FanPost

The Rational Rebuild Pt 2


Good evening DN hope everyone is having a good week so far. After our 1st win of the year on Sunday against a team that is as if not worse than us, I'm still not convinced we have turned a corner this season yet. Some will say "A wins a win" and yes any win in the NFL is a accomplishment considering the team we just beat fired their HC 4 games into the year my confidence in this team is still low.

Lets look at the positives

Jefferson goes off again for with 4 catches for 104- He's looking like every bit of the 1st round pick we spent on him in April. He should continue to this week against a SEA defense that is not as intimidating as they have been in the past.

Cook 27 att's for 130 yds and 2 TDs- Is earning the big money contract he got which " he IS the Vikings offense and everything goes through him.

Yannick Ngakoue- 5 tackles 1 SCK- Good QB pressure throughout the game and a coverage sack against Watson, Drew a tough matchup against Tunsil and had a soild game

Eric Kendricks- 7 Tackles- The best player on our defense and the leader of the team if they turn the year around it'll be because of him.

DJ Wonnum- 1 Sack- It was a blown pass protection on Tunsil as Wonnum came around the corner and wrapped up Watson. Want to see if he can build on it from this game and do it again next week against a equally elusive Russell Wilson.

Jeff Gladney- 5 Tackles, Looked like the CB we drafted. was aggressive at the LOS and was feisty with WR's all day. I wanna see more. I'd love to