Mock Draft 2.15.16

Let's start with the cap space.  Right now the current cap space according to Spotrac is 24.4 mil (adding in 600K for Wentworth retiring).

I think the players that will get released are Mike Wallace, Matt Kalil, Phil Loadholt, and John Sullivan.  This would save 33.7 mil which would give the Vikings an available cap number of 58.1 mil (approx).

First we would put 11 mil in reserve for signing the rookies and about 3.5 in reserve.  That leaves 47.1 mil for signings.


The Vikings have 17 of their own free agents next year.  Greenway, Newman, Harris, Sherels, Sendejo, Trusnik, Matthews, Asiata, Robinson, Ellis, Trattou, Ellison, Blanton, Cole, Line, Thielen, & Bykowski.

I would re-sign Harris, Asiata, & Ellison.  I think Robinson will go elsewhere.  Greenway, Newman, Sendejo, Blanton, Cole, Matthews, Trusnik, Trattou, Sherels, & Ellis would be free to test free agency.  Line, Thielen, and Bykowski would be signed as they are restricted free agents.  The total for those 3 would be about 2 mil. That leaves 45.1 mil in cap space.

I think I would offer Harris 2.5 mil per year, Asiata would get a 1.4 mil offer, and Ellison would get a 1.8 mil offer.  The total for those 3 would be 5.7 mil and takes the Vikings down to 39.4 mil.


The free agents I would target are ...


Russell Okung OT Seahawks - I would offer a 5 year 37.5 mil deal

Eric Weddle S Chargers - I would offer a 4 year 22 mil deal

These deals have a cap hit of 7.6 mil in the first year which would take the cap down 31.8 mil.


Getting Okung at a not so cheap price would theoretically be good although he has been banged up over the course of his career.  He has missed 24 games out of 96 so the contract offer may be a little steep.  Still, after letting Kalil go, the Vikings need to have some security.

I still like Weddle a lot and getting him for at least 2 to 3 years while the younger safeties are groomed is a good idea to me.  I know some people disagree and that is fine.  I would love to sign George Iloka or Tashaun Gibson but they could cost a little more and they could stay with their current teams.

Some other players I'd sign to non guaranteed deals are Zach Brown LB, Kyle Wilson CB, Brian Quick WR, Quinton Coples DE, & Kendall Reyes DT.  It is doubtful they generate large deals and probably could be had from 1 mil to 2 mil each.  I'll call it 6 mil for these 5 which takes the cap down to 25.8 mil.

I like these players because they might be considered disappointments up to this point in their careers considering where they were drafted.  I think the Vikings should look at players like this with the hope that Zimmer can work with them and get more out of them. 


Just like in the last plan I would give Harrison Smith a 5 year 47.3 mil extension with a 12 mil in bonuses and 20 mil guaranteed.  This will not affect his cap hit this year and probably could take it down depending on how it is structured.

Next, I would give Joe Berger a 2 year 5 mil extension bumping his 2016 salary and cap hit to 2.5 mil.  This takes the available cap down to 23.3 mil.

That leaves the Vikings with the rookie money set aside as well as the 4 mil buffer which now becomes 27.3 mil.


The roster before the draft and other roster fillers to get the necessary 90 for training camp would be ...

QB - Teddy Bridgewater - Shaun Hill - Taylor Heinicke
RB - Adrian Peterson - Jerick McKinnon - Matt Asiata
FB - Zach Line - Blake Renaud (r)
LT - Russell Okung (FA) - Austin Shepherd
LG - Brandon Fusco - Carter Bykowski - Isame Faciane (r)
OC - Joe Berger - Nick Easton
RG - Mike Harris - Zac Kerin
RT - TJ Clemmings - Jeremiah Sirles
TE - Kyle Rudolph - MyCole Pruitt - Rhett Ellison
WR - Jarius Wright - Charles Johnson - Terell Sinkfield (r) - Brian Quick (FA)
WR - Stefon Diggs - Adam Thielen - Cordarelle Patterson - Isaac Fruechte (r)

DE - Everson Griffen - Zach Moore - Quinton Coples (FA)
DT - Linval Joseph - Shamar Stephen - B.J. Dubose - Kendall Reyes (FA)
DT - Sharrif Floyd - Tom Johnson - Toby Johnson (r)
DE - Brian Robison - Danielle Hunter - Scott Crichton
LB - Eric Kendricks - Terrance Plummer (r)
LB - Anthony Barr - Alex Singleton (r)
LB - Edmond Robinson - Brandon Watts - Zach Brown (FA)
CB - Xavier Rhodes - Jabari Price
CB - Trae Waynes - Melvin White (r)
SCB - Captain Munnerlyn - Kyle Wilson(FA)
S - Eric Weddle (FA) - Antone Exum - Johnny Lowdermilk (r)
S - Harrison Smith - Anthony Harris

K - Blair Walsh
P - Jeff Locke
LS - Kevin McDermott


The offensive line could be considered scary but they did manage to help get the team to the playoffs.  Replacing Kalil with Okung and saving some money is probably an upgrade.  Obviously better depth is needed and maybe even future potential starters.  I just don't see the Vikings spending too much in free agency.  Maybe a couple of big ticket items and the rest depth.


