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FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021

LOCAL NEWS: Friday, April 2, 2021

Pioneer Press

TE Hale Hentges retired from Vikings for family reasons, to start career in business By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/01/te-hale-hentges-retired-from-vikings-for-family-reasons-to-start-career-in- business/

Former Vikings QB Randall Cunningham has found his ‘true passion’ as pastor at Las Vegas church By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2021/04/01/ex-vikings-qb-randall-cunningham-has-found-true-passion-as-pastor-at-las- vegas-church/

Purple Insider

Takeaways from Mike Zimmer's state-of-the-team address By Sam Ekstrom and Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/takeaways-from-mike-zimmers-state

NATIONAL NEWS: Friday, April 2, 2021

ESPN

Mike Zimmer got his defensive wishes granted in free agency, but Vikings' offense is left vulnerable By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/31037/mike-zimmer-got-his-defensive-wishes-granted-in- free-agency-but-vikings-offense-is-left-vulnerable-as-a-result

Maven Media

Northwestern's Rashawn Slater Falls to Vikings at 14 in Todd McShay's Latest Mock Draft By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/northwestern-rashawn-slater-falls-vikings-14-todd-mcshay-mock-draft

Ten Free Agent Guards the Vikings Can Still Sign to Help Their Offensive Line By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/ten-free-agent-guards-vikings-sign-help-offensive-line-turner-lamp-easton

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Friday, April 2, 2021

Mike Zimmer Says Vikings Still Have Time to Address Offensive Line By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-zimmer-says-vikings-still-have-time-to-address-offensive-line

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 4/2/21

TE Hale Hentges retired from Vikings for family reasons, to start career in business

By Chris Tomasson

Hale Hentges had a solid chance to remain on the Vikings’ roster in 2021 as their No. 3 tight end, but instead he decided to leave football behind.

The Vikings on Tuesday placed Hentges, 24, on the reserve/retired list after just two NFL seasons. In an interview with the Pioneer Press on Thursday, Hentges said his decision to retire is “final” and he is doing so for family reasons and to start a career in business. He will begin a sales position April 12 with Zebra Technologies in Austin, Texas, after having an externship with the company from mid-February to mid-March.

“My wife and I were very lucky to find out that we are expecting a son in July, so that was a very big factor for me, stopping to kind of get a little more stability in my life and to be there for my son,’’ said Hentges, who married the former Shannon Mikesky in January 2019. “Also, I’m really just excited to enter the business world. Zebra’s a great company.’’

Hentges was undrafted in 2019 out of Alabama, where he was a teammate of tight end Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota’s second-round pick in 2019. As a rookie with Washington, he started four of the 11 games he played and caught eight passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.

Hentges was waived last October and joined Indianapolis’ practice squad. After starter Kyle Rudolph suffered a season-ending foot injury, the Vikings signed Hentges last December with four games left, but he played in just one game, getting seven snaps on special teams in the finale at Detroit.

When Rudolph was released March 2, Minnesota’s top two tight ends became Smith and . The only other ones on the roster then were Hentges and Brandon Dillon, who has spent most of the past two years on the practice squad.

“(Hentges) was in good position to be a big contributor this season with the Vikings and have a lot more years left to play, but he made a decision that was best for him and his family,’’ said Irv Smith Sr., a former NFL tight end and Smith Jr.’s father.

Hentges and his agent, Derek Simpson, got the ball rolling in January on his decision to retire. Hentges exchanged emails with team executive Rob Brzezinski and began the process of filing retirement papers. He talked to offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Brian Pariani, and said they were a bit surprised.

“A lot of people have been surprised at this decision,’’ said Hentges, who was under contract in 2021 for a nonguaranteed $850,000. “But there’s so much more to life than football, and I think a lot of people, especially at my age, kind of have a hard time seeing that.

“I love that people are chasing their (NFL) dream and I encourage them to go after everything that they want in this life. … But for me and my wife, our goal looked a little bit different and that’s something that’s raising a family, settling down, creating a wonderful home for my son and wife, and ultimately wanting to start my business career because I have huge aspirations in the business world.”

RELATED ARTICLES Former Vikings QB Randall Cunningham has found his ‘true passion’ as pastor at Las Vegas church Mike Zimmer: Vikings will continue to ‘figure it out’ what to do on offensive line Vikings’ Mike Zimmer ‘rejuvenated’ by defensive additions, but changes still needed Vikings re-sign guard With NFL adding 17th game to schedule, Vikings will play at L.A. Chargers Hentges earned a master’s degree in marketing at Alabama. He met his future wife when she played volleyball for the Crimson Tide.

Hentges said he would have retired even if he had not been hired March 16 by Zebra Technologies as an inside channel account manager for part of the company’s West region. Zebra manufactures and sells, marking, tracking and computer printing technologies.

Zebra works with the NFL on player-tracking innovations behind Next Gen Stats. Hentges said there is no immediate plan for him to work in that area but would be willing to offer any possible insight as a former player.

“I’m really excited to hit the ground running with Zebra and just contribute to a new team,’’’ Hentges said. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 4/2/21

Former Vikings QB Randall Cunningham has found his ‘true passion’ as pastor at Las Vegas church

By Chris Tomasson

LAS VEGAS — In a city renowned for its nightlife, a lot of people are still asleep at 8 o’clock on a recent Sunday morning. But those on hand at Remnant Ministries, four miles south of the Strip, are wide awake.

As the pastor steps up to the pulpit, he is greeted warmly.

“You all on coffee or something?” he says. “Is that what it is? Or Jesus?”

There are some laughs, and the applause continues. Then it is time for Randall Cunningham to get down to business and give his sermon on Saul’s coronation.

Yes, that Randall Cunningham, the four-time Pro Bowl quarterback who once starred for the and later led the Vikings to 15-1 record in 1998. Two decades after playing in his final NFL game, Cunningham says he has found his true calling.

