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Check here for a complete list of the Minnesota Vikings' roster moves.

Surprise move: Either the Vikings have confidence in a number of unproven offensive linemen or they have their sights on some veteran acquisitions later this weekend. They released guard/tackles Chris DeGeare and Ryan Cook, both of whom saw substantial action at right guard during the injury rehabilitation of starter Anthony Herrera. This version of their 53-man roster features three centers and a total of 10 offensive linemen. The group includes two rookies (DeMarcus Love and Brandon Fusco) and one first-year player in Patrick Brown. The Vikings' arrangement here remains under construction, as far as I’m concerned.

No-brainers: Undrafted tight end Allen Reisner was one of the big surprises of camp. He not only pushed veteran Jeff Dugan off the roster but also forced the Vikings to keep four tight ends on their roster. I wondered whether the Vikings would release safety Tyrell Johnson, who has struggled to maintain his starting job in the face of a modest challenge from Jamarca Sanford. In the end, the Vikings didn’t have enough in-house experience to make that move. But watch out down the road for rookie Mistral Raymond, who forced his way onto the initial 53-man roster and is clearly respected by coaches.

What’s next: You would think the Vikings would be on the lookout for two areas in particular: Linebackers and running backs. The decision to release veteran Heath Farwell left them with five linebackers, only two of whom have starting experience. The current backups are special-teams ace Kenny Onatolu and undrafted rookie Larry Dean. With new starter Erin Henderson still establishing himself, you wonder if that is enough depth. Meanwhile, the Vikings kept only three tailbacks (and no fullbacks). Both of Adrian Peterson's backups, Toby Gerhart and Lorenzo Booker, were dealing with injuries as recently as last week. Depth is definitely an issue and could be addressed in the next 24-48 hours.

» NFC Draft Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Each Thursday leading up to the NFL draft (April 28-30), the ESPN.com NFL blog network will take a division-by-division look at key aspects of the draft. Today's topic: Draft Philosophy.

Chicago Bears

General manager Jerry Angelo has emerged from what amounted to a two-year draft hiatus following the high-profile trades for quarterback Jay Cutler and late defensive end Gaines Adams. It will be interesting to see if any philosophical shifts are detectable in what will be the Bears' first draft since Angelo overhauled his front office. Director of college scouting Greg Gabriel departed, his position was dissolved and Tim Ruskell was hired to oversee the college and pro scouting departments. To this point, there has been a general sense that Angelo -- a onetime scouting director himself -- has been drawn to individual players he likes more than he has been guided by a larger plan to build a balanced team. Case in point: He has drafted 18 defensive backs and 11 offensive linemen over his tenure. Six of those 11 offensive linemen were taken in the seventh round, part of the reason the Bears are short-handed at the position this offseason.

Detroit Lions

If the Lions have proved anything under general manager Martin Mayhew, it's that they value every last drop of the draft. In some instances, Mayhew has gone to great lengths to secure an extra pick, no matter what round it is in. On at least two occasions, he has traded a player recently signed as a street free agent or claimed on waivers for a seventh-round draft pick. In several cases, Mayhew has included those picks in trades for other players. This spring, he and the Lions appealed a relatively mild NFL tampering discipline, hired a prominent attorney and achieved the slightest reduction in the penalty: A seventh-round pick lost in 2012 rather than 2011. Some teams consider seventh-round picks to be throwaways or places to grab a player otherwise destined for college free agency to avoid a bidding war on signing bonuses. Under Mayhew, the Lions use them as a daily commodity.

Green Bay Packers

Generally speaking, more is better for the Packers. It's been well-chronicled that Packers general manager Ted Thompson built his championship team almost exclusively through the draft, and that approach requires volume to gather enough depth and maximize the chances for hitting big on players. Thompson famously traded back into the 2009 first round to select linebacker Clay Matthews, but a betting man realizes it's far more likely that he will trade back in any given year to accumulate more picks. Thompson rarely pursues the hot name or flashy personalities or even flashy players. Case in point: Choosing nose tackle B.J. Raji over receiver Michael Crabtree in 2009. But there is no arguing with the Packers' approach under Thompson, which has built layers of quality -- if not elite -- depth at multiple positions across the board.

Minnesota Vikings

Every team insists that talent trumps need in the draft, but under vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman, the Vikings have drafted for need more often than you might think. Consider 2010. The Vikings entered the draft knowing their depth was thin behind injured cornerback Cedric Griffin, who was rehabilitating a torn anterior cruciate ligament. They also had lost backup tailback Chester Taylor via free agency. Their first two picks? Cornerback Chris Cook and running back Toby Gerhart. In 2009, they wanted to replace right tackle Ryan Cook. The answer was Phil Loadholt, their second-round pick. In 2008, the Vikings traded up to draft safety Tyrell Johnson because they knew starter Darren Sharper was entering his final season. There's a difference between taking what the draft gives you and maneuvering to make sure it gives you what you want. The Vikings lean toward the latter under Spielman.

Two significant streaks could be in jeopardy this week for the Minnesota Vikings.

As we've discussed, tailback Adrian Peterson is dealing with a sprained right ankle. He did not practice Wednesday and has his work cut out for him to extend his streak of playing in 51 consecutive games. Interim coach Leslie Frazier told reporters that "we've all got our fingers crossed" that Peterson will play Sunday against the Buffalo Bills.

Meanwhile, left guard Steve Hutchinson revealed that he fractured his right thumb during Sunday's 17-13 victory over the Washington Redskins. Hutchinson, who has started 123 consecutive games dating back to 2003, continued playing but endured significant swelling afterward. Like Peterson, he sat out practice Wednesday.

Rookie Chris DeGeare would start in Hutchinson's place if necessary, leaving the Vikings with backups starting at both guard positions. (Ryan Cook has already replaced right guard Anthony Herrera, who was lost for the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament.)

Hutchinson, however, said he would be fitted with a new cast on Wednesday and hoped to find a way to play with it Sunday.

"That's the plan," he told reporters. "Now the issue becomes casting it up enough to protect it. We can cast it up, pad it up enough where it doesn't hinder me from doing my job."

ATLANTA -- Here are some highlights of the inactive lists in Atlanta and Washington, D.C.:

• The Green Bay Packers deactivated tight end Donald Lee and will start rookie Andrew Quarless. Tom Crabtree and Spencer Havner will be available in reserve.
• As expected, the Packers will have only three safeties available: Starts Nick Collins and Charlie Peprah, along with backup Jarrett Bush. Atari Bigby (hamstring) and Anthony Smith (ankle) are inactive.
• The Minnesota Vikings deactivated receiver Bernard Berrian, who has been dealing with a groin injury for the past three weeks. Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin will start against the Washington Redskins.
• Rookie Vikings cornerback Chris Cook won't play. Cook was added to the injury report Friday because of a knee injury, but after the way he played last week against the Green Bay Packers, you wonder if this was just a soft demotion.
• Ryan Cook will start at right guard for the Vikings, replacing the injured Anthony Herrera.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 31-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers, and the subsequent firing of coach Brad Childress, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. I'll be fascinated to see the extent to which the Vikings' offense changes with offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell presumably in complete control. Bevell has been associated with Childress since his days as a college quarterback at Wisconsin, but I've always suspected he subordinated some of his own ideas to mesh with Childress' rigid version of the West Coast offense.

The scheme opened up a bit in 2007, when Bevell took over the play calling. But anyone who watched the sidelines carefully knew that Childress was still heavily involved in play selection.

Obviously, the next six games will be an opportunity for interim coach Leslie Frazier to prove he is a viable head-coaching candidate. But on a different level, Bevell now has an opportunity to separate himself from the pocks of Childress' scheme and establish his own voice as an NFL coordinator for the first time. Frazier figures to have some input, but his career-long devotion to defense suggests he'll give Bevell more latitude than ever.

I'm curious to see how, and if, Bevell uses it.

2. Frazier and new defensive coordinator Fred Pagac have their hands full with a secondary that played a significant role in Childress' firing. For reasons I can't explain, the Packers are really the only opponent this season to take full advantage of mismatches against cornerbacks Asher Allen and Chris Cook. The Packers completed four passes of more than 20 yards on sideline routes, leading to the sideline bickering that indicated Childress had lost control of the team. (The Dallas Cowboys, among other teams, should have done the same.)

There isn't much from a personnel standpoint the Vikings can do at this point. But schematically or otherwise, the Vikings need to do more to protect both players. "People are going to try to attack our young corners going forward and we know that," Frazier said. "We'll have to adjust some things based on that."

3. Lost in the coaching change is this nugget of news: Right guard Anthony Herrera will miss the rest of the season because of a torn anterior cruciate ligament. Backup Ryan Cook struggled in Herrera's spot on Sunday, and you wonder if the team will turn to rookie Chris DeGeare this week against the Washington Redskins. Herrera is a hard-nosed bull who doesn't get much attention until he is replaced by an inferior player.

And here is one issue I don't get:

In a number of off-the-cuff conversations with owner Zygi Wilf over the years, I've found him to be articulate, passionate and smart. So I have no idea why he freezes up during press conferences. But after five years of owning the team, I think it's fair to expect a better articulation of his vision for the franchise -- and for him to provide at least a partial explanation for his actions and inactions.

Wilf's performance during Monday's announcement of Frazier's ascendance should be disappointing to anyone who wanted insight into the move or hoped to hear some accountability taken for the chaos of the past few months. Wilf spoke exclusively from prepared remarks, shuffling papers to find prewritten answers to anticipated questions. I think he literally skipped a line when addressing Childress' departure, because this is exactly what he said at one point: "It's often difficult to articulate one reason why change is needed. But obviously want to know is important to great a strong positive and successful rest of the season. We wish he and his family only the best."

Look, not everyone is a dynamic public speaker. We should remember that Wilf originally joined this ownership group intending to be a silent minority partner. He assumed the managing partner role only when lead investor Reggie Fowler encountered financial difficulty. And to be clear, I want no part of the snickering that went on during Monday's news conference. There will be no cheap shots here.

What I'll say is this: If I'm a Vikings employee, fan or sponsor on such a dramatic day, I want to hear more from the chief executive than a few minutes of clichés and garble. I want to hear something that tells me there is a plan for the near and long-term future, and for it to be articulated in a way that gives me confidence it can be executed.

I think Wilf and his partners have been the best owners this franchise has ever had. But I can't understand why he hasn't worked to get better at publicly representing it. Communicating a message is a learned skill, and this is a man with vast resources. If he wanted to, Wilf could hire presidential speechwriters and take private lessons from Tony Robbins.

I'm guessing Wilf doesn't consider it important enough to devote the time it would take to improve. If that's the case, he's mistaken. Whether he wants to or not, he ultimately sets the public perception of this franchise. If the owner doesn't communicate in public effectively, how can he expect a message to be heard?

MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Vikings have taken a 3-0 lead over the Green Bay Packers here at the Metrodome, but it has come at a price.

With the first quarter in the books, the Vikings have already lost right guard Anthony Herrera to a knee injury and linebacker Chad Greenway with what appears to have been a poke in the eye. Herrera has been replaced by Ryan Cook, and his return is doubtful.

Greenway, the Vikings' leading tackler, is standing on the sideline without a helmet. He's holding an ice pack on his right eye. We'll see if he returns. Heath Farwell has been playing in his spot, while Ben Leber is taking his spot in the nickel.

Meanwhile, Packers safety Anthony Smith has been carted into the locker room with an ankle injury.

UPDATE: Greenway has returned to the game after sitting out for part of the first quarter.

The Minnesota Vikings submitted their final injury report of the week Saturday in advance of Monday night's game at the New York Jets. Some interesting highlights:

• Quarterback Brett Favre was limited in Saturday's practice because of an elbow ailment believed to be tendinitis. Coach Brad Childress told reporters that Favre had an MRI earlier this week, but that the test only showed inflammation. There's no chance Favre will miss Monday's game, but it's always worth monitoring when the elbow on a quarterback's throwing arm is injured.
• Cornerback Chris Cook was ruled out after having surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
• Center John Sullivan (calf) is listed as questionable for the game but will apparently need to make substantial progress in order to get on the field. Ryan Cook is the likeliest replacement.
• All other players are probable for the game, including tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who has been limited by a strained hamstring.

MINNEAPOLIS -- So, you think pregame deactivation decisions aren't important?

After center John Sullivan and his strained left calf made it through the first two games of the season without incident, the Minnesota Vikings deactivated backup center Jon Cooper before Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions. Wouldn't you know it? On the Vikings' first offensive play, Sullivan fell to the ground holding the same calf.

His return is questionable, and for now, the Vikings are using reserve Ryan Cook at center. Cook played center at New Mexico but has been almost exclusively a tackle since he was drafted in 2006. He'll have his work cut out from him against Lions defensive tackles Ndamukong Suh and Corey Williams.

NEW ORLEANS -- Let's hit some hot spots here:

What it means: The Minnesota Vikings fell to 0-1, obviously. But I think this game should relieve some concern about the cloud of drama that hovered over the team all summer. The Vikings withstood the New Orleans Saints' early emotional surge, held a 9-7 halftime lead and really made the Saints work hard to win their home opener.

Big revelation: Receiver Sidney Rice's hip surgery opened up the question: Where would quarterback Brett Favre look in key passing situations? Thursday night's game revealed that, in essence, he's most comfortable with three pass-catchers: tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, receiver Percy Harvin and running back Adrian Peterson. That trio accounted for more than half of Favre's 15 completions. For reasons that must be explained, Favre didn't seem to have much of a connection with erstwhile No. 1 receiver Bernard Berrian, who finished with one reception for 3 yards. That's not going to cut it if the Vikings are going to adequately replace Rice.

Injury of note: Left tackle Bryant McKinnie was taken off the field in the fourth quarter with what was reported to be a finger injury. That must have been one major finger injury. His departure forced the Vikings to shift right tackle Phil Loadholt to left tackle and insert Ryan Cook on the right side. Loadholt committed a key holding penalty on his first series in the new position, and Favre had happy feet thereafter.

Critical call: With 14:51 left in the game, Vikings coach Brad Childress challenged an incomplete pass to tight end Jim Kleinsasser on third-and-7. I thought replays clearly showed the ball bounced before Kleinsasser grabbed it. Perhaps Childress was attempting to give his defense some extra time to rest before coming back on the field. Regardless, the Vikings had one less timeout to work with while trying to regain possession at the end of the game.

What's next: The Vikings have nine days to prepare for their next game, the Sept. 19 home opener against the Miami Dolphins. Players probably will have the weekend off.

MANKATO, Minn. -- Let's get to some first-day impressions of the Minnesota Vikings, now that I've mopped off after a few hours on a steamy practice field where the heat index surpassed 100 degrees Monday afternoon:

• When team drills began during the morning practice, these players were part of the first-team offense: Receiver Greg Lewis, center Jon Cooper, guard Chris DeGeare, tight end Jim Kleinsasser and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson. I wouldn't expect any of those five players to be in the starting lineup in the season-opening game Sept. 9 at New Orleans. Injuries, family death and indecision are all to blame.
• [+] Enlarge
  AP Photo/Andy KingE.J. Henderson has made strides in his recovery from a fractured femur.
  Nose tackle Pat Williams, 37, and linebacker E.J. Henderson, who has a titanium rod in his leg, have each participated in more practices than receiver Sidney Rice, receiver Percy Harvin, center John Sullivan and quarterback Brett Favre combined. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe has been added to the injury list with what coach Brad Childress called a strain, and he missed both of Monday's practices.
• I plan to write more about Henderson soon, but for now you should know that Monday was the best day yet in his recovery from a fractured femur. For the first time, Henderson participated in all of the defensive repetitions for his group in the morning practice (first team) and afternoon practice (second team). "It felt good," Henderson said. "No pain. No worries. Ready to keep it moving."
• DeGeare, a fifth-round draft pick in April, was filing in for injured right guard Anthony Herrera and appears on his way to winning a roster spot as a backup who can play both guard spots and perhaps tackle in a pinch. With DeGeare and Cooper on the roster, you wonder if the end is near for center/tackle Ryan Cook -- the player drafted in 2006 with the choice acquired from Miami in the Daunte Culpepper trade.
• I thought the Vikings looked pretty sharp defensively. The best play I saw was linebacker Chad Greenway's diving tip of a pass intended for Kleinsasser.
• Count me in agreement among those who have already observed that rookie quarterback Joe Webb is struggling. I counted three ducks on basic go routes and got the sense he has hit the rookie wall of training camp. Even offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell admitted that Webb's head is "swimming" with terminology and added: "There's been times out here where he's flashed some great plays, but there's been times where he's flashing that he's definitely a rookie."
• Here's an interesting wrinkle to the Harvin situation we discussed earlier: Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune reports that in addition to dealing with the death of his grandmother, Harvin might be suffering from the migraine headaches that plagued him for parts of last season. Childress reiterated Monday afternoon that he isn't certain when Harvin will rejoin the team. "I'm kind of flying in the dark a little bit," Childress said.
• The Vikings have a full-pads practice scheduled for Tuesday morning. It will include some live scrimmaging and probably be their last real contact until Saturday's preseason game at St. Louis.
• I made it almost a full day without addressing the elephant next door. Childress said he texted with Favre as recently as Monday morning but had no information on Favre's scheduled visit this week with Dr. James Andrews, who performed the routine surgery on Favre's ankle.

I am not sold on the Vikings’ secondary -- either at corner or safety -- but I gave the offensive line the slight nod here as Minnesota’s most gaping weak spot. Of course, if Brett Favre decides not to return to the Vikings, the weakness at quarterback would immediately exceed any other.

Speaking of Favre, I contend that he makes his pass-blockers look better than they truly are. Favre has a tremendous feel for getting the ball out and moves around the pocket extremely well to buy time for his target to gain separation. But overall, the pass protection is adequate, even though I think the left side of the line is now overrated and Favre was sacked 34 times last year. But the Vikings’ run blocking is a massive problem.

Well, let’s clarify that. Steve Hutchinson didn’t play like Steve Hutchinson in 2009. A back problem could have been the reason, but at 32 years old, it could be the time when this potential future Hall of Famer begins his inevitable decline. But the film last year doesn’t resemble the film that Hutchinson used to compile. I will reserve judgment on him and am looking forward to watching Hutchinson in the preseason.

But Bryant McKinnie is nowhere near a Pro Bowl player in my eyes. He has ability and obviously has rare size to protect the edge, but I also think his movement skills are probably overrated. As a run-blocker, McKinnie’s height can be used against him, as he can struggle to gain proper leverage. Like Hutchinson -- and really the line as a whole -- McKinnie was better in protection than in run blocking by an extremely wide margin. McKinnie’s effort on a play-by-play basis also can come into question.

Right tackle Phil Loadholt fits the same description. Like McKinnie, his height could be a problem when sinking to strike a smaller man with a rising blow. Improvement in Year 2 is not out of the question, but as a pure right tackle, Minnesota needs better run blocking from the massive Loadholt. The two starting tackles also don’t handle top speed rushers very well.

Center John Sullivan was a major step down from Matt Birk in his first season as a starter and Anthony Herrera really is what he is at this point of his career, which is a borderline starting-caliber right guard. Sullivan is young and there is room for improvement, but I don’t see that happening with Herrera. Herrera does play hard and has some nastiness to him, though. Neither of these starting linemen played well last year.

The Vikings are also without a key backup, Artis Hicks, who’s now a Redskin. Although there is concern with each member of the starting five, the depth is very worrisome as well. Ryan Cook is the top backup and can help at just about any spot on the line, but he also is a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, but a master of none. Cook can fill in, but would get exposed if forced to start a handful of games in a row at any of the five positions.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. -- I did my best to keep an eye on your preferred targets during the Minnesota Vikings' opening practice of mandatory minicamp. I'll get to as many topics as I have information on, but naturally we'll start with coach Brad Childress' surprising rebuke of All-Pro tailback Adrian Peterson:

[+] Enlarge
AP Photo/Andy KingPercy Harvin reported to camp weighing more than 200 pounds.
• I fully expected Childress to downplay Peterson's absence and was prepared to call his presumed hypocrisy. (Like most coaches, Childress has always stressed the importance of offseason attendance.) So I was surprised when Childress mocked the significance of Adrian Peterson Day in Palestine, Texas. In addition, Childress refused to rule out discipline and made clear he wasn't happy with Peterson's decision. Childress occasionally criticizes players in a public forum, but I can't recall him targeting one nearly as prominent as Peterson. If I had to guess, I would think Childress is sensitive to any perception that the exceptions he has made for quarterback Brett Favre are available to any other player. I'll explore this topic deeper next week.
• The Vikings could fine Peterson nearly $10,000 for missing minicamp, according to the collective bargaining agreement. It's the team's option. That type of discipline, while justified and certainly not unprecedented, would take this issue to another level. Do the Vikings really want to brawl with one of their best players?
• As expected, defensive end Ray Edwards did not attend. Edwards is a restricted free agent who hasn't signed his tender, meaning he can't be fined for missing camp. Childress did not appear concerned about Edwards' absence. "It's just the nature of the business," Childress said. Brian Robison worked with the first team in Edwards' absence.
• I was stunned to see middle linebacker E.J. Henderson participating in individual drills less than seven months after fracturing his left femur. Henderson ran at slow speeds and moved deliberately, but it was still a far cry from his complete immobility of a few months ago. "I wish I could tell you that it surprised me," Childress said. "But the way he has attacked this thing is amazing." It's still hard to imagine Henderson being ready to play when the season begins in September, but his progress to this point is far beyond schedule.
• Receiver Percy Harvin has spent the offseason working out on his own in Gainesville, Fla. He returned to the Twin Cities this week weighing, he said, 205 pounds. He was 188 pounds last year at this time. The extra weight was well-proportioned -- "I don't think it's big and fat," Childress said -- but Harvin said he plans to report to training camp at 200 pounds. Harvin admitted he has continued to suffer from migraine-like headaches during the offseason but said it was "nothing that stopped me from having a workout or anything."
• The weight didn't appear to have taken any of Harvin's speed. He got behind the defense on a seam pattern during team drills, but quarterback Tarvaris Jackson's throw was too short. It hit linebacker Ben Leber in the chest as he turned to look for the ball while trailing the play.
• Receiver Sidney Rice, another player who has been working out on his own this year, said he has put on seven or eight pounds of upper-body muscle since the end of the season.
• With Peterson absent, Albert Young and rookie Toby Gerhart split repetitions with the first team. Many of you asked about Gerhart. It's hard to draw any conclusions from a non-contact practice, but I can tell you he was pretty morose afterward while discussing a fumble during team drills. "It was going well and then I put the ball on the ground," Gerhart said. "Got to get used to holding on to it." Gerhart will participate in both practices Saturday and then walk in his graduation ceremony at Stanford on Sunday. He'll return to the Twin Cities on a red-eye flight Sunday night to spend several more days with the rest of the Vikings' rookie class.
• Rookie cornerback Chris Cook, the Vikings' first pick of the 2010 draft, didn't participate and instead watched from the sideline. I'm assuming he suffered some kind of injury but Childress wouldn't reveal any information. Childress also said he didn't know why linebacker Chad Greenway left the field after the early portion of practice. Erin Henderson took his place with the first team.
• Left guard Steve Hutchinson, who had offseason shoulder surgery, didn't participate after stretching. The Vikings used Ryan Cook at his position during team drills.

Minnesota hasn't announced its restricted free-agent tenders yet. But their in-house blog is linking to media reports about them, so I guess that's official enough for me.

• ESPN's Adam Schefter reported the Vikings would get a first-round pick in compensation if defensive end Ray Edwards signed elsewhere.
• The compensation for defensive tackle Fred Evans is a second-round pick, while quarterback Tarvaris Jackson would fetch a third-round pick, according to Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune.
• Fullback Naufahu Tahi received the low tender, meaning the Vikings would receive no compensation for his departure.

Remember, teams have the right of first refusal on all restricted free agents who are offered any level of tender.

The Vikings' plans for offensive lineman Ryan Cook and safety Eric Frampton remain unclear.

Chicago Bears

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Darrell McClover, defensive end Adewale Ogunleye, running back Adrian Peterson, linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Jamar Williams.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: With no picks in the first or second round of next month's draft, the Bears are gearing up for a relatively major jump into free agency. They're expected to bid for defensive end Julius Peppers and possible safety Antrel Rolle and would also like to re-sign linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa. Tight end Brandon Manumaleuna could also be a target. Manumaleuna played for new offensive coordinator Mike Martz in St. Louis.

Detroit Lions

Potential unrestricted free agents: Linebacker Vinny Ciurciu, offensive lineman Damion Cook, quarterback Daunte Culpepper, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons, linebacker Larry Foote, tight end Will Heller, cornerback Anthony Henry, cornerback Will James, offensive lineman Jon Jansen, safety Marquand Manuel, quarterback Patrick Ramsey.

Potential restricted free agents: Defensive end Copeland Bryan, offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, defensive lineman Jason Hunter, offensive lineman Daniel Loper, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, safety Ko Simpson, linebacker Cody Spencer.

Franchise player: None

What to expect: The Lions aren't likely to be as active as they were last year, but general manager Martin Mayhew said over the winter that he could envision a five- or six-man free agent class. Running back, defensive end and defensive back are all positions they will investigate. They'll also need to find a backup quarterback, assuming Daunte Culpepper moves on.

Green Bay Packers

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Chad Clifton, running back Ahman Green, linebacker Aaron Kampman, offensive lineman Mark Tauscher.

Potential restricted free agents: Safety Atari Bigby, defensive back Will Blackmon, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, running back John Kuhn, offensive lineman Jason Spitz, cornerback Tramon Williams.

Franchise player: Defensive tackle Ryan Pickett

What to expect: The Packers will have a demanding offseason filled with difficult decisions. To this point, they haven't re-signed either of their starting offensive tackles. They are clearly approaching injured linebacker Aaron Kampman with caution. And they have a long line of restricted free agents who would like long-term contracts, starting with Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins. The Packers have more than enough to keep them busy, but they haven't dabbled much in free agency in recent years, anyway.

Minnesota Vikings

Potential unrestricted free agents: Offensive lineman Artis Hicks, defensive tackle Jimmy Kennedy, cornerback Benny Sapp, running back Chester Taylor.

Potential restricted free agents: Offensive lineman Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Fred Evans, safety Eric Frampton, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, fullback Naufahu Tahi.

Franchise player: None.

What to expect: The Vikings are awaiting word from quarterback Brett Favre on the 2010 season, a decision that could impact their offseason plans. They would like tailback Chester Taylor back, but it's possible Taylor will at least test his value on the open market. As a Final Four team, the Vikings will be limited to signing players that have been released by other teams unless they lose one of their own unrestricted free agents first.

OK class, it's time for one of our final lessons in the new world of an uncapped NFL. Before the free-agent market opens Friday morning, each team must first address its entire list of restricted free agents in one of two basic ways:

1. Tendering a 1-year contract, OR
2. "Non-tendering" the player, essentially cutting ties.

Remember, a restricted free agent (RFA) is a player with four or five years of experience whose contract has expired. Those players are free to seek offers elsewhere, but current teams at least have the right to match that offer and keep the player. Depending on the level of contract tender, the team could also receive draft-pick compensation.

If the player doesn't sign an offer sheet elsewhere, and can't agree on a long-term contract, he plays at the salary in the chart below. (There are slightly higher values for players in their fifth seasons.)


Because of the addition of a fifth year to the RFA list in the uncapped year, an additional 212 players are scheduled to be restricted free agents this offseason. Below is a list of the primary RFAs for each NFC North team.

There have been some reports about individual tenders, but no team has officially released its decisions. That will happen sometime between now and Thursday night. When it does, we'll analyze how easy or difficult it will be for those tendered to move on to another team.

Chicago Bears: Defensive end Mark Anderson, safety Josh Bullocks, safety Danieal Manning, linebacker Nick Roach, linebacker Jamar Williams.

Detroit Lions: Defensive end Copeland Bryan, offensive lineman Dylan Gandy, defensive lineman Jason Hunter, offensive lineman Daniel Loper, offensive lineman Manny Ramirez, safety Ko Simpson, linebacker Cody Spencer.

Green Bay Packers: Safety Atari Bigby, defensive back Will Blackmon, offensive lineman Daryn Colledge, safety Nick Collins, defensive end Johnny Jolly, running back John Kuhn, offensive lineman Jason Spitz, cornerback Tramon Williams, running back DeShawn Wynn.

Minnesota Vikings: Offensive lineman Ryan Cook, defensive end Ray Edwards, defensive tackle Fred Evans, safety Eric Frampton, quarterback Tarvaris Jackson, cornerback Karl Paymah, fullback Naufahu Tahi.

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