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College Football Season Is Here!
It started last Saturday with a couple of games actually. I’ll say it again but the next few months are probably my favorite time of the year. I love to watch college football AND watch the Vikings. For those of you that also like to watch both then you may like to check out some players that could be future Vikings.
In 2020, the Vikings will have some interesting decisions to make. Right now according to overthecap the Vikings are under the cap by 11.7 mil and according to spotrac that are under the cap by 23.2 mil.
They have a few players that will be free agents that wont come cheap. Trae Waynes, Anthony Harris, and MacKenzie Alexander are the top free agents. Then you have CJ Ham, David Morgan, Jayron Kearse, Stephen Weatherly, and OMG Kyle Sloter.
There definitely will be some cuts or adjustments made to contracts.
If Griffen and Reiff are released they save 21.9 mil. If they trade Rhodes they save 8.1 mil. If they restructure/extend Joseph they can save a little but his current salary is not too bad for a top defensive tackle. Geno Atkins signed a 4 yr 65 mil deal in 2018. Snacks Harrison just got a 1 year 11.25 mil extension. Marcel Dareus just got a 2 year 28 mil deal. If Joseph plays well this year again it will be tough to ask him to take a pay cut. I could see them giving him a 2 year extension pushing his contract out to 2024 when he will be 35. Maybe he could play as long as PWill? They probably would give him a signing bonus and guarantee a couple of years to make it worthwhile for him as he does not have anymore guaranteed money. If they gave him a 6 mil signing bonus they could free up another 4.8 mil if cap space.
The nuclear (or many would say best) option would be to trade Cousins. They would save 30 mil if they trade him. Then cut Griffen, Reiff, & Joseph plus trade Rhodes and they would have 41.3 mil in cap space.
Many feel the QB to replace Cousins is on the roster in Sloter. They would have to find a replacement for Reiff and would have to hope Stephen, Jaleel, and Holmes can step it up big time. If they trade Rhodes then they likely would extend Waynes and Alexander and hopefully Hughes shows he is able to step up.
Lots of options and possibilities to speculate about as the season rolls on.
I think that in terms of what positions to watch and players this year in college football, I am going to watch offensive linemen (of course), wide receivers (strong draft class), defensive end, and defensive back.
Here is a link to some sites that have rankings already ...
https://walterfootball.com/draft2020QB.php
https://www.drafttek.com/2020-NFL-Draft-Position-Rankings/Top-College-QBs.asp
https://nfldraftblitz.com/category/player-rankings/2020-rankings/
https://thedraftnetwork.com/prospect-rankings
https://www.draftblaster.com/2020-nfl-mock-draft/
http://www.draftscout.com/players.php?GenPos=QB&DraftYear=2020&sortorder=TSXPos&order=ASC
Here are some games that I will try to see this weekend. Bolded players are ones I like ...
Thursday, August 29
UCLA at Cincinnati 7:00 PM
Darnay Holmes - UCLA - CB - 5’10” - 198
Krys Barnes - UCLA - ILB - 6’1” - 235
Joshua Kelley - UCLA - RBF - 5’11” - 204
Keisean Lucier-South - UCLA - EDGE - 6’4” - 235
Theo Howard - UCLA - WRF - 6’0” - 182
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Michael Warren II - Cincinnati - RBF - 5’11” - 218
James Wiggins - Cincinnati - S - 6’0” - 206
Josiah Deguara - Cincinnati - TE - 6’3” - 240
South Dakota State at Minnesota 9:00 PM
Christian Rozeboom - South Dakota State - LB - 6’2” - 230
Chase Vinatieri - South Dakota State - PK - 6’1” - 215
Mikey Daniel - South Dakota State - RB - 6’0” - 235
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Antoine Winfield Jr. - Minnesota - S - 5’10” - 207
Tyler Johnson - Minnesota - WRF - 6’2” - 200
Carter Coughlin - Minnesota - OLB - 6’4” - 245
Rodney Smith - Minnesota - RBF - 5’11” - 210
Kamal Martin - Minnesota - ILB - 6’3” - 235
#14 Utah at BYU 10:15 PM
Jaylon Johnson - Utah - CB - 6’0” - 190
Zack Moss - Utah - RBF - 5’10” - 210
Britain Covey - Utah - WRS - 5’8” - 170
Leki Fotu - Utah - DL1T - 6’5” - 330
Julian Blackmon - Utah - S - 6’1” - 195
