Vikings job analysis: Core is young, but Peterson aging

Tom Pelissero | USA TODAY Sports

Replacing:

Leslie Frazier is out after three-plus seasons, a 21-32-1 record and one brief playoff appearance.

The Vikings' quarterback problems played a major role in derailing this season, and Frazier remains popular with players. But the bottom line is he's a defensive-minded coach whose defense collapsed again and again. Game management issues also played a role. And Frazier's personnel knowledge never has been considered a strength. His decision to push for the acquisition of Donovan McNabb out of the 2011 lockout set back the Vikings' rebuilding plan a year and led to Rick Spielman's promotion to general manager with final say after that season.

What's good about the job: Adrian Peterson was banged up this year, but he remains one of the game's top running backs when healthy.

There also is a young core of high draft picks – left tackle Matt Kalil, safety Harrison Smith, defensive tackle Sharrif Floyd, cornerback Xavier Rhodes and receiver/return man Cordarrelle Patterson, among others – to build around.

Spielman has played the trade market well. They're going to have a top-10 draft pick in May, plus an extra third-round pick left over from the Percy Harvin trade.

They also have a lot of cap flexibility, with several high-priced veterans coming off the books after this season, and ownership is willing to spend. A new $1 billion stadium is set to open in downtown Minneapolis for the 2016 season.

What's bad about the job: There is no long-term answer at quarterback. Matt Cassel, 31, has the support of players, but he's best suited to a backup role and can void his contract in February.

Also, the defense needs major upgrades in the front seven, with aging linemen Jared Allen and Kevin Williams headed to free agency and a lack of speed and range at linebacker.

Spielman hasn't gotten much bang for his biggest free-agent spends on tight end John Carlson and receiver Greg Jennings, whose production did improve once Cassel entered the lineup. Peterson turns 29 in March and may enter decline soon, if he hasn't already, adding pressure on the new regime to take advantage of his talent now.

The Metrodome will be torn down in February, sending the Vikings away for a two-year stay outdoors on the University of Minnesota campus at TCF Bank Stadium.

The ideal candidate: The Vikings haven't drafted and developed a competent quarterback since Daunte Culpepper. That needs to change, and hiring an innovative offensive mind with a background coaching young QBs would be the surest way to get it done. Current NFL offensive coordinators Jay Gruden and Darrell Bevell fit the bill, along with numerous coaches from the college ranks. It's unclear if Bevell would be interested in returning to the franchise that hired his replacement three years ago while he was still in the building. Three player arrests during the season could push owners Zygi and Mark Wilf to seek a more hardline personality, though they're barely three years removed from the player revolt that led to Brad Childress' in-season firing.