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What to do at Left Tackle?

Vanimal46

By Vanimal46
in Minnesota Vikings Talk

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Vanimal46 MVP

Vanimal46

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Clearly TJ Clemmings has no business being a LT in the NFL. This team has a lot of work to do rebuilding the line, and frankly, not a lot of options to improve it. 

Does Ryan Clady or Kelvin Beachum do anything for you? Both are slated to become FAs, and coming off poor seasons. 

Do you give Matt Kalil the franchise tag? Or risk him getting a multi-year offer on the FA market? 

For me, I think I would hesitantly give Kalil the franchise tag and see if he is finally healthy again. 

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Taildragger8791 First Round Pick

Taildragger8791

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Do you even have to franchise Kalil? He might do a one year prove-it deal so he can cash in on a better multiyear deal next season. And where else would he have a better opportunity to showcase himself? If we can't sign someone else I'd certainly entertain that idea. You know you'll get the most motivated version of Kalil possible.

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Vanimal46 MVP

Vanimal46

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Do you even have to franchise Kalil? He might do a one year prove-it deal so he can cash in on a better multiyear deal next season. And where else would he have a better opportunity to showcase himself? If we can't sign someone else I'd certainly entertain that idea. You know you'll get the most motivated version of Kalil possible.

There's a couple of contending teams that should be in the market for a LT this off-season. Seattle had a terrible OL, the NY Giants are close to being a Super Bowl contender, maybe a couple of dark horse teams too. 

 

That's what worries me. Even though we know Kalil should not get a multi-year deal, there may be another organization desperate enough to gamble on him. 

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Vanimal46 MVP

Vanimal46

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I'd go after Ty Nsekhe.  Have seen enough of Kalil to want nothing to do with him again.

 

I can definitely understand not wanting anything to do with Kalil. At the most, I would grit my teeth and let him come back one more time. I'm not a great OL mind, but if Ty Nsekhe is a better option, by all means I'm all for it. 

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Mike Sixel Cooperstown

Mike Sixel

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It kind of depends on what you do with the OL as a whole. Do they even have an OT other than Clemmings on the roster now? And what about OG?

 

I think they sign one expensive FA, one medium FA, and then use the draft on the rest. Given the OTs in the draft, I'd probably try to deal up into round 1 with their 2nd and AP and Floyd in a package, and draft the start LT. If anyone would do that.....which I doubt.

 

I try to sign Zeitler for the open OG spot, use their 3rd round pick and current players for C, Boone at LT or LG or RG, medium FA for RT, and who the heck knows what for LT. 

 

Kalil hasn't been healthy for a few years now, I'd almost rather go with a guy with less upside, but that in whom I was relatively sure would be healthy. 

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Taildragger8791 First Round Pick

Taildragger8791

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I'd go after Ty Nsekhe.  Have seen enough of Kalil to want nothing to do with him again.

 

I'd do everything possible to upgrade from Kalil, but I think we saw this year how much lower the floor is when you swap him out for just any guy. Bringing him back on a 1-year deal at least assures a minimum level of competence on the QB's blindside.

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TheLeviathan All-Star

TheLeviathan

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Kalil is going to get paid.  PAID.  This offseason there is an enormous need for many teams (contenders and wannabes alike) to improve their line play.  Line play around the league is absolutely terrible, so if you think Kalil is going to have to settle for a 1 year, make good deal....you're kidding yourself.

 

I probably pony up for Zeitler so I at least have one spot upgraded.  For LT?  I might take a shot at Clady on a bounce back and I draft at least two linemen in the first four picks of our draft.  

 

But don't kid yourself, the options are going to stink.  We aren't going to walk out of this feeling really good.

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nicksaviking All-Star

nicksaviking

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Kalil has never held up against speed rushers. It might stink for next year, but I cut him loose. He might be the best LT available, but that's not saying much and the team can't keep kicking the can down the road. Start looking for a long term solution, even if it's not until the 2018 draft.

