2018 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

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STrib: Kirk Cousins, Vikings to hold first workouts Monday

Kirk Cousins and the Vikings, officially, begin Monday.

Broached with the topic of Super Bowl expectations in his introductory news conference a month ago, Cousins insisted he could only look a month ahead. But the work had unofficially began by reaching out to teammates. He was allowed to seek out receivers Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen for workouts, but not until Monday can he and his teammates convene with coaches in the Vikings facility.

“Get to work April 16th with the organization,” Cousins said. “That is where my focus lays and from there we’ll build and have those [Super Bowl] conversations down the road.”

At this point, Vikings coaches can only talk the playbook with Cousins. On-field drills are prohibited until after the NFL draft. Returning players and newcomers will get acquainted with Mark Uyeyama, the Vikings’ second-year strength and conditioning coach. Under NFL rules, the start of the offseason workout program consists of only strength, conditioning and physical rehab.

Player attendance is voluntary. However, many teams, including the Vikings, draw up workout bonuses in player contracts to incentivize participation in an agreed-upon percentage of these workouts. Cornerback Xavier Rhodes, nose tackle Linval Joseph, safety Harrison Smith and defensive end Everson Griffen all have $100,000 tied in to attending these workouts.

http://www.startribune.com/kirk-cousins-vikings-to-hold-first-workouts-monday/479823703/

Skol Vikes!!
 


Draft starts next Thursday so I thought I'd give my preferences on what I'd like to see happen.

If we keep the #30 pick, I'd like to see them go
1. ND OT Mike Mcglinthey (unlikely he'll be there)
2. UGA OG Isaiah Wynn
3. UTEP OG Will Hernandez
4. Iowa OG/OC James Daniels

if we trade down 10-15 spots, I'd like to see them take either OSU OG/OC Billy Price, Arkansas OG/OC Frank Ragnow or Texas OT/OG Connor Wiliams or one of the 4 guys I listed above if they are still available. I don't think Price or Ragnow have the value to justify taking them at #30.

With the second pick I'd love to get OU OT Orlando Brown or UCLA OT Kolton Miller if they fall. Otherwise I'd be fine with a corner.

Third round, if we got corner, I'd get an OT. Fleck recruit Chukwuma Okorafor, Oregon's Tyrell Crosby or OSU's Jamarco Jones are guys I have my eye on in this round.

In any case, I'd like to get an OG, OT and CB in the first 3 rounds.

Akrum Wadley, John Kelly, Troy Fumagali, Tegray Scales and Allen Lazard are some guys I'd be thrilled to get in the 6th round if they are available at that point. I definitely don't think they should be available at that round and think they are much better than that but I've seen a few mock drafts that have them being available at that point.
 

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Skol Vikes!!
 

Odd notice. The Vikings game in Green Bay belongs to the former Milwaukee season ticket holders (they get games 2 and 5) and is fetching a premium on Stub Hub.
 


STrib: Kirk Cousins begins building a foundation with his Vikings teammates — on and off the field

The Vikings determined this winter that Kirk Cousins was the man to solve their long-term questions at the game’s most important position. A team that went 13-3 a year ago thought enough of Cousins to make him the league’s highest-paid player, giving him the first fully guaranteed multiyear contract of the free agency era in the process.

So there’s no doubt Cousins will be the alpha dog of a team that harbors Super Bowl expectations as it heads into 2018. The Vikings’ new quarterback just isn’t planning to force himself into that role.

“If it’s forced, it’s not genuine,” Cousins said Tuesday, after the team’s workout at its new practice facility in Eagan. “It’s just a process. You understand that the very first day, you’re more like a rookie, and that’s OK. If you keep coming in here with the right attitude, the right mind-set, take it home and spend time getting better, over time, the leader comes out, the personality comes out and you’ll be ready to go.”

Cousins said he spent time with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen in Atlanta before the start of the Vikings’ offseason workout program, “and I thought that was productive, just to get to know one another a little bit and build somewhat of a foundation.”

The next step began April 16, when Vikings players reported to Eagan for the start of offseason workouts. Though NFL teams can’t have coaches on the field with players until the second phase of the offseason program, Cousins could throw with receivers, and spend time in meetings to learn new coordinator John DeFilippo’s offense.

“The beauty of him having been in the league a while and been around a lot of offenses is, he can kind of mix and match and pick his favorite things to do,” Cousins said. “There’s carry-over to what I’ve done in the past; there’s also some new ways of doing things. A lot of it just takes time. It takes reps, it takes going out on the field and having it become natural to where I don’t have to think.”