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Matt Bushman - BYU - TE - 6’5” - 245
Friday, August 30
#19 Wisconsin at South Florida 7:00 PM
Tyler Biadasz - Wisconsin - OG - 6’3” - 315
Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin - RBF - 5’11” - 215
Isaiah Loudermilk - Wisconsin - DL5T - 6’7” - 306
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Mitchell Wilcox - South Florida - TE - 6’5” - 245
Jordan Cronkrite - South Florida - RBF - 5’11” - 207
Colorado State at Colorado 10:00 PM
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Laviska Shenault - Colorado - WRF - 6’2” - 220
Steven Montez - Colorado - QB - 6’5” - 230
Mustafa Johnson - Colorado - DL3T - 6’2” - 290
Davion Taylor - Colorado - OLB - 6’2” - 220
Saturday, August 31
Florida Atlantic at #5 Ohio State 12:00 PM
Harrison Bryant - Florida Atlantic - TE - 6’5” - 240
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Chase Young - Ohio State - EDGE - 6’5” - 265
Jeffrey Okudah - Ohio State - CB - 6’1” - 200
J.K. Dobbins - Ohio State - RBF - 5’10” - 214
Jonah Jackson - Ohio State - OG - 6’3” - 309
K.J. Hill - Ohio State - WRF - 6’0” - 195
Malik Harrison - Ohio State - ILB - 6’3” - 245
Jonathon Cooper - Ohio State - EDGE - 6’4” - 257
Tuf Borland - Ohio State - ILB - 6’1” - 230
Damon Arnette - Ohio State - CB - 6’0” - 195
Pete Werner - Ohio State - ILB - 6’3” - 236
Jordan Fuller - Ohio State - S - 6’2” - 205
Robert Landers - Ohio State - DL3T - 6’1” - 285
Eastern Washington at #13 Washington 3:00 PM
Spencer Blackburn - Eastern Washington - OL - 6’2” - 290
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Trey Adams - Washington - OT - 6’7” - 315
Jacob Eason - Washington - QB - 6’6” - 228
Nick Harris - Washington - OC - 6’1” - 302
Aaron Fuller - Washington - WRS - 5’11” - 186
Levi Onwuzurike - Washington - DL3T - 6’3” - 282
Northwestern at #25 Stanford 4:00 PM
Paddy Fisher - Northwestern - ILB - 6’4” - 241
Joe Gaziano - Northwestern - DL5T - 6’4” - 275
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Walker Little - Stanford - OT - 6’7” - 313
Colby Parkinson - Stanford - TE - 6’7” - 240
K.J. Costello - Stanford - QB - 6’5” - 215
Paulson Adedo - Stanford - CB - 6’1” - 189
Jet Toner - Stanford - PK - 6’4” - 201
#3 Georgia at Vanderbilt 7:30 PM
Jake Fromm - Georgia - QB - 6’2” - 220
Andrew Thomas - Georgia - OT - 6’5” - 320
D’Andre Swift - Georgia - RBC - 5’9” - 215
Richard LeCounte - Georgia - S - 5’11” - 190
Julian Rochester - Georgia - DL3T - 6’5” - 300
J.R. Reed - Georgia - S - 6’1” - 199
Solomon Kindley - Georgia - OG - 6’4” - 335
Tyler Clark - Georgia - DL1T - 6’4” - 300
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Jared Pinkney - Vanderbilt - TE - 6’4” - 255
KeShawn Vaughn - Vanderbilt - RBF - 5’10” - 215
Kalija Lipscomb - Vanderbilt - WRF - 6’1” - 200
#11 Oregon at #16 Auburn 7:30 PM
Justin Herbert - Oregon - QB - 6’6” - 225
Calvin Throckmorton - Oregon - OT - 6’5” - 318
Shane Lemieux - Oregon - OG - 6’4” - 317
Troy Dye - Oregon - ILB - 6’4” - 224
Jacob Breeland - Oregon - TE - 6’5” - 240
Jake Hanson - Oregon - OC - 6’5” - 297
Jordon Scott - Oregon - DL1T - 6’1” - 329
Thomas Graham Jr. - Oregon - CB - 5’11” - 191
Juwan Johnson - Oregon - WRF - 6’4” - 227
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Derrick Brown - Auburn - DL3T - 6’5” - 318
Nick Coe - Auburn - DL5T - 6’5” - 282
Marlon Davidson - Auburn - DL5T - 6’3” - 278
Prince Tega Wanogho - Auburn - OT - 6’7” - 310
Miami (OH) at #20 Iowa 7:30 PM
Doug Costin - Miami (OH) - 6’2” - 295 - DL
Mike Brown - Miami (OH) - 6’1” - 210 - DB
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A.J. Epenesa - Iowa - DL5T - 6’6” - 280
Alaric Jackson - Iowa - OT - 6’6” - 320
Tristan Wirfs - Iowa - OT - 6’5” - 320
Nate Stanley - Iowa - QB - 6’4” - 243
Fresno State at USC 10:30 PM
Jared Rice - Fresno State - TE - 6’5” - 238
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Christian Rector - USC - EDGE - 6’4” - 275
Marlon Tuipulotu - USC - DL3T - 6’3” - 305
Drew Richmond - USC - OT - 6’5” - 316
Michael Pittman Jr. - USC - WRF - 6’4” - 223
Jay Tufele - USC - DL3T - 6’3” - 310
Sunday, September 1
Houston at #4 Oklahoma 7:30 PM
D’Eriq King - Houston - QB - 5’11” - 195
Leroy Godfrey - Houston - DL - 6’3” - 240
Patrick Carr - Houston - RB - 5’10” - 205
Keith Corbin - Houston - WR - 6’1” - 197
