Tag: Rick Spielman

Posted on

Reid Johnson Vikings Mock Draft

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The 2021 NFL Draft is only a few days away, and the Minnesota Vikings have several positions they’re hoping to address with their 10 picks. Channelling my inner Rick Spielman, I tried my hand at a mock draft using the Pro Football Focus Draft Simulator…

The simulator can be found here: https://www.pff.com/draft/nfl-mock-draft-simulator

Most of the mock drafts I’ve seen in articles and on social media include so many trades that they become quite unrealistic. To keep it simple, I stuck with the picks that the Vikings currently own.

My results:

ROUND 1 – PICK 14 OVERALL

Christian Darrisaw, T/G, Virginia Tech

ROUND 3 – PICK 78 OVERALL

Kendrick Green, G, Illinois

After years of offensive line turmoil, I attempted to fix the Minnesota offensive line with two early picks. Christian Darrisaw is a highly ranked prospect that can play tackle or guard thanks to his good technique and athleticism. I would play him at guard, and move second year player Ezra Cleveland to left tackle where he belongs. 

Green isn’t as big a name as Darrisaw, but he can shore up whatever guard position remains open. The Illinois product is on the smaller side at 6’2”, but the Vikings prefer linemen who have good technique and are mobile rather than oversized maulers.

ROUND 3 – PICK 90 OVERALL

Tay Gowan, CB, Central Florida

With Jeff Gladney’s future uncertain due to a recent arrest, I needed to address corner right away. The Vikings already have three bonafide starters in Cam Dantzler, Patrick Peterson, and Mackenzie Alexander, but the team was only one injury away from being in big trouble. I’ve watched plenty of film on Gowan, and I love the way he defends receivers on deep routes and rips at the ball after catches. He also plays with good instincts in zone and is sure-handed on interceptions.

ROUND 4 – PICK 119 OVERALL

Cade Johnson, WR, South Dakota State

Some mock drafts have the Vikings taking a wide receiver in round one. Minnesota already has plenty of great pass catchers, so I waited until round four to nab an exciting small school player in Cade Johnson. At 5’10” and 175 lbs, Johnson is a great modern-day shifty wide receiver. He didn’t play in 2020 due to covid concerns, but in 2019 and 2018, he tallied eight and 17 touchdowns, respectively. He should be very healthy after a year off from football.

ROUND 4 – PICK 125 OVERALL

Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota

Being that I am University of Minnesota alumni, I couldn’t pass on corner Benjamin St. Juste when he fell in my lap midway through the fourth. He was a lone bright spot on the Gophers defense this past year with his good physicality, and he rounds out a revamped Vikings cornerback group.

https://twitter.com/BillyM_91/status/1354859228335403008

ROUND 4 – PICK 134 OVERALL

Tommy Tremble, TE, Notre Dame

With Kyle Rudolph in New England, the Vikings are once again in the market for a mid-round tight end. They already have Tyler Conklin and Irv Smith Jr., but Minnesota loves three tight end sets. Tommy Tremble is from a winning culture at Notre Dame (coincidentally the same school Kyle Rudolph went to), and his addition will create good friendly competition amongst the young Minnesota tight ends. 

ROUND 4 – PICK 143 OVERALL

Jonathon Cooper, DE, Ohio State

Without messing with trades, I didn’t see a good opportunity to nab a pass rusher until this point. I use my last fourth round pick on Jonathon Cooper and trust that defensive line coach Andre Patterson can coach him up. He had 3.5 sacks in a covid-hampered 2020, and I’m hoping he can boost those figures in the north. Like Tremble, Cooper is comes from a winning culture in Ohio State.

ROUND 5 – PICK 157 OVERALL

Damar Hamlin, S, Pitt

The Vikings added Xavier Woods in free agency, but their safety cupboards are still pretty bare. Damar Hamlin has some good reviews (and six picks) out of Pitt, and he can be mentored by All-Pro safety Harrison Smith.

ROUND 5 – PICK 168 OVERALL

Derrick Barnes, LB, Purdue

Minnesota’s linebacking corps is in pretty good shape with Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks, but at this point in the draft, it makes sense to add some depth in Derrick Barnes. Clearly I value Big Ten players.

