2021 Off-Season Thread

[Vanimal46]

 

I have no idea why we’re so enamored with Dakota Dozier. It can’t be from his performance on the field.

[gunnarthor]

Yeah, a bit surprising. Oh well

[Mike Sixel]

Mind. Boggling.

 

[nicksaviking]

He's a familiar face and knows the Vikings system, I think they've made it abundantly clear at this point that that is the most important attribute a player can have.

[Mike Sixel]

He's a familiar face and knows the Vikings system, I think they've made it abundantly clear at this point that that is the most important attribute a player can have.

I prefer talent and production.... but I'm no GM that misses the playoffs more than I make them, so what do I know?

[Vanimal46]

 

Gotta love pre-draft smoke screen season. You end up with preposterous statements such as this.

[nicksaviking]

 

Gotta love pre-draft smoke screen season. You end up with preposterous statements such as this.

 

Maybe it was a smokescreen, or maybe it was a veiled urging to Spielman to take another cornerback. 

[DocBauer]

I've kind of stayed out of this loop for a while deliberately to see what would happen. And I won't even pretend to understand the complexities of the NFL salary cap..,which will probably jumpy to $200M next year...but it was my understanding that despite some "dead cap" $ involved with players let go, that most all of the re-negotated salaries in place included a lot of various signing bonuses and such that don't count towards the cap. Please tell me if I'm wrong. But it sure sounds like a lot of off the NFL salary cap books being paid out by the Wilf's to me. But there is also a reason why Bryzinski is an assistant GM and very well paid and in demand. Simply, he may be the smartest person in the league when it comes to actually understanding the league and how it's structure works.

 

BUT, in regards to FA, I have a few opinions.

 

1] Losing Reif could hurt badly. But did they have a choice? Maybe. The entire roster needed various help and the reduced cap necessitated moves of some sort. It did for most teams. The Vikings "trusted" in new funds for defensive improvement. Will they prove to be right? Only time will tell.

 

2] On the surface, every defensive player signed is an improvement. Or at least a quality replacement with upside. Woods could be a nice S addition. Replacing Stephan is an improvement. Alexander never should have left. Now he's back. But he's a negative a year removed why? Weatherly should have never been allowed to leave as a nice rotation piece but he's back now as the same and a negative why? The answer is they should have found a way to keep Odenigbo AND bring Weatherly back.

 

Rhodes stunk and then had a sort of re-emurgance with the Colts. But to some, signing Peterson is a mistake. You can't have it both ways. I think Peterson is signed for too much, but not that old at 31 and tons of experience, can you go wrong? Especially if he's ready to impart knowledge to the young CB room?

 

Vigil is a so-so replacement option for Wilson...and Davis and Gedeon, for someone who plays defense 33% of the time. We're just better off signing Wilson back at this point. And he remains unsigned, unless I missed something. Bring him back now for next to nothing.

 

Trading a 6th round pick for the young Mason Cole is not a bad move. And while not a FA move, I include him as an off-season move. Youth and potential to replace the solid but never used Jones is the ONLY reason to make this move. If Spielman has any other intention, then he just moved towards the "hot seat" as the GM.

 

3] I drifted a bit, but re-signing Dozier is either stupidly, or a cheap move for experienced depth you think can get better. Time will tell.

 

7 picks in the first 4 rounds is nothing to dismiss. And Spielan better get it right and just STOP grabbing a "gritty" kid and trust in athletic talent and his scouts and coaches.

 

1] Draft 2 high quality OL. Make up your mind who Cleveland is, G or T. Work around that.

 

2] Draft another talented DE and 3 DT with potential and trust in Patterson. Hell, trust in Patterson's choices!

 

3] Draft the best S you can find and trust in your staff to develop him.

 

4] There COULD BE a QB or 2 in the 3rd 4th round mix that has a lot of potential if allowed to sit and develop the next couple of seasons. Grab him if you really think he's there. Otherwise, just drop it and look for an athletic LB you can work with.

 

5] Assuming no steal at QB by now I may pass for 2021.With 3 picks left I look now at RB, TE, LB and potential 2nd dip at WR.

