Vikings Off-Season Thread

[TheLeviathan]

I mean, it hasn't happened yet, so it still might be a restructure.  I will shed no tears if Rudolph is cut, he brings nothing worth paying for to this team.  

 

That said, if Griffen is cut....do you resign Barr and make him one of your rush ends?

[Mike Sixel]

I mean, it hasn't happened yet, so it still might be a restructure. I will shed no tears if Rudolph is cut, he brings nothing worth paying for to this team.

 

That said, if Griffen is cut....do you resign Barr and make him one of your rush ends?

I don't think he has moves, so no.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I don't think he has moves, so no.

 

I'm not sure how I feel either.  Weatherly was ok at times, but I'm not sure I feel good about him taking over that job either.  

 

It would open another spot the Vikings will have to fill and typically one that's expensive to do so.

[Badsmerf]

I'm surprised it isn't a restructure too. Rudolph should be flat out cut. Griffen wasn't an all pro, but he wasn't horrible. If they have guys beating down the doors it is one thing, but I don't think there is. Barr is going to walk. No way they should pay him to stay.... Addition by subtraction imo.

 

Despite the amount of money and high picks in the defense, I really don't think it is deep in talent nor burgeoning with it. The secondary is strong, but it makes no difference if the line and lb aren't able to penetrate or stop the run.

[diehardtwinsfan]

It should be a restructure in my opinion. I'm not sure the rumor is nothing more than speculation at this point. He's good enough to restructre, and he should know that he's not going to do nearly as well as FA... restructure with some incentives that reward him if he bounces back... That's how I'd do that.

[Vanimal46]

Flacco will be traded to the Broncos. Unfortunately old friend Case Keenum will be back on the bench, or traded himself.

 

There's going to be several teams shuffling Titanic chairs at QB this year... Glad the Vikings made their decision with Kirk, whether or not you agree with his salary figure.

[diehardtwinsfan]

Danchat has a pretty nice offseason writeup here:

 

http://purplepain.proboards.com/thread/1770/oc-danchats-guide-offseason-2019

 

[diehardtwinsfan]

 

Flacco will be traded to the Broncos. Unfortunately old friend Case Keenum will be back on the bench, or traded himself.

There's going to be several teams shuffling Titanic chairs at QB this year... Glad the Vikings made their decision with Kirk, whether or not you agree with his salary figure.

 

PFT is already speculating that the Vikings trade Cousins and go after Keenum… hahahahahaha

[TheLeviathan]

Any offseason plan that doesn't include restructuring or cutting Rudolph is not one I can get behind.  

 

I'm with Danchat on the vast majority of things, but I wouldn't trade Waynes but instead open that money by cutting Rudolph.  It's a little less wiggle room but I'd rather keep Waynes and either get a comp pick for him in a year or so or move on from Rhodes down the line.  

 

I'd also get our backup running back in the draft.  I like this running back group and feel very comfortable with Boone/Thomas/Rookie.  I wouldn't spend that kind of money on Yeldon.

[Vanimal46]

You're going to think I'm crazy for not advocating OL in the 1st round... I'm very interested in both of the Iowa TEs Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson at 18 overall.

[TheLeviathan]

You're going to think I'm crazy for not advocating OL in the 1st round... I'm very interested in both of the Iowa TEs Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson at 18 overall.

I love Hockenson. But we have to go o-line. I hope at least two of our first three picks go there.

 

Josh Oliver out of San Diego might be around in the 2nd though.

[Vanimal46]

I love Hockenson. But we have to go o-line. I hope at least two of our first three picks go there.

 

Josh Oliver out of San Diego might be around in the 2nd though.

As it stands today yeah they need to go OL... After free agency hopefully that need isn't as painful. I won't be as gung-ho on OL only if they sign someone like Paradis from Denver as the starting C and slide Elflien to guard. Then they have 1 starting spot and a couple of depth pieces left to go.

 

Hockenson could also be thought of as help for the OL! He actually blocks well, compared to Rudolph who can't block a toddler just learning to walk.

