With the NFL Combine officially starting today, the Vikings should have their share of questions about how to approach the event.
Here are some that Minnesota should be thinking about as it begins to evaluate talent at the combine:
How is Minnesota going to fix the salary cap?
Over The Cap reported that Minnesota has just over $1.3 million in available cap space. With free agency and the draft looming, that is just not enough, which means the Vikings have some decisions to make when it comes to cutting players and restructuring contracts. What does this have to do with the combine?
Well, the Vikings should at least have some idea of who they are cutting and who they want to re-sign or restructure in order to focus on certain position groups. I think Xavier Rhodes and Riley Reiff are both candidates that could get cut.
That means the team likely needs to find more depth at cornerback and the offensive line in order to possibly replace them. Also, cornerbacks Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes are both entering free agency. This makes corner depth for the Vikings an even bigger priority during the combine.
If the Vikings are drafting a quarterback, when do they want to get him?
The Vikings need a backup quarterback, but it might not be the best position to shore up in the first round, given the team’s needs at the aforementioned areas.
Do the Vikings want to go for a guy like Oregon quarterback Justin Herbert in the first round, or do they want to wait until later in draft? Even if there are only a few quarterbacks off the board in the first round, I still think the Vikings should wait until the later rounds. If there’s value in the third or fourth, like Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts, then I say go for it.
Whether the Vikings want to go for a guy early in the draft, or try to add depth to the quarterback position by signing someone in free agency, the team has to have a good idea of what they’re going to do at the combine.
When do they draft an offensive lineman?
There has been some valid criticism of the Vikings offensive line recently. Pro Football Focus gave just one player above a grade of 70 on a 100-point scale.
A player that was close to getting a 70 was Reiff, who might not be on the team next season. If Reiff gets cut, drafting an offensive lineman becomes priority No. 1.
The Vikings should have some idea of whether they want to try and keep Reiff on or just cut him. I think if Minnesota cuts him, it should really try and draft the best offensive linemen available. However, if he does stay with the team, it should focus on other positions instead. Regardless, the Vikings should try and look for some value on the offensive line as they’re scouting talent at the combine.