Hall Monitor

The Vikings have addressed most of their pressing needs in free agency, but one area still in need of help is at defensive end. A visit Friday with veteran James Hall could lead to a contract offer or signing this week.

The Vikings may have found an answer to some of their problems at defensive end in eight-year veteran James Hall.

Hall, who spent his first seven seasons with the Lions before signing with the Rams last year, was at Winter Park for a visit. There is no word as of yet whether he left the Vikings training facility with a contract offer or not, but it’s a good sign that the Vikings are still looking for DE help.

This wouldn’t be the first defensive end that Vikings have pursued, but Hall was the first DE they were actually able to get in the building. Justin Smith was going to be their first target, but he signed quickly with the 49ers. The same was true for Antwan Odom, who signed with the Bengals the day before a scheduled visit with the Vikings. A third DE candidate – Jevon Kearse – signed with the Titans before he was scheduled to make a visit to the Vikings.

In eight seasons, Hall has played in 104 games, recording 335 tackles and 35.5 sacks. His best sack year was 2004 with the Lions – when he recorded 11.5 sacks. Aside from that season, he has never had more than five sacks in any given season.

The Vikings have demonstrated a need at defensive end due to the diagnosis of leukemia made on DE Kenechi Udeze, who is undergoing chemotherapy now and will likely be put on the non-football injury list that will in all likelihood eliminate his 2008 season. Recurring injuries to Erasmus James are also a reason for concern.

If the Vikings are to sign Hall, look for something to get done within the next few days prior to the Easter weekend holiday.