ROUND 6 – PICK 199 OVERALL

Chauncey Golston, DE, Iowa

Surprise surprise, another Big Ten athlete to cap off my draft. Chauncey Golston of Iowa is very raw, but he has a long 6’5” frame and managed 5 and a half sacks in his covid-shortened senior year. Again, the Vikings are good at developing defensive ends, and he’ll at least make for a good training camp body.

Overall, I was very pleased with this mock draft. I avoided temptations and stuck to addressing actual needs. The offensive line should be the best it’s been in recent years after my two high selections, while I wish I had nabbed a defensive end earlier in the draft. It also might have been nice to pick up a running back, or maybe a kicker late in the draft, but those can wait until undrafted free agency.

Stay tuned to see if any of my picks come to fruition! Last year, I was right that the Vikings would draft Harrison Hand, so you never know…

Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or subscribe for free HERE

Posted on

Vikings NOT Desperate for a Defensive End

With the cap having gone down this year, the Minnesota Vikings had even less money to spend on free agents. The 2021 draft is coming up fast, and Minnesota’s selections will make or break their season. Contrary to popular belief, the Vikings should not draft a defensive end early.

The number one priority in this draft should be offensive line. Whether it’s a guard, tackle, or both, GM Rick Spielman needs to add another premiere body to that position group. The team is paying Kirk Cousins over 30 million this year, and he must be protected to maximize his performance.

Now let’s take a look a look at the current defensive ends on the roster ranked by skill (in my opinion):

  1. Danielle Hunter
  2. DJ Wonnum
  3. Stephen Weatherly
  4. Hercules Mata’afa
  5. Jalyn Holmes
  6. Jordan Brailford

      ?. Kenny Willekes (injured all of last year)

Reports say Danielle Hunter is recovering well from last season’s injury, so he will be starting almost every down.

DJ Wonnum proved Minnesota scouts right with his performance last year. In limited reps (on the field for 30% of defensive snaps), he played at a very high level. Wonnum was able to defeat blocks with his hands, turn the corner on tackles, and get to the quarterback. He tallied three sacks as a rookie, and he deserves a much bigger role. It’s too early to call him the next Danielle Hunter, but we’ll never know if he’s buried on the depth chart by a first-round defensive end.

Stephen Weatherly will likely split snaps with Wonnum. He’s not the flashiest player, but Weatherly is actually one of the smartest football players you’ll meet, per some specials the Vikings Entertainment Network has done on him. He brings great experience to the defensive line as a sixth-year player.

Players lower on the depth chart have some intrigue too. Several of them are entering contract years, so you’d expect them to be putting it all on the line. Kenny Willekes has never played an NFL snap before because of an injury, but he received plenty of praise coming out of Michigan State.

Aside from the team’s true defensive ends, the Vikings have great defensive tackles and other players on defense capable of blitzing that should be used more in that role. Recent acquisitions Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson will be extremely difficult to block up front. Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith are quick and crafty when sent after the quarterback, so Minnesota would be better off using their pass rush skills than spending a draft pick on a new defensive end.

As tempting as it will be to draft an exciting new defensive end, the Vikings are much better off using their first round pick elsewhere.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or subscribe for free email updates HERE.

Posted on

Vikings Biggest Offseason Need

Let’s Reid between the lines…

The Minnesota Vikings have several needs this offseason, but the biggest is their offensive line. It’s easy to see that the line needs work, but the problem is deeper than one player, one coach, or a rearrangement. It’s all three.

Right off the bat, it’s questionable that the Vikings have five starting-caliber offensive linemen on their roster. The unit as a whole struggled most of last season, but the most glaring weakness was at left guard, where Dakota Dozier was at times the lowest ranked guard in the league. Having five all-pros is a lot to ask, but having someone who is the worst ranked just shouldn’t happen. 

My next concern is coaching and management. The Vikings offensive line coach Rick Dennison and general manager Rick Spielman aren’t very flexible. They started Dozier at guard week after week with poor results. When the line saw some injuries, backup guard Brett Jones came out of the woodwork and looked solid in action. Jones’ overall blocking grade was a 77.6, while Dozier’s was only 44.6. You would think that would earn Jones a promotion from the bench long term, but it did not.

Overall, I think Spielman is a good general manager, but he has his flaws. Offensive line strategy is one of them. Going forward, Spielman must orchestrate faster change when things aren’t working, and hire a coaching staff with the same ideology. If the front office can find an up and coming offensive line coach who would be more flexible than Dennison, it may be smart to add them to the staff for another perspective.

