All Things 2024-25 Vikings Regular Season Thread

[golf]

Some X% of it this time of year is luck with injuries.

I dare say the football gods are finally smiling on us this year. Knock on wood

For sure. Detroit is indeed better than us if not for their injuries.
Last season it worked the other way. We were just hitting our stride when we lost our QB for the season.

 

[Wally]

Rodgers retiring then? Otherwise pretty big dead cap if he leaves this offseason

Everything I've read says there is zero chance Rodgers is with the Jets next year.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Rodgers retiring then? Otherwise pretty big dead cap if he leaves this offseason

No new HC & FO is going to want him; they’re doing a reset

Rodgers acknowledged as much today on video -


And in a print interview yesterday-

Rodgers accepts Sunday could be final NFL game

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged Wednesday that the thought is on his mind that the Jets' season finale against the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday could be his final NFL game.

www.espn.com

 

[Slim Tubby]

No new HC & FO is going to want him; they’re doing a reset

Rodgers acknowledged as much today on video -


And in a print interview yesterday-

Rodgers accepts Sunday could be final NFL game

Aaron Rodgers acknowledged Wednesday that the thought is on his mind that the Jets' season finale against the Dolphins at MetLife Stadium on Sunday could be his final NFL game.

www.espn.com

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

 

[Ope3]

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

That's even worse than the Broncos hit for Russell Wilson this year, though in the ballpark.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

I don't really understand why the Jets would cut Rodgers. They have no young, viable backup like Atlanta and probably won't get a top QB in the draft. It's not saving them any money either.

They might as well just see if he has anything left in the tank after another offseason of recovery from the achilles.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

Well, the cap is supposed to be at LEAST $272.5M so his number would be a tad under 18%, but hell yes, it's still a big number.

Some other huge numbers, from the site I see; Dak's number is almost $90M against the cap, D. Watson almost $73M (OUCH!), and Derek Carr over $51M. Those are the bad ones at least. Dak has not really had a year close to what Darnold is having this year as far as level of play, winning games, and relevance in the league.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous. Sure, it helps, but it's not critical by any stretch if you have a Front Office that knows what they are doing and how to manage the cap.

I really don't think the salary number for Darnold is that much of a factor in what the Vikings do for next year. Not really. The question is going to be who gives them the best chance to win.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous.

That's a strong argument.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

If the NYJ cut Rodgers, he comes with $49M in Dead Cap Space for 2025. That's 25% of their total cap space for a guy not playing a single snap.

Hard to move forward if you’re hanging on to the past, in my experience. He also just had his worst season by Farve. They never should have signed him in the first place.

The Jets are at least resetting, while the Giants are running it back

The new GM and Head Coach will have some work to do.

Kwesi’s side hustle.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Well, the cap is supposed to be at LEAST $272.5M so his number would be a tad under 18%, but hell yes, it's still a big number.

Some other huge numbers, from the site I see; Dak's number is almost $90M against the cap, D. Watson almost $73M (OUCH!), and Derek Carr over $51M. Those are the bad ones at least. Dak has not really had a year close to what Darnold is having this year as far as level of play, winning games, and relevance in the league.

Dak missed something like ~30% of their games over the last 3 seasons, after being injury free before then, so this may not end well.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

That's a strong argument.

The big hit for Jefferson and Darrisaw is 2026 (and 2025 obviously, but a lot of that dead cap they dump will eat that up), when both of their numbers are pretty hefty; but the salary cap is projected to go up ANOTHER $20M for 2026 (long ways off, yes) to $292M roughly. That is the biggest salary cap impact on the horizon for the Vikings.

Greenard and Hockenson have some bigger numbers coming up, but not insurmountable.

Just throwing numbers out there; $45M for Darnold in 2026 would be about 15% of the cap, a ridiculously low number really.

 

[Slim Tubby]

The big hit for Jefferson and Darrisaw is 2026 (and 2025 obviously, but a lot of that dead cap they dump will eat that up), when both of their numbers are pretty hefty; but the salary cap is projected to go up ANOTHER $20M for 2026 (long ways off, yes) to $292M roughly. That is the biggest salary cap impact on the horizon for the Vikings.

