Now that the bulk of the free agency frenzy has passed, experts are handing out performance grades for each team.
NFL.com's Chris Wesseling graded each team in the NFC North and gave the Vikings a 'B-.'
The Vikings plan is easy to ascertain: Upgrade the offensive line after NFL rushing leader Adrian Peterson was held under 100 yards in five of the final six games of the 2015 season. To that end, General Manager Rick Spielman added mauling guard Alex Boone and mammoth right tackle Andre Smith. Wide receiver remains a question mark after disappointing speedster Mike Wallace signed with Baltimore. Although Stefon Diggs exceeded expectations as a rookie, he's more of a second fiddle as opposed to a legitimate No. 1 receiver.
*On defense, it will be interesting to see how much longtime Titans safety Michael Griffin has left in the tank after Tennessee released him in February. *
Besides the players mentioned above, the Vikings also signed linebackers Emmanuel Lamur and Travis Lewis, plus a handful of their own free agents.
View some of the best images of U.S. Bank Stadium through the first 90-plus percent of the build.
New stadium could benefit Bridgewater, offense
Among the many storylines that will be monitored as the Vikings move into U.S. Bank Stadium is how the team plays in the climate-controlled indoors.
Put another way, the Vikings won't have to worry about performing in frigid conditions like like those during the Wild Card playoff game.
Ben Goessling of ESPN.com thinks the move indoors will help Minnesota’s offense, particularly third-year quarterback Teddy Bridgewater.
Bridgewater has completed 70.6 percent of his passes in five career indoor games, throwing for 1,290 yards and posting a passer rating of 95.1. In three indoor games last season, he had a 101.6 passer rating and threw for 825 yards and three touchdowns against one interception. In 24 games outdoors, he completed 63.6 percent of his passes, with a passer rating of 85.2. With game-time temperatures of 20 degrees or below, he has never thrown for more than 209 yards.
From here on out, he'll play at least nine indoor games each year he's the Vikings starting quarterback, and there's optimism within the organization about what he can do at the new stadium.
The Vikings went 11-6 at TCF Bank Stadium, their temporary home for the past two seasons.
Bridgewater improved in each of his first two seasons in purple and gold, helping the Vikings win the NFC North last season for the first time since 2009.
Getting out of the wintry conditions would help him even more.
Smith ranked as second-best pick at No. 29
It's been nearly four years since the Vikings snagged safety Harrison Smith in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft by trading up to get him.
Smith has developed into one of the top safeties in the NFL, a Pro Bowl player with 241 total tackles, 5.5 sacks and 12 interceptions, four of which he's returned for a touchdown.
According to one poll, Smith is the second-best No. 29 overall pick of the last 20 years, trailing only New York Jets center Nick Mangold.
Mangold earned 51 percent of the vote while Smith garnered 27 percent. Wide receiver Hakeem Nicks was third with 16 percent, and left guard Ben Grubbs had six percent.