The Vikings offensive line has been sub-par for nearly a decade. Dennison and Spielman need to open their minds, play the players who are performing best, and rearrange the line when nothing is working.

You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or subscribe for free HERE for more content. SKOL!

Posted on

What’s Happening With Mike Hughes?

Let’s Reid between the lines…

Before this season, analysts declared cornerback the most uncertain position for the Vikings. The team would be fielding several rookies, along with a few young veterans. Former first-round pick Mike Hughes was the most experienced corner on the roster, but few had confidence in his play.

Let’s see where this lack of confidence in Hughes came from and if it’s warranted:

Hughes was somewhat of a surprising pick by the Vikings in the 2018 draft. The team already had a full stable of corners with Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander, as well as more pressing needs on the offensive line. Nonetheless, Mike Zimmer loves corners, and Rick Spielman saw an opportunity to get more than just a corner.

The idea was to ease Hughes into action on defense, while utilizing him immediately in another phase of the game. Prolific kick returner Cordarelle Patterson had recently left for Oakland via free agency, and Hughes had had success as a return-man in college (at the University of Central Florida). 

While Hughes wouldn’t get many chances to play corner right away, fans were excited to see him on special teams.

Unfortunately, Hughes tore his ACL during week six of his rookie season (2018) in one of his few reps at corner, so we never saw how his year would unfold at either position. Hughes had surgery and came back for the 2019 season, but after his injury, coaches were hesitant to use him as a returner anymore. With the aforementioned corners still on the roster, the second-year player only saw limited action at corner. 

Sadly, a broken vertebrae in his neck ended his second season (2019) right before the playoffs. Had the injury not happened, we would have seen a bigger sample size due to other corners being injured.

This offseason. Spielman decided to let Rhodes, Waynes, and Alexander walk, so 2020 looked to be Hughes’ year. Unfortunately, another neck injury sidelined Hughes during weeks three and four, and it’s unclear if he has been hampered by it all season. In the games he has played, the third-year corner hasn’t stood apart from the rookies.

From what we have seen of Hughes at corner (in all three years), he often falls behind his receiver in man coverage, or is late to his assignment in zone plays. Hughes also doesn’t appear to be physical enough for the Mike Zimmer defense, as he rarely wins jump-balls.

Pro Football Focus gives Hughes an average overall grade of 54.4, but you expect more from a first-rounder. It looks like the analysts were right. The Vikings are weak at corner, and Spielman is probably kicking himself for letting his veterans walk.

For content between articles, you can follow us on Twitter or Instagram. Subscribe for free HERE to get email notifications of new articles.

Posted on

Do The Vikings Have A Safety Situation?

The Minnesota Vikings lay claim to perhaps the best safety duo in the league. This accolade has distracted some from the fact that there is little to no depth behind the two starters, so it’s time to take a closer look at the situation. But, being that we’re optimists, let’s also guzzle some purple Kool-Aid and find those sweet silver linings.

First things first… Anthony Harris and Harrison Smith, or “Harris and Smith” as some have tabbed them, are the definition of elite NFL talent. Look around, and you will be hard pressed to find the level of consistency, football smarts, and athletic ability that these two possess. Vikings fans can be proud to have them in Purple, and the rest of this article becomes irrelevant if neither of them gets hurt.

Behind the dynamic duo, the Vikings have four more safeties on the training camp roster, and they typically carry four total during the regular season. These players are:

Myles Dorn

Josh Metallus

Steven Parker

Dan Chisena

At first glance, it’s concerning to see no household names. However, if there had to be one position on the team, or any football team not to be deep, safety is a good choice. It’s not a skill position on offense, the players aren’t protecting the quarterback via the offensive line, and it’s not one where the athletes are having physical contact on every down (i.e. defensive line).

Three of the aforementioned players are rookies, so naturally the one more experienced player, Steven Parker, stands out to me. In only 14 games with the Miami Dolphins last year, four of which he started, Parker defended three passes and tallied two picks. Not bad for someone who went undrafted out of Oklahoma. It’s a small sample size, but he’s certainly shown flashes of talent. Perhaps Minnesota’s defensive backs coaches, or Mike Zimmer himself, can help develop Parker.

Dan Chisena is another player to watch. Chisena started training camp as a wide receiver, and he was recently switched to strong safety. Position switches rarely work out in the long run, but rarely is better than never. A prime example on the home team where a switch worked out was with CJ Ham, who came into 2016 training camp as a running back, and earned a practice squad spot as a bruising fullback. Look where he is now. 