[TheLeviathan]

Totally agree a blocking TE would be helpful. I think Hockenson will be the best of a strong TE group.

[nicksaviking]

 

You're going to think I'm crazy for not advocating OL in the 1st round... I'm very interested in both of the Iowa TEs Noah Fant and TJ Hockenson at 18 overall.

 

I'm not a big fan of TEs. I think more than any other skill position, they are a product of the QB's prerogative. 

[Vanimal46]

I'm not a big fan of TEs. I think more than any other skill position, they are a product of the QB's prerogative.

I think the right one will make the offense that much better. I'd argue the Vikings haven't had a great TE ever... Rudolph has been fine, but he's certainly not on Gronk, Ertz, or Kittle's level.

 

This TE class is particularly good at the top with freak athletes. I don't normally advocate for one, but I think the Iowa TEs will end up being really good.

[Mike Sixel]

If they don't get two new starting OL, it won't matter what else they do. With Griffens decline, we can already see how hard it will be to maintain this core forever. FA, draft, trade, whatever, they need two.

[Vanimal46]

I think they'll take care of 1 starting spot through FA or trade. If they aim high in FA it won't be as dire of a need to draft an OL at 18 overall.

[diehardtwinsfan]

DanChat's latest mock

 

http://purplepain.proboards.com/thread/1800/danchats-mock-draft-2019-v1

 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Here's a good Strib primer.

 

I really hope we move on from Rudolph, restructure Griffin, and deal Waynes.

 

That might make it possible to retain Richardson and still add an O-lineman.

[Vanimal46]

Here's a good Strib primer.

 

I really hope we move on from Rudolph, restructure Griffin, and deal Waynes.

 

That might make it possible to retain Richardson and still add an O-lineman.

I hope the "big plans" for Treadwell is finding a willing trade partner... Yikes!

[Badsmerf]

I hope the "big plans" for Treadwell is finding a willing trade partner... Yikes!

Treadwell has a place on this team. He is a big possession 4th receiver type. Not the guy we hoped, but he played better and received more targets last year.

 

I really like that the strategies we've talked about are highlighted in this piece. Hopefully we seem some aggressive moves to keep this team competitive while cousins is getting paid.

[TheLeviathan]

My offseason plan:

 

Right now we have about 10M in space with the Sendejo cut.  I do the following pre-free agency:

 

Cut Remmers.  (Total now about 15M)

Restructure Rudolph and Griffin (3M savings in each, 21M total)

Trade Trae Waynes to .the Buccaneers for pick 39 (Total now 30M)

 

Free Agency:

 

Sign Matt Paradis 4 years 36M (Total room now 21M)

Re-Sign Aldrick Robinson 1 year 2M (Total now 19M)

Re-Sign Anthony Harris 3 years 9M (Total now 16M)

Sign G Andy Levitre 1 year 3M (Total now 13M)

Sign OLB Deone Buchanon 2 years 6M (Total now 10M)

 

Draft:

 

#18 - OG/OT Cody Ford

#39 - OG/OT Dalton Risner

#50 - S - Chauncy Gardner-Johnson

#70 - RB David Montgomery (Trade 81 and 178)

#114 - TE Josh Oliver

#209 - WR Myles Boykin

#247 - LB Blake Cashman

#250 - DT Olive Sagapulo

 

QB - Cousins/Sloter

RB - Cook/Montgomery/Boone/Ham

TE - Rudolph/Oliver/Morgan/Conklin

WR - Diggs/Thielen/Robinson/Treadwell/Boykin

LT - Reiff

LG - Elflein

C - Paradis

RG - Risner

RT - Ford

OL - O'Neill, Levitre, Isidora

 

DT - Joseph-Johnson-Holmes-Sagapulo

DE - Griffen-Hunter-Weatherly-Bower

ILB - Kendricks-Brothers

OLB-Buchanon-Gedeon-Wilson-Cashman

CB - Rhodes-Hughes-Alexander-Hill

S - Smith-Harris-GardnerJohnson-Kearse

[Mike Sixel]

Wait, O'Neil is a backup now? That's just not a good use of resources, imo......Of course, I know you are just planning for Reiff to be gone in 2020....but no way I do that, not with this team needing to go all in with the aging D and only having this QB and WR pair a couple more years. O'Neill is good, and this team should be drafting starters where they don't have them.

