2022 Vikings Off-Season Thread

[cHawk]

https://nypost.com/2022/02/23/troy-aikman-close-to-leaving-fox-for-monday-night-football/amp/

Looks like Troy Aikman is leaving FOX to go to ESPN. It appears there are rumors around Joe Buck as well.

[Mike Sixel]

11 hours ago, cHawk said:

https://nypost.com/2022/02/23/troy-aikman-close-to-leaving-fox-for-monday-night-football/amp/

Looks like Troy Aikman is leaving FOX to go to ESPN. It appears there are rumors around Joe Buck as well.

Interesting. Some changes coming to rights?

[nicksaviking]

Am I the only one who thinks Aikman is a total bore? He doesn't seem like the kind of broadcaster to start a bidding war, though it looks like there was one.

[Mike Sixel]

40 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Am I the only one who thinks Aikman is a total bore? He doesn't seem like the kind of broadcaster to start a bidding war, though it looks like there was one.

I don't listen to announcers, and have no idea why anyone does. I either have no sound, or music.

[gunnarthor]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Am I the only one who thinks Aikman is a total bore? He doesn't seem like the kind of broadcaster to start a bidding war, though it looks like there was one.

I don't dislike him. He's ok and can be quite good, at times. I don't like Buck at all. 

I think Aikman saw what Romo was doing and started doing that a bit more but FOX pushed back on that a bit, IIRC. I remember an article three or four years ago where FOX wanted it to be the Aikman and Buck show and didn't want something like what Romo was doing. Can't find the link. 

At the end of the day, he certainly knows football and if the new deal with ESPN allows him to be a bit less standardized, it could be pretty good. 

[cHawk]

I wish there were more color commentators like Romo. Not an Aikman fan, but at least he’s not Collinsworth.

Joe Buck probably isn’t leaving, because his contract expires in 2023. Maybe Greg Olsen replaces Aikman.

[TheLeviathan]

I like Aikman, he's one of the few whose willing to be negative/critical.  Romo is insightful but he's barely different than Collinsworth or Gruden.  Those guys sound like they've been paid to talk about how everyone is the best and everything is amazing.  

I appreciate that Aikman is willing to be a skeptic and do so with sound, insightful reasoning.  

[Danchat]

Following up on a topic from earlier, Bieniemy is staying put. It seemed that he might have had a chance to get an OC job elsewhere, but he stays in place.

[gunnarthor]

15 hours ago, Danchat said:

Following up on a topic from earlier, Bieniemy is staying put. It seemed that he might have had a chance to get an OC job elsewhere, but he stays in place.

It's really strange that Bieniemy hasn't gotten a head coaching job as he's excelled at all his coaching positions. Although Andy Ried called the plays in KC and Philly, that didn't stop Matt Nagy, Doug Pederson, Brad Childress among others from getting a HC job. Wonder why.

[nicksaviking]

15 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

It's really strange that Bieniemy hasn't gotten a head coaching job as he's excelled at all his coaching positions. Although Andy Ried called the plays in KC and Philly, that didn't stop Matt Nagy, Doug Pederson, Brad Childress among others from getting a HC job. Wonder why.

Speaking only as a Vikings fan, this is exactly why.

But I really hope another team gives him a shot. The 'calling the plays' bit does seem like a weird reason  not to hire a guy though. Most head coaches delegate that task to the OC. Being a HC is way more comprehensive than calling plays.

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

It's really strange that Bieniemy hasn't gotten a head coaching job as he's excelled at all his coaching positions. Although Andy Ried called the plays in KC and Philly, that didn't stop Matt Nagy, Doug Pederson, Brad Childress among others from getting a HC job. Wonder why.

You’d think Ryan Poles, the new Bears GM, would have asked to interview him - several other new GMs got to throw names into the mix when they were hired, like how Kwesi added Graham and Harbaugh. But no, there wasn’t even a call to him… maybe I’m reading into things too much, but I find it telling that someone from his own front office didn’t even give him a chance.

[Vanimal46]

The Vikings have been pretty quiet so far while other teams start working on their restructures. We still need to make a play or 2 in order to be cap compliant by March 16th. But it’s not an insurmountable task. Frankly, all they have to do is convert Hunter’s $18 million roster bonus to a signing bonus and we’re pretty much there. The beauty is we don’t need a mutual agreement from Hunter to do this. 

This move alone saves $14 million on the cap. One more minor move like cutting CJ Ham (who could be easily re-signed) and we’re absolutely cap compliant. 

[TheLeviathan]

Mike Zimmer had Keenum and Cousins and went out of his way to bad mouth both of them but loves Bridgewater and Bradford.

We waited way too long to fire this dude.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

Mike Zimmer had Keenum and Cousins and went out of his way to bad mouth both of them but loves Bridgewater and Bradford.

We waited way too long to fire this dude.

At least two years too long. 

[gunnarthor]

19 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Mike Zimmer had Keenum and Cousins and went out of his way to bad mouth both of them but loves Bridgewater and Bradford.

We waited way too long to fire this dude.

Missed the links on those articles but I had some real hope for Bridewater before that knee injury. Cousins is polarizing but I've come around to rather not having him. 

Ah well, hopefully this new team is more fun to follow.

[TheLeviathan]

30 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Missed the links on those articles but I had some real hope for Bridewater before that knee injury. Cousins is polarizing but I've come around to rather not having him. 

Ah well, hopefully this new team is more fun to follow.

Sorry I forgot to put the links in period those from the Chad Graff article that came out yesterday.

[a-wan]

Kwesi breaking out that Cousins shines "When the odds are shifted in his favor."

