If the 75/1 odds Las Vegas gave the Minnesota Vikings to win the Super Bowl next season is any indication of how far they need to go to once again be competitive, then this will be a very important offseason for the Vikings.
For perspective, the 75/1 odds is tied with the Bills and Raiders for the second worst chance to win a title in 2015. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars (100/1) had worse odds.
Those odds probably won’t improve unless the Vikings find a franchise quarterback – something they have been void of for a long time, arguably going all the way back to the days of Fran Tarkenton. Finding the next franchise quarterback via free-agency doesn’t seem likely. Michael Vick and Josh McCown, who combined to start 15 games last season, are the two biggest names expected to become available when free-agency opens March 11. McCown threw for 13 touchdowns and only one interception, but the 34-year-old is pondering retirement so he can be around his family more often, according to USA Today.
Nate Davis of USA Today released a brand new mock draft on Tuesday and it has Central Florida quarterback Blake Bortles lands in the Vikings’ lap with the eighth pick in the first-round. Davis writes that Bortles could “apprentice under veteran Matt Cassel and OC Norv Turner could be the long-term fix for an offense that has plenty of talent elsewhere.”
What if Cassel is back with the Vikings next season? He has until Friday to void his contract. If he doesn’t, the Vikings will have to decide to cut him or pay him a $500,000 roster bonus.
SB Nation’s newest mock has Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley going to the Vikings. Bortles is going No. 1 to the Texans while other top quarterback prospects Johnny Manziel and Teddy Bridgewater are picked in the top five.
Walter Football, as of a week ago, had Fresno State quarterback Derek Carr going to the Vikings.
The NFL Draft will be held May 8-11.
Yahoo! Sports created a list of the five biggest needs the Vikings must address this offseason: Quarterback, linebacker, cornerback, defensive line and a change-of-pace running back made the list.
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