Jarrid Williams - Houston - OL - 6’7” - 305
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CeeDee Lamb - Oklahoma - WRF - 6’2” - 189
Kenneth Murray - Oklahoma - OLB - 6’2” - 238
Jalen Hurts - Oklahoma - QB - 6’2” - 210
Grant Calcaterra - Oklahoma - TE - 6’4” - 221
Trey Sermon - Oklahoma - RBF - 6’0” - 224
Neville Gallimore - Oklahoma - DL1T - 6’2” - 330
Monday, September 2
#9 Notre Dame at Louisville 8:00 PM
Tommy Kraemer - Notre Dame - OG - 6’6” - 319
Khalid Kareem - Notre Dame - EDGE - 6’4” - 265
Julian Okwara - Notre Dame - EDGE - 6’5” - 241
Alohi Gilman - Notre Dame - S - 5’11” - 201
Liam Eichenberg - Notre Dame - OT - 6’6” - 305
Chase Claypool - Notre Dame - WRF - 6’4” - 227
Daelin Hayes - Notre Dame - DL5T - 6’4” - 268
Jalen Elliott - Notre Dame - S - 6’0” - 207
Troy Pride Jr. - Notre Dame - CB - 5’11” - 192
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T.J. McCoy - Louisville - OC - 6’1” - 315
Mekhi Becton - Louisville - OT - 6’7” - 355
Dez Fitzpatrick - Lousiville - 6’2” - 204 - WR
Seth Dawkins - Lousiville - 6’3” - 218 - WR
Cornelius Sturghill - Lousiville - 5’11” - 194 - DB
If I did not list a game that you will be watching or some players you want to watch then please add them in the comments so that I can have for future reference.
As always, I like to give you a mock draft for the heck of it ...
https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=ojjvjr
TRADES
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 42 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 37
RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 31
DENVER BRONCOS
SENT: ROUND: 4 PICK: 21
RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 7 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 7
21: R1P21 S GRANT DELPIT LSU 6’3” 203
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53: R2P21 WR JALEN REAGOR TCU 5’11” 195
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85: R3P21 OT LUCAS NIANG TCU 6’7” 328
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95: R3P31 CB TREVON DIGGS ALABAMA 6’2” 200
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153: R5P7 DL NEVILLE GALLIMORE OKLAHOMA 6’2” 330
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186: R6P7 G SEAN POLLARD CLEMSON 6’5” 320
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200: R6P21 QB COLE MCDONALD HAWAII 6’4” 220
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237: R7P21 EDGE BRADLEE ANAE UTAH 6’3” 265
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252: R7P36 DL JOSIAH COATNEY MISSISSIPPI 6’3” 314
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255: R7P39 LB KAMAL MARTIN MINNESOTA 6’3” 235
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I know that safety is not a NEED in the first round but Delpit is too good to pass. Harris MIGHT get an extension from the Vikings but with the way the cap is right now it’s possible he wont get as much as he could on the open market. Plus, they could lose Kearse as well who may want to go somewhere that he has a chance to play more or even start.
I think the 3rd receiver spot is a huge need still.
Getting Niang in the 3rd could be nice but if he plays well he likely goes much earlier.Of course you cannot replace Reiff with a 3rd rounder but they make an adjustment to Reiff’s deal to free up cap space and give him guaranteed money. That way Niang can be groomed. Plus, Hill is just about done. Stick a fork in him and give him a free yellow flag as a parting gift.
I kind of doubt Diggs lasts until the end of the 3rd but there was another Diggs who lasted longer. How can I NOT take a player named Diggs? Zimmer loves him some corners and they will need one if they trade Rhodes or cannot keep Waynes or Alexander. I almost took Bryce Hall in the 1st.
Gallimore is huge and could be the eventual replacement for Joseph.
Pollard is a player that I like and he has over 40 starts at Clemson facing fairly tough competition and playing in the biggest games. I think he would be solid and is another one that likely does not last this long.
McDonald is a QB I like and will be watching a lot this year.
Anae, Coatney and Martin are solid players for their teams and just the kind of players the Vikings get late.
Well, there it is. Have at it.
Enjoy the games this weekend!