“The value of what I do now far outweighs everything I’ve done it life, whether it was football or whatever,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham, 58, is known now in his hometown as “Pastor Randall.” He became an ordained minister in 2003, and in 2006 opened Remnant Ministries, a nondenominational church that boasts several thousand members in the Las Vegas area. Felicity Cunningham, his wife since 1993, also is a pastor at the church.

Before the coronavirus pandemic, about 400 people attended each of three services that Cunningham presided over each Sunday. The numbers dwindled during the pandemic, but in recent weeks there have been about 300 at each of the services, with seating spread out to allow for social distancing.

On top of that, the services can be seen online at www.remnantministries.net. During the pandemic, there were weeks when 2,700 combined to watch the three Sunday services online, up from about 1,000 each week before the pandemic.

“I think a lot of pastors didn’t know the future of churches, and so we were trying to figure out ways to keep things going, and it’s amazing how God has worked it out,” Cunningham said of surviving the pandemic. “Our donations started to go up.”

Cunningham said donations have gone up about 75 percent over the past year. And he has high hopes for the future.

On Easter Sunday, Cunningham will preside over his usual services at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. But in addition to the usual sizable portion of the one-hour services devoted to gospel music, there also will be dance and drama teams performing.

There might be a very recognizable Las Vegas figure on hand at the 8 a.m. service. Cunningham is also the team chaplain for the Las Vegas Raiders, and regularly attends the first service on Sundays.

“Randall is a great pastor and he delivers a great message, and you become a better person when you’re around him,” Gruden said. “Randall Cunningham has a real impact on people, and obviously he’s a prodigal son in Vegas.”

Former quarterback Randall Cunningham, now a pastor in Las Vegas, on Feb. 21, 2021. (Chris Tomasson / Pioneer Press) Cunningham starred at UNLV before joining the Eagles as a second-round draft pick in 1985. He helped revolutionize the NFL as a threat to run and pass, and he made three of his Pro Bowls while playing for Philadelphia through 1995, spending his last season there with Gruden as offensive coordinator.

But Cunningham will be the first to admit he’s a completely different person than he was then. While with the Eagles, Cunningham was known for his cocky attitude and his flamboyance, which included showing up at his first practice as a rookie in a Porsche, once leaving a preseason game at halftime to attend Whitney Houston’s birthday party, and clashing with coaches at times.

“I was no longer playing for the Eagles (because) I got prideful and arrogant and thought that I know more than the coaching staff,” Cunningham said during a recent sermon. “They said, ‘Well, hey, man, we don’t need you anymore.’ But praise God for his mercy to allow us to have a comeback.”

Cunningham’s comeback in life began after he was let go by the Eagles and announced his retirement in 1996. He returned to Las Vegas, and opened a marble and granite business for homes.

Cunningham said he became born again in 1987 but admitted initially he “didn’t understand what it meant to be Christian.” During his retirement, humbled by the way his tenure with the Eagles ended, he had a spiritual awakening.

“I became more of an evangelist is what I would say,” Cunningham said. “I was asked to speak in churches and share my testimony, so that’s really when I began ministering.”

After some time away from football, Cunningham began to think about returning to the NFL but with a totally different mindset. The Vikings entered the picture when Cunningham attended XXXI between Green Bay and New England in January 1997 in New Orleans.

Cunningham was working out at a hotel the week of the game when he ran into Keith Johnson, then the Vikings’ team chaplain, and two found out they had a lot in common.

“It was just a sign of my prayer being answered when Keith saw me working out on the treadmill,” Cunningham said. “And the next day, he called (then Vikings coach ), and then Denny called me.”

Cunningham, 34 at the time, had an offer to sign with New Orleans, and perhaps compete for the starting job. But he admired Green’s honesty about how he would be the backup to Brad Johnson, and, with the bond he began to establish with Johnson, Cunningham chose Minnesota.

“It was a complete turnaround,” Cunningham said of what he was like during his 1997-99 Vikings tenure. “I wasn’t crazy in Philly at the end of my career. I was a Christian. But I think what happened in my life was I began to mature and Keith challenged me because I had gone through humility.”

In 1997, Johnson was the starter for most of the season, and he began the 1998 season in that role as well. But in the second game, Johnson broken an ankle, and Cunningham took over.

Cunningham passed for 3,704 yards and a career-high 34 touchdowns, was named first-team all-pro for the only time in his 16-year NFL career, and led the Vikings to their best regular-season record in franchise history. He appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated alongside the headline “Born Again.”

“The people in Minnesota were like, ‘We believe in you,’ ” Cunningham said. “I was grateful to get a chance with another team.”

The season ended in disappointment, though, when the Vikings, an 11-point favorite and playing at home in the Metrodome, suffered a stunning 30-27 overtime loss to Atlanta in the NFC Championship Game. Most Vikings players were devastated as their fans afterward, but Cunningham said he was able to put the loss into perspective.

“I was disappointed, but I was content because I gave it everything I had,” he said. “When I left the field, I had no energy. I was able to get through it because God had gotten to me, and he still loved me.”

Cunningham began the 1999 season as the starter after Johnson signed with Washington, but age caught up with him. He lost his job to Jeff George after a 2-4 start. He went on to finish his career as a backup with Dallas in 2000 and Baltimore in 2001.

RELATED ARTICLES TE Hale Hentges retired from Vikings for family reasons, to start career in business Mike Zimmer: Vikings will continue to ‘figure it out’ what to do on offensive line Vikings’ Mike Zimmer ‘rejuvenated’ by defensive additions, but changes still needed Vikings re-sign guard Dakota Dozier With NFL adding 17th game to schedule, Vikings will play at L.A. Chargers But Cunningham’s time in Minnesota changed him. He attended team Bible functions, and during offseasons in Las Vegas, he led Bible studies at his home. “He was one of the leaders of the Vikings’ Bible studies with Keith Johnson, and he pretty much led by example on and off the field,” said Jake Reed, a wide receiver during Cunningham’s three seasons with the Vikings and among Cunningham’s best friends for years. “He didn’t curse, he didn’t drink and he didn’t womanize. … I didn’t know Randall back in his Eagles days, but from the people who knew him, they kind of said he was full of himself.”

