Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Mock!
After yesterday’s game it may be difficult to be cheerful for some. But being a father of young children does not allow me to be grumpy or more grumpy than usual. Thus, I must move on and continue to look forward.
The Vikings are firmly in the 6th seed. Some think resting the players to prevent injury would be wise but after that crappy show they put on yesterday there is no way the offense should have any player not playing. They need to show improvement immediately. The Bears defense should provide a good test if they play their starters and give good effort.
It is still up in the air who they would play in the first round. If the Packers and Seahawks win next week then they would play the Seahawks. If the Packers and 49ers win next week then they would play the Saints. I would want to face the Seahawks because they are missing their backs and the last time we played them they ran 42 times for 218 yards.
It’s still exciting to be in the dance though!
Trying to speculate about the draft next year requires a little quick review of the salary cap next year and possible contract extensions, restructures, or voids (i.e., someone getting released). Right now the Vikings have about -4.534 mil in cap space (according to overthecap). Next year’s projected cap space is expected to be somewhere between 196.8 to 201.2 mil.
How can the Vikings get cap space? Well after yesterday we can guess that they may let Rhodes, Reiff, and Griffen all go. They may try to trade Rhodes and Reiff but that may be wishful thinking. I think they can.
Just doing those 3 moves gets the Vikings to 25.467 mil in cap space.
They could use that to extend Harris, Waynes, and Alexander which I expect they will. Harris may prove to be too expensive so they could re-sign Kearse and sign a veteran free agent for cheap.
They should consider giving Hunter a raise and there is always the option of trying to extend Cousins and creating a lot more cap space. I will leave that out for now.
One player they should strongly consider if the hits the market is Brandon Scherff. He will have plenty of suitors so it will take 14 mil or more at the least. But I cannot see the Redskins letting him go. I think they will tag him if they have to.
Other than Scherff I do not see them trying to sign anyone of note besides another veteran QB like a Colt McCoy.
fanspeak has the Vikings drafting at #24 so I will go with that for this mock.
https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=xcmbup
PRE-DRAFT TRADES
BUFFALO BILLS
SENT: XAVIER RHODES
RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 22
.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
SENT: RILEY REIFF & ROUND: 7 PICK: 37
RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 5
DRAFT TRADES
LA RAMS
SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 24 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 24
RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 20
.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 40 & ROUND: 5 PICK: 22
RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 36 & ROUND: 5 PICK: 25
24: R1P24 QB TUA TAGOVAILOA ALABAMA 6’1” - 218 - JR
56: R2P24 OT PRINCE TEGA WANOGHO AUBURN 6’7” - 310 - SR
84: R3P20 EDGE JAMES LYNCH BAYLOR 6’4” - 295 - JR
100: R3P36 S ANTOINE WINFIELD MINNESOTA 5’10” - 207 - JR
132: R4P24 G SHANE LEMIEUX OREGON 6’4” - 317 - SR
152: R5P5 CB DEOMMODORE LENOIR OREGON 5’11” - 212 - SR
172: R5P25 WR DEVIN DUVERNAY TEXAS 5’11” - 186 - SR
221: R7P5 OT COLTON MCKIVITZ WEST VIRGINIA 6’7” - 312 - RSR
240: R7P24 CB TROY PRIDE JR. NOTRE DAME 5’11” - 192 - SR
250: R7P34 S BRIAN COLE MISSISSIPPI STATE 6’2” - 210 - SR
https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=nptnjy
PRE-DRAFT TRADES
BUFFALO BILLS
SENT: XAVIER RHODES
RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 22
.
ARIZONA CARDINALS
SENT: RILEY REIFF & ROUND: 7 PICK: 37
RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 5
DRAFT TRADES
NEW YORK JETS
SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 24 & FUTURE ROUND 1 PICK
RECEIVED: ROUND: 1 PICK: 10
10: R1P10 QB JUSTIN HERBERT OREGON
56: R2P24 OT PRINCE TEGA WANOGHO AUBURN
88: R3P24 WR JALEN REAGOR TCU
104: R3P40 OT CALVIN THROCKMORTON OREGON
132: R4P24 CB JEFF GLADNEY TCU
152: R5P5 S ASHTYN DAVIS CALIFORNIA
169: R5P22 EDGE ALTON ROBINSON SYRACUSE
205: R6P24 DL DAVON HAMILTON OHIO STATE
221: R7P5 WR COLLIN JOHNSON TEXAS
240: R7P24 CB TROY PRIDE JR. NOTRE DAME
250: R7P34 S JALEN ELLIOTT NOTRE DAME
Obviously all the players I was able to select will go well before in the real draft.