Minnesota Vikings: All We Need Is a Quality Quarterback

Because the NFL season never ends, we present our 2009 Offseason Roadmaps for front offices to navigate through the summer.

In an NFC that is heading into the offseason without a clear favorite, the Minnesota Vikings have almost all the pieces to be the presumptive favorite. They have an outstanding defensive line, an improved secondary and the best running back in the business. They also have a very good offensive line and thanks to Bernard Berrian, the receiver corps no longer is a joke.

But there's just one problem, which became apparent when Tarvaris Jackson lost, then re-won the starting quarterback job for the second straight season. Jackson gave some reasons to believe he had put his struggles behind him late in the season, but his complete collapse in the playoff game against the Eagles (15-for-35, 164 yards, 1 INT, 1 fumble) may have finally brought Brad Childress to the point that everyone else has been for years -- Jackson can't be counted on to get the Vikings to the Super Bowl, and a team that has nearly every other piece can't spend another year or two waiting to see if he'll ever get to that point.

The good news for the Vikings is that they don't have many significant free agents and they have a lot of money to spend, so this could be another interesting offseason.

Free Agents: Restricted -- DT Fred Evans, CB Charles Gordon, DE Otis Grigsby, RB Naufahu Tahi. Unrestricted -- DT Kendrick Allen, OL Matt Birk, S Michael Boulware, LB Heath Farwell, LB Napoleon Harris, DT Jimmy Kennedy, TE Jimmy Kleinsasser, CB Benny Sapp, S Darren Sharper, LB Dontarrious Thomas, DT Ellis Wyms.

Draft Picks: 1 (22), 2 (22), 3 (22), 4 (22), 5 (22), 7 (22)

Needs

1. A Quarterback - It's been five years since the Vikings have had a quarterback throw for 3,000 yards. Not coincidentally it's been five years since the Vikings won a playoff game. The Vikings aren't likely to try to fix the problem through the draft because the rest of this team is set up to win now and Joe Flacco's experience aside, rookie quarterbacks rarely win playoff games. With Brett Favre retired, Donovan McNabb seemingly set to return to Philly, there aren't a whole lot of great available options. Jeff Garcia seems to be the first option, although with the Vikings' problems, convincing Kurt Warner or Kerry Collins to leave good situations would be a very unlikely coup.

2. Right Tackle/Center - The Vikings have a very solid left side of the line with Bryant McKinnie and Steve Hutchinson, but the team has spent the last two years searching for a reliable right tackle as Ryan Cook and Artis Hicks have been over their head. Now they can add center to that worry list with Matt Birk almost assured of leaving in free agency. John Sullivan is the likely replacement for Birk, so the Vikings have a plan at center, but it wouldn't be surprising to see the Vikings add a new right tackle in free agency.

3. Cornerback - Antoine Winfield is still an excellent cornerback, but he's getting old, so the Vikings could use an eventual Winfield replacement who could compete with Charles Gordon to start on the other side in the meantime. Minnesota could also use a safety to either compete with Tyrell Johnson to replace free agent Darren Sharper or to serve as the top backup.