 

The draft unfolds as it does. And guys you want get snaked away. And potential steals also can come your way. The Vikings are in a great position because they have enough talent right now to draft the best player available. But you can't just dismiss team need either.

 

Spielman has had a couple pretty good recent drafts. His 2020 draft could be tremendous with a little more time. His 2021 Draft could define him.

[Darius]

I’m less worried about the offensive line than most.

 

Brian O’Neil is a stud. I could see Ezra Cleveland taking a second year step like O’Neil did with some experience and added bulk/strength. Although Bradbury will never be an All-Pro, I think another year of experience will serve him well and he could be serviceable.

 

They also have the draft capital the move up. Maybe they move up from 14 to 5-7 range and grab Sewell if he falls. Maybe they take a tackle at 14 then move back up into the second round for a guard.

 

It also wouldn’t surprise me at all if they end up with Orlando Brown. He will be traded on or before draft night.

 

I prefer all of those routes to some subpar free agent like Lamp. The one or two very good guards on the market were never coming here.

[TheLeviathan]

 

I’m less worried about the offensive line than most.

Brian O’Neil is a stud. I could see Ezra Cleveland taking a second year step like O’Neil did with some experience and added bulk/strength. Although Bradbury will never be an All-Pro, I think another year of experience will serve him well and he could be serviceable.

They also have the draft capital the move up. Maybe they move up from 14 to 5-7 range and grab Sewell if he falls. Maybe they take a tackle at 14 then move back up into the second round for a guard.

It also wouldn’t surprise me at all if they end up with Orlando Brown. He will be traded on or before draft night.

I prefer all of those routes to some subpar free agent like Lamp. The one or two very good guards on the market were never coming here.

 

Trading from 14 to 5 or 7 would cost them their first next year and quite a bit more.  All of their capital is too far back in the draft to move up much.

 

Trading for Orlando Brown is possible though.

[Vanimal46]

 

This is one of the better landing places for Darnold, personally. He shouldn’t have a hard time beating out Teddy. This is most likely his last chance to be viewed as a QB1 around the league.

[Mike Sixel]

A decent chance Gladney is cut soon

[TheLeviathan]

 

This is one of the better landing places for Darnold, personally. He shouldn’t have a hard time beating out Teddy. This is most likely his last chance to be viewed as a QB1 around the league.

 

As long as Carolina doesn't hire Adam Gase in any capacity there was nowhere to go but up!

[Mike Sixel]

Now that I realize this is sports.... more likely Gladney is suspended a game or two than cut

[Vanimal46]

Now that I realize this is sports.... more likely Gladney is suspended a game or two than cut

Hard to say right now. Lots more info needs to be vetted in this case. If it’s indeed proven true, I would imagine he’s let go and the Vikes void the rest of his contract.

[Danchat]

Ugh, things look bad for Gladney, and it means we likely wasted yet another high pick on a CB. At least they scooped up Mack Alexander on a minimum deal, as he should be competent. This does bump CB up the needs list a bit... but if Zimmer is in charge in 2022, he'll likely be shooting for another CB in the 1st round.

[nicksaviking]

 

Ugh, things look bad for Gladney, and it means we likely wasted yet another high pick on a CB. At least they scooped up Mack Alexander on a minimum deal, as he should be competent. This does bump CB up the needs list a bit... but if Zimmer is in charge in 2022, he'll likely be shooting for another CB in the 1st round.

 

Why wait until next year? We all now drafting CBs in the first round or two every year is the prudent thing to do.

[TheLeviathan]

I wouldn't even have a problem with drafting first round CBs if we had some roving band of Revis Island types.  But we're more likely to draft duds than studs.  Plus, if you're going to insist they spend a year learning before you play them, it makes sense to draft them lower.

 

This pick needs to be made for the trenches.  I don't care what WR or DB or LB falls to you.  Trenches.

[Vanimal46]

 

Evidently it’s for just $3.5 million. Hindsight being 20/20 I’d rather take that over Virgil.

[Vanimal46]

I wouldn't even have a problem with drafting first round CBs if we had some roving band of Revis Island types. But we're more likely to draft duds than studs. Plus, if you're going to insist they spend a year learning before you play them, it makes sense to draft them lower.

