Minnesota Vikings Offseason Plan

The Vikings may be the most talented team in the NFL. Of course, they won't be playing in the Super Bowl though so that means there is work to do. The following is what I believe needs to be done to prepare for a even deeper run in to next year's playoffs.

Quarterback: My belief is that Brett Favre will not want to end his career on that costly pick, when he could return to a team this talented. The Vikings should allow him to skip all OTAs and mini camps and just show up for training camp. His return means there is no need to resign Tavaris Jackson. Sage Rosenfels is a more than capable backup. The only need for a QB would be a 3rd string project in the draft.

Running Back: Adrian Peterson is a stud plain and simple. His fumbling problems can be fixed (Look at Tiki Barber a few years ago). Chester Taylor is a good back but he is expandable because of Peterson's greatness. Albert Young and Ian Johnson can share backup duties. Naufahu Tahi will probably be brought back as fullback.

Pass catchers: Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and Percy Harvin form as dynamic of trio as there is in the league. Darius Reynaud and Jaymar Johnson should return as the 4th and 5th recievers. Visanthe Shaincoe is turning into a premier tight end. Jim Kleinsasser is a good blocking tight end that can also back up at fullback. I would love to see the Vikings add a late round pass catching tight end to this group.

O-Line- Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson are a solid left side. Anthony Herrera is a good right guard. John Sullivan and Phil Loadholt did okay in their first seasons starting. Ryan Cook Artis Hicks are a very good back ups at multiple positions. So up front I'd say we are set.

D-Line- Jared Allen and Kevin Williams are two of the best at their positions and will be here for a long time. Pat Williams is great but the question is how long does he have left. Ray Edwards has shown great promise and I think we will bring him back in 2010. Brian Robison is quality depth at end. Jimmy Kennedy may be the future replacement to Pat Williams inside but until then he is great depth.

Linebackers- Ben Leber and Chad Greenway will start. E.J. Henderson is great assuming he's healthy. Jasper Brinkley will back up Henderson in the middle. Erin Henderson, Heath Farwell, and Kenny Onatolu will also provide depth and be key special teamers.

Corners- Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin are the starters. Benny Sapp is a terrific nickel back. Asher Allen will be the dime back.

Safeties- Here is the interesting part. In my opinion, I'd like the Vikings to find two new safeties. For strong safety, I think we should trade for Bob Sanders from the Colts. At free safety, I would either move up in the first round and get Earl Thomas or go out and trade for Kerry Rhodes from the Jets. I then say we trade away Madieu Williams. We can keep Tyrell Johnson and Jamarca Sanford for depth.

Special Teams- Chris Kluwe and Ryan Longwell are pretty solid. Harvin and Reynaud handle returns well.

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Trades:

2nd round pick to the Colts for Bob Sanders SS

3rd round pick to Jets for Kerry Rhodes FS

Madieu Williams for a 5th rounder

Resign:

Jimmy Kennedy, Benny Sapp, Artis Hicks, Ryan Cook, Ray Edwards and Nafahu Tahi

Draft:

1- NT Terrance Cody Alabama

4- QB Jevon Snead Ole Miss

5- DE George Selvie USF

5- CB Amari Spievey Iowa

6- TE Tony Moeaki Iowa

7- WR Kerry Meier Kansas

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53 Man Roster

QB- Favre, Rosenfels, Snead

RB- Peterson, Young, I. Johnson

FB- Tahi

WR- Rice, J. Johnson

WR- Berrian, Reynaud

WR- Harvin, Meier

TE- Shiancoe, Kliensasser, Moeaki

LT- McKinnie

LG- Hutchinson

C- Sullivan, Cook

RG- Herrera

RT- Loadholt, Hicks

DE- Allen, Selvie

DT- P. Williams, Cody

DT- K. Williams, Kennedy, Guion

DE- Edwards, Robison

SLB- Leber, Heath Farwell

MLB- EJ Henderson, Brinkley

WLB- Greenway, Erin Henderson, Onatolu

CB- Winfield, Allen, Spievey

CB- Griffin, Sapp

FS- Rhodes, T. Johnson, Frampton

SS- Sanders, Sanford, Abdullah

P- Kluwe

K- Longwell

LS- Loeffler

What is next for the Twins?

Of the playoff teams, no one seemed to have more holes than the Minnesota Twins. Going into the offseason they needed: a third baseman, a shortstop, a second baseman, and at least one starting pitcher.

So far they have filled two of those needs. They agreed to trade Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy. Then they brought Carl Pavano back to be a veteran presence in the rotation. They also added Clay Condrey to their bullpen. So that leaves third base and second base as the two unanswered questions.

In recent days, Jarrod Washburn has been linked to the Twins. If this is true, then he would set their rotation in stone and make talented young pitchers like Francisco Liriano, Brian Duensing, Jeff Manship, Glen Perkins, and Anthony Swarzak expendable. So two or three of them could be moved to fill the needs at second and third.

One possible deal would be to move Glen Perkins, who the Twins really have no need for, to the Padres for third baseman Kevin Kouzmanoff. The Twins have made this offer before so it would have to be enhanced. The Padres could use a middle infielder so I would add in Alexi Casilla, another player who isn't really in the future plans of the team.

Now the Twins also have a problem at second base. The player to fill this position should be able to hit second in the order so Joe Mauer can move into a RBI spot in the third slot. The Twins have some options here. Felipe Lopez, Orlando Hudson, and Orlando Cabrera are free agent possibilities. Although my personal favorite idea is trading for Macier Izturis. He has hit second and played second for the Angels, but he is the odd man out of the Angel infield with Brandon Wood, Erick Aybar, and Howie Kendrick all starting. In order to get him I would trade Matt Guerrier and a mid-tier prospect.

Now here would be the new team.

1 Denard Span CF

2 Macier Izturis 2B

3 Joe Mauer C

4 Justin Morneau 1B

5 Michael Cuddyer RF

6 Jason Kubel DH

7 Kevin Kouzmanoff 3B

8 Delmon Young LF

9 J.J. Hardy SS

Bench

IF Nick Punto

C Jose Morales

OF Jason Pridie

IF Brendan Harris

1 Scott Baker

2 Nick Blackburn

3 Kevin Slowey

4 Carl Pavano

5 Jarrod Washburn

Bullpen

Closer- Joe Nathan

Set-up- Jose Mijares

Set-up- Pat Neshek

MR- Jesse Crain

MR- Jon Rauch

MR- Clay Condrey

Long-man- Francisco Liriano