Chip Scoggins: Supporting cast, not quarterback, are Vikings' offseason question marks

The Vikings held their annual clean-out-the-lockers farewell Monday morning and for the first time in what feels like ages, uneasiness over their quarterback situation didn't follow them out the Winter Park door.

Teddy Bridgewater entrenched himself as the starter in a rookie season in which he improved by the week. The Vikings finally can enter an offseason without that cloud of uncertainty hanging over the entire organization.

In true irony, the team now faces more pressing issues at positions surrounding the quarterback. Namely, Adrian Peterson, Cordarrelle Patterson and Matt Kalil.

Each of their cases is different, but the organization has invested heavily in all three players, and this offseason feels like a crossroads in shaping their futures with the team.

Peterson's situation is the most delicate and complicated, of course. So much has transpired since Week 1 that even those closest to Peterson within the organization aren't sure what will happen next.

Purely in football terms, the Vikings want and need Peterson back on the field. Their running game didn't strike fear in defenses in his absence. But if Peterson wants to return — and that still remains a critical unknown — he'll likely need to swallow his professional pride and take a pay cut.

Peterson is scheduled to earn $12.75 million next season, with a cap hit of $15.4 million. The Vikings would be foolish to pay him that amount. Peterson must be willing to renegotiate and come to grips with the fact that he no longer holds all the leverage in contract discussions.

Both sides would benefit from one more season together, if they can sort through their issues and find common ground.

As for Patterson and Kalil, their roster spots are less tenuous, but both players admitted that they had poor seasons and must fix their deficiencies.

"This year wasn't the year that I thought it was going to be," Patterson said.

"Players have bad years," Kalil said.

Patterson made no real impact and couldn't drop any lower on the depth chart by the end of the season. If that doesn't get his attention, nothing will.

He remains a personable guy. He's not a bad apple in the locker room. He's just needs to become more dedicated to his craft and realize he can't get by strictly on physical ability.

Coach Mike Zimmer noted that he has a "plan" for Patterson this offseason. Patterson offered few specifics on what he hopes to accomplish, other than to acknowledge that he needs to gain a better understanding of the offense and spend a few weeks catching passes from Bridgewater.

Here's my advice: Stay here this summer and attach himself to Larry Fitzgerald, the Arizona Cardinals receiver and local product who hosts a workout program for NFL players. Fitzgerald is a respected veteran and All-Pro receiver who could share insight and tips on playing that position.

Fitzgerald has invited Hall of Famers Cris Carter, Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin to Minneapolis in recent years to offer their expertise to current receivers. That experience could be invaluable for Patterson, who needs to show dramatic improvement next season to avoid becoming a major swing-and-miss by Rick Spielman.

"I blame myself for everything," Patterson said. "I have to take full advantage of this offseason."

Kalil remains more of an enigma because he made the Pro Bowl as a rookie left tackle in 2012. Now he's often a liability. Kalil blamed his poor play on offseason knee surgery, which he said prevented him from working on his technique and fundamentals before training camp.

"I spent pretty much 95 percent of the offseason trying to get my knee right," he said.

Kalil will have his right knee examined soon to determine if he needs additional surgery. He said he wants to avoid a repeat of last offseason when he cost himself prep time by delaying surgery.

"If you're a quarterback and you don't throw for six months and then go into camp, you're not going to be as sharp as you can be," he said. "That goes with any position."

Is that a reasonable explanation or an excuse? Only he knows. Whatever the case, Kalil faces what feels like a make-or-break year when he returns for his fourth season.

"Obviously I set the bar high my first year," he said. "That's the expectations of me for the rest of my career. I know what I'm capable of doing and the level I can play at."

The Vikings need him to find that level again. And have Patterson become a more polished receiver. And resolve the Peterson dilemma. Those are some big-ticket items.

Bridgewater will be waiting.

Chip Scoggins • chip.scoggins@startribune.com