Cousins told a story about walking back to his car in a strip mall parking lot in Eden Prairie on Monday, when “a young man finishing his workday kind of did the big eyes, put two and two together,” Cousins said. “He walked over and asked if I was who he thought I was. I said, ‘I try to be.’ ”

http://www.startribune.com/kirk-cou...ngs-teammates-on-and-off-the-field/480758271/

Skol Vikes!!
 

Nice post!

You are spot on with the OT, OG, and CB being the ideal first 3 rounds!
At 30 they may be deciding between OT McGlinchey, CB Josh Jackson-seems to be falling, OG Wynn, and OG Hernandez. If all 5 QB's go in top 15. I could see someone trading into 30 to get someone like QB Rudolph.

Rd 2: C James Daniels, DT Hurst, TE Gesicki, OT Connor Williams, CB I. Oliver.
Rd 3: C Price, TE Andrews, OT Rankin, OT Crosby, OG B. Smith, S M. Allen
Rd 4: DT D. Hand, CB Averett,
Rd 5 and beyond: RB Wadley


die hard gopher said:
Draft starts next Thursday so I thought I'd give my preferences on what I'd like to see happen.

If we keep the #30 pick, I'd like to see them go
1. ND OT Mike Mcglinthey (unlikely he'll be there)
2. UGA OG Isaiah Wynn
3. UTEP OG Will Hernandez
4. Iowa OG/OC James Daniels

if we trade down 10-15 spots, I'd like to see them take either OSU OG/OC Billy Price, Arkansas OG/OC Frank Ragnow or Texas OT/OG Connor Wiliams or one of the 4 guys I listed above if they are still available. I don't think Price or Ragnow have the value to justify taking them at #30.

With the second pick I'd love to get OU OT Orlando Brown or UCLA OT Kolton Miller if they fall. Otherwise I'd be fine with a corner.

Third round, if we got corner, I'd get an OT. Fleck recruit Chukwuma Okorafor, Oregon's Tyrell Crosby or OSU's Jamarco Jones are guys I have my eye on in this round.

In any case, I'd like to get an OG, OT and CB in the first 3 rounds.

Akrum Wadley, John Kelly, Troy Fumagali, Tegray Scales and Allen Lazard are some guys I'd be thrilled to get in the 6th round if they are available at that point. I definitely don't think they should be available at that round and think they are much better than that but I've seen a few mock drafts that have them being available at that point.
Click to expand...
 

march madness said:
Nice post!

You are spot on with the OT, OG, and CB being the ideal first 3 rounds!
At 30 they may be deciding between OT McGlinchey, CB Josh Jackson-seems to be falling, OG Wynn, and OG Hernandez. If all 5 QB's go in top 15. I could see someone trading into 30 to get someone like QB Rudolph.

Rd 2: C James Daniels, DT Hurst, TE Gesicki, OT Connor Williams, CB I. Oliver.
Rd 3: C Price, TE Andrews, OT Rankin, OT Crosby, OG B. Smith, S M. Allen
Rd 4: DT D. Hand, CB Averett,
Rd 5 and beyond: RB Wadley
Click to expand...

Unless a real value drops, I'd take OL for the first 2 rounds. As important as OL is, you need depth. I also think Case K made that offensive line look a lot better than it was. Case had some serious skills eluding the pass rush
 

JimmyJamesMD said:
Unless a real value drops, I'd take OL for the first 2 rounds. As important as OL is, you need depth. I also think Case K made that offensive line look a lot better than it was. Case had some serious skills eluding the pass rush
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Yep we got killed in the trenches last year, especially against philly.
 



JimmyJamesMD said:
Unless a real value drops, I'd take OL for the first 2 rounds. As important as OL is, you need depth. I also think Case K made that offensive line look a lot better than it was. Case had some serious skills eluding the pass rush
Click to expand...

bottlebass said:
Yep we got killed in the trenches last year, especially against philly.
Click to expand...

