All Things 2023 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Ope3]

so the apparent Vikings schedule includes one date that jumps out to me:

A New Year's Eve home game against.......the Packers.

On a Sunday night, with the next day being a holiday (New Year's Day).

I'm calling it right now. this will be the drunkest event in the history of MN Sports.

My prediction is that a different game eventually gets Flexed into the NBC NYE Prime Time slot.

Here is a link to the Vikings schedule. Turns out only 2 games on CBS, though 1 (Opener vs Tampa Bay) would have been an intra-Conference Fox broadcast.

The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings 2023 Schedule and Opponents: The official source of the latest Vikings regular season and preseason schedule

www.vikings.com

Interesting notes:

Thursday Night Week 2 @ Philadelphia
Monday Night Week 2 vs San Francisco
Bye not until Dec 10
End with 3 NFC North Games including 2 vs Detroit

 

[Spaulding!No!]

My prediction is that a different game eventually gets Flexed into the NBC NYE Prime Time slot.

Here is a link to the Vikings schedule. Turns out only 2 games on CBS, though 1 (Opener vs Tampa Bay) would have been an intra-Conference Fox broadcast.

The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings 2023 Schedule and Opponents: The official source of the latest Vikings regular season and preseason schedule

www.vikings.com

Interesting notes:

Thursday Night Week 2 @ Philadelphia
Monday Night Week 2 vs San Francisco
Bye not until Dec 10
End with 3 NFC North Games including 2 vs Detroit

Now here’s a guy who knows NFL scheduling.

 

[BleedGopher]

I have to think the Vikes game in Vegas will be 75% Purple! I’ll be there for sure, as will thousands of Vikes fans who live in AZ and SoCal, not to mention the thousands and thousands from MN that will make a big weekend out of it.

@Ogee Ogilthorpe, you hosting a Skol Party?!

Skol Vikes!!

 

[Ope3]

I have to think the Vikes game in Vegas will be 75% Purple! I’ll be there for sure, as will thousands of Vikes fans who live in AZ and SoCal, not to mention the thousands and thousands from MN that will make a big weekend out of it.

@Ogee Ogilthorpe, you hosting a Skol Party?!

Skol Vikes!!

For anyone going I suggest booking ASAP. National Rodeo also in town that weekend.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

I have to think the Vikes game in Vegas will be 75% Purple! I’ll be there for sure, as will thousands of Vikes fans who live in AZ and SoCal, not to mention the thousands and thousands from MN that will make a big weekend out of it.

@Ogee Ogilthorpe, you hosting a Skol Party?!

Skol Vikes!!

Absolutely!

May not be a popular strategy but if you're planning on going to the game, I would almost suggest rolling the dice and getting your tickets the day of the game. I know selling my Raiders tickets last year (I ended up selling almost every game, I had a busy fall), I got the most money for the games in August when you could first sell them (or late July). First or second week of August I got close to 3X face value for the higher profile games to close the season; 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers.

I know it's a gamble but for price shopping, the people selling their tickets have to get rid of them at some point.

 

[BleedGopher]

Absolutely!

May not be a popular strategy but if you're planning on going to the game, I would almost suggest rolling the dice and getting your tickets the day of the game. I know selling my Raiders tickets last year (I ended up selling almost every game, I had a busy fall), I got the most money for the games in August when you could first sell them (or late July). First or second week of August I got close to 3X face value for the higher profile games to close the season; 49ers, Chiefs, Chargers.

I know it's a gamble but for price shopping, the people selling their tickets have to get rid of them at some point.

For nearly any event, sports, concerts, etc, prices always drop the closer you get to the event. I almost always buy on secondary market within 48 hours of the game/concert. People who buy in July/August are willing to pay more for the security but at that time the seller has no incentive to lower the price.

Skol Vikes!!

 

[short ornery norwegian]

somewhat off-topic, but I saw someone on another site - maybe Twitter - talking about how the move to digital tickets has virtually eliminated the "need tickets?" guy you used to see at every game - the guy hawking tickets outside the stadium just before the game. never bought from one of those guys, but I knew people who did and they got a lot of good deals by being willing to wait until the last minute to buy.

so technology has - if not eliminated - greatly impacted that great American tradition of ticket scalping. another piece of our culture lost to 'progress.'

 

[howeda7]

somewhat off-topic, but I saw someone on another site - maybe Twitter - talking about how the move to digital tickets has virtually eliminated the "need tickets?" guy you used to see at every game - the guy hawking tickets outside the stadium just before the game. never bought from one of those guys, but I knew people who did and they got a lot of good deals by being willing to wait until the last minute to buy.

so technology has - if not eliminated - greatly impacted that great American tradition of ticket scalping. another piece of our culture lost to 'progress.'

