All Things 2024 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

Here's the plan.

Draft a DT, either Murphy or Newton. Maybe trade down to get one of those 2 and acquire another pick.

Draft CB or interior OL in Round 2. Draft both if they traded down and obtained a 2nd Rounder.

Sign a "bridge" QB with internal intent to lose, but sell it publicly.

Lose a lot next year, but have good talent on offense and an improving defense.

Draft Ewers or Sanders next year.
I wouldn’t say no to a RB upgrade - Austin Eckler is still available.
 

Vikings reinforce defense in free agency, making deals with Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman

Hours into the start of the NFL's negotiating window, the Vikings are adding edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and bringing home former Gophers linebacker Blake Cashman.

The Vikings wasted little time Monday securing help for their defense on the day they lost their starting quarterback.

Just hours into the start of the NFL's free agent negotiating window, the team agreed to terms with two edge rushers: the Texans' Jonathan Greenard and Dolphins' Andrew Van Ginkel, according to sources with knowledge of the deals.

The Vikings are also bringing home linebacker Blake Cashman, the former Texans, Gophers and Eden Prairie linebacker, on a three-year deal worth up to $25.5 million, a league source said.

The additions are expected to plug a few holes the Vikings could see in free agency. Edge rushers Danielle Hunter, Marcus Davenport and D.J. Wonnum, as well as linebacker Jordan Hicks, are among the defenders on expiring contracts.

Greenard, a third-round pick in the 2020 draft, is the big addition poised to replace Hunter, who is free to negotiate with other teams for the first time. Greenard, who turns 27 in May, agreed to a four-year deal worth up to $76 million.

Greenard broke out for the Texans in coach DeMeco Ryans' first season, posting 12½ sacks while ranking eighth in the league in run-stop percentage among edge defenders, according to Pro Football Focus. His signing gives the Vikings a proven pass rusher when the top of their 2023 depth chart, from Hunter to Wonnum, can sign elsewhere..
 

Vikings reinforce defense in free agency, making deals with Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman

Hours into the start of the NFL's negotiating window, the Vikings are adding edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and bringing home former Gophers linebacker Blake Cashman.

The Vikings wasted little time Monday securing help for their defense on the day they lost their starting quarterback..

"Eventually we just ran out of depth," Adofo-Mensah said Feb. 27 at the NFL Scouting Combine. "We didn't have enough to overcome. Injuries happen in this sport and it's my job to build the two-deep [depth chart], the special teams, the player development, all these different things to overcome the adversity that can happen in a season. We didn't do that, and that's something we'll keep working towards."

The Vikings also worked quickly to fortify their offensive line depth on Monday; re-signing David Quessenberry and Blake Brandel.

Quessenberry, 33, stepped into the swing tackle role last season and fared well in four starts. The terms of his contract were not immediately available.

Brandel, 27, started two games at right guard last season. He was a restricted free agent who is expected to have received the low-level tender worth nearly $3 million for next season. He'll be an unrestricted free agent in 2025..
 

I don't buy it.

The Falcons' offer was good, not great. The Vikings could have easily beat that or matched it.

I don't think there was ever any serious intent to keep him.

Wait, 4 years at $45 million was just a good, not great offer for a 35 year old QB coming off of a torn achilles? You think the Vikings could have gone higher? No way.
 



So where are we with the cap assuming Hunter doesn't come back?
 

Here's the plan.

Draft a DT, either Murphy or Newton. Maybe trade down to get one of those 2 and acquire another pick.

Draft CB or interior OL in Round 2. Draft both if they traded down and obtained a 2nd Rounder.

Sign a "bridge" QB with internal intent to lose, but sell it publicly.

Lose a lot next year, but have good talent on offense and an improving defense.

Draft Ewers or Sanders next year.
All these defensive signings tell me they are going all-in on QB with their first pick (and maybe using other picks to trade up).
 

Still need a DT, CB and maybe a safety.
Their second round pick is at 42 overall, right about where Nubin has been mocked (some have him in the first, but many have him in the top half of the second).

Their next pick is 107. IMO, safety is a bit easier to find a credible player in rounds 3/4 than CB. If Kool-Aid or fair catch DeJean fall to 42, I'd snatch them up.

That's assuming they feel good about getting their QB at 11 and don't have to trade up. How much would Denver pay to leap frog the Vikes from 12 to 10? They don't have a 2nd rounder this year, would they be able to jump two spots for just a third rounder (76th overall)?
 

Here's the plan.

Draft a DT, either Murphy or Newton. Maybe trade down to get one of those 2 and acquire another pick.

Draft CB or interior OL in Round 2. Draft both if they traded down and obtained a 2nd Rounder.

Sign a "bridge" QB with internal intent to lose, but sell it publicly.

Lose a lot next year, but have good talent on offense and an improving defense.

Draft Ewers or Sanders next year.
Works for me.
 




Wow.

Minshew to the Raiders. Raiders going to roll with Minshew Mania and Aidan O'Connell. Not a bad move, it would have been incredibly cost prohibitive for them to move up to draft a QB, even more than the Vikings
 

Wow.

Minshew to the Raiders. Raiders going to roll with Minshew Mania and Aidan O'Connell. Not a bad move, it would have been incredibly cost prohibitive for them to move up to draft a QB, even more than the Vikings
When you gonna grab your Minshew jersey?

QB Gardner Minshew and the Raiders have agreed to terms on a two-year, $25 million deal that includes $15 million fully guaranteed, per a league source.

