Vikings Offseason Thread

[Danchat]

3 hours ago, cHawk said:

he Vikings will be in primetime once

It's twice. W12 game vs Chicago is on Monday Night.

2 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Those first ten games are brutal. Vikings could be 2-8.

Yeah, 6 of the first 8 opponents were in the playoffs last year. Not ideal!

[Vanimal46]

2024 was always the planned transition year. All I hope is KOC and KAM don’t panic and throw in McCarthy before he’s ready. Protecting the 2025 1st is key because I think we will be picking top 10, maybe 5 overall. 5 wins is all I see. 

[Mike Sixel]

If they aren't making the playoffs, and they likely aren't, I hope they have exciting games, and lose a lot..... That schedule looks pretty hard given last year's record.....

[Mike Sixel]

I wonder how patient the owners will be.....

[gunnarthor]

15 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Those first ten games are brutal. Vikings could be 2-8.

I wouldn't be surprised if Darnold starts through the bye week and then McCarthy takes over from there. 

[Aggies7]

4 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Darnold starts through the bye week and then McCarthy takes over from there. 

This is going to be a brutal year. Think Leslie Frazier or 2006 with T Jack and Brad Johnson. Yuck.

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

This is going to be a brutal year. Think Leslie Frazier or 2006 with T Jack and Brad Johnson. Yuck.

Yeah it will but I believe this was the plan all along. Last year was the final push with Hunter and Kirk and it’s unfortunate how it played out. The Vikings are in good shape for 2025 with the 1st round pick and $80-100 million in cap space. 

[gunnarthor]

1 hour ago, Aggies7 said:

This is going to be a brutal year. Think Leslie Frazier or 2006 with T Jack and Brad Johnson. Yuck.

Oh, ye of little faith, we will be a playoff team.

[nicksaviking]

23 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

2024 was always the planned transition year. All I hope is KOC and KAM don’t panic and throw in McCarthy before he’s ready. Protecting the 2025 1st is key because I think we will be picking top 10, maybe 5 overall. 5 wins is all I see. 

I think the defense is going to keep this team out of the bottom ten, and really, outside of the QB question mark, the offense is pretty good too. Still, I agree no trading picks this year. This is not a team that 

I'm also in no rush to rush McCarthy. However I think elite QBs are like elite starting pitchers, if they can be ruined by early career failure, I don't think that's a guy you want to be commanding your team through the playoffs. The best guys are just wired differently.

[nicksaviking]

This team might struggle this year, but I don't see the gloom and doom about the schedule. The Vikings play the worst conference in the AFC and avoid the NFC East. The only teams they play who had more than 10 wins last year are SF and Detroit twice. It looks like they just play a ton of really average teams mostly.

[Parfigliano]

On 5/16/2024 at 9:49 AM, gunnarthor said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Darnold starts through the bye week and then McCarthy takes over from there. 

I read (cant remember where) McCarthy's footwork and other mechanics are a real mess.  Wouldnt be suprised if he didnt start all year.

[gunnarthor]

26 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

I read (cant remember where) McCarthy's footwork and other mechanics are a real mess.  Wouldnt be suprised if he didnt start all year.

I hadn't heard anything like that. In fact, the few videos I watched stated he had outstanding mechanics and footwork, even those that didn't like him that much.

[Aggies7]

On 5/17/2024 at 10:28 AM, nicksaviking said:

This team might struggle this year, but I don't see the gloom and doom about the schedule. The Vikings play the worst conference in the AFC and avoid the NFC East. The only teams they play who had more than 10 wins last year are SF and Detroit twice. It looks like they just play a ton of really average teams mostly.

6 out of the first 10 games are against playoff teams from a year ago. And the giants and jets won’t be starting Tommy cutlets and Zach Wilson at quarterback this time around.

[DocBauer]

On 5/24/2024 at 3:08 PM, Parfigliano said:

I read (cant remember where) McCarthy's footwork and other mechanics are a real mess.  Wouldnt be suprised if he didnt start all year.

Never heard this. The only concerns I've heard are:

1] He wasn't asked to carry the team offensively as it was a run first offense. Though when he was asked to make plays on 3rd down, he generally seemed up to the task.

2] There were questions about him throwing to the sideline as supposedly he stayed mostly within the numbers on most of his throws. 

Opinions and scouting reports vary, so who knows, that's just a couple things I ran across pre-draft.

Initially, I was NOT thrilled by the Donaldson signing. And then I looked at his career numbers, and the teams he played with, and was pleasantly surprised he hasn't been as bad as I Initially thought he was. 

Privately, I'm hoping the Vikings follow the more old fashioned route of developing McCarthy, similar to what the Chiefs did with Mahomes. Unless he is just ready at some point, I'd love him to just sit and work and absorb everything he can for a year and then be turned to in 2025. 