You can still get good deals on the secondary market, though not for the Vikings. I can't say it's something I miss.

 

[howeda7]

My prediction is that a different game eventually gets Flexed into the NBC NYE Prime Time slot.

Here is a link to the Vikings schedule. Turns out only 2 games on CBS, though 1 (Opener vs Tampa Bay) would have been an intra-Conference Fox broadcast.

The Official Site of the Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings 2023 Schedule and Opponents: The official source of the latest Vikings regular season and preseason schedule

www.vikings.com

Interesting notes:

Thursday Night Week 2 @ Philadelphia
Monday Night Week 2 vs San Francisco
Bye not until Dec 10
End with 3 NFC North Games including 2 vs Detroit

The Packers are almost always a draw and Vikings/Packers get good numbers. But I guess it's been 32 years since they were just another team so maybe that changes.

 

[howeda7]

so the apparent Vikings schedule includes one date that jumps out to me:

A New Year's Eve home game against.......the Packers.

On a Sunday night, with the next day being a holiday (New Year's Day).

I'm calling it right now. this will be the drunkest event in the history of MN Sports.

I don't think I would go to that game if you gave me free tickets. Vikings night games are terrible if you're actually trying to watch the game.

 

[BleedGopher]

Skol Vikes!!

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Skol Vikes!!

I can live with that!

The two 5th rounders next year should be infinitely better than the 2025 6th and 7th they gave up as well. Next year's draft is supposed to be considerably deeper than this year if I'm not mistaken. Picks in the 2024 draft are ones you want to keep.

This puts quite a bit more pressure on the Davenport signing to pan out well for the Vikings

Ooops. one of the 5th rounders is in 2025. Still not a bad deal really

 

[kg21]

I can live with that!

The two 5th rounders next year should be infinitely better than the 2025 6th and 7th they gave up as well. Next year's draft is supposed to be considerably deeper than this year if I'm not mistaken. Picks in the 2024 draft are ones you want to keep.

This puts quite a bit more pressure on the Davenport signing to pan out well for the Vikings

Is it possible they like one of the DE's outside of Davenport?

Patrick Jones, for example?

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Is it possible they like one of the DE's outside of Davenport?

Patrick Jones, for example?

They clearly like Jones, and Andre Carter as well. But there's a new sheriff in town in Flores too. Hard to say who he likes

 

[Ope3]

The Packers are almost always a draw and Vikings/Packers get good numbers. But I guess it's been 32 years since they were just another team so maybe that changes.

I'm basing my judgement on the Packers being irrelevant through November last season. With Rodgers they did get hot in December, but that included Ws over the lousy Bears, the Dolphins with a concussed Tua and an abysmal Vikings defense.

Just a gut call. I could be way off, especially if Love proves to be functional at minimum to even good.

 

[Gophers_4life]

Skol Vikes!!

Stupid question:

we aren't tied into him any more for a single red cent in 2023, in terms of cap hit or dead cap, now? He's entirely the Browns' problem?

EDIT: see below

 

[Gophers_4life]

and an abysmal Vikings defense.

Also half an OL, backup C and Right OT but got injured in the game.

 

[Gophers_4life]

End with 3 NFC North Games including 2 vs Detroit

Did they try to jerry rig any other division like this??

Watch this blow up in the NFL's faces and the Lions are considerably worse next year. I know they've been anointed by the marketing hype machine.

I do love me some Man Campbell, don't get me wrong. Were awesome on Hard Knocks.


But no one is going to overlook them anymore. Will Goff be as good? Etc etc

 

[Gophers_4life]

Answer my own question:

Trading Smith, who has 54½ sacks over 107 regular-season NFL games, should help the Vikings clear enough cap space to allow the team to fit first-round pick Jordan Addison's rookie deal under their salary cap. The Vikings stood to recoup $12.156 million in cap space by trading Smith, though the Cleveland Plain Dealer reported the Vikings will pick up part of Smith's salary for 2023.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Smith didn't want to be here. It appears that the Vikes didn't really want him all that badly.
So they gain some cap space and improve their draft position while getting rid of a player who didn't want to be here. I call that a win.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

The Packers are almost always a draw and Vikings/Packers get good numbers. But I guess it's been 32 years since they were just another team so maybe that changes.

There is ad nauseam talk about the post-Rodgers era by NFL talking heads, so they’ll linger for this year IMO, as it’s a good storyline for them and you can only talk about the Jets so much.

