Vikings Final Offseason Need: DE

Entering this year's off season the Vikings needed to fill major holes at DE. A total lack of the pass rush last year and unexpected health complications have left the Vikings scrambling. Last week the Vikings addressed needs in pass coverage and at WR by adding a deep threat in Bernard. It has been an extremely active offseason, one that included the hopes of signing Justin Smith from Cinci, but the 49ers jumped in and nixed that deal.

This leaves the Vikings still searching for answers at DE in an offseason John Clayton from ESPN has deemed a Winner for the Vikes and 4 other teams (Browns, Jags, Eagles, Fins).

Going into this years free agency period ESPN ranked 41 available DE's with 4 of those clearly a cut above everyone else. Those four are: Jared Allen, Chris Canty, Antwan Odom and Justin Smith. Allen who rated out at 88 signed a franchise tag deal worth about $9 million. Smith rated out at 75 just signed a 6 yr deal worth about $7.5 million/yr.

Smith was expected to visit the Vikings but was signed by the 49ers before even flying to MN.

The top DE's in this years free agent class set a $5-$9 million/yr range. But if you look to the 2006 and 2007 NFL drafts you see mid-range 1st round picks delivering a better value. The best example is 2006, the Chiefs selected Tamba Hali from Penn State with the 20th pick. He signed a 5 yr deal rumored to be worth about $10-$15 million. (His scout grade was 87 the time of the draft) When you look at his numbers in 2006 & 2007 he's very comparable to Justin Smith. Hali recorded 8 and 7.5 sacks, Smith has recorded 8, 6, 7.5 and 2 sacks his last four years. You could argue Hali has the better upside and the better value.

In 2007 three DE's were taken in the early-mid 1st round: Jamaal Anderson as the 8th pick to the Falcons, Adam Carriker as the 13th pick to the Rams and Jarvis Moss the 17th pick to the Broncos. Anderson signed for 5 yrs at $31 million, Carriker 5 yrs at $14 million and Moss 5 yrs at $18 million. Five more DE's were taken in the second round, picks 54, 56, 57, 58 and 62 were all DE selections. None of the 2007 1st round selections have panned out so far but it's early.

When looking back at the 2006 and 2007 drafts, looking at this years free agent class, building through the draft can work and often times is much cheaper.

The Vikings have the 17th and 47th overall picks in the 2008 draft, they also own the 73rd from Den and the 82nd. I wouldn't be surprised if the vikings used two of those 4 picks on a pass rushing DE. When you can pick a guy like Tamba Hali 20th overall for 1/4th the cost of a aging Justin Smith, why not try on a draft day flyer?

The only other move the Vikings might want to make is an incentives based deal with a past-his-prime player like Javon Kearse. Might throwing a couple million at a guy in the hopes he can deliver 5-8 sacks be worth it? I think so.

There isn't much of anything left in the free agent pool so the best shot the Vikings have at filling their gaping need at DE might have to come through the draft. In the coming weeks we'll break down the DE's available in the 2008 draft as we move toward April 26th and 27th.