Best player available. I just hope that turns out to be some OL help. I hope they don't reach for an OL if there's a major quality player available. They're not in a position where they need to reach right now.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
Best player available. I just hope that turns out to be some OL help. I hope they don't reach for an OL if there's a major quality player available. They're not in a position where they need to reach right now.
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Once you get to pick 30 "the best player available" should be arguable between multiple players. One of those could easily be an Oline guy.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
Best player available. I just hope that turns out to be some OL help. I hope they don't reach for an OL if there's a major quality player available. They're not in a position where they need to reach right now.
Click to expand...
Just thought I'd share this somewhat related item. Heard Lou Nanne on Bareemo yesterday. Bareemo asked him if he did a lot of trading of draft choices. Nanne was saying that he made maybe one trade (the Brian Bellows trade) to switch draft locations. His philosophy was to take the best player available at the draft slot they had. This obviously makes things simpler and prevents you from overthinking everything and blowing it with unnecessary or costly moves. But I would also argue that HO-key is far less specialized than football. Obviously if you are loaded at a position in football, it makes sense to NOT take the best player available and maybe try to move the pick. HO-key does have specialists and positions, obviously, but not nearly the specialization that football has.

And I agree with Bass' comment.
 

Everybody's new favorite ranking site Profootball focus:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-from-the-2017-nfl-season

While the Vikings’ offensive line allowed just 11 sacks, which was the third-fewest in the NFL, this was often largely due to QB Case Keenum’s ability to avoid defenders and get rid of the ball before he would be taken to the ground.

We are ranked 22nd best offensive line. Amazing we had the season we did really. Philly was ranked first.

All the fans seem to know how weak this position is and we all want o-lineman aplenty in those first 3 picks, will the vikings follow suit?
 



march madness said:
Everybody's new favorite ranking site Profootball focus:

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/pro-ranking-all-32-offensive-lines-from-the-2017-nfl-season

While the Vikings’ offensive line allowed just 11 sacks, which was the third-fewest in the NFL, this was often largely due to QB Case Keenum’s ability to avoid defenders and get rid of the ball before he would be taken to the ground.

We are ranked 22nd best offensive line. Amazing we had the season we did really. Philly was ranked first.

All the fans seem to know how weak this position is and we all want o-lineman aplenty in those first 3 picks, will the vikings follow suit?
Click to expand...

What I have bolded is easily what worries me most about the new QB situation. Either the O-line improves or the Vikings just aren't going to significantly improve.
 

bottlebass said:
Once you get to pick 30 "the best player available" should be arguable between multiple players. One of those could easily be an Oline guy.
Click to expand...

Yep, and if there aren't any O-lineman that are worth the value of a first rounder when we pick then we should be trading down to get the value of that player we want. Barkley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, Quentin Nelson, Tremaine Edmunds and Roquan Smith are really the only guys I'd like to pick at #30 that aren't lineman. Maybe Vita Vea too. Otherwise I'd take a lineman or trade out of the first to get a 4 round pick or another third rounder.
 

Ogee Oglethorpe said:
Best player available. I just hope that turns out to be some OL help. I hope they don't reach for an OL if there's a major quality player available. They're not in a position where they need to reach right now.
Click to expand...

Also this guard class is so deep that some of the best players at #30 will very likely be interior lineman.
 

die hard gopher said:
Yep, and if there aren't any O-lineman that are worth the value of a first rounder when we pick then we should be trading down to get the value of that player we want. Barkley, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Denzel Ward, Quentin Nelson, Tremaine Edmunds and Roquan Smith are really the only guys I'd like to pick at #30 that aren't lineman. Maybe Vita Vea too. Otherwise I'd take a lineman or trade out of the first to get a 4 round pick or another third rounder.
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Minkah Fitzpatrick would be phenomenal to land but I don't see him lasting that long. Him next to Harrison Smith would be quite a pair to go along with Xavier and Waynes.
 

Draft Grades per Bleacher Report:

30. Minnesota Vikings: Mike Hughes, CB, UCF

Strengths: Quickness, ball skills, return ability.

Weaknesses: Size, character concerns.

Apparently, the end of the first round is all about great defensive teams getting better on defense while ignoring their offensive issues. First, the Jaguars added a defensive tackle to cut the time opposing quarterbacks have to throw from 0.0004 to 0.0003 seconds. Now the Vikings—whose offensive line is really spotty—are setting themselves up with even more secondary depth.

Mike Hughes is a tough, alert underneath defender who gets a quick break on the ball. He’s dynamic with the football in his hands. He lacks ideal size but compensates with toughness and quick feet.

Hughes transferred from North Carolina to a JUCO to Central Florida amid a sexual assault allegation, which only became public one week before the draft. No charges were filed, and Hughes has been forthright with teams. He was suspended for an unrelated incident in 2015.

Assuming Hughes has put character concerns behind him, he’s a potential starter as an underneath defender and could be a weapon on punt returns. Not a bad pick for the Vikings, but they may end up regretting it the first time Kirk Cousins gets hurried into an interception.