Gruden doesn’t necessarily disagree with that, saying that going to Minnesota was a “completely game-changing experience for Randall.”

After his playing days were over, Cunningham returned to Las Vegas and continued with his Bible studies. They became so popular that John Michaels, Cunningham’s longtime pastor who is now deceased, offered a suggestion.

“He said, ‘You know, your Bible study is the size of a church. We’ve got to get you ordained,’ ” Cunningham said. “Then two years later, he said, ‘Are you ready (to open a church)?’ ”

In order raise millions of dollars to build a church at 325 East Windmill Lane, Cunningham solicited donations and contributed much of the money himself by auctioning off memorabilia from his playing days. The church opened in 2006 with one Sunday service that drew had about 90 attendees initially.

By 2017, the church had grown so much that, with more donations, it was expanded from 17,000 square feet to 41,000. The building now includes a basketball court and classrooms used to help benefit area youth.

Former Minnesota Vikings quarterback Randall Cunnningham and his former Vikings teammate, wide receiver Jake Reed, at his Las Vegas church, Remnant Ministries, on Jan. 3, 2021 with their wives. From left, Vinita Reed, Jake Reed, Randall Cunningham and Felicity Cunningham. (Courtesy of Jake Reed) “Randall has stayed the course with his vision of his church,” said Reed, who lives in Frisco, Texas, and has visited Cunningham and attended many services since Remnant Ministries opened. “And he has gotten so much better. He’s not just a preacher, he’s a teacher of the word. One of the things I really appreciate is that, when people come to church, they don’t want to hear all the hooting and hollering, they want to be taught, and I think Randall is a great teacher.”

Cunningham spends many hours each week studying the Bible to prepare for his sermons, and he remains involved in sports. Cunningham, who also starred in track when he was young, coaches the Nevada Gazelles track club, and also tutors three of his children who are stars in the high jump.

Daughter Vashti, 23, is ranked fourth in the world and is a candidate to medal at this summer’s Olympics in Tokyo. Son Randall II, 25, was a track star at USC and hopes to qualify for the Olympics. And daughter Grace, 18, will attend Texas Tech in the fall on a track scholarship.

The Cunninghams have another daughter, Sofia, 9. They had a son, Christian, who drown at the age of 2 in 2010 in a tragic hot tub accident.

Cunningham returned to the NFL last year when the Raiders moved from Oakland to Las Vegas, and had an opening for a chaplain. Gruden immediately thought of Cunningham for the job.

“He’s loving that,” Randall II said of his father. “This is kind of the perfect role for him to bridge pastoring and sports, so I think it’s a great thing for him.”

The pandemic last season kept Cunningham from meeting much with players in person, but he regularly delivered talks to the team on Zoom. Before the first NFL game played last September in Las Vegas at spanking new Allegiant Stadium, Cunningham brought up the story of David vs. Goliath as the Raiders sought to take down the and star quarterback Drew Brees. Las Vegas, a four-point underdog, won 34-24 on .

“I told (Raiders quarterback) Derek Carr, the giant is coming to town (in Brees) and you’ve got to get your slingshot out,” Cunningham said. “I give (the players) very inspiring messages, and tell them they’re overcomers and nothing can stop them.”

The Raiders finished with an 8-8 record last season and failed to make the playoffs. But Gruden hopes having Cunningham around more in 2021 after the pandemic is over could be beneficial.

“He has a great ability to reach young people,” Gruden said. “He’s a great leader, he’s a great pastor and he was one hell of a quarterback. And that combination makes him one of the most valuable parts of our staff. He always gives the word, scriptures, education, but he also makes it very applicable to your daily life.”

In addition to Gruden showing up, Cunningham said several Raiders players have attended services at Remnant Ministries, He said receiver Nelson Agholor, who played with Las Vegas in 2020 before signing as a free agent with New England last month, was kept isolated at services during the pandemic to practice social distancing and wore so much protective clothing that he looked like “the Abominable Snowman.”

Other notable church attendees over the years have been actor and comedian Chris Tucker and former football stars Rod Woodson, Vance Johnson and Napoleon McCallum. NFL fans have been known to show up wearing Eagles or Vikings jerseys, and Randall II believes many have come away impressed with what Cunningham has done in life in his second act.

“I don’t know what a lot of people think about professional athletes turning pastors and all that, but this is my dad’s true passion,” said Randall II. “This is really what he believes his life is supposed to be for, to glorify God and share the word.” PUBLICATION: Purple Insider DATE: 4/2/21

Takeaways from Mike Zimmer's state-of-the-team address

By Sam Ekstrom and Matthew Coller

With less than a month until the draft and free agency options dwindling, Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer hopped on a Zoom call with local reporters to discuss the team’s moves thus far and its mindset heading down the stretch to the draft.

The Vikings’ head coach was expectedly thrilled with the club’s defensive acquisitions and spoke extensively about his excitement to try new things defensively in 2021. Plus, he offered updates on the left tackle situation, backup quarterback and even his good friend .

Here are the biggest takeaways:

Zimmer was down on the defense when the offseason began — he isn’t now The breaking point for Mike Zimmer with his defense came on Christmas day when the Vikings gave up 52 points to the New Orleans Saints and six touchdowns to Alvin Kamara. After the game he called the defense “bad” and said it was the worst he’s ever had.

Zimmer gave the impression on Wednesday that he entered the offseason short on confidence that they would be able to make the leaps and bounds of improvement on the roster necessary to get back to his typical standard of defensive play.

