Optimism surrounds Mike Zimmer, Vikings' free-agent acquisitions

Three observations from the edges of the fray of NFL free agency:

• The Vikings have been more active than I expected, though they've maintained the same free agency philosophy as in recent years.

As an organization, the Vikings have come to espouse a prudent draft-and-develop model when it comes to assembling a roster.

This came after a period in the mid-to-late-2000s when the Vikings were very active in free agency, often using it as a means to make splashes rather than just fill holes. It almost worked when Brett Favre, Pat Williams, Steve Hutchinson, Antoine Winfield, Visanthe Shiancoe, Ryan Longwell — all significant free agents — nearly led the Vikings to the Super Bowl in 2009.

The reckoning came a year later, when the roster quickly got old and expensive. A bottoming out followed, and building through the draft become the plan. Minnesota has added some supplemental pieces from the free- agent market through the years, but mostly they've been modest deals for proven but not spectacular players (at the time of signing) such as Linval Joseph and Captain Munnerlyn.

Wednesday's flurry of opening day activity — it was hard to catch your breath before the next Vikings move was announced — was perhaps surprising in volume, but all the players added fit the model of modest signings who could nonetheless have an impact.

• It's interesting to hear and read the reactions of fans (and even players themselves) when it comes to the Vikings' new additions on defense.

Yet the instinct from many is to say some variation of, "Yeah, but he wasn't playing in Mike Zimmer's system. Zimmer can make him productive." That's the level of respect Zimmer commands from many years of stout defenses and two years of improvement with the Vikings.

Emmanuel Lamur, the linebacker the Vikings signed away from the Bengals, said Thursday that Zimmer's presence was the primary reason he decided to come to Minnesota.

• This free agent period underscores that it's a very good time to have a promising quarterback locked up on a team-friendly contract.

That sentiment holds true at other positions as well, but when you look at some of the ridiculous money being tossed around and the desperation that is setting in with teams that lack an established quarterback, it's quite clearly a player's market.

When Brock Osweiler, who has half a season as an NFL starter on his résumé, gets a four-year contract worth $72 million (more than half of which is reportedly guaranteed), you know the QB market has spun off its axis.

That's why they're willing and able to spend money on free agents — albeit prudently, as they should.