Grade: C-plus

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...om&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=editorial

Skol Vikes!!
 

per ESPN:

30. Minnesota Vikings
Mike Hughes, CB, Central Florida

Why they did it: The Vikings have an affinity for drafting cornerbacks early in the draft, and Hughes becomes the fifth defensive back selected in the first or second round since 2012. Hughes had four interceptions in 2017, tied for fourth in the ACC and tied for 29th in FBS. He also had with a heavy role in the return game, averaging 31.8 yards per kickoff return, including and two for touchdowns last year. The 5-foot-10 corner is a tough, physical player with solid ball skills and a quick twitch that allows him to adjust and cover routes.

Biggest question: Hughes doesn’t have a ton of experience in coverage and is far more of a project for Minnesota to take on as a first-round pick. However, that’s the case with a number of corners who were still available when Hughes was picked, including Iowa’s Josh Jackson and LSU’s Donte Jackson. It’s likely that Hughes will be a developmental prospect for a while in Minnesota’s defense as the coaches figure out where to play him.

http://www.espn.com/blog/nflnation/...ons-for-every-2018-nfl-first-round-draft-pick

Skol Vikes!!
 


per Yahoo:

Shutdown Corner Commentary
Minnesota needed a lineman to protect its new investment (Kirk Cousins) and passed on a good one in Will Hernandez. Hughes is a fine pick but the Vikings didn't need much. Grade: C

https://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/draft/

Skol Vikes!!
 

I hate to say it, but does this pick finally mean the end of Sherels in purple?
 

Zimmer pick all the way. #1 ranked defense getting a first round pick again, while the leagues 9th worst offensive line is in crappy shape. Lock zimmer up and draft 2 offensive lineman 2nd and 3rd!
 

I don't love it, but also don't hate it. They must really believe in his natural ability, because he doesn't fit the typical physical mold they like to draft. He's pretty small for a 1st round draft pick. That being said, if they decide that they can't keep Waynes in 2 years due to all of the long-term contracts they have coming up, Hughes could slide in nicely as starter opposite Rhodes. Plus, there's no such thing as too many CBs when you have Rodgers, Stafford, and Trubisky (on the come-up) in your division.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I don't love it, but also don't hate it. They must really believe in his natural ability, because he doesn't fit the typical physical mold they like to draft. He's pretty small for a 1st round draft pick. That being said, if they decide that they can't keep Waynes in 2 years due to all of the long-term contracts they have coming up, Hughes could slide in nicely as starter opposite Rhodes. Plus, there's no such thing as too many CBs when you have Rodgers, Stafford, and Trubisky (on the come-up) in your division.
Click to expand...

Isn't he more likely to be the Nickel guy and punt returner, which will enable the team to save money by cutting Sherels?
 

Gopherguy0723 said:
Isn't he more likely to be the Nickel guy and punt returner, which will enable the team to save money by cutting Sherels?
Click to expand...

At first, yes. Maybe not even nickel - we still have Alexander. My post was referring to longer-term planning - having an in-house replacement trained in the Zimmer scheme should they decide they are unable to keep Waynes in a couple years.
 

In today's NFL, impossible to have too many good DB's. It's becoming more and more critical every year the way the offenses are going.
 

dpodoll68 said:
I don't love it, but also don't hate it. They must really believe in his natural ability, because he doesn't fit the typical physical mold they like to draft. He's pretty small for a 1st round draft pick. That being said, if they decide that they can't keep Waynes in 2 years due to all of the long-term contracts they have coming up, Hughes could slide in nicely as starter opposite Rhodes. Plus, there's no such thing as too many CBs when you have Rodgers, Stafford, and Trubisky (on the come-up) in your division.
Click to expand...

I agree with this, especially for replacing Waynes when his contract is up.

In the short term, he will take Newman's spot and do kick returns. They just resigned Sherles and he is a very good punt returner.

I still would have rather gone with the best OL available, but I see why they get it. One of the main ESPN analysts (cant remember which one) said last night if you take the off the field crap he did, hes a top 10 pick and almost as good as Ward (first corner taken). If thats the case, they defintiley got good value.

I just hope they get a starting OL with the second rounder. The OL was average at best last year, because Keenum made them look way better than they were. I think that was a very underrated aspect of his game. Cousins is more Bradford than he is Case
 

My Vikings second round prediction.

All the round 2 quality OL are gone, so they go with Maurice Hurst, DT, Michigan
 


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