2008 Free Agency Breakdown

Quarterbacks and running backs preview
Offensive and defensive line preview
Defensive backs and wide receiver preview
Tight ends and linebacker preview

 

NFL teams will take another step towards crafting their 2008 rosters on Friday when the free agency period opens. To help you get a better handle on the 2008 class of free agents, vikings.com will break down free agency position-by-position.

First up will be quarterbacks and running backs. On Thursday, vikings.com will break down the offensive and defensive line and then on Friday the defensive backs, linebackers, tight ends and wide receivers will be broken down.

If you need a refresher course on free agent terminology to better prepare yourself for Friday, click here.

Note – UFA = unrestricted free agent

            RFA = restricted free agent

The Vikings efforts to develop Tarvaris Jackson into a franchise quarterback will certainly continue this offseason and into training camp, but that doesn’t mean the team isn’t inclined to bring in additional players to beef up the competition. This year’s free agent class includes players who could come into Minnesota and improve the quarterback situation, if not win the starting job outright.

Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress is by his own admission a “competition guy.” Even though he selected Jackson with a second-round pick in the 2006 draft, he is not afraid to bring in a veteran or even a young prospect with potential to challenge Jackson for the starting spot. Brooks Bollinger and Kelly Holcomb are both currently on the roster, but neither quarterback provided convincing on-field evidence that they are the answer as starters or backups.

With a stout defense and one of the league’s best running attacks, the time is now for Minnesota to solve their quarterback riddle. A reliable signal-caller with the ability to conduct a smooth, efficient passing game is what this team yearns for; the answer likely lies either on the current roster or in this field of free agents.

Derek Anderson (RFA) – The 24-year old jumped up and surprised everyone by grabbing the starting job in Cleveland and leading the team to ten wins. He had 29 touchdowns and threw for 3,787 yards last season, but he also had a pedestrian 82.5 passer rating.

Byron Leftwich (UFA) – The five-year vet was dumped by Jacksonville prior to the 2007 season and then Atlanta cut him after the season. Leftwich has 52 career touchdown tosses and a passer rating of 79.7.

Daunte Culpepper (UFA) – At one point in his career, Culpepper was an MVP candidate. But injuries have taken their toll on him and now he looks to reignite his career with a new team. Experiments in Miami and Oakland didn’t turn out, but some team will give him a shot in 2008.

Quinn Gray (UFA) – Buried on Jacksonville’s depth chart behind both Byron Leftwich and David Garrard for his career, Gray will look to another NFL city to give him a fresh start. In limited time with the Jaguars Gray flashed, throwing ten touchdowns in 2007. With 180 career attempts, Gray has a respectable career passer rating of 88.5.

Cleo Lemon (UFA) – His resume won’t blow anyone away, but one must remember he was on the Dolphins roster the last three years. Teams will have to recall their grade on him coming into the draft and also gauge the potential he has. Lemon played in nine games last year with seven starts, and threw for 1,773 yards and six touchdowns in that time.

If there is one area where the Vikings are set at heading into the 2008 season, it’s at tailback. 2007 Rookie of the Year Adrian Peterson emerged as one of the elite running backs in the NFL during his first year, and despite a little bit of a drop-off in production late in the season, there’s no doubt the former Oklahoma star will be “the man” in the Vikings backfield for the foreseeable future.

Backing up Peterson will be veteran Chester Taylor, who signed a four-year deal with the Vikings in 2006. Third-stringer Mewelde Moore is an unrestricted free agent and will likely look to head to a team where playing time may be more readily available.

The bigger question in the Minnesota backfield resides at the fullback position. Tony Richardson, who was a Pro Bowler this past season, is an unrestricted free agent. It would seem as though the team would like to retain the 36-year-old veteran, but there’s always a chance that the team may look to get younger at the position.

Additionally, the Vikings have the versatile Jimmy Kleinsasser, who is obviously a key cog in the running game, as well as Jeff Dugan and Naufahu Tahi on the roster.

Marion Barber III (RFA) – Clearly the best of the class, Barber is coming off a 12-touchdown season in 2007 and a 16-touchdown performance in 2006. The former Gopher is tough to tackle and gains many of his yards after first contact.

Julius Jones (UFA) – Jones remained the starter in Dallas ahead of Barber, but the former Notre Dame standout continuously lost playing time to his younger teammate. With Dallas likely to keep Barber, look for Jones to find a new home and some more playing time.

Michael Turner (UFA) – Arguably the top free agent available at any position, Turner will likely be a 1,000-yard back with whoever he ends up with.

Chris Brown (UFA) – Brown has likely played his way out of the Tennessee backfield, but will probably get a chance for some significant playing time wherever he ends up.

Derrick Ward (RFA) – There are pros and cons to Ward; five times in 2007 he rushed for 80 or more yards in a game, including a 154-yard effort in Week 13. But he also suffered a significant knee injury and missed plenty of action.

Ron Dayne (UFA) – Dayne put up some decent numbers with the Texans, rushing for 11 touchdowns over the past two seasons.

Aaron Stecker (UFA) – Stecker has shown flashes in limited duty over time; he’ll likely latch on somewhere as a third-down back.

T.J. Duckett (UFA) – The former first-round pick averaged over five yards per carry last season, but has never managed to stay healthy.

Tony Richardson (UFA) – Success in the running game follows Richardson around and he’s coming off another Pro Bowl season, so you have to think the Vikings won’t be the only team mulling the value of his services.

Boomer Grigsby (RFA) – You may remember the name (and personality) from HBO’s “Hard Knocks.”

Thomas Tapeh (UFA) - Former University of Minnesota star has bounced back from a severe injury in 2005 to be a solid contributor for the Eagles.