap space flexibility, now is the time for the Vikings to strike and try to take a stab at a playoff birth once again in 2021 while also looking ahead to the future by drafting a quarterback.
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