“When we looked at the defense after the season and evaluated it, it was pretty barren in there,” Zimmer said. “So we had to address that. Honestly, at the end of the season, I was kind of down in the dumps when I kept looking at the depth chart and knowing what kind of salary cap space we had.”

Zimmer perked up when the front office used every possible maneuver to create more cap space and add six defensive free agents without losing any of the remaining key players.

“Rob and Rick have done an unbelievable job…they’ve gotten me rejuvenated with the guys that they’ve brought in and the players that (they’ve brought in) to help and then you’ve got guys like Anthony Barr… he decides to restructure his contract because he wants to be here,” Zimmer said. “You’ve got guys like and Mackensie [Alexander] and a lot of these other guys that really want to be here and . Those kinds of things get me excited.”

The Vikings’ head coach called the Peterson signing a “lucky break” because the eight-time Pro Bowler targeted Minnesota as a place he wanted to play in 2021.

“He kind of initiated wanting to come here so I thought that was really important,” Zimmer said. “I anticipate him playing corner, that's what he is. He's always been a great corner. He wants to continue to get better and he wants to continue to play longer and we're hopeful that we can help him to do that.”

Last year it was particularly demoralizing to Zimmer’s defense to see opponents dominating them in the run game. They allowed the fifth most yards and ninth highest yards per attempt rate. Zimmer called free agent and Michael Pierce, who is returning from opt out, “space-eaters” and said linebackers Anthony Barr and will be pleased to have them controlling the line of scrimmage.

“It’s going to look completely different when we get out there, and I’m excited about the whole crew,” Zimmer said. “[Tomlinson and Pierce] specifically, they’re both great guys. They’re both really really good run players who can push the pocket, and I think that’s going to help, not only Hunter and Barr and Wonnum and Weatherly, some of these other guys we have.”

Defensive adaptation on the way Zimmer has readily admitted for years that he’s trying to adjust his defense to keep up with modern offenses. In recent seasons, that’s meant going away from using double-A-gap blitzes as often, playing more nickel personnel and utilizing defensive ends as inside rushers on pass-rushing downs.

It sounds like more schematic changes are coming.

“I’m not used to that level of performance from one of our groups,” Zimmer said. “You know – it’s crazy because all the coaches are in the building now – we’ve had some of the best meetings that I’ve had in eight years, probably. We’re dissecting every little thing that we do, going through everything with a fine-tooth comb. I’ve been really impressed with the coaches that are in there, but also the offenses have changed so much in the last four or five years, it’s time that we need to do some things differently and change and adapt.”

The Vikings’ head coach feels his defense was getting caught thinking too much last year, and because of limitations on practicing and meeting in person, they struggled to adjust. Specifically Zimmer may have special plans for the team’s suddenly-deep cornerback room. He’s got at least five playable cornerbacks if Mike Hughes is healthy, and several of them can play in the slot.

“We’re trying figure out where we can use each one of these guys,” Zimmer said. “What can Gladney do different? We’ve talked about things with him. What can Mackensie do? We’ve talked about things with him. What if we decide to play more DBs? There are so many options that we have. Right now, they’re just puzzle pieces and we’re just trying to fit them in as best we can. It might be a lot of different packages.”

The latest on There’s been no resolution regarding Danielle Hunter’s contract, and until there is, it’s unclear whether Hunter will participate in offseason activities like OTAs and minicamp. The Vikings, though, haven’t seemed fazed. spoke optimistically about Hunter’s return before free agency, and Zimmer echoed that on Wednesday.

“Well, I know he’s talked to Andre [Patterson]. I have not talked to him,” said Zimmer. “He’s been sending back videos of his workouts, and they’re very, very impressive. So we’re excited to get him back on the field. He’s a great team guy, he’s a terrific player, and he’s one of the best people that I’ve been around in professional football.”

Minnesota opens up more cap space on June 1 when Kyle Rudolph’s money comes off the books, so any type of Hunter contract extension that adds money to the salary cap may have to wait until then.

Ezra Cleveland a guard? Zimmer gave mixed signals regarding ’s status on Wednesday.

Early in the media session, Zimmer was asked about the left tackle spot, and he responded by listing four candidates to play tackle, including Cleveland (Brian O’Neill, and Oli Udoh were the other three).

Later, though, when asked more directly about Cleveland’s position, Zimmer said he’s presently a right guard.

“Well, right now he’s right guard, but all those things can change depending on what happens the rest of the way in free agency and what else happens in the draft,” Zimmer said. “We don’t know what’s going to happen in those places, and obviously there’s other positions that we can draft. I’m sure at some point we’re going to try and address all those things.”

It may be in the team’s best interest to remain ambiguous about the offensive line so other teams can’t predict their draft strategy. As of now, there’s no way of knowing for certain whether the Vikings feel they need a starting guard or starting tackle (or both) in the draft.

Who’s the backup QB? The Vikings are still without a No. 2 quarterback, but it looks like it’ll be one of the usual suspects: Sean Mannion (a free agent still), or .

“We really like Browning and Stanley,” Zimmer said. “Stanley’s a big, big strong-armed kid. Browning’s been great the two years that he’s been here. Sean’s been outstanding in the room. So, again, without saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to do this or that,’ there’s a lot of options there I believe.’’

There are journeymen backups galore on the free agent list right now, so the Vikings needn’t be in a rush. Of course, the longer they wait to sign a No. 2, the more steam they’ll generate about possibly drafting Cousins backup.

Xavier Woods can be better Both Xavier Woods and Zimmer acknowledged this week that the Vikings’ new starting safety did not play his best football last season. The metrics back that up. His QB rating allowed on passes into his coverage skyrocketed from 56.4 in 2019 to 129.0 in 2020 and his PFF coverage grade dropped.

Zimmer said he thinks Woods will be in the right position for a bounce back.

