Vikings could improve significantly this offseason

By Krupka  |   Tuesday, March 14, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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On January 6th, Brad Childress was introduced as the new head coach of the Minnesota Vikings. He made it a point that the strength of any good team is its offensive and defensive lines. Thus far in the offseason, he is following through on that mode of thinking by signing All-pro guard Steve Hutchinson to an offer sheet which would make him the highest-paid guard in NFL history.

Owner Zygi Wilf has made it known that he is willing to spend whatever amount of money it takes to bring a championship to Minnesota. The Vikings have come out of the gates aggressive signing Hutchinson's offer sheet along with the outright signing of linebacker Ben Leber, running back Chester Taylor, and placekicker Ryan Longwell. They also re-signed wide receiver Koren Robinson.

The Seattle Seahawks slapped Hutchinson with the transition tag which allows them seven days to match the Vikings offer or lose him to the Vikings with no compensation. In an effort to keep the Seahawks from matching the offer, the Vikings have frontloaded Hutchinson's offer so that his cap number in '06 will be over $13 million. It is a genius move given the amount of cap space available.

If Hutchinson becomes a member of the Minnesota Vikings, he would instantly improve an offensive line that was atrocious last season. Coupled with the return of All-Pro center Matt Birk, the Vikings would now boast one of the better offensive lines in the NFL. With Hutchinson teamed up with tackle Bryant McKinnie, the Vikings would all of a sudden boast arguably the best left side in the league. The upgrade over incumbent left guard Adam Goldberg is enormous. With the likely departure of Daunte Culpepper, who wouldn't be ready for the beginning of the season anyway, it is imperative for the offensive line to be improved with less-mobile veteran Brad Johnson at quarterback.

The bottom line is that the addition of Steve Hutchinson would make the Minnesota Vikings a serious contender for the NFC North title next season and beyond.
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