Richard Sherman is a great example outside of Minnesota who has had a fruitful career after making a position switch (wide receiver to corner). Late in his career, the All-Pro is now considering another switch, this time to safety.

If the coaching staff are unable to develop these young backups into NFL-ready players during this turbulent time of COVID-19, don’t rule out GM Rick Spielman bringing in an outsider. The Vikings ran into some similar depth issues late last year, so they brought back Andrew Sendejo in a pinch. Not ideal, but it could absolutely be done.

A final alternative in the event of an injury would be to alter the defensive scheme. Given that he has a bounty of corners to work with, Zimmer and his defensive coordinators could switch to a single-high safety look that incorporates an extra corner. Zim always talks about trying new wrinkles, and this one would kill two birds with one stone.

Keep an eye on Minnesota’s safeties this season. Hopefully there doesn’t end up being a situation, but if there is, the Vikings are in safe hands with Zimmer and Spielman.

Posted on

Vikings Have Viable Options Around Corner

With the losses of Xavier Rhodes, Trae Waynes, and Mackensie Alexander, it will be a new era of Vikings cornerbacks starting this season. Some analysts have already discounted Minnesota’s defense as a pretender vs. contender, but fans should actually be as excited as ever for what’s to come.

Before we explore the many reasons why Minnesota’s new generation of corners are more than capable, let’s pay homage to the trio of playmakers that are moving on. Xavier Rhodes became a household name during his time in the Mike Zimmer defense, using his physical play-style and long arms to shut down the NFL’s best receivers. Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander took some time to work their way into starting roles, but they ultimately used their speed and athleticism to lock up foes. Many are sad to see them go, especially considering the latter two have plenty of gas left in the tank, but that’s the name of the NFL and its respective rosters – not for long.

Now, let’s take a look at the new guys… both rookies and players who weren’t previously consistent starters. These are the Vikings corners who should make the 53-man roster:

Mike Hughes – 5’10” – 189 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Holton Hill – 6’2” – 196 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Jeff Gladney – 5’10” – 197 – 23 yrs – Rookie

Cam Dantzler – 6’2” – 188 – 21 yrs – Rookie

Kris Boyd – 5’11” – 200 – 23 yrs – Returning Player

Harrison Hand – 5’11” – 197 – 21 yrs – Rookie

The first and probably most important thing we notice within the group is their build. Most of the players are under six feet tall and 200 pounds, and the two who are over in height are under in weight. Today’s NFL favors shifty receivers who can quickly change direction (i.e. Tyreek Hill, Stefon Diggs) and quick, nimble corners are well suited to keep up with these players. Aside from when he would match up against bigger receivers, Rhodes really struggled these past two years. For reference, he is a larger corner at 6’1” and 215 pounds, so his ability to mirror receivers declined drastically as he approached 30.

With Minnesota’s cap space being marginal at best, (at least until Michael Pierce opted out of this season), the team chose not to bring in or retain any veterans at this position. With the oldest player(s) being 23, it is clearly a youthful group. Personally, I think this is a good approach, so the group can grow together, and the team can avoid any controversy that comes with deciding when it’s time for the young guns to start over veterans. With youth also comes athleticism… as was noted earlier.

Important measurables with corners aren’t restricted to just their height. Arm length is just as important as height, and many of these players are above average in this category. Holton Hill and Jeff Gladney have the longest arms of the group, which is notable that they may both be the Vikings outside starters this year. Regardless of where they play, all have very desirable traits for the position, and they should be able to play inside or outside interchangeably in the event of injuries.

In this group of corners, it may seem as though Zimmer is willing to sacrifice physicality for quickness and lateral agility. That’s not really the case. 

If you watch game tape from any of the players in this group, it becomes very clear that they aren’t afraid to get physical. Hill and Gladney in particular are eager to execute hard hits, and they can also be used effectively in blitzes. Cam Dantler fits this aggressive but disciplined mold too, and I have high expectations for him as a third-round rookie. Also keep your eyes on Mike Hughes, who has battled injuries early in his career, but fits the modern day mold for a corner very well.

Despite what some may tell you, there is a lot to be excited about with the Vikings defense this year. Much of that is thanks to the promising players at the cornerback position, and it will be a great unit to watch compete amongst themselves and against opposing offenses this season.