“I just told him that this is going to be a good situation for him here,” the Vikings’ head coach said. “The things that we do are things he’s done before. Areas how we can use him in addition to Harrison. I watch all the tapes and I think he’s got another level to go to. I think he’s also got a chip on his shoulder as well. So I like that about guys. I like bringing in guys when other people say they’re probably not good enough somewhere else.”

Generally the job alongside Smith has been belonged to free safeties who play deep. Last year Woods split his snaps between the deep safety, box safety and nickel corner positions.

“[Defensive backs coach] Karl Scott had him in college, so he knows him very, very well, so that’s a positive,” Zimmer said. “He wasn’t always in the box. He played deep, he played some robber, he played a lot of different place for him. So he has some versatility to do all those things.”

Klint Kubiak is ready Among the changes this offseason to the Vikings’ coaching staff, the most notable was switching offensive coordinators from to his son Klint.

The biggest questions surrounding Klint’s hiring are: Is he ready to take over after only a few years as a quarterbacks coach? What type of freedom will he have to make changes?

“He’s ready for it,” Zimmer said. “Somebody was asking me about that today. Klint, he’s a lot like how Kevin (Stefanski) was when he was there. He’s very detailed. He brings up the subject that they want to discuss. He’ll have his opinions. He’ll listen to the other guys’ opinions in the room and then kind of go from there. He’s done a good job.”

Klint will be calling plays for the first time, which doesn’t seem to concern Zimmer.

“Everybody’s going to wonder what it’s going to be like when you’re a first-time play caller but at the end of the day every one of us was always a first-time play caller at one point,” he said.

17th game, offseason schedule The Vikings didn’t exactly draw the easiest matchup when the NFL tacked on a 17th game onto everyone’s 2021 slate. They will play the Los Angeles Chargers, a team with the 2020 Rookie of the Year at quarterback, on the road.

“It’s another west coast game, I don’t know if they’ll put it at the end of the year, the beginning of the year, the middle, or whatever,” Zimmer said. “It’s just something else they tell us to do, and we do it like good soldiers.”

The Vikings will have the extra home game in 2022.

On the matter of whether the offseason will be virtual or in person, Zimmer naturally wants to get a look at his squad on the field before they hit camp.

“I think it’s important not for just the young players, but the new players [and] the coaches,” he said. “It just helps with the process of trying to build a football team, in my opinion. I really don’t know. Again, we’ll do what they tell us to do.”

Twitter avatar for @TomPelissero Tom Pelissero @TomPelissero The NFL just sent a memo to clubs, saying they should prepare to conduct meetings virtually when offseason programs begin April 19, but don’t anticipate another all-virtual workout program like 2020, per sources.

Translation: Get ready to see players on the field this spring. March 31st 2021

402 Retweets2,199 Likes Deion Sanders, head coach Zimmer and Deion Sanders have long had a unique coach-player relationship, spanning years after Sanders retired. Now it’s a coach-coach relationship with Sanders taking the Jackson State head coaching job in the Southwestern Athletic Conference.

“Oh yeah, I’ve talked to him a lot,” Zimmer said. “He’s doing great. … I love him and I know he’s doing a great job. I know he’s got a lot of guys that he’s recruited that can’t play this year and will play next year. I know he’s looking forward to finishing up this year strong and then getting going next year. I guess ‘surprised’ wouldn’t be the right word to use, but he does a great job. I knew he would. He told me for a few years that he would coach college football and I knew he’d be an unbelievable recruiter because he’s very quick-witted and very smart and obviously his reputation is pretty good.”

Through four weeks of their spring season, Sanders and the Bulldogs are 3-1.. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 4/2/21

Zulgad: No worries: Vikings coach isn’t concerned about lack of focus on offensive line

By Courtney Cronin

MINNEAPOLIS – Upon his way out the door in New England in the mid-1990s, famously proclaimed that, “If I’m going to be asked to cook the meal, I’d like to be able to pick the groceries.”

What the Hall of Fame coach was referring to was the desire for control over roster decisions that would correlate to the success of his team. He wanted more than just a say in the players whose efforts would result in the wins and losses that ultimately fell on his shoulders.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer took a page from his mentor’s book in free agency, making it abundantly clear if he’s going to be tasked with turning around a team that fell short of the playoffs with a 7-9 record, he’s going to do it his way by fixing the issues he deems the most dire.

Zimmer’s laundry list of items included Minnesota’s ineffective pass rush, bare-bones secondary and depth that had him “down in the dumps” late last season.

The Vikings guaranteed a whopping $41.6 million on defense to the likes of Dalvin Tomlinson ($20.8 million), Patrick Peterson ($8 million), Xavier Woods ($1.75 million), ($1.05 million), Stephen Weatherly ($500,000) and ($137,500). Anthony Barr got $9.4 million guaranteed on a restructured deal that makes him a free agent after the 2021 season, a move Zimmer lobbied heavily for behind the scenes.

Zimmer took control at the wheel and steered the Vikings towards going all in on defense. After all, it was his unit that ranked 29th in points and 27th in yards allowed last season; a unit that was the cause of so much turmoil and embarrassment for the 64-year-old head coach that he had no choice but to pursue every possible fix that presented itself.

Best of NFL Nation

• Lions' Campbell a different kind of 'Dude' • Stay in Tampa? Bucs' players find reasons • Vikings' offense vulnerable after free agency • Broncos' defensive haul a credit to Fangio • Pros, cons on Bengals drafting Kyle Pitts

“I’m not used to that level of performance from one of our groups,” Zimmer said. “You know -- it’s crazy because all the coaches are in the building now -- we’ve had some of the best meetings that I’ve had in eight years, probably. We’re dissecting every little thing that we do, going through everything with a fine-tooth comb. I’ve been really impressed with the coaches that are in there but also, the offenses have changed so much in the last four or five years, it’s time that we need to do some things differently and change and adapt. I’m actually really excited. I can’t wait to get back on the field with the players and get them going.”