So many QB are just what was hoped. Some are rushed, especially as "franchise saviors" without the talent and coaching around them to properly succeed and develop. McCarthy has the coaching, system, and talent around him to potentially succeed. But so does Donaldson as a relatively young "fill in" option. Remember,  we're talking about a talented kid, an athletic kid, a winner, who is still 21yo. Sometimes the old fashioned approach is best.

For 2024 and beyond, my concern is the running game. I love Jones and Davenport as a duo, though I'm not sure what's behind them. And the OL remains a bigger question to me than WR #3 or how to fill Hockinson's spot. Can Ingram continue to improve at RG? I actually like Brandel a lot, but is he ready to take the next step?

[DocBauer]

On 5/17/2024 at 9:16 AM, nicksaviking said:

I think the defense is going to keep this team out of the bottom ten, and really, outside of the QB question mark, the offense is pretty good too. Still, I agree no trading picks this year. This is not a team that 

I'm also in no rush to rush McCarthy. However I think elite QBs are like elite starting pitchers, if they can be ruined by early career failure, I don't think that's a guy you want to be commanding your team through the playoffs. The best guys are just wired differently.

I'm still more worried about the interior OL...protection and run game...than I am the #3 WR, as previously stated. I sure hope Brandel is ready, and I like him, and that Ingram takes a step forward.

But I agree with you on the defense keeping the team in games.

The HITMAN is not what he was. He's a future HOF, IMO, but he's still smart and still pretty good. And he's got young help around him. I'm HOPING Cine takes a step forward, but I just don't know if he will at this point. Still, there's some good talent here.

CB is missing that STUD, but depth of talent and options are not missing. Murphy is pretty good. Griffen might not be done yet. I mean, he's only 28yo and has had a solid career. Blackmon really flashed as a rookie. Evans has surprised and flashed some early, but he slumped late in 2023. Can he get back on track? Booth, man, I just don't know. I've seen good and bad. The talent is there. Can he stay healthy and take the next step? Rookie Jackson looks super intriguing. McGlotheran just might be an UDFA who could make the club, or should at least be a practice squad player with real upside. 

The entire LB has almost been rebuilt and, dare I say it, might be deeper and better as a result? I mean, losing someone like Hunter and a solid player like Wonum seems deathly. But they've added younger and somewhat less expensive talent in Greenard, Van Ginkel, and the solid veteran Ward. Then you add in top draft choice Turner and ABSOLUTE UDFA STEAL in Murphy along with still having Jones and 2023 UDFA darling Carter on hand and you might be cutting someone who's instantly snagged by another franchise.

Pace and Cashman make a good pairing inside. Hopefully Asamoah takes a step forward in his 2nd year in this new defense. (Heard he was slowed by a bum shoulder in 2023). Grugier-Hill provides some veteran depth. Dallas Gant from Toledo might be another UDFA surprise the way Pace was last year. Bo Richter from Air Force, IMO, will be a practice squad player converting to MLB that might surprise.

Lots of good!

The DL is still an issue. They have ONE really good DL in Phillips. Bullard is OK. The couple FA they signed are hopes and prayers fliers. Can Roy take a step forward in his 2nd season? Is draft choice Rodriguez just a good story? Or is the universal good faith and love the entire organization has for him for real as a potential surprise? Is there any chance that the recently re-signed Lynch, healthy again, a poor fit in the 4-3, going to excel to any degree in the 3-4 we have in place now? 

The defense could be soid to good, maybe really good. But I don't have a lot of faith in the DL right now.

[Mike Sixel]

Risner back. Not excited, not unhappy. He's fine

[Vanimal46]

16 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Risner back. Not excited, not unhappy. He's fine

I didn’t want him back personally. But beggars can’t be choosers and our interior OL has no depth. Here’s to hoping Brandel wins the starting job. 

[gunnarthor]

I thought Risner was fine last year so I don't mind having him back. Best of luck to him.

[DocBauer]

Risner is a cool dude and a good pass blocker. But he's not a good run blocker. I guess he counters Bradberry at CENTER. I'm actually a HUGE fan of Brandel as a depth/rotation OL who's also practiced at CENTER...MAYBE appeared as such in a preseason game, but memory fades...despite reports he's never played center. I have been questioning Brandel as the ONLY LG option, even though I like him and had hopes. And he might still prove himself as a starting OL at some point. But lack of competition and depth of talent on BOTH lines is tantamount to a poor team. No matter how the NFL has changed, LINE PRODUCTION on both sides remains paramount to a good team. I'm OK with competition and better depth with Risner coming back. BUT, the interior OL needs to not only protect the QB, which Risner helps with, but it needs to make running lanes. Ingram NEEDS to take a step forward this season. If he doesn't, the interior OL needs a serious change for 2025. 