[nicksaviking]

14 hours ago, a-wan said:

Kwesi breaking out that Cousins shines "When the odds are shifted in his favor."

I liked the "He's an incredibly consistent passer" quote myself. It has a nice salesman ring to it, as in, 'He's no Aaron Rodgers, but he's an incredibly consistent passer'

[a-wan]

The entire press conference was funny. Pumping Kirk up, then finishing with the back handed compliment.

[Vanimal46]

Sign me up. Helps us get under the cap while quietly shopping Kirk before the draft. 

[nicksaviking]

On 2/13/2022 at 10:16 AM, nicksaviking said:

If I don’t get all gooshy about one of the QBs, I think I have my eye on one of the edge rushers like Ojobo or Walker or maybe Jordan Davis at DT. Devin Lloyd at LB also sounds like he might be fantastic. Everyone likes Nakone Dean better but he’s so dang small. Maybe that’s fine. It would be nice to know what kind of defensive scheme they plan on running. If we’re going 3-4 though, the front seven are my top priority.

I might get gooshy about a QB or two after the combine though.

After the combine, I think I'm doubling down on my first take. I want a front seven player. Jordan Davis might be my first choice now. Devin Lloyd maybe, or whichever edge rushers are still on the board; after Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, that group looks like it could go in a lot of different directions. I keep seeing Stingley attached to the Vikings, and while I don't want to burn the 1st rounder on a CB, I REALLY don't want to burn a 1st rounder on an injured CB who's best playing days were in 2019.

[Vanimal46]

7 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

After the combine, I think I'm doubling down on my first take. I want a front seven player. Jordan Davis might be my first choice now. Devin Lloyd maybe, or whichever edge rushers are still on the board; after Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, that group looks like it could go in a lot of different directions. I keep seeing Stingley attached to the Vikings, and while I don't want to burn the 1st rounder on a CB, I REALLY don't want to burn a 1st rounder on an injured CB who's best playing days were in 2019.

My pre-combine crush was Sauce Gardner and I no longer think he’ll be there at 12. If he is there somehow I’ll sprint to the podium with the card. 

I’m also quite skeptical of Stingley Jr. Can’t say I’m excited to draft someone with injury concerns and regression since his true freshman year. My question that won’t get answered is why did he lose the drive/interest in being the best CB in college football once the team started to suck? Not a good look. 

Ojabo looks like a perfect fit for the new 3-4 defense here. I’m a big fan. Davis would be a fit if we release Pierce, which is certainly possible. 

Malik Willis looks like the QB who is sky rocketing up draft boards. I’m still not sold on taking a QB in the first round of this draft. 

[TheLeviathan]

20 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

After the combine, I think I'm doubling down on my first take. I want a front seven player. Jordan Davis might be my first choice now. Devin Lloyd maybe, or whichever edge rushers are still on the board; after Hutchinson and Thibodeaux, that group looks like it could go in a lot of different directions. I keep seeing Stingley attached to the Vikings, and while I don't want to burn the 1st rounder on a CB, I REALLY don't want to burn a 1st rounder on an injured CB who's best playing days were in 2019.

I'm a big fan of trading down this year.  Maybe sliding back to around 20 and picking up extra selections this year or next year.  12 for 20 and next year's 1st from Pitt would be great.  (Maybe they move up to get their QB)  Or trading back with Philly at 19 or the Chargers at 17.  Another swing in the top 75 would be good for this team.

At 20 you'll still have a shot at Ojabo, Johnson, Lloyd, Nakobe Dean, etc.  I'm with you though - I would be just fine with the Vikes investing every pick in their front seven this year.  There are a ton of freaky athletes that would fit well with the multi-blended front we will run.

I grow more and more convinced that we are going to deal Hunter.

[Vanimal46]

Gotta wait just a little bit longer for the demise of Green Bay… Him staying increases Kirk’s trade value though. 

[nicksaviking]

6 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Gotta wait just a little bit longer for the demise of Green Bay… Him staying increases Kirk’s trade value though. 

I've kind of grown fond of their playoff choke jobs as of late. Hope this reunion produces more of the same.

But yeah, this should make a Cousins trade doubly likely. No one got Rodgers so there should be more suitors, plus if GB isn't rebuilding, that means a 10-7 season by the Vikings probably isn't going to win the NFC North after all. Might as well bite the bullet now.

[Mike Sixel]

Given the Packers move....I think I deal Kirk now. I don't see this team being better than the Packers this coming year, just too many holes on D. In my dream world:

Jets get: Hunter and Cook
Vikings: 4, 10, 35 (or even just 4 and 10)

Carolina: MN 3rd and Cousins
MN: Carolina 1 this year and a mid round pick next year

Miami: Thielen and Smith
MN: Miami's first this year and 2nd or 3rd next year

Then I trade down from 4 and 6 for more 2nd round picks.

free agency: Mid tier CB and LB and OL (center or OG) and a random QB

Round 1: DL, CB, WR, LB, DL (or LB or CB)

Round 2: Defense with 3 of the 4 picks and then BPA or even deal a 2nd this year for a first next year.

Win about 6 games, either trade up for a QB, or continue building the D in 2023.

[Vanimal46]

Wow what a crazy day in the NFL. 

 

[Mike Sixel]

So....2 good players, a bad QB, and 4 early picks (Seattle should hit on three of those) for a great QB?

I'm not sure I do that if I'm as good as Seattle, but they might look at the Rams like I look at the Packers, and do what the Vikes should do.....and plan for 2023 or 2024 being great.

[cHawk]

That’s a king’s ransom!

[Vanimal46]