Whether the season happens or not, you don’t want to miss any Minnesota Vikings content! You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or subscribe for free HERE

Posted on

No Need to Fear, Dalvin Cook is Staying Right Here

With the recent news that Dalvin Cook is holding out until he receives a new contract, Vikings fans are in a flurry. Many analysts are acting as though this is a shocking revelation, but this is not at all the case, nor should anyone get too riled up by the reports. Read on to understand why.

It is almost no surprise Cook is not planning to participate in team activities until he sees a new contract. Players at the NFL level have the right to do so, and although the new collective bargaining agreement brings players the possibility of fines or voided contracts, holdouts still are happening. Now, that doesn’t mean fans, coaches, and general managers have to like them, but they are hardly the boldest move a player can make. Want to see bold and controversial? Try not participating in team activities because you don’t like the model of your helmet (cough cough, Antonio Brown). Sheesh.

Not to mention, expecting Cook to play on what’s left of his rookie deal (roughly 2 million this year) is really a stretch of the imagination. Running back is an extremely high risk position where players tend to have shorter careers anyways. Cook is right to be looking for his “big payday” now that he has established himself.

Hearing that Cook’s camp was initially asking for top dollar ($16 million per year) was actually very predictable, assuming the reports were even true. Although he has missed many games over his first three seasons because of injuries, it is obvious that Cook is a very special running back, and he will be on the top of stat sheets for years to come. Expecting Rick Spielman and the Vikings to shell out 16 mil was/is unrealistic, but of course his agent was going to start high. That’s his job.

The latest reports say both sides are being flexible, and Cook’s camp has already lowered their asking price to 13 mil. Although this number is likely still a bit too high for Spielman’s liking, fans need not worry about getting a deal done this week, or even this month. With Coronavirus still prevalent, players literally cannot even show up to the practice field. The team should survive if Cook misses a couple Zoom meetings.

But, what if the two sides can’t reach an agreement by opening kickoff? This scenario is highly unlikely given Cook’s humble nature and the presence of salary cap wizard Rob Brzezinski on the Vikings staff, but let’s tool around with the idea. A prolonged Cook holdout would leave Minnesota with Alexander Mattison, Mike Boone, Ameer Abdullah, and C.J. Ham to tote the ball. Not the worst group of runners you’ve ever seen, eh? If you’re not convinced, these stats/notes should do you in:

  • Mattison boasted 4.6 yards per attempt his rookie year… Cook performed only marginally better at 4.8
  • Boone is absolutely on the rise. After going undrafted in 2018, the Vikings felt so strongly for Cook in 2019 that they turned down a fifth-round draft pick from the Eagles. He tallied almost 300 yards rushing in 2019 as the third-string back.
  • Abdullah may not light up the stat sheet, but he is a do-it-all running back still in his prime at 26 years old.
  • Ham is a silent gamechanger who can be loud when needed. Another player on the upswing, Ham earned his first Pro Bowl invitation last year, and he without a doubt was a significant factor in Cook’s big year. The stout, burly blocker can also catch passes… just check out his 36 yard catch and run against the Seahawks last season! – (https://www.vikings.com/video/ham-rumbles-for-36-yard-gain-on-pass-from-cousins)
  • Offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak has a track record of turning average running backs into dependable playmakers in his system

Again, don’t be fearful… as Voice of the Vikings Paul Allen would say, be FAITHFUL. With Spielman’s leadership, Zimmer’s interest in the running back position, and Brzezinski being in Minnesota, Cook is all but guaranteed to wear purple for years to come. Mark my words, the Vikings will find a way to conjure up some cash for their lead back.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Subscribe for free to stay in the loop on Minnesota Vikings lore!

Posted on

An Open Letter to Vikings Fans

To Vikings fanatics and Green Bay refugees everywhere,

Without a doubt, this has been a tough year. Coronavirus has torn apart our country, and in the midst of the pandemic, Vikings fans are pinned inside watching their purple heroes walk out the door. It would be easy to be pessimistic right now, but this is no time to get down on our favorite team. Instead, we must forge ahead towards a new beginning.

Like it or not, we are Minnesota sports fans, and we have been beaten down before. Aside from the Twins and Lynx, there haven’t been many titles won in this state. Heck, the Timberwolves and Wild may never finish their seasons, and who knows if the Twins will ever start. Let’s have some perspective and be grateful that the Vikings have a good chance of actually starting their season on time.