If all these moves pan out, the decisions Zimmer vouched for in free agency will be deemed a success. But that’s a big “if” that can’t be determined until we see whether Tomlinson is an effective pass rusher as a three-technique, if Woods bounces back to the level he demonstrated in Dallas from 2018-19 and the if cornerback position is transformed by the additions of Peterson and Alexander.

The Vikings defense-first focus is an anomaly in an NFL that remains fixated on high-octane offenses. During the years Minnesota went to the playoffs under Zimmer (2015, 2017, 2019), the Vikings ranked fifth, first and fifth, respectively, in points allowed per game while ranking 16th (2015), 10th (2017) and 8th (2019) in scoring.

In Zimmer’s world, success is rooted in holding teams to around 20 points per game while fielding a top-15 offense that doesn’t turn the ball over often. While Minnesota’s offensive needs aren’t as conspicuous as they were defensively, the Vikings have quite a bit of work to do as they continue to build this roster.

Zimmer, however, doesn’t appear too concerned.

“Our offense has been pretty darn good,” Zimmer said. “They’re sixth in the league last year. We do have some holes, yeah, that we’ll fill, but we’ve still got time to do that. There’s still a lot of players out there right now and there will be some out there in the draft. When we looked at the defense after the season and evaluated it, it was pretty barren in there. So we had to address that.”

That answer might lead you to believe the Vikings are a piece or two away on the offensive side of the ball, even after letting left tackle Riley Reiff walk in free agency. In fact, there was little acknowledgement from the Vikings coach that the offense needs much work at all. And that’s a problem.

The Vikings will get to see what Patrick Peterson has left in the tank after signing him in free agency. Stacy Revere/Getty Images For example, when asked how the Vikings will address Reiff’s departure, Zimmer said, “At this point we've got Rashod Hill back, we've got (Oli) Udoh back, we've got (Brian) O'Neill back, we've got (Ezra) Cleveland. So we'll be able to take care of those situations. All of those guys are good players and we'll continue to figure it out and go from there.”

Hill is a career backup. Udoh’s NFL experience is limited to 31 snaps at right tackle in a meaningless Chicago game in 2019 and two snaps as a jumbo-package lineman in 2020. O’Neill is the team’s starting right tackle and Cleveland, as Zimmer later said, is a guard.

The Vikings chose to prioritize their defense over fixing their offensive line issues that have haunted this franchise for years. After making their splashy defensive signings, Minnesota traded for , one of the worst pass- blocking centers in the NFL and re-signed Dakota Dozier, the team’s starting left guard in 2020 who had the worst pass-blocking grade among any guard, according to Pro Football Focus.

Problems aren’t typically solved by bringing in players who cannot effectively execute what’s required to fix the issue. The Vikings need to be as serious about the offensive side as they were in addressing the defense, or those issues won’t go away. That means utilizing their pick at No. 14 on a starting-caliber offensive lineman, preferably a tackle, even if Zimmer is tempted to draft another edge rusher to complete his defense.

It’s abundantly clear who called the shots for the Vikings in free agency. Zimmer did it his way, successfully commandeering the Vikings plans to meet his needs on defense. For a coach who embarks on the first year of a three-year contract extension this season, the pressure to win is now.

If Zimmer is going to go down with the ship, he will have done it his way.

But if the Vikings continue to leave their offense exposed and vulnerable, all these defensive signings Zimmer and Minnesota’s front office worked so hard to pull off could be for naught. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 4/2/21

Northwestern's Rashawn Slater Falls to Vikings at 14 in Todd McShay's Latest Mock Draft

By Will Ragatz

Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater would be a perfect fit for the Minnesota Vikings in the first round of this year's NFL Draft. He's an extremely athletic, polished offensive line prospect whose film against Chase Young in 2019 is a thing of beauty. Whether Slater remains at tackle or kicks inside to guard, he has a chance to be an above-average starter from Day 1 with the potential to develop into a star.

The issue is that he's very likely to come off the board before the Vikings pick at No. 14. And since Minnesota hasn't traded up in the first round since 1987, they're not going to jump ahead of other teams to go get Slater.

But hey, you never know what's going to happen in a given draft. There's always a chance a player like Slater could fall further than most people expect, particularly if there's a run on quarterbacks, receivers, and cornerbacks early in the draft.

That's exactly what happens in the latest mock draft from ESPN's Todd McShay.

Here's how McShay has the draft playing out:

Jacksonville Jaguars: Trevor Lawrence, QB, Clemson New York Jets: Zach Wilson, QB, BYU (via MIA/HOU): Mac Jones, QB, Alabama : Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida : Ja'Marr Chase, WR, LSU Miami Dolphins (via PHI): DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama TRADE — Carolina Panthers (via DET): Trey Lance, QB, NDSU Detroit Lions (via CAR): Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama Denver Broncos: Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama : Jaycee Horn, CB, South Carolina TRADE — New England Patriots (via DEN): Justin Fields, QB, Ohio State Philadelphia Eagles (via SF): Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State Los Angeles Chargers: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon Minnesota Vikings: Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern McShay's reasoning for the pick:

Slater is super versatile and could play any of the five positions along the Vikings' line. That's a good thing, because it has a lot of holes — Minnesota gave up 39 sacks in 2020, lost Riley Reiff and added only Mason Cole to the mix in the offseason. After rebooting the secondary, the Vikings now have to be focusing on protecting and opening lanes for .

It's an unlikely scenario, but you can at least see how Slater falling to the Vikings is possible.

The major issue is the Chargers, who are in desperate need of offensive line help for Justin Herbert. In this scenario from McShay, LAC is thrilled to see Sewell — who some have dubbed a "generational talent" at tackle — fall to them. But that's the lowest I've ever seen Sewell go in a mock draft. I would be shocked to see it happen in real life, simply because he has so much upside as a prospect.

