Here are the moves the Minnesota Vikings should consider when free agency opens at 4 p.m. ET Thursday, March 9:
Fix the offensive line: The position was the story of the Vikings' offseason a year ago, and it will be again until it gets fixed. Minnesota has just two of its 2016 Week 1 starters (Joe Berger and Alex Boone) under contract for 2017, and it appears headed for major changes after releasing guard Brandon Fusco. The Vikings' biggest need is at tackle, where players such as Detroit's Riley Reiff and Baltimore's Ricky Wagner could make sense if the team is willing to spend for them. They'll find a deeper class of players for their guard opening, where Green Bay's T.J. Lang and Cincinnati's Kevin Zeitler lead the group.
Find a three-technique defensive tackle: The Vikings might need help here; they might not be able to cut the injury-prone Sharrif Floyd, since he'd have to pass a physical and his $6.757 million option is guaranteed against injury, but they could still use another option. A player such as Washington's Chris Baker or the Rams' Dominique Easley might be able to provide some interior pass rush. Nick Fairley could be on the open market, though the Vikings would have to decide whether he's worth the gamble. The free-agent class has a number of intriguing run-stuffers, such as the Giants' Johnathan Hankins, Kansas City's Dontari Poe and Philadelphia's Bennie Logan, though the Vikings are set at nose tackle with Linval Joseph.
Identify a backup quarterback: Sam Bradford will be the starter in 2017, but the Vikings need to figure out what they have behind him, given that Teddy Bridgewater might not be ready for the start of the season. Taylor Heinicke has shown promise but missed training camp and the preseason after severing a tendon in his foot by kicking a door last offseason. Shaun Hill, the Vikings' backup the past two years, is 37 and headed for free agency, so the Vikings will have to consider whether they need another veteran behind Bradford. The names they'll sift through -- Mark Sanchez, Case Keenum, Mike Glennon, Brian Hoyer -- aren't going to excite many people but would help fill a necessary role.
