Will the Vikings really head into the 2009 season with Sage Rosenfels and Tarvaris Jackson at QB or will Brett Favre come aboard to try to stick it to the Packers?  The smart money is on Brett Favre coming on to play with the Vikings in 2009.  It’s quite possible that Favre’s arm was hurting him in the 2nd half of the 2009 season which was when both he and the Jets faded.  When healthy Favre still has more than enough arm to make all of the throws needed to succeed.  But, at his advanced age he still puts the ball on the ground way too much.  Sage Rosenfels got starter-type money after he was acquired from the Texans in a trade.  He also isn’t very careful of where he throws the football often resulting in pickoffs.  But, given a good running game (which the Vikings have) he could be a decent game manager type QB.  Tarvaris Jackson played much better last season than ever before.  He has a good arm and he’s very dangerous when he takes off with the football.  Still, he needs to do a better job of deciding when to throw the ball away and when to take a chance.  John David Booty is nothing more than a clipboard carrier at the NFL level.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE 2009 SEASON:  With Brett Favre: B    Without Brett Favre: C

The Vikings might have reached a little bit to fill a need in picking OT Phil Loadbolt in the 2nd round.  But, Loadholt is a physical specimen at 6′8″, 343 pounds.  Loadholt is a mauler in the running game which will make Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor happy.  Loadholt played in 27 games (all starts) in his career at Oklahoma.  If the Vikings can get him some help in blocking the speed rushers in the NFL this pick should look good down the road.

The Vikings had to be ecstatic to watch WR Percy Harvin fall to them in the first round.  It’s not because his talent that he fell in their lap but it’s because of his off the field behavior.  The Vikings think that they can keep Harvin focused and if they can they have a new dynamic playmaker.  Harvin is 5′11″, 200 and he runs a blazing 4.35 40.  Harvin has the speed to get deep and the hands to make the big play.  Look out with Harvin and Bernard Berrian on the field at the same time.  Harvin played in 36 games (26 starts) in his three seasons at Florida and he caught 133 passes for 1,929 yards (14.5 avg) with 13 TD grabs.  This was a good pick for the Vikings who needed another playmaker in the passing game.

The Vikings traded most of their draft for DE Jared Allen which turned out to be a good thing.  But, the Vikings could have done a better job in selecting the players they did last April.  Free safety (2nd round) Tyrell Johnson was the first selection the Vikings made last April.  He played in all 16 games (7 starts) for the Vikings last season and he made 31 tackles, defensed 2 passes and he had a interception.  Johnson will likely be a starter this season for the Vikings.  5th rounder (QB) John David Booty didn’t get on the field last season for the Vikings and he projects to be nothing more than a #3 QB in the future.  DT Letroy Guion was the other 5th round pick by the Vikings last season and he only played in 2 games (0 starts) for the Vikings last season and he didn’t make any tackles.  6th rounder (center) John Sullivan could start for the Vikings as soon as next season as he played in all 16 games (0 starts) for them last season.  With the departure of Matt Birk in free agency the Vikings will likely need Sullivan to step up.  Fellow 6th round pick Jaymar Johnson spent the entire 2008 season on the practice squad. 

GRADE FOR THE 2008 SEASON:  D+

GRADE FOR THE FUTURE:  C

The Vikings have signed WR/KR Glenn Holt to a 1-year deal.  Holt played in 15 games for the Bengals last season and he caught 3 passes for 26 yards (8.7 avg) with 1 TD grab.  He also returned 46 kickoffs for 1,110 yards (24.1 avg) last season for the Bengals.  The Vikings essentially signed Holt to help out with the special teams as he never has put up numbers as a WR.  Holt has now played in 42 games in his NFL career and he has caught 20 passes for 172 yards (8.6 avg) with 2 TD grabs.  He has also returned 122 kickoffs for 2,961 yards (24.3 avg) with 1 TD return in his career.