It is truly amazing how quickly things can change. One minute you’re enjoying a burger in downtown Minneapolis, and the next you can’t leave your house without a hazmat suit. One year, Stefon Diggs is your miracle man. The next? You know the drill… He’s making controversial Instagram posts and getting shipped to Buffalo. Didn’t see that one coming after a certain play in January of 2018.

Now, it’s easy to be sad about the loss, or blame GM Rick Spielman for pulling the trigger on a polarizing trade. Let’s be honest with ourselves. Diggs wasn’t who we thought he was, or at least he changed very quickly and drastically. He made it painfully clear what he wanted and had done so for some time. It was time for Spielman to listen. All we can do is be thankful for the memories he brought us. Some open cap space and a few draft picks are pretty nice too.

Diggs isn’t the only one we had to let go. Three corners, all starters in fact, will be donning different colors for the first time in each of their careers. Don’t even get me started on the safety situation. How hard do you think it was for Mike Zimmer, cornerback guru, to see his beloved draftees, as well as a former all-pro go out the door? I can only imagine. Thank goodness he had the foresight to draft a first-round corner and take an undrafted gamble on another. See, that’s the mindset we need. Zimmer and Spielman built the old team from rubble, and they can craft a new one too.

This is the important part, the new beginning. Yes, we’re talking about the 2020 NFL Draft. It’s only weeks away, and it will be the most critical channel for bringing in new talent this year. Don’t sell Spielman short, as he picked up a couple of good players in free agency. That said, the meat and potatoes come from college recruits. Zimmer has acknowledged that football is a young man’s game, and I believe he was warning us that this team was getting old.

Wow, with the losses of seven starters, the draft is really starting to look like a do or die arena, huh? Well, perhaps, depending on your perspective. If Spielman puts on his Ray Bans and rolls the dice like a riverboat gambler, he might pot enough talent to get Cousins and the crew back to the playoffs. If not? Fans accept the reality of not having instant gratification and wait a year or two for the young guns to develop. It’s not nearly as fun as proving people wrong, but it is a reality we must prepare for. 

Either way, this team isn’t rolling over and playing dead. Both Zimmer and Spielman are in a contract year, so they must prove their ability to get this team on the upswing. If not? There are plenty of coaches, some in house, who would love to be in their shoes.

In closing, I’ll put my money on slick Rick in the draft, and Zimmer on the field. There are vacancies to be filled, but I think we should view every week, every game, and every hurdle this year as an opportunity for this team to grow, and we can also embrace being the underdog. It was without a doubt difficult to see some old friends go, but they brought us many good memories while they were here, and they are giving Minnesota the chance for a new beginning.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or Subscribe for free for more Minnesota Vikings content

Posted on

Is Harris a High Priority for the Purple Defense?

Before the 2020 off-season began, I was all aboard the Anthony Harris hype train. It was for good reason, as Harris tied for the league lead in interceptions last year, and he was the definition of homegrown, undrafted talent. Given his story and rise to stardom, I, along with many other Vikings fans, believed Anthony Harris should be one of the team’s top priorities this off-season. But, after reviewing Mike Zimmer’s defensive values, and looking at the teams that made it to the Super Bowl, I no longer think that is the case.

First and foremost, it should be established that I am a huge fan of Harris. As a matter of fact, he has been my favorite current Viking for two years, and it is hard to know he might have to go. It really does seem like him leaving is inevitable though, given Minnesota’s undesirable cap situation, and comments made by head coach Mike Zimmer at the NFL scouting combine.

When speaking to reporters, Zimmer said: “I love Anthony. If he doesn’t come back, I think he’s earned everything he’s got, but if you put up the positions most important on defense, it’s probably not going to be safety.”

Defensive linemen and linebackers tend to be more valuable in Zimmer’s, and most modern NFL schemes, so the Vikings have previously used their high draft capital to target these positions. Look at the two contestants in last year’s Super Bowl. Both defensive lines were laced with talent, especially the runner up 49ers. The Vikings were more or less overrun by guys like Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner, and these players continued to wreak havoc all through the playoffs.

Someone may initially disagree with the previous statement of the Vikings not valuing safeties, pointing to success stories like Smith, Harris, and Andrew Sendejo in recent years. If you look closer, you will notice that Zimmer inherited Smith from the Frazier regime, and both Harris and Sendejo were undrafted free agents who developed over time. Moral of the story: Zimmer has proven he can develop players at this position, and he hasn’t given much draft priority to safeties.