 

I'd use either the first or early 2nd on a DT or DE. The draft is crazy deep  there, maybe CB (cheaper alternative to Waynes).

[TheLeviathan]

 

Wait, O'Neil is a backup now? That's just not a good use of resources, imo......Of course, I know you are just planning for Reiff to be gone in 2020....but no way I do that, not with this team needing to go all in with the aging D and only having this QB and WR pair a couple more years. O'Neill is good, and this team should be drafting starters where they don't have them.

 

I'd use either the first or early 2nd on a DT or DE. The draft is crazy deep  there, maybe CB (cheaper alternative to Waynes).

 

If the draft fell like that I could see parting ways with Reiff.  But depth on the o-line isn't a bad thing either.  Perhaps someone else moves into a reserve role, I'm not sure.

 

But I wouldn't pass on Risner, he's ideal for a zone blocking scheme.

[TheLeviathan]

Also, I debated DL/LB at the Gardner-Johnson pick.  I just love what CGJ and Smith could do as a safety combo.  

[Vanimal46]

Remmers and Sendejo were both released this morning. Cap space now $15 million.

 

Take it FWIW coming from Rudolph's agent... He says Rudolph is going to be a Viking for lifeeeee.

 

If your scenario of trading Waynes works out Levi I could see Trader Rick getting back into the end of the 1st round by trading those 2nd round picks.

[Mike Sixel]

 

Remmers and Sendejo were both released this morning. Cap space now $15 million.

Take it FWIW coming from Rudolph's agent... He says Rudolph is going to be a Viking for lifeeeee.

If your scenario of trading Waynes works out Levi I could see Trader Rick getting back into the end of the 1st round by trading those 2nd round picks.

 

I hope not, I'd rather have both 2nds. 

 

And, good that Remmers is gone. Sendejo is replaceable, but it's possible he comes back to MN cheap, given all the good/great safeties on the market.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I hope not, I'd rather have both 2nds. 

 

And, good that Remmers is gone. Sendejo is replaceable, but it's possible he comes back to MN cheap, given all the good/great safeties on the market.

 

I agree, too much talent in the top 60.  If you have two second round picks, you are in a position to take two guys that could start instantly for you.

 

What I could see is trading down from 18, especially if you can pick up an early third or another second.  Let's hope the Raiders stay stupid aggressive and we have a chance to get an extra pick.  I think we could slide down 5-10 spots in the first and end up with Risner or Ford.  (My top two choices)

 

Also Mike, the more I look at my offseason, the more I think Ford and Risner go to guard, O'Neill at RT, and Elflein becomes a super sub.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I agree, too much talent in the top 60.  If you have two second round picks, you are in a position to take two guys that could start instantly for you.

 

What I could see is trading down from 18, especially if you can pick up an early third or another second.  Let's hope the Raiders stay stupid aggressive and we have a chance to get an extra pick.  I think we could slide down 5-10 spots in the first and end up with Risner or Ford.  (My top two choices)

 

Also Mike, the more I look at my offseason, the more I think Ford and Risner go to guard, O'Neill at RT, and Elflein becomes a super sub.

 

I'd be thrilled with those two being added, and no FA OL being added, but there is a lot of breath holding during the draft if that is the plan.....

[TheLeviathan]

 

I'd be thrilled with those two being added, and no FA OL being added, but there is a lot of breath holding during the draft if that is the plan.....

 

Yeah, with the draft being the last thing you do....that's rough.  And after last year's OL binge I wouldn't plan on anything with that position group.

 

That said, as you pointed out, the defensive line is so loaded this year it may push some OL down.  It'll for sure push some safeties and tight-ends down.  It's also a good year not to need a corner.  (And to have one to trade)