If Sewell is off the board, whether it's to the Bengals, Cowboys, Giants, or someone else, the Chargers will be there to pounce on Slater one spot in front of the Vikings.

Slater would be a home run for Minnesota, and they'd love to see the draft play out the way McShay predicts in this mock, but I think it's very unlikely to happen that way in reality. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 4/2/21

Ten Free Agent Guards the Vikings Can Still Sign to Help Their Offensive Line

By Will Ragatz

Over the first few weeks of free agency, the Vikings have poured significant resources into fixing their defense. With five new acquisitions who could potentially start in 2021, plus the return of three key players who missed all of last season, Mike Zimmer's prized unit should be significantly better this year.

The offense is another story.

Yes, Minnesota had a top-ten offense last year by most metrics. But as things stand right now, the Vikings haven't done anything to improve it. In fact, that side of the ball has almost certainly gotten worse thus far, considering a pair of veteran starters in Riley Reiff and Kyle Rudolph were cut to create cap space for defensive signings.

More specifically, the Vikings' offensive line is still a mess. While fans have been encouraged by the new faces on defense, they have a rising level of anxiety and uncertainty when it comes to the team's do-nothing approach to fixing one of the NFL's worst O-lines. Reiff was one of the only reliable pieces up front, and now he's in Cincinnati. Backup- caliber talents Rashod Hill and Dakota Dozier are back, which doesn't move the needle at all, and the only external move Rick Spielman has made was to trade a late sixth-round pick for struggling center Mason Cole.

It's been almost three full weeks of free agency, and the Vikings, realistically, are still two starters away from having even a competent offensive line. At this point, they would presumably be starting Hill and Cole alongside Brian O'Neill, Ezra Cleveland, and . That's worrisome, to say the least.

"I think what we’ve done in free agency so far has allowed us to be able to take the best player available [in the draft], wherever he is," Zimmer said on Wednesday.

I'm not so sure that's true. If the Vikings enter the draft without any further additions to their offensive line, they might be forced to address that need instead of being able to take a legitimate BPA approach.

The good news is that there's still a month left until the draft begins.

"We do have some holes, yeah, that we’ll fill, but we’ve still got time to do that," Zimmer said about the offense. "There’s still a lot of players out there right now and there will be some out there in the draft."

The Vikings have roughly $7.5 million in cap space at the moment, and they can spend all of it because they'll get another $7.9 million in space after June 1st when Rudolph's contract comes off the books. They have the funds to make several more additions to the roster.

Even with the likes of Austin Blythe and Chris Reed coming off the market in recent days, there are still linemen out there who could help the Vikings in 2021. So with that in mind, let's take a look at ten guards who are still available and could be options for Minnesota. I'm only focusing on guards because with O'Neill, Cleveland, Hill, and Oli Udoh, I think the Vikings have solid depth at tackle heading into the draft.

Trai Turner (28 years old)

The biggest name still out there at guard, Turner made the Pro Bowl in five straight seasons from 2015 to 2019. He was traded from the Panthers to the Chargers last offseason and had a disastrous year in Los Angeles, finishing with a PFF grade even lower than Dozier's.

However, it's important to understand the context: Turner missed seven games with a groin injury and wasn't at full strength when he did play. In addition to the groin, he dealt with a couple other injuries throughout the year. If he's healthy and can bounce back in 2021, Turner could be a huge addition to the Vikings' offensive line.

Nick Easton (29)

Easton spent four seasons with the Vikings before heading to New Orleans a couple years ago. Now he's a free agent again and a reunion with his old team could potentially benefit both parties. When healthy, Easton is a solid pass protector.

The Vikings have reportedly made Easton an offer, but they're going to have to sweete it a bit to get him to sign.

Forrest Lamp (27)

Lamp is one of the more intriguing options on the market. He was a second-round pick of the Chargers in 2017 who barely saw the field in his first three seasons due to an unfortunate string of injuries. He stayed healthy last season and showed some upside, even if the overall results weren't great. If he can avoid injury, Lamp's athleticism and technique give him the potential to turn his career around at his next stop.

It's been two weeks since it was reported that Lamp was looking at the Vikings as an option, and he's still a free agent.

Lane Taylor (31)

Taylor spent eight seasons with the Packers after going undrafted in 2013. Now he's looking for his next stop. He hasn't been a starter since 2018, but Taylor has put up consistently solid results throughout his career. He's always been reliable in pass protection, but a lack of athleticism hurts him in run blocking, which might scare away the Vikings.

Stefen Wisniewski (32)

Wisniewski was an excellent center and guard for the first seven years of his career. The question is how much he has left in the tank. Like Taylor, he hasn't played a full season since 2018 and will likely be on his fourth team in four years this season. Still, Wisniewski's track record might be worth taking a chance on.

Kelechi Osemele (32)

Osemele is another guy who fits the same mold as Wisniewski (and both were on the Chiefs last season). He won a Super Bowl with the Ravens as a rookie starter and was one of the best guards in the league from 2014 to 2017, including a first team All-Pro nod with the Raiders in 2016. But he hasn't played a full season since 2018 either, and there might be questions about his ability to fit the scheme in Minnesota. The Vikings don't have a ton of options, so giving Osemele a shot can't hurt.

James Carpenter (32)

A first-round pick all the way back in 2011, Carpenter has had a solid career with the Seahawks, Jets, and Falcons. His best days are behind him, but he could be a low-cost option to compete for the starting job at left guard.

Ben Garland (33)

Garland is a nine-year veteran who has spent his entire career as a backup interior lineman. He has just 15 career starts, all of which have come in the past four seasons. Garland has played center and both guard spots.

Michael Schofield (30)

Schofield was a good pass blocker as the Chargers' starting right guard in 2018 and 2019 and in the same role for the Broncos in 2016. He's also played some tackle, where he hasn't been as good. He was a backup for the Panthers last season who may still have some starting upside.

