2025 Vikings Offseason

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

Vikings add Jordan Traylor as assistant QB coach. From the Saints org. I like that we're adding someone that isn't form the Sean McVay coaching tree. He used to be a college QB and has background in scouting. 

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2025/3/4/24377558/minnesota-vikings-hire-jordan-traylor-assistant-quarterbacks-coach-new-orleans-saints

Yeah, I like that it's a 'new perspective' hire.

At the same time, I wish it wasn't a Saints perspective hire. Oh well, I'll give the guy a shot.

[Mike Sixel]

If he signs for near the tag number, even over, he's probably not worth ALSO trading assets for. Plus, if they tag him, he gets to decide which team he goes to, and holds all the leverage, making him worth less on the market. I was thinking they'd get a 2nd, but now I think they don't tag him at all. 

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

If he signs for near the tag number, even over, he's probably not worth ALSO trading assets for. Plus, if they tag him, he gets to decide which team he goes to, and holds all the leverage, making him worth less on the market. I was thinking they'd get a 2nd, but now I think they don't tag him at all. 

I don't think he gets to decide where he gets traded to, unless I'm missing an angle.

Because that along with blatant tampering is the only way I can see a logical tag scenario. Like if the Giants want him, but Darnold's agent has already made it clear he's going to the Raiders. Then the Giants might tell the Vikings to tag him so they can trade for him. Which obviously will end up being a bad look for both the Giants and the Vikings.

But still, I can't see any team wanting Darnold that badly. Even if the coach/GM like him, after his last two games there is going to be serious fan backlash for whomever gives him big money. Everybody was watching those games. If he was paid the same as Rodgers/Cousins/Wilson, the fans would be on board, but if it's 2x their salary at 3x the length, it will not be a popular move.

[The Great Hambino]

43 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't think he gets to decide where he gets traded to, unless I'm missing an angle.

Because that along with blatant tampering is the only way I can see a logical tag scenario. Like if the Giants want him, but Darnold's agent has already made it clear he's going to the Raiders. Then the Giants might tell the Vikings to tag him so they can trade for him. Which obviously will end up being a bad look for both the Giants and the Vikings.

But still, I can't see any team wanting Darnold that badly. Even if the coach/GM like him, after his last two games there is going to be serious fan backlash for whomever gives him big money. Everybody was watching those games. If he was paid the same as Rodgers/Cousins/Wilson, the fans would be on board, but if it's 2x their salary at 3x the length, it will not be a popular move.

I'm trying to understand this whole tag-and-trade mechanism myself.  Does he have to sign his tender in order for a trade to be executed?  My understanding is that until a player signs it, he's essentially a (very) restricted free agent that is not a usable trade piece.  I've had trouble verifying that, but if it's true, then they would need Darnold's buy-in in order to execute the trade.  Effectively he could veto any trade by refusing to sign the tender.  On top of that, who is trading for him without the assurance that he'll sign an extension?  At the very least it would severely hamper the compensation they can get in trade for him.

So if I'm understanding that correctly (again, a big if), then he doesn't explicitly get to decide where he goes, but he effectively does.  Personally, I'm fine with not trying to tag-and-trade him.  The risk of being on the hook for $40MM with no flexibility - not to mention what that does to your ability to sign other free agents, even if temporary - isn't worth whatever midround compensation they'd be getting in a trade

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, The Great Hambino said:

I'm trying to understand this whole tag-and-trade mechanism myself.  Does he have to sign his tender in order for a trade to be executed?  My understanding is that until a player signs it, he's essentially a (very) restricted free agent that is not a usable trade piece.  I've had trouble verifying that, but if it's true, then they would need Darnold's buy-in in order to execute the trade.  Effectively he could veto any trade by refusing to sign the tender.  On top of that, who is trading for him without the assurance that he'll sign an extension?  At the very least it would severely hamper the compensation they can get in trade for him.

So if I'm understanding that correctly (again, a big if), then he doesn't explicitly get to decide where he goes, but he effectively does.  Personally, I'm fine with not trying to tag-and-trade him.  The risk of being on the hook for $40MM with no flexibility - not to mention what that does to your ability to sign other free agents, even if temporary - isn't worth whatever midround compensation they'd be getting in a trade

Right, that's the angle.

He'd have no reason to sign it until he got a deal he wanted, here or somewhere else. His 40M salary would have crippled the Vikings chance to chase the top players in free agency.

[Mike Sixel]

 

 

[gunnarthor]

Good move. Bynum is gone for sure. 

[TheLeviathan]

They paid him starter money too.  Reports are 2 years 12M.  So I was way underestimating that one.

[nicksaviking]

Yeah, seems high, but both Bynum and Metellus were unheralded players who came out of nowhere. This is a spot I'm going to be good deferring to Flores even if I'm scratching my head in February.

[Danchat]

The notable thing on Theo Jackson is that it's a "2 year extension through 2027", meaning that they must have given him a (probably low) RFA tender for 2025 and put 2/$12M on top of that. Once we see the contract details, it's going to look more reasonable and will be a bargain if he can be a solid starter, of which I think he can absolutely be.

[Mike Sixel]

Looks like they brought back the punter

[nicksaviking]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Looks like they brought back the punter

Phew, we can cross off the number 1 item on the offseason wish list!

[Mike Sixel]

Just now, nicksaviking said:

Phew, we can cross off the number 1 item on the offseason wish list!

Certainty clarifies what's available and needed.... But I get the humor!

[Musk21]

Former Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers reached agreement on a 2-year $15 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The deal includes $8 million fully guaranteed. --- @AdamSchefter

 

Rodgers played 421 snaps for the Eagles in 2024, and his 76.0 grade from PFF was 20th in the NFL.