 

This pick needs to be made for the trenches. I don't care what WR or DB or LB falls to you. Trenches.

No doubt, and it looks like the draft will flow well with our needs in the trenches. The top 3 picks are locks at QB, and 4 will be gone in the top 10. At 14 we’ll be positioned to take the 3rd/4th OL or the first EDGE player.

[gunnarthor]

 

No doubt, and it looks like the draft will flow well with our needs in the trenches. The top 3 picks are locks at QB, and 4 will be gone in the top 10. At 14 we’ll be positioned to take the 3rd/4th OL or the first EDGE player.

I'm certainly not an expert but a lot of mock drafts have the Vikings taking some DE from Michigan who oozes tools. I'd be ok with that.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I'm certainly not an expert but a lot of mock drafts have the Vikings taking some DE from Michigan who oozes tools. I'd be ok with that.

 

Cousins won't make it thru the year w/o another new starting OL........

[Vanimal46]

With the draft right around the corner I’ve solidified some of my opinions on this class...

 

Players I will be shocked if they fall out of top 10: OT Penei Sewell, TE Kyle Pitts, OT Rashawn Slater, WR Ja’Marr Chase. And of course the 3 QBs for the first 3 picks.

 

I don’t buy the Mac Jones to SF #3 overall rumor at all. That would be a Ponder-like reach.

 

I think 4 QBs are selected in the first 9 picks, and 5 QBs will be 1st round picks.

 

The players I would be ecstatic for the Vikings to draft:

 

OT Christian Darrisaw

OT Alijah Vera-Tucker

QB Trey Lance

WR Jaylen Waddle

CB Jaycee Horn

[nicksaviking]

I like your players quite a bit.

 

Though to be honest, as much as I like the looks of Horn, I'd still feel some resentment that they went back to that well again because of terrible roster management.

 

As for Waddle, he looks really exciting, but I don't think Cousins will ever look the way of the #3 receiver, and with both Cousins and Thielen now (stupidly) locked in for the next couple of years, I'd think his talents would end up being wasted.

 

Assuming he doesn't fall, I really hope Lance ends up in the AFC somehow.

[TheLeviathan]

I think there is a good chance several of the elite OTs, WRs, and CBs is sitting there at 14.  If so, it puts us in a really good spot to trade back and pick up a 2nd round pick.  

 

There are some nice tackles and guards to pick from in the 2nd and 3rd round.  I'm growing more and more partial to taking a pass rusher and spending the next two picks on OL.  (Someone like Eichenberg, Walker Little, Jackson Carman, Brady Christensen, James Hudson - they all fit our scheme and are good talents)

[gunnarthor]

I think the Vikings will take a big time defensive lineman with their first pick and try to get a guy like Brady Christensen with their next pick. I'd be really surprised if they went with a CB.

[Mike Sixel]

 

I think there is a good chance several of the elite OTs, WRs, and CBs is sitting there at 14.  If so, it puts us in a really good spot to trade back and pick up a 2nd round pick.  

 

There are some nice tackles and guards to pick from in the 2nd and 3rd round.  I'm growing more and more partial to taking a pass rusher and spending the next two picks on OL.  (Someone like Eichenberg, Walker Little, Jackson Carman, Brady Christensen, James Hudson - they all fit our scheme and are good talents)

 

zero. That's the number of OL picked after round 2 by this FO that started more than 1 game for this team. Zero.

[nicksaviking]

zero. That's the number of OL picked after round 2 by this FO that started more than 1 game for this team. Zero.

Sound logic as to why they won’t pick a mid round OL.

 

Also sound logic as to why someone else should be evaluating the OL by now.

[Mike Sixel]

Sound logic as to why they won’t pick a mid round OL.

 

Also sound logic as to why someone else should be evaluating the OL by now.

100 percent on that second part!

[TheLeviathan]

zero. That's the number of OL picked after round 2 by this FO that started more than 1 game for this team. Zero.

I said 2nd round....didnt I?

 

Also, your point isn't even accurate. I take your point but it'd by nice if the reverse was true too.

 

There is depth to take OL later in this draft.  Pass rushers are mostly going to be gone by pick 35.  And this team desperately needs pass rush help.