So now we draft and I am used the fanspeak on the clock premium site ...

The Vikings have the #1.23.23, #2.23.54, #3.16.86, #4.23.118, #5.21.148, #6.5.182, #7.19.208, & #7.23.212 picks.

Trade 1: The Vikings trade #1.23 to Denver for the #31 & #95 (3.32) picks
In the actual NFL 2013 draft, the Rams traded #22 & a 2015 7th to the Falcons for #30, #92, & #198 so this is pretty instructive.

Trade 2:  The Vikings trade 1.31 to the Titans for 2.2 & 5.1



2.2: GERMAIN IFEDI OT 6'5" 325 TEXAS A&M

2.23: SU'A CRAVENS OLB/SS 6'1" 225 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

3.23: TYLER BOYD WR 6'2" 200 PITTSBURGH

3.32: JOSHUA GARNETT OG 6'5" 317 STANFORD

4.23: JAYRON KEARSE S 6'4" 220 CLEMSON

5.1: C.J. PROSISE RB 6'1" 220 NOTRE DAME

5.21: WILLIE HENRY DT 6'2" 310 MICHIGAN

6.5: JALIN MARSHALL WR 5'10" 205 OHIO STATE

7.19: MONTESE OVERTON LB 6'2" 221 EAST CAROLINA

7.23: BEAU SANDLAND TE 6'4" 246 MONTANA STATE

UDFA
Tra Carson RB Texas A&M
Devon Johnson FB Marshall
Kolby Listenbee WR TCU
Kyle Friend C Toledo
Ugonna Awuruonye DE Campbell
Morgan Burns CB Kansas State
Riley Dixon P Syracuse

Here is the roster after all of these moves ...


QB - Teddy Bridgewater - Shaun Hill - Taylor Heinicke - Dak Prescott (d)
RB - Adrian Peterson - Jerick McKinnon - Matt Asiata - CJ Prosise (d) - Tra Carson (udfa)
FB - Zach Line - Blake Renaud (r) - Devon Johnson FB (udfa)
LT - Russell Okung (FA) - Austin Shepherd - Carter Bykowski
LG - Brandon Fusco - Isame Faciane (r) - Joshua Garnett (d)
OC - Joe Berger - Nick Easton - Kyle Friend (udfa)
RG - Mike Harris - Zac Kerin
RT - TJ Clemmings - Jeremiah Sirles - Germain Ifedi (d)
TE - Kyle Rudolph - MyCole Pruitt - Rhett Ellison - Beau Sandland (d)
WR - Jarius Wright - Charles Johnson - Terell Sinkfield (r) - Brian Quick (FA) - Tyler Boyd (d) - Kolby Listenbee (udfa)
WR - Stefon Diggs - Adam Thielen - Cordarelle Patterson - Isaac Fruechte (r) - Jalin Marshall (d)

DE - Everson Griffen - Zach Moore - Quinton Coples (FA)
DT - Linval Joseph - Shamar Stephen - B.J. Dubose - Kendall Reyes (FA)
DT - Sharrif Floyd - Tom Johnson - Toby Johnson (r) - Willie Henry (d)
DE - Brian Robison - Danielle Hunter - Scott Crichton - Ugonna Awuruonye (udfa)
LB - Eric Kendricks - Terrance Plummer (r) - Su'a CRAVENS (d)
LB - Anthony Barr - Alex Singleton (r) - Montese Overton (d)
LB - Edmond Robinson - Brandon Watts - Zach Brown (FA)
CB - Xavier Rhodes - Jabari Price
CB - Trae Waynes - Melvin White (r) - Morgan Burns (udfa)
SCB - Captain Munnerlyn - Kyle Wilson(FA)
S - Eric Weddle (FA) - Antone Exum - Johnny Lowdermilk (r)
S - Harrison Smith - Anthony Harris - Javon Kearse (d)

K - Blair Walsh
P - Jeff Locke - Riley Dixon (udfa)
LS - Kevin McDermott

... this adds up to 82 players.  The Vikings would still have 27.3 mil in available cap space as well.  And again, Greenway and Newman could get re-signed for modest deals (2 mil or so) after free agency plays out a little.


An alternate draft with just the first trade would be ...

31: R1P31 ILB JAYLON SMITH NOTRE DAME
54: R2P23DT VERNON BUTLER LOUISIANA TECH
86: R3P23G CHRISTIAN WESTERMAN ARIZONA ST
95: R3P32 S JALEN MILLS LSU
122: R4P23 OT LE'RAVEN CLARK TEXAS TECH
160: R5P21 QB DAK PRESCOTT MISSISSIPPI ST
183: R6P5 WR JALIN MARSHALL OHIO ST
238: R7P19 DT JIHAD WARD ILLINOIS
242: R7P23 WR CAYLEB JONES ARIZONA

Well there you have it.