[nicksaviking]

He wouldn't have been the CB I expected, nor do I think anyone here was clamoring for.

But the same would have been said about Murphy, Griffin, Gilmore and Peterson. I'm fine letting Flores and KAM deal with the veteran free agents at this position unconventionally. Weird how they do it well in free agency, but are completely lost when it comes to the secondary in the draft.

[gunnarthor]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

He wouldn't have been the CB I expected, nor do I think anyone here was clamoring for.

But the same would have been said about Murphy, Griffin, Gilmore and Peterson. I'm fine letting Flores and KAM deal with the veteran free agents at this position unconventionally. Weird how they do it well in free agency, but are completely lost when it comes to the secondary in the draft.

Evans and Booth didn't work out but Blackmon shows promise, And Theo Jackson was signed as a rookie off the Titans (I think) practice squad. 

[gunnarthor]

31 minutes ago, Musk21 said:

Former Eagles CB Isaiah Rodgers reached agreement on a 2-year $15 million contract with the Minnesota Vikings. The deal includes $8 million fully guaranteed. --- @AdamSchefter

 

Rodgers played 421 snaps for the Eagles in 2024, and his 76.0 grade from PFF was 20th in the NFL.

Generally, I like this signing. I'd like them to add CB Fulton from SD next. 

[Mike Sixel]

A CB signing is great. No idea how good he is 

Now get a good OG. 

[Musk21]

Nick Mullens and Johnny Mundt to Jacksonville.  Cam Bynum signs with Indianapolis.

[nicksaviking]

Please address the IOL. Unlike the secondary, this is not a spot they've been creative at acquiring talent the last several years. If they aren't aggressive here, it's going to be hard to believe that they seriously want to fix it. Or even that they think it does need to be fixed.

[TheLeviathan]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Please address the IOL. Unlike the secondary, this is not a spot they've been creative at acquiring talent the last several years. If they aren't aggressive here, it's going to be hard to believe that they seriously want to fix it. Or even that they think it does need to be fixed.

Options are thinning out.

[nicksaviking]

3 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Options are thinning out.

Seems like Dahlman was still the only one of the bigger names guys to go so far.

Becton, Zeitler and Freis are still there at guard and Myers is still there at center.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Seems like Dahlman was still the only one of the bigger names guys to go so far.

Becton, Zeitler and Freis are still there at guard and Myers is still there at center.

Bectin hates the new OL coach.....

[nicksaviking]

38 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Bectin hates the new OL coach.....

Right, I forgot about that.

Hope that's not a trend.......

[Danchat]

Ryan Kelly signed to a 2/$18M deal, considerable upgrade to Bradbury at center. 

Slow going for the Vikings so far, but the deals flying around have been crazy. Pedestrian players are getting massive deals and "good" players are getting "great" contracts. I like the Rodgers move over bringing in a 30+ vet like Shaq Griffin, PFF loves him but he's never held down a starting job. Kelly will be worth the money if he can stay healthy.

They still need at least one guard, one more CB, and an interior pass rusher at a minimum. Jonathan Allen is in town meeting with the team, but I'm not high on him as he hasn't been good for 2 years. Would be like a classic Twins signing, a 30 year old who hasn't been good in multiple years... I think that's just Ty France.

For the draft, I'm thinking DL Round 1 and RB Round 3 still makes the most sense. They have to pair Aaron Jones with somebody better than Akers/Chandler to keep his usage down. For perhaps once all the money has been spent, a bargain option at RB will appear. I don't think a single non-backup RB has signed in FA yet. 

[nicksaviking]

12 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Ryan Kelly signed to a 2/$18M deal, considerable upgrade to Bradbury at center. 

Slow going for the Vikings so far, but the deals flying around have been crazy. Pedestrian players are getting massive deals and "good" players are getting "great" contracts. I like the Rodgers move over bringing in a 30+ vet like Shaq Griffin, PFF loves him but he's never held down a starting job. Kelly will be worth the money if he can stay healthy.

They still need at least one guard, one more CB, and an interior pass rusher at a minimum. Jonathan Allen is in town meeting with the team, but I'm not high on him as he hasn't been good for 2 years. Would be like a classic Twins signing, a 30 year old who hasn't been good in multiple years... I think that's just Ty France.

For the draft, I'm thinking DL Round 1 and RB Round 3 still makes the most sense. They have to pair Aaron Jones with somebody better than Akers/Chandler to keep his usage down. For perhaps once all the money has been spent, a bargain option at RB will appear. I don't think a single non-backup RB has signed in FA yet. 

Thank God! Kelly might not have been the top center available, but definitely a guy I was interested in. For me this was the biggest need as running up the middle in obvious run downs HAS to be part of your game, even if you don't always do it. And they all but stopped trying at the end of last year.

I also thought Allen was a bit over-rated and likely still carrying some '1st round draft' hype. But this team has rarely whiffed in free agency on defensive players since Flores has come on board. If Flores wants him, I'm going to feel it's a good move until proven otherwise.

Also, I wonder if the Vikings would have interest in Will Fries now at guard. I mean, most offensive line-mates don't go from one team to the same next team, but with the OL having a lot to do with relying on chemistry, it might be a nice benefit. Because I still want a guard either way. 

 

[TheLeviathan]

Surprisingly slow day 1....

[Danchat]

Not anymore!

Murphy is now the 4th highest paid CB in the game. The CB market exploded today, and the demand more Murphy went through the roof. He is a nice player but not a CB1 so this is a massive overpay. I wonder if they felt they had to do this or be forced to spend their 1st rounder on a CB.

[TheLeviathan]

Man was that a price hike for Murphy!

[TheLeviathan]

So we retain Jones and Murphy and add Rodgers and Kelly.

It's a pretty mid Day 1 in my book.