Perfect fit for Raiders culture and Vegas!
 






True. Just wouldn't overpay for one.
Barkley got $12.5 AAV and $26MM guaranteed. Josh Jacobs got $12 AAV and $12.5MM guaranteed. Pollard got $8 AAV - can't find guaranteed money on his contract. Swift got $8 AAV and $15.3MM guaranteed. Assuming Eckler is trying to get closer to Barkley money and why he's not signed yet.

Blake Corum is mocked in the 3-5th rounds. I'd look his direction if he's there at 107. Not a super-high ceiling, but he's got a reasonably high floor, and would be ready day 1. Or throw a band-aid at the position this year and look to the draft in '25. If they think Ackers will be ready for opening day, I'm good rolling the dice on him and waiting a year to address RB and go all defense (except QB).
 

Barkley got $12.5 AAV and $26MM guaranteed. Josh Jacobs got $12 AAV and $12.5MM guaranteed. Pollard got $8 AAV - can't find guaranteed money on his contract. Swift got $8 AAV and $15.3MM guaranteed. Assuming Eckler is trying to get closer to Barkley money and why he's not signed yet.

They said that the rest of the unsigned RBs, are waiting for higher numbers, including Henry.
Blake Corum is mocked in the 3-5th rounds. I'd look his direction if he's there at 107. Not a super-high ceiling, but he's got a reasonably high floor, and would be ready day 1. Or throw a band-aid at the position this year and look to the draft in '25. If they think Ackers will be ready for opening day, I'm good rolling the dice on him and waiting a year to address RB and go all defense (except QB).
Corum would be interesting, reminds me of a poor man’s McCaffrey.
 
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How is Justin Jefferson feeling about recent events? Has anyone heard?
 


Barkley got $12.5 AAV and $26MM guaranteed. Josh Jacobs got $12 AAV and $12.5MM guaranteed. Pollard got $8 AAV - can't find guaranteed money on his contract. Swift got $8 AAV and $15.3MM guaranteed. Assuming Eckler is trying to get closer to Barkley money and why he's not signed yet.

Blake Corum is mocked in the 3-5th rounds. I'd look his direction if he's there at 107. Not a super-high ceiling, but he's got a reasonably high floor, and would be ready day 1. Or throw a band-aid at the position this year and look to the draft in '25. If they think Ackers will be ready for opening day, I'm good rolling the dice on him and waiting a year to address RB and go all defense (except QB).
Corum would be interesting. Think I'd also spend a 4th on him. For sure a 5th.
 


I wouldn't rule out O'Connell beating out Minshew for the starting gig honestly. We'll see what happens.

That's another piece off the board for the Vikings.
Looking at the QB needy teams with the recent signings, other than the top 3 on the board, it really looks like it's the Vikes, Denver, and the Titans.

Not necessarily related, but the Commies currently hold picks 2, 36, 40, 67, 99, 101. So 6 picks in the top 101. If they loved one QB, they have the ammo to flip with the Bears. Or trade down, acquire more picks and could absolutely load up on talent if even half their picks are competent.
 

By your use of the laughing emoji, I assume you're saying JJ is cool with everything.
I have no idea about JJ, but I’m just joking around.
He’s a level headed guy and in his comments, said he’ll play hard regardless who the QB is.

He’s also smart enough to know it’s early and there’s still time, including the draft, to address it.

Lastly, us overpaying Kirk, makes it harder to pay him the 💰 he wants.
 
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Looking at the QB needy teams with the recent signings, other than the top 3 on the board, it really looks like it's the Vikes, Denver, and the Titans.

Not necessarily related, but the Commies currently hold picks 2, 36, 40, 67, 99, 101. So 6 picks in the top 101. If they loved one QB, they have the ammo to flip with the Bears. Or trade down, acquire more picks and could absolutely load up on talent if even half their picks are competent.

Apparently loud, very loud, rumblings out of the combine that the Giants are very unhappy with Daniel Jones and could draft a QB in the 1st. But I can't help but think that's to drum up trade interest for the #6 overall pick to a QB-needy team below them. It's still Lying Season, even with FA off and running.
 

What's the success rate for drafting a QB in round one over, say, the last 20 years?
 

Michael Lombardi speculating, purely speculating, that the Vikings will sign Darnold sometime in the next couple hours now that Cousins is gone.

EDIT: And with Cousins to Atlanta, Minshew to Raiders, Wilson to the Steelers, do the Bears even get a 7th round pick for Fields? I wouldn't be shocked to see the Bears keep Fields, just out of pure ego and hubris, than to let him walk for way, WAY less than they were expecting.
 

Might as well trade JJ to ATL for 8, 43 & 2025 1st to start the full rebuild:

8. DE Dallas Turner
11. DT Byron Murphy II
42. QB Bo Nix
43. DT D'Vondre Sweat

DE Turner
DT Murphy
DT Sweat
DE Greenard
LB Van Ginkle
LB Pace
LB Cashman

We'd have two (2) FRP's in 2025 along with $50M in Dead money coming off the cap.
 

Michael Lombardi speculating, purely speculating, that the Vikings will sign Darnold sometime in the next couple hours now that Cousins is gone.

EDIT: And with Cousins to Atlanta, Minshew to Raiders, Wilson to the Steelers, do the Bears even get a 7th round pick for Fields? I wouldn't be shocked to see the Bears keep Fields, just out of pure ego and hubris, than to let him walk for way, WAY less than they were expecting.
That only leaves MIN. 😉
 




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