No doubt, both Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman would love to have Harris back and playing alongside veteran Harrison Smith. However, Harris has proven himself as a top-notch player at his position, and he is due for a big payday. Unfortunately, the Vikings likely can’t afford it. 

The only way I can see Minnesota retaining Harris is by using the franchise tag, which would keep him with the Vikings for one more year, but at a high price. When the franchise tag is used, the instating team must pay that player the average salary of the top five players in the league at that position.

If Spielman believed there would be money available for Harris further down the road, this might be smart, but there is no reason to count on that coming to fruition. Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook are entering the last year of their current deals, and they will also demand a large portion of the Vikings salary cap. They are also likely more valuable to the team as point scorers on offense.

As much as fans love Harris, he likely isn’t a high priority for Spielman and Zimmer. Maybe, and we can only hope, money will be found or the franchise tag will be used, as it is painful to let a homegrown star go. Stay tuned to see how the story unfolds.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or subscribe for free today.

Posted on

Risks and Rewards of Moving Riley Reiff

The off-season is in full swing, and that means Vikings general manager Rick Spielman is making plans for the 2020 Vikings. One of the biggest talking points has been the left side of the offensive line, and specifically, whether or not Spielman should move veteran left tackle Riley Reiff to guard. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of making that move, and ultimately decide if that would be a good move or not.

For those who aren’t very familiar with Minnesota’s starting left tackle, here’s some quick background information. Reiff was a first round pick back in 2012, and he spent five years with the Detroit Lions before being brought to the Vikings in March of 2017.

Reiff has been a good left tackle for Minnesota. He was most definitely an upgrade from the likes of T.J. Clemmings, Matt Khalil, and Jeremiah Sirles. The trouble is, he is indeed a very average tackle. Spielman can be applauded for making an upgrade at the position, but it came at a price. Currently, Reiff is scheduled to make over $13 million in 2020, and many fans believe the Vikings should be getting a top-notch tackle at that price. With that quandary and a small budget, these are the routes Slick Rick could choose to go:

  • Cut Reiff, save $8.6 million, lose $4.4 million in dead cap
  • Trade Reiff (likely difficult to find a suitor)
  • Move Reiff to left guard in hopes he plays better there
  • Convince Reiff to restructure his deal as either a tackle or guard

Fans and analysts alike are torn over the option of moving Reiff to guard. There is sound reasoning to move him to guard, but there are also obvious reasons not to. Check out a breakdown below:

Potential PROS of moving Reiff to guard

  • Makes former left guard Pat Elflein more expendable, as Elflein could be cut to open up some cap space
  • Gives Reiff an opportunity to try and potentially thrive at a new (likely easier) position late in his career
  • Gives current right tackle Brian O’Neill and opportunity to switch to left tackle
  • Keeps Reiff on the team, no dead cap from a cut

Potential CONS of moving Reiff to guard

  • Previous attempts at moving tackles to guard have failed (Mike Remmers)
  • Reiff’s current deal is more appropriately priced for tackle, and it would make him one of the most expensive guards
  • Reiff is a veteran and it is very late in his career to learn a new position
  • Reiff is a good left tackle, and there is no guarantee Spielman could upgrade that position in the draft or free agency
  • A move could disturb continuity on the line and create a bigger learning curve during the offseason

With the pros and cons in mind, I see two obvious and much safer options than an attempted move to guard. It would make the most sense to keep Reiff at tackle and be satisfied with his average play, or cut him and gamble on drafting the left tackle of the future. Free agency doesn’t even seem to be on the table given Minnesota’s deplorable cap situation.

To me, the draft makes the most sense. It’s risky, but using a high pick on a left tackle at least gives the Vikings an opportunity to improve at the position, or find the same level of talent for less money, while it also saves some cap space for spending elsewhere. Given his pretty solid drafting resume, I trust Spielman to go and get the right athlete to bookend the offensive line. 

There’s a chance Spielman may feel the need to wheel and deal to move up in the first round, but that also might not be the case. Remember, he was able to nab Brian O’Neill in the second round, and O’Neill has truly been a savior for the opposite side of the line. Only time will tell, but I hope the Vikings take their shot at another exciting young tackle.

You can follow us on Twitter, Instagram, or subscribe for free to stay up to date on offseason Vikings lore.

Proudly powered by WordPress