 

Or would Cleveland now move Joe Thomas for a 2nd rounder? He only has one year left on his deal so I'm not sure if that's a good move for the Vikings or not. If he's still OK next year then he could get franchised.

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Vanimal46 MVP

Vanimal46

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Kalil is going to get paid.  PAID.  This offseason there is an enormous need for many teams (contenders and wannabes alike) to improve their line play.  Line play around the league is absolutely terrible, so if you think Kalil is going to have to settle for a 1 year, make good deal....you're kidding yourself.

 

I probably pony up for Zeitler so I at least have one spot upgraded.  For LT?  I might take a shot at Clady on a bounce back and I draft at least two linemen in the first four picks of our draft.  

 

But don't kid yourself, the options are going to stink.  We aren't going to walk out of this feeling really good.

Agreed on Kalil. Would you put the franchise tag on him? He's certainly not worth the gamble of a multi-year deal unless he proves that he's healthy again. His regression in 2014/2015 was alarming to say the least. 

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TheLeviathan All-Star

TheLeviathan

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Agreed on Kalil. Would you put the franchise tag on him? He's certainly not worth the gamble of a multi-year deal unless he proves that he's healthy again. His regression in 2014/2015 was alarming to say the least. 

 

I'd consider it.  That'd just be one hard pill to swallow, but I'd probably do it.  (Especially once we have Peterson's money gone)

 

I think the tag would only be a couple million raise from what he made last year and you'd at least give yourself a viable LT for another year.  Maybe while you groom another guy at RT for a year?  (Thinking a draft pick)

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Blake All-Star

Blake

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Clearly TJ Clemmings has no business being a LT in the NFL. This team has a lot of work to do rebuilding the line, and frankly, not a lot of options to improve it. 

Does Ryan Clady or Kelvin Beachum do anything for you? Both are slated to become FAs, and coming off poor seasons. 

Do you give Matt Kalil the franchise tag? Or risk him getting a multi-year offer on the FA market? 

For me, I think I would hesitantly give Kalil the franchise tag and see if he is finally healthy again. 

Maybe move TJ Clemmings to third and have Sano play LT?

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nicksaviking All-Star

nicksaviking

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Russell Okung is also now available. The LT market is looking better each day. Not great, just better.

 

Two weeks ago Matt Kalil probably thought he could sucker a team into multi years of guaranteed salary despite coming off of a lost season. Not so much anymore.

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Vanimal46 MVP

Vanimal46

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Russell Okung is also now available. The LT market is looking better each day. Not great, just better.

 

Two weeks ago Matt Kalil probably thought he could sucker a team into multi years of guaranteed salary despite coming off of a lost season. Not so much anymore.

Good. Flood the market with average-ish LTs so it drives down the contract rate. 

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DaveW All-Star

DaveW

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Okung would be a solid get. He isn't what he used to be, but at least he wouldn't embarrass himself out there and would be 10x better than the garbage the Vikes were tossing out on a weekly basis in 2016.

It will be very disappointing if they bring back Kalil, the guy is a lazy player and a bust. No thanks.

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TheLeviathan All-Star

TheLeviathan

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Reports are that Peters is staying put.  And there are already teams cutting their current tackle (Okung) to make a run at Whitworth.    You're right, we can compete financially, but you're doing it for a pretty old guy at LT.  

 

There are so many teams with need at LT, I highly doubt Kalil will need to move to RT to get a contract.

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Mike Sixel Cooperstown

Mike Sixel

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I'd be happy with a decent placeholder at LT, if they spend real money on RT and RG (or C), and draft an OL or two early. 

 

Me? sign an ok LT, sign a really good OG, draft a RT and C (who can also backup OG if we keep our current C) in round 2 and 4 or so. Draft another OT or OG or C in round 1 or 2 in the following year. Quit passing on OL until round 4....

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