Depth is better. A feeling of being "solid" to protect the QB is better with Risner and competition. Are we better? MAYBE.

I guess it's better than questionable depth. And that's not a shot at Risner or Brandel. But I still question WHERE the STUD is we can have in the interior to match what our OT provide.

 

 

[Vanimal46]

 

[gunnarthor]

Good deal. With McCarthy on the rookie contract, we easily have room for this. 

[nicksaviking]

1 minute ago, gunnarthor said:

Good deal. With McCarthy on the rookie contract, we easily have room for this. 

And salary caps going through the roof, this won't in any way be a burden.  In two years, Jefferson probably won't even be top 5 in WR salaries.

I hope Lamb tries to top it, because Dallas on the other hand CAN'T afford it.

[Mike Sixel]

Great news! In two years that won't even be ten percent of their cap....

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

 

Now the have to have a QB that can get the ball to him whatever the route

[DocBauer]

I'm still blinking when I look at the size of that contract. But he is amazing. And IMO, he's the best WR in the league. Still doesn't handicap the Vikings next offseason as the cap will rise, and they have so much dead cap $ coming off the books. The draft is going to be short, but the team is pretty young overall, and a couple good FA signings for need help offset the short draft.

Naturally, it will help if the first 3 draft classes can take steps forward. 2022 isn't looking all that great, but there's still time for a couple kids to step up and make it solid.

Interesting side note, it's nice to have Risner back in the fold for a veteran presence, leadership, and solid play. But his deal is only for around $1.4M with another $1M in roster and games started bonuses. He's actually signed for less than Brandel. So depth is better, but we might be looking at a legitimate competition at the guard spots. 

Of further note, Risner supposedly worked out some at Center for scouts. I know Brandel worked some at Center in  previous offseason camps, but has never played there in any games, preseason or otherwise. Just...interesting.

Are the Vikings done now?

Might Akers get brought back on the cheap as a 3rd RB option since he's supposedly healthy? Do they call Renfro for a WR 3 option? Or are they trusting what's on hand?

[Mike Sixel]

12 hours ago, DocBauer said:

I'm still blinking when I look at the size of that contract. But he is amazing. And IMO, he's the best WR in the league. Still doesn't handicap the Vikings next offseason as the cap will rise, and they have so much dead cap $ coming off the books. The draft is going to be short, but the team is pretty young overall, and a couple good FA signings for need help offset the short draft.

Naturally, it will help if the first 3 draft classes can take steps forward. 2022 isn't looking all that great, but there's still time for a couple kids to step up and make it solid.

Interesting side note, it's nice to have Risner back in the fold for a veteran presence, leadership, and solid play. But his deal is only for around $1.4M with another $1M in roster and games started bonuses. He's actually signed for less than Brandel. So depth is better, but we might be looking at a legitimate competition at the guard spots. 

Of further note, Risner supposedly worked out some at Center for scouts. I know Brandel worked some at Center in  previous offseason camps, but has never played there in any games, preseason or otherwise. Just...interesting.

Are the Vikings done now?

Might Akers get brought back on the cheap as a 3rd RB option since he's supposedly healthy? Do they call Renfro for a WR 3 option? Or are they trusting what's on hand?

Veteran presence? They have zero young players on the OL. 

[DocBauer]

8 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Veteran presence? They have zero young players on the OL. 

Up until a week ago, our starting OG tandem was Ingram and Brandel. I gram has started 32 games in his 2 year career. I have hopes he'll continue to improve.

Brandel has started 5 games in his career, though he's suited up and appeared in more than that as a reserve. I have hopes he might turn in to a quality starter. But again, he's only started 5 games in his career. 

(Reserve options Byrd and Robinson, a pair of first year practice squad players, have never started a game, and I'm not sure either has ever appeared in a game.)

Risner has appeared in 77 games in his career and started 73 of them. So he's started more than double the amount of games that Ingram and Brandel have.

So yes, he brings a veteran presence to the OL. More specifically at OG.

 

[Original_JB]

Cousins tampering resolution.  https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/atlanta-falcons-kirk-cousins-tampering-punishment/  Seems a bit like a "well we gotta fine them something" kind of thing.

[gunnarthor]

1 hour ago, Original_JB said:

Cousins tampering resolution.  https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/atlanta-falcons-kirk-cousins-tampering-punishment/  Seems a bit like a "well we gotta fine them something" kind of thing.

Yeah, I was hoping the Vikes would get a pick out of this. Oh well. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

Yeah, I was hoping the Vikes would get a pick out of this. Oh well. 

Ya, I was hoping, but not expecting....and those fines are meaningless (at least to the team).