Coach Mike Zimmer assesses what Vikings could do in draft, free agency

Even though the Vikings don't have a first-round pick in Thursday's NFL draft, coach Mike Zimmer believes the team got greater value when they traded their No. 1 to Philadelphia for quarterback Sam Bradford at the start of last season.

"You'd obviously like to have a first-rounder, but we're glad we used [the pick] on Bradford," Zimmer said. "We needed a quarterback, and he played extremely well last year. I think if we had to use it on a quarterback this year, that would really put us in a bind. We just figured that's part of the business. We have the extra third-round and the extra fourth-round pick, and I'm sure [General Manager] Rick [Spielman] will do some negotiating and move around a little bit."

This will be the fourth Vikings draft with Zimmer as head coach, and he said each year's draft class has different strengths and weaknesses.

"I think they're all a little bit unique," he said. "It seems like each year there's a couple positions that are stronger than others and then there are some classes that are better at the top and weaker at the bottom. This one seems to be good in the middle rounds. … There's a lot of wide receivers this year, looks like there's a lot of corners. I think it's a down year, kind of, for linebackers. Each year is a little bit different."

When asked what he saw as the positions with the most draft talent, Zimmer mentioned cornerbacks as the best, along with receivers, running backs, safeties and tight ends. He said quality offensive linemen and defensive tackles will be harder to find.

Will the team draft based on need? Zimmer said it isn't that simple.

"We sit in there and do a lot of evaluation," he said. "Our scouts do a great job, and the coaches as well. We sit in there and have a lot of dialogue. I think the biggest thing is if guys are graded in the same vicinity and you have a need for one of them, then you take that guy. If not, you take the best player regardless of position."

"There's a possibility [of a trade]," Zimmer said. "That's why Rick likes to have a lot of picks, so that we can move around a little bit. If we see a player we like we can go up and get him, or if there's not somebody we're really in love with when we're picking, we can move back down and try to get some more picks."

After the Bradford trade last season and signing free-agent quarterback Case Keenum in early April, the news Wednesday that the team might not pick up Teddy Bridgewater's 2018 option led to a question of whether or not the team would draft a quarterback.

"There's a possibility. We've gone over quarterbacks pretty good," Zimmer said. "If one of them is there that we like and we see good value in it, I think we will. I don't think we can ever have enough quarterbacks. You can always use them in a lot of different ways, as far as maneuvering in the draft."

Some of that same logic applies to potentially drafting an offensive tackle.

"I think [free-agent signees] Mike Remmers could play guard and Riley Reiff can play either tackle," Zimmer said. "It doesn't really matter, we'll be able to finagle that part around. Again, we're trying to find the best value we can get."

"We're going to continue to look, I think there's a possibility we may sign one or two more when it's all said and done," he said. "All of this depends on what happens in the draft. These young draftees are always very highly valued, but if you don't get a position that you feel comfortable with and you get shut out in the draft for that position, then we'll probably go and sign [a free agent]."

Who could help the Vikings more this season from last year's draft class?

"A lot of those guys we moved up toward the end of the year," Zimmer said. "[Defensive end] Stephen Weatherly I think has a chance to help us, obviously [wide receiver Laquon] Treadwell, from what I understand is doing really, really good in his workouts, [cornerback] Mackensie Alexander I have high hopes for him, [linebacker Kentrell] Brothers played really well on special teams, [David] Morgan played a fair amount for a young, third tight end. I think these guys will come in and help us."

Lastly, Zimmer was asked if he had any thoughts on the Saints signing former Vikings running back and 2012 NFL MVP Adrian Peterson.

"I was happy for him. He has a chance to continue his career," Zimmer said. "It will be fun to get a chance to play him on [the Sept. 11 season opener] Monday night."

• The Vikings normally don't sign a lot of players who aren't selected in the draft, but Spielman said that could change this year. "I know I have to do a better job of college free agency," he said. "We will be much more aggressive in that area, something we haven't been in the past. I know with how we planned our roster going into 2017 and losing a lot of our backup-type depth players, that players from last year's draft class and this year's draft class coming in are going to have to play a significant role on this roster."

• Sports Illustrated noted that the Vikings have one of the most difficult schedules next season after playing five of their first seven games at home. The article said: "After a Week 9 bye, however, the Vikings play four of five on the road, highlighted by a Thanksgiving Day matchup in Detroit. Also on the slate from Weeks 10-14: at Washington, the Rams, at Atlanta, at Carolina."

• Michael Mikan, the son of the late, great George Mikan, is looking to sell the NBA championship ring given to his father to commemorate the Minneapolis Lakers' "three-peat" from 1952-54. Back in the '50s, the Lakers didn't receive a championship ring for their multiple titles, but Lakers owners Jerry and Jeanie Buss had one specially made for Mikan in 2002. Portions of the proceeds from the sale would go to Mikan's favorite charity, Type 1 diabetes (formerly known as juvenile diabetes).