Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Mock 2018

I’d first like to wish all Ya Filthy Animals a Merry Christmas!

Well this season has not transpired as many of us would have hoped. The Vikings are at 8-6-1 with a chance to get to 9-6-1 and into the playoffs. It would be quite devastating if they did not make the playoffs to be honest. But teams that have gone 13-3 seldom if ever equal or better that record the next season especially when they change the quarterback and have a new offensive coordinator (or two).

Still, this all comes down to Coach Zimmer in my book. It is his team and he has made changes as he saw fit. So if they do not get to the playoffs then it is all on him.

As always, trying to speculate about the draft next year requires a little quick review of the salary cap and possible contract extensions, restructures, or voids (i.e., someone getting released). Right now the Vikings have about 7.3 mil in cap space (according to spotrac). Next year’s projected cap space is projected to be between 187 and 191 mil. The Vikings have 43 players under contract for about 183.3 mil in cap space.

https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/cap/2019/

https://overthecap.com/salary-cap/minnesota-vikings/

The unrestricted free agents the Vikings have are Anthony Barr, Sheldon Richardson, Latavius Murray, Brett Jones, Nick Easton, Dan Bailey, Marcus Sherels, Ameer Abdullah, Tom Johnson, Tom Compton, George Iloka, Aldrick Robinson, Anthony Harris, and Trevor Siemian.

The exclusive restricted free agents the Vikings have are Matt Wile, C.J. Ham, Cedrick Lang, and Josiah Price.

The restricted free agent they have is Rashod Hill.

With only 7.3 mil in cap space something has to give because you need about 5 mil of that for the rookies next year.

If the Vikings cut or trade Griffen, Sendejo, and Remmers they can get to 28 mil in cap space. If they can trade Treadwell they save another 1.8 mil in cap space.

I would extend Rudolph 3 more years where I would take his 7.625 mil and convert most into a signing bonus. This could save 3 to 4 mil in cap space.

If they did all those moves that would bring the available cap space to about 32 to 33 mil.

Who would they bring back and for how much?

I think the per year averages could be ..

Richardson at least 12 mil, Barr at least 11 mil, Harris between 3 and 4.5 mil, Easton, Compton, and Jones ranging from 1.5 mil up to 3 mil, Murray about 3 mil, Bailey about 2 to 2.5 mil, and who knows with the rest.

There are going to be some interesting decisions made this off season for sure.

In this fantasy, I am going to go with the above cuts, extend Harris for 3.5 mil, Easton for 2.5 mil, Murray for 2.5 mil, and Bailey for 2 mil. These extensions would cost 10.5 mil if given as is leaving 21.5 to 22.5 mil remaining. In theory they could squeeze in the deals for both Barr and Richardson.

I would have to decide to extend Barr or try to sign Jordan Hicks in this scenario. With the money remaining they can extend Barr.

Here is your Christmas Mock!

https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=wymqvb

TRADES

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 21 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 35

RECEIVED: ROUND: 1 PICK: 31, ROUND: 3 PICK: 30, & ROUND: 5 PICK: 31

31: R1P31 OT CODY FORD OKLAHOMA 6’5” 335

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

53: R2P21 DL DEXTER LAWRENCE CLEMSON 6’4” 340

Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

84: R3P20 G CONNOR MCGOVERN PENN STATE 6’5” 326

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

94: R3P30 S JOHNATHAN ABRAM MISSISSIPPI STATE 6’0” 215

Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

123: R4P21 WR PARRIS CAMPBELL OHIO STATE 6’0” 208

Matthew O’Haren-USA TODAY Sports

170: R5P31 EDGE CORBIN KAUFUSI BYU 6’9” 285

Kiel Maddox-USA TODAY Sports

195: R6P20 OT TREY ADAMS WASHINGTON 6’7” 316

Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

249: R7P33 LB BOBBY OKEREKE STANFORD 6’3” 234

Stan Szeto-USA TODAY Sports

251: R7P35 QB CLAYTON THORSON NORTHWESTERN 6’3” 225

Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports

This mock is where the Vikings get some real size!

Here is an alternate mock.

TRADES

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 21 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 35

RECEIVED: ROUND: 1 PICK: 31, ROUND: 3 PICK: 30, & ROUND: 5 PICK: 31

31: R1P31 DL JEFFERY SIMMONS MISSISSIPPI STATE 6’4” 300

53: R2P21 OT ANDRE DILLARD WASHINGTON STATE 6’5” 300

84: R3P20 G CONNOR MCGOVERN PENN STATE 6’5” 326

94: R3P30 S JOHNATHAN ABRAM MISSISSIPPI STATE 6’0” 215

123: R4P21 WR PARRIS CAMPBELL OHIO STATE 6’0” 208

170: R5P31 LB KHALIL HODGE BUFFALO 6’1” 240

195: R6P20 QB CLAYTON THORSON NORTHWESTERN 6’3” 225

249: R7P33 EDGE CHARLES OMENIHU TEXAS 6’6” 275

251: R7P35 G HJALTE FROHOLDT ARKANSAS 6’4” 311

Not sure which one I like but they both would help.

Feel free to share your own mocks and any players in the bowl games that I missed.

Happy Holidays!