Vikings interested in NE tight end Graham

[faba]

BY SEAN JENSEN

Pioneer Press

When free agency begins at 11 p.m. CST Thursday, the Vikings are not expected to be as active as they were last offseason.

This offseason's crop of veteran free agents isn't all that deep or appealing, and the $109 million salary cap foreshadows some serious bidding wars that the Vikings are not inclined to engage in.

That, however, does not mean the Vikings will be on the sideline early.

The buzz in Indianapolis, where NFL coaches, personnel executives and agents convened for the past five days, has the Vikings in the mix for a few fairly high-profile veterans. The Vikings are expected to be one of a handful of teams that make a run at New England tight end Daniel Graham and Atlanta receiver Ashley Lelie.

As far as the NFL draft, the Vikings could be poised to spend one of their top two picks on a surprising position: running back.

NFL tampering rules prohibit team personnel from publicly talking about a veteran on another team until free agency starts, and common sense ensures that those same people don't reveal their team's hand in regards to free agency or the draft.

But inroads to trades, draft decisions and acquisitions are quietly laid in Indianapolis this time of year.

The Vikings don't like to overspend, but have been willing to make exceptions in recent years, most notably with guard Steve Hutchinson and cornerback Antoine Winfield. Graham could be that player this offseason, given the team's needs at tight end.

Poised to release veteran Jermaine Wiggins, the Vikings have a gaping hole at a position coach Brad Childress holds in high esteem. As offensive coordinator in Philadelphia, Childress highlighted the tight end position, most recently with L.J. Smith.

With Wiggins expected to be out, the Vikings are left with Jeff Dugan, Richard Owens and Jim Kleinsasser. The two young tight ends are solid, but they are not game breakers, and Kleinsasser's $2.9 million base salary for 2007 and 2008 could be hard for the Vikings to swallow. They could insist on him taking a pay cut or signing an extension that is more modest than his current deal.

Based on the past, though, Childress covets a versatile tight end who can block and catch, skills Graham has showcased in his previous five NFL seasons.

Graham has 17 career touchdowns, including a career-high seven in 2004, and he has the athleticism to consistently haul in 20-plus yard passes. Just as important, though, Graham is a fierce blocker who utilizes his 6-foot-3, 257-pound frame.

There was speculation that the Patriots would franchise Graham, bolstering his value, but they used that classification on Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel. To get Graham, any interested team will have to cough up some serious change.

The market for Graham likely will be between two deals signed since last July. On the low end is Jason Witten's six-year contract worth nearly $30 million, including $12 million in guarantees. The ceiling, which likely won't be topped, is Tony Gonzalez's five-year contract worth more than $31 million, including $17.75 million in guarantees. In reality, though, Gonzalez's deal with the Kansas City Chiefs is a four-year deal worth about $23.5 million.

Why would the Vikings invest so much in Graham, who has never been to the Pro Bowl? Because the veteran options are not as proven (Jerramy Stevens and Eric Johnson are two possibilities), and spending the seventh overall pick on a rookie would be a serious stretch.

As for Lelie, he might have been recommended to Vikings officials by new receivers coach George Stewart, who worked with Lelie in Atlanta in 2006.

Lelie clearly has talent (he topped 1,000 yards and scored seven touchdowns in 2004), but he never has been a consistent performer.

His combination of speed and size (6 feet 3, 200 pounds) could be a nice fit in the Vikings' West Coast offense. Perhaps Stewart wants the chance to spend the offseason and training camp working with Lelie, because Lelie joined the Falcons via a three-team trade in late August.

Meanwhile, Childress' decision to mention Kevin Curtis to local reporters last week could be a smoke screen that the Vikings are interested in other players. Drew Bennett and Donte' Stallworth also are among the veteran receivers available. One other possibility is Darrell Jackson, who reportedly is on the trading block in Seattle.

Although the Vikings could use a pass rusher, the top defensive end available, Patrick Kerney, doesn't fit the profile of the type of veteran who usually appeals to them. Kerney is 30 years old, he is coming off an injury and his numbers have been down the past two seasons.

Given the emphasis on Brady Quinn by Childress and vice president Rick Spielman last week, the Vikings probably won't be taking a quarterback in the first round of the draft. Does that mean they would be interested in Jeff Garcia, since his price presumably has dropped?

As for the seventh pick, a defensive end such as Gaines Adams would make sense, if Calvin Johnson is gone. The Vikings also could shift gears and add a blue-chip running back. Depending on how the draft plays out, the Vikings could have two premium backs available to them at No. 7: Adrian Peterson of Oklahoma and Marshawn Lynch of California. Peterson is heralded as the better runner, Lynch the better receiver. Both, though, have game-changing speed.

If those players aren't available or the Vikings pass on them, the club could select running backs such as Antonio Pittman or Kenny Irons high in the second round.

The other positions the Vikings could address in free agency are right guard and right tackle.

[4HCrew]

I think there are going to be tons of these articles for many teams regarding certain players. Each team can use these kinds of players...ah the joy of free agency..get your hopes up and then the guy just goes to the highest bidder

[PFSIKH]

The rumor that seems the most feasible and practical for Graham is one to Denver. He was raised there and went to Colorado. His brother has medical issues and resides there also.