 

[kg21]

11 pass rushers the Vikings could target after trading Za’Darius Smith

With the trade of Za'Darius Smith, the Minnesota Vikings could be in the market for a pass rusher.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Ope3]

Did they try to jerry rig any other division like this??

Watch this blow up in the NFL's faces and the Lions are considerably worse next year. I know they've been anointed by the marketing hype machine.

I do love me some Man Campbell, don't get me wrong. Were awesome on Hard Knocks.


But no one is going to overlook them anymore. Will Goff be as good? Etc etc

I'm not sure. I miss the past Day After Schedule Release when the Strib would print them in the newspaper, and I could eyeball every team in a couple of minutes.

They probably still do, it's just been a several years since I have purchased a printed non-Sunday edition.

 

[Gophers_4life]

I'm not sure. I miss the past Day After Schedule Release when the Strib would print them in the newspaper, and I could eyeball every team in a couple of minutes.

They probably still do, it's just been a several years since I have purchased a printed non-Sunday edition.

Eagles play the Giants in both Week 16 and Week 18.

49ers, Bucs, Chiefs, Bills, Bengals, and Jags do not play the same team on 16/18.

 

[BleedGopher]

Grading the trade: Did Vikings get enough from Browns for Za’Darius Smith?​

Trade grade (Browns): A​

There’s pressure on the Browns to win in their first full season with quarterback Deshaun Watson. They’ve got to get to the playoffs and establish some momentum for future seasons with that fully guaranteed contract; another 7-10 record won’t suffice.

If they have any chance at catching the Bengals in the AFC North, they’ll have to get after quarterback Joe Burrow, and the Garrett-Smith ticket will help that goal. Last season, no Browns pass rusher other than Garrett produced more than 30 pressures. Taven Bryan was second on the team with just three sacks.

Beyond the pursuit of the North crown, though, the AFC is absolutely loaded, so talent acquisition is a must.

Adding Smith is a part of that process.

Trade grade (Vikings): C​

It’d be disingenuous to say the Vikings defense is going to improve without Smith. It’s just not practical.

But when a player doesn’t want to be there, teams often don’t have much of a choice. The draft compensation won’t yield any dividends for quite a while, but it’s a better outcome than losing Smith for nothing.

Grading the trade: Did Vikings get enough from Browns for Za'Darius Smith?

Smith didn't want to be in Minnesota and Cleveland took advantage.

theathletic.com

Skol Vikes!!

 

[Gophers_4life]

I'm sure Z Smith making that post saying he was leaving the Vikings, helped them gain leverage to make a fair trade

 

[Ope3]

I'm sure Z Smith making that post saying he was leaving the Vikings, helped them gain leverage to make a fair trade

Additionally, Z Smith sold his house in the area.

 

[howeda7]

Grading the trade: Did Vikings get enough from Browns for Za’Darius Smith?​

Trade grade (Browns): A​

There’s pressure on the Browns to win in their first full season with quarterback Deshaun Watson. They’ve got to get to the playoffs and establish some momentum for future seasons with that fully guaranteed contract; another 7-10 record won’t suffice.

If they have any chance at catching the Bengals in the AFC North, they’ll have to get after quarterback Joe Burrow, and the Garrett-Smith ticket will help that goal. Last season, no Browns pass rusher other than Garrett produced more than 30 pressures. Taven Bryan was second on the team with just three sacks.

Beyond the pursuit of the North crown, though, the AFC is absolutely loaded, so talent acquisition is a must.

Adding Smith is a part of that process.

Trade grade (Vikings): C​

It’d be disingenuous to say the Vikings defense is going to improve without Smith. It’s just not practical.

But when a player doesn’t want to be there, teams often don’t have much of a choice. The draft compensation won’t yield any dividends for quite a while, but it’s a better outcome than losing Smith for nothing.

Grading the trade: Did Vikings get enough from Browns for Za'Darius Smith?

Smith didn't want to be in Minnesota and Cleveland took advantage.

theathletic.com

Skol Vikes!!

That assumes they ever intended to have him play for them in 2023. They didn't and most people assumed he'd be cut in March.

 

[GophersInIowa]

This crap is getting ridiculous. So stupid.

 

[Gophers_4life]

This crap is getting ridiculous. So stupid.

Not that it makes it much better, but isn't the game always on somewhere on basic (OTA) TV in the market itself?

Like I feel like even if the Vikings are on ESPN because it's Monday Night or whatever, the game is still on on a basic OTA channel locally? Or am I wrong about that?


But yeah, if you don't live in the market and you want to watch it, you'll probably have to get at least Peacock with commercials if not a subscription.