J.R. Sweezy (32)

With over 100 career starts at guard, Sweezy has plenty of experience. He just hasn't been particularly good over the past four years. With that said, he's better than Dozier and wouldn't be a horrible option on a veteran minimum contract (which is all the Vikings would likely offer to most of the names on this list).

Others: Alex Redmond, Ryan Groy, Brett Jones, Senio Kelemete

If the Vikings keep Cleveland at guard, I imagine it'll be because they drafted a tackle in the first round. But if they do want to add a veteran tackle prior to the draft, there are some very interesting options out there, headlined by Mitchell Schwartz, Eric Fisher, and Alejandro Villanueva. Older vets like Russell Okung and Jason Peters are also free agents, as are decent right tackles like Rick Wagner and Dennis Kelly. I think it's far more likely that the Vikings sign a guard than a tackle, but those names are worth keeping in mind as well. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 4/2/21

Mike Zimmer Says Vikings Still Have Time to Address Offensive Line

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — With the 2021 NFL Draft set to begin four weeks from today, it has become clear that one area of the Vikings roster is likely high atop Minnesota's priority list.

And it's a position group that usually draws scrutiny no matter the year.

Yes, we're talking about the Vikings offensive line.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer on Wednesday made his first offseason comments since early January and noted that the offensive line is still in flux. But with the calendar just having flipped to April, there is also time to get it figured out.

"Our offense has been pretty darn good. They're [fourth] in the league last year [in yards per game at 393.3]," Zimmer said. "We do have some holes, yeah, that we'll fill, but we've still got time to do that.

"There's still a lot of players out there right now, and there will be some out there in the draft," Zimmer added.

The Vikings have made four moves this offseason that affect the offensive line.

The first was the release of left tackle Riley Reiff, a move that saved a large chunk of money but also saw the team's most experienced lineman leave. Minnesota also brought back tackle Rashod Hill, swung a trade for interior lineman Mason Cole and re-signed Dakota Dozier earlier this week.

Zimmer said Wednesday there are a handful of internal options to replace Reiff.

"At this point, we've got Rashod Hill back, we've got [Olisaemeka] Udoh back, we've got [Brian] O'Neill back, we've got [Ezra] Cleveland," Zimmer said. "So, we'll be able to take care of those situations. All of those guys are good players, and we'll continue to figure it out and go from there."

Dennison on Success of the Running Game, Cleveland's Rookie Season, Next Steps for O'Neill and Much More Perhaps the biggest piece of the offensive line puzzle is Cleveland, a 2020 second-round pick who started nine games at right guard as a rookie. But he was also a two-time, all-conference left tackle at Boise State and has the ability to switch positions if needed.

Zimmer was asked where Cleveland fits into the team's plans as of now, and the coach referenced that Minnesota's depth chart is essentially on an incomplete white board at the moment.

"Well, right now he's right guard," Zimmer said. "But all those things can change depending on what happens the rest of the way in free agency and what else happens in the draft.

"We don't know what's going to happen in those places, and obviously there's other positions that we can draft. I'm sure at some point we're going to try and address all those things," Zimmer added. "I think what we've done in free agency so far has allowed us to be able to take the best player available, wherever he is."

While Cleveland could change positions, Hill is also a candidate at either tackle spot. So, too, is O'Neill, who has only played right tackle in his three seasons in Purple.

Perhaps the only position set solidly in stone right now on the Vikings offensive line is Garrett Bradbury at center.

But as Zimmer said multiple times Wednesday, there is still time to get the other pieces sorted out.

Extended Cut: Cousins, Kubiak and Janocko Address The State of the Offense Heading Into 2021 | #VikingsAtHome Early praise for Kubiak

Zimmer compared the current Vikings offensive coordinator to a formers one on Wednesday.

Klint Kubiak is entering his first season in that role after spending the past two seasons as Minnesota's quarterbacks coach.

The 34-year-old is good friends with Browns Head Coach , who was the Vikings OC for 19 total games in 2018 and 2019. Stefanski was 36 when he took over play-calling duties for the final three games in 2018.

Zimmer noted Wednesday that he has full confidence in Kubiak entering the 2021 season.

"He's ready for it. Somebody was asking me about that today," Zimmer said. "Klint, he's a lot like how Kevin was when he was there. He's very detailed. He brings up the subject that they want to discuss.

"He'll have his opinions. He'll listen to the other guys' opinions in the room and then kind of go from there. He's done a good job," Zimmer added. "Everybody's going to wonder what it's going to be like when you're a first-time play caller, but at the end of the day every one of us was always a first-time play caller at one point."

Kubiak is taking over the role held by his father, Gary Kubiak, in 2020.

Vikings have options behind Cousins

Kirk Cousins is unquestionably entrenched as the Vikings starting quarterback as he enters his fourth season in Minnesota.

He's had two different backups behind him in since he arrived, including Sean Mannion for the past two seasons.

But with Mannion still a free agent, Zimmer was asked who would fill that spot in 2021.

Mannion is still an option, of course, as are youngsters Jake Browning and Nate Stanley.

"Well, all those are options. We really like Browning and Stanley," Zimmer said. "Stanley's a big, big strong-armed kid. Browning's been great the two years that he's been here.

"Sean's been outstanding in the room," Zimmer added. "So, again, without saying, 'Hey, we're going to do this or that,' there's a lot of options there, I believe."

Browning was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Washington in the spring of 2019. He's spent the past two years on the Vikings practice squad.

Stanley was a seventh-round pick out of Iowa in 2020. He was on the practice squad in 2020 but, due to no preseason games, never saw the field.

Mannion has made one start in two seasons but has drawn heaps of praise from Cousins and others for his strong ability to be a sounding board on the sideline and in meetings.