Free Agent grades

@"MarkSP18" said: The Oliver signing was one that not anyone I know of predicted. If you have that on your free agency wish list bingo card then hats off.

His cap hit is 3.5M this year and the team could get out of his deal next year and save 7.123M.
https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/josh-oliver-29105/

When you consider he is replacing someone making at least 750K in the top 51 calculation for cap hits, he really is only costing about 2.7M this year.

The draft is very strong at tight end and they could still draft one provided they get some extra picks.

Who knows, maybe they are hedging their bets in case they cannot agree on an extension number with Hockenson?

And if the guy can catch a pass or two, even better. 

I think it’s about becoming more multiple.  I’m not really sure our offensive team really
knew how to integrate our pass and run game well when using a FB last
year.  I think swapping out a blocking FB
for a blocking TE gives them a running formation that looks a little more like
a passing formation, and maybe you can help out the running game, if the
defense is less able to tell if it’s a running play.

PFF’s highest graded teams in this year’s free agency ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/oN7iQJibRr

— PFF (@PFF) March 18, 2023

PFF grades:  A-
The quants at Pro Football Focus gave the Minnesota Vikings an A- grade for their fast-paced start to the 2023 free agency period despite the team’s negative PFF War mark following their additions and subtractions.
Minnesota has focused mostly on upgrading their defense to this point in the offseason, signing defensive linemen Marcus Davenport and Dean Lowry as well as cornerback Byron Murphy. All three of these proven playmakers should serve the Vikings well as they look to push for playoff contention beyond the divisional round.
On offense, Minnesota’s intentions have been clear; they intend to re-sign as many members of their 2022 roster as possible. Three of the five players that they have retained were members of their prolific offense last season, and the only addition they’ve made on that side of the ball has been tight end Josh Oliver, who will play mostly as a blocker on running downs. The only attrition to their offense came when the team released wide receiver Adam Thielen due to salary cap constraints.

Bleacher Report - Lowry

There are some major changes defensively in Minnesota this year, Longtime middle linebacker Eric Kendricks was let go. Cornerback Patrick Peterson and defensive tackle Dalvin Tomlinson left in free agency. There's a new defensive coordinator in Brian Flores. Flores isn't the only new face in the Twin Cities—including a signing on Friday that Minnesota hopes will help the team win at the point of attack. As reported by NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the Vikings signed defensive lineman Dean Lowry to a two-year, $8.5 million contract. The 28-year-old Lowry, who spent his first seven seasons with Minnesota's rivals in Green Bay, started 61 games over the past four years. Lowry won't blow up the stat sheet—he has just 15.5 career sacks. But the 6'6", 296-pounder is a good edge-setter against the run who has eclipsed 40 total tackles four times—including 43 stops in 2022. He's a welcome addition to a Vikings run defense that allowed over 120 rushing yards per game last year. Grade: B

Sportsnaut (never heard of)

• Best move: Byron Murphy is going to be a player and a long-term solution at cornerback in Minnesota. That’s what a general manager wants when he hits free agency. Still only 25 years old, Murphy yielded a mere 87.6 QB rating when targeted in 2021 before injuries caught up with him this past season. His two-year, $17.5 million contract is a boon for Minnesota.

• Worst move: Moving on from three veteran mainstays on defense just didn’t seem to make sense for Minnesota. Is the team in rebuild or retool mode? We have no idea, because it continues to send mixed signals. In particular, the unwillingness to re-sign Dalvin Tomlinson could loom large moving forward.

Nothing against Oliver, but this is his 3rd team since being drafted in 2019 and he has been a complete non factor in the passing game. I'm not so sure why we couldn't have just brought Mundt back to fill the blocking role at a quarter of the cost? Mundt is an excellent blocker and his prowess in that department was highlighted in several games last season. That or just taken advantage of the depth and talent in this draft class if we really wanted to add a second tight end to become more multiple on offense. Strange signing and money allocation when we talk about Hockenson getting an extension here soon as well. 

Mundt is back (he’s still on the roster)…

@"minny65" said: Sportsnaut (never heard of)

• Best move: Byron Murphy is going to be a player and a long-term solution at cornerback in Minnesota. That’s what a general manager wants when he hits free agency. Still only 25 years old, Murphy yielded a mere 87.6 QB rating when targeted in 2021 before injuries caught up with him this past season. His two-year, $17.5 million contract is a boon for Minnesota.

Also Read: ‘Multiple teams believe’ Minnesota Vikings have held trade discussions surrounding Dalvin Cook

• Worst move: Moving on from three veteran mainstays on defense just didn’t seem to make sense for Minnesota. Is the team in rebuild or retool mode? We have no idea, because it continues to send mixed signals. In particular, the unwillingness to re-sign Dalvin Tomlinson could loom large moving forward.

Minnesota Vikings NFL free agency grade: D+

@"Kentis" said: Mundt is back (he’s still on the roster)…

@"supafreak84" said: Nothing against Oliver, but this is his 3rd team since being drafted in 2019 and he has been a complete non factor in the passing game. I'm not so sure why we couldn't have just brought Mundt back to fill the blocking role at a quarter of the cost? Mundt is an excellent blocker and his prowess in that department was highlighted in several games last season. That or just taken advantage of the depth and talent in this draft class if we really wanted to add a second tight end to become more multiple on offense. Strange signing and money allocation when we talk about Hockenson getting an extension here soon as well. 

Out of 53 tight ends with at least 200 blocking snaps last season, Josh Oliver was No. 1 in PFF run blocking grade. This signing is all about helping fix the Vikings’ awful running game (29th in EPA/rush in 2022). pic.twitter.com/Q8yriuglc5

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) March 13, 2023

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"supafreak84" said: Nothing against Oliver, but this is his 3rd team since being drafted in 2019 and he has been a complete non factor in the passing game. I'm not so sure why we couldn't have just brought Mundt back to fill the blocking role at a quarter of the cost? Mundt is an excellent blocker and his prowess in that department was highlighted in several games last season. That or just taken advantage of the depth and talent in this draft class if we really wanted to add a second tight end to become more multiple on offense. Strange signing and money allocation when we talk about Hockenson getting an extension here soon as well. 

I would not call Mundt an excellent blocker. Mundt is a decent "get in the way" blocker. Oliver outweighs him by 30 lbs and takes people to the ground. 

Out of 53 tight ends with at least 200 blocking snaps last season, Josh Oliver was No. 1 in PFF run blocking grade. This signing is all about helping fix the Vikings’ awful running game (29th in EPA/rush in 2022). pic.twitter.com/Q8yriuglc5

— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) March 13, 2023

I disagree and think Mundt is very good in the run game and offers you probably the same as Oliver as a receiver. There were several games last year where his run blocking was highlighted (see article). It's just strange to pay a guy that much money when you have a guy with a similar skillet already on the roster at a fraction of the cost. 

Now you’re citing “Stink”, comentating on a game as a talent evaluator, come on.

@"Kentis" said: Now you’re citing “Stink”, comentating on a game as a talent evaluator, come on.

@"supafreak84" said:

@"Kentis" said: Now you’re citing “Stink”, comentating on a game as a talent evaluator, come on.

Lol well whom in your opinion would be a legitimate talent evaluator then? Kwesi? And he wasn't evaluating anything, just pointing out some great blocks by Mundt.