Greenard and Hockenson have some bigger numbers coming up, but not insurmountable.

Just throwing numbers out there; $45M for Darnold in 2026 would be about 15% of the cap, a ridiculously low number really.

We also have the future contracts of Metellus and Addison to account for. Rob Brezinski has been a master at manipulating the Salary Cap over the years and Kwesi has earned our trust, too.

 

[GopherWeatherGuy]

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous. Sure, it helps, but it's not critical by any stretch if you have a Front Office that knows what they are doing and how to manage the cap.

I really don't think the salary number for Darnold is that much of a factor in what the Vikings do for next year. Not really. The question is going to be who gives them the best chance to win.

What do all of those QB's have in common? None of them have ever been free agents, because elite QB's don't become FA's unless they are past their prime.

4 are still with the organizations that drafted them, which allowed those teams to build their roster while they were on rookie contracts.

Goff was traded for an older elite level QB while working his way up to being an elite level QB himself. The Rams got their Super Bowl win with Stafford, but maybe they could have had multiple championships if they kept Goff.

 

[howeda7]

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous. Sure, it helps, but it's not critical by any stretch if you have a Front Office that knows what they are doing and how to manage the cap.

I really don't think the salary number for Darnold is that much of a factor in what the Vikings do for next year. Not really. The question is going to be who gives them the best chance to win.

There used to be a stat that no team had ever won the Super Bowl with that % above 21% IIRC. I'm not sure if Mahomes broke it last year or not. If it's still intact I guess that's good news for the Lions.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous. Sure, it helps, but it's not critical by any stretch if you have a Front Office that knows what they are doing and how to manage the cap.

I really don't think the salary number for Darnold is that much of a factor in what the Vikings do for next year. Not really. The question is going to be who gives them the best chance to win.

the real issue is knowing when to pull the plug on a veteran QB. if the team starts to go downhill and you're saddled with a huge contract for an older QB, that's a problem. so the trick is to structure those contracts so that the team can get out of them at some point without dooming the team to multiple years of dark money prison.

 

[Ope3]

Some numbers this year, 2024, just to put it into perspective:

Burrow counted $55M - 24.5% of the cap
Jared Goff counted $53M - 20.8% of the cap
Lamar Jackson counted $52M - 23.1% of the cap
Jalen Hurts counted $51M - 22.7% of the cap
Justin Herbert counted $52.5M - 23.5% of the cap

So the notion that you have to have a "QB on a rookie contract" to win is kinda ridiculous. Sure, it helps, but it's not critical by any stretch if you have a Front Office that knows what they are doing and how to manage the cap.

I really don't think the salary number for Darnold is that much of a factor in what the Vikings do for next year. Not really. The question is going to be who gives them the best chance to win.

What do all of those QB's have in common?

None have won a Super Bowl. 3 have gotten there, but all on their Rookie Deals (I think).

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Per NFL Live.

This is why we win and hang 45+ points on them Sunday night.




Also Blake, didn’t play in week 7 the first game, and he’ll be clamping down the middle which the attacked in the first game.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Per NFL Live.

This is why we win and hang 45+ points on them Sunday night.


View attachment 35239

Also Blake, didn’t play in week 7 the first game, and he’ll be clamping down the middle which the attacked in the first game.

My own personal take on this game with Detroit?

This game means EVERYTHING to Campbell, IMO. He's at the helm of the greatest season in Detroit Lions history and losing this game, and losing the NFC North division title would be absolutely unacceptable. A slap in the face. He's an egomaniac, and a moron; he'll go for it on 4th down almost every single chance, they'll pull out all the stops with things the Vikings haven't seen (things you would normally hold off for the playoffs).

I think it's important to KOC and the Vikings, but not the be-all, end-all. Because of the Lions injuries on defense, I actually think the Vikings are the SLIGHTLY better team right now, but I think the unpredictability of Campbell and his meathead coaching style, they could definitely beat the Vikings, at home.

 

[gophersfan]

Per NFL Live.

This is why we win and hang 45+ points on them Sunday night.


View attachment 35239

Also Blake, didn’t play in week 7 the first game, and he’ll be clamping down the middle which the attacked in the first game.

I have to disagree. We are not going to put up 45 plus points on the Lions. That not happen. it will be a 30-27 type game.


My predictions is 35-31 Vikings.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I have to disagree. We are not going to put up 45 plus points on the Lions. That not happen. it will be a 30-27 type game.

Or a 35-31 game

My predictions is 35-31 Vikings.

Just Win Baby

 

[Slim Tubby]

My own personal take on this game with Detroit?

This game means EVERYTHING to Campbell, IMO. He's at the helm of the greatest season in Detroit Lions history and losing this game, and losing the NFC North division title would be absolutely unacceptable. A slap in the face. He's an egomaniac, and a moron; he'll go for it on 4th down almost every single chance, they'll pull out all the stops with things the Vikings haven't seen (things you would normally hold off for the playoffs).

I think it's important to KOC and the Vikings, but not the be-all, end-all. Because of the Lions injuries on defense, I actually think the Vikings are the SLIGHTLY better team right now, but I think the unpredictability of Campbell and his meathead coaching style, they could definitely beat the Vikings, at home.

It's just a matter of time before Campbell's ego backfires on him.

Sunday night would be a good time for that to happen. Maybe a 4th & 1, triple reverse, fleaflicker for a HB toss back to the QB that we return for a Pick 6.

 

[Slim Tubby]

Per NFL Live.

This is why we win and hang 45+ points on them Sunday night.


View attachment 35239

Also Blake, didn’t play in week 7 the first game, and he’ll be clamping down the middle which the attacked in the first game.

I'm not sure about 45, but the last four (4) games, DET has given up an average of 32 points per game and a whopping 7.2 yards per play.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I'm not sure about 45, but the last four (4) games, DET has given up an average of 32 points per game and a whopping 7.2 yards per play.

How about 46?

 

[Slim Tubby]

How about 46?

Optimists always drink free at my place as long as they bring their own booze.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Optimists always drink free at my place as long as they bring their own booze.

My presence requires and filet kabobs

 

[golf]

Since wild card was instituted in 1980, only three 5 seeds have made it to a super bowl.

While also true that there has never before been a 14 win wild card, still the importance of Sunday night's game can't be overstated.

Win and we will be second favorite to win the whole bleepin' thing. Lose and we will be fifth or sixth favorite.

 

[Ogee Ogilthorpe]

Unbelievably cool article in The Athletic about Blake Cashman, coming home to Minnesota; almost bring a tear to your eye worthy. And a really cool insight to the path traveled. Really makes you wonder how many guys miss out because they didn't know certain things about their body, etc.

Vikings LB Cashman Return Home to MN

Alec Lewis writing for the Vikings at The Athletic is worth the subscription honestly.

 

[golf]

Having a QB on a rookie scale contract is of course the ultimate NFL cheat code, will be up to Coach O'Connell if McCarthy is such a QB.

Thought it would be interesting to imagine a Viking roster constructed with an additional $76 million cap space and an extra first round draft pick due to trading Darnold.

Provided draft picks hit, both lines undergo a major upgrade. Hard to imagine a better roster. Maybe Detroit.
(Draft is supposed to be really deep at running back. Maybe grab a rb with our 3rd rounder.).

QB - McCarthy
RB - AJones
WR - JJefferson
WR - Addison
WR - Nailor
TE - Hockenson
C - Bradbury
G - Trey Smith (KC pro bowler)
G - 1st round draft pick
T - CDarrisaw
T - O'Neill

DT - Osa Ogidizuiwe (Dallas)
DT - 1st round draft pick
DT - Phillips
Edge - Greenard
Edge - Van Ginkle
LB - Cashman
LB - IPace
CB - DJ Reed (NY Jets)
CB - BMurphy
S - CBynum
S - HSmith/TJackson

 

[howeda7]

Since wild card was instituted in 1980, only three 5 seeds have made it to a super bowl.

While also true that there has never before been a 14 win wild card, still the importance of Sunday night's game can't be overstated.

Win and we will be second favorite to win the whole bleepin' thing. Lose and we will be fifth or sixth favorite.

Win and they have about a 35% chance to make the Super Bowl. Lose and it drops to about 10%.