Fansided

NFL free agency 2019: Grades for every team

By Kevin Parvizi

PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - NOVEMBER 25: Odell Beckham #13 of the New York Giants yells prior to the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on November 25, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 02: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings runs off the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-10 at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 02: Kirk Cousins #8 of the Minnesota Vikings runs off the field after the New England Patriots defeated the Minnesota Vikings 24-10 at Gillette Stadium on December 2, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images) /

Minnesota Vikings

Key Additions: OG Josh Kline, DT Shamar Stephen, K Dan Bailey

Key Departures: DT Sheldon Richardson, OG Mike Remmers, CB Marcus Sherels, RB Latavius Murray, OL Nick Easton

Grade: C

The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have an active free agency, but they didn’t necessarily need to be active either. It’s not like they had much to work with after signing hopeful franchise quarterback Kirk Cousins to a blockbuster deal last offseason, and they made their long big move count by coaxing Anthony Barr to re-sign with them instead of leaving for the rebuilding – and admittedly promising – New York Jets.

Though the Vikings did lose a handful of notable players, none of these contributors will be missed by the organization in the grand scheme of things. It seems harsh to put it that way, but not even Richardson nor Remmers were in the key nucleus of this Vikings team, which includes superstars like Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Linval Joseph, and Xavier Rhodes.

As fans saw last year, the Vikings will only go as far as Kirk Cousins goes, and Cousins needs to continue to build a strong rapport with elite wideouts Diggs and Thielen. Mike Zimmer still has some work to do defensively, but the team did finish fourth in the NFL in yards allowed; disputing the talent Minnesota has on that side of the ball would be foolish.

All the Vikings really need to do is focus on the draft, which has been Rick Spielman’s forte in recent years; that’s where the vast majority of this team’s stars have come from.

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