INDIANAPOLIS – The Vikings' new brain trust, led by General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O'Connell, arrived at the annual NFL scouting combine this week trying to catch up with other teams that have coaching and scouting systems in place and much of the groundwork done.
But the Vikings' most pressing questions come from their current salary cap-strapped roster. Quarterback Kirk Cousins is entering his final season under contract at a lofty $45 million charge. Defensive end Danielle Hunter has an $18.5 million roster bonus, a built-in trigger to restart negotiations, due this month. The Vikings' pending free agents include five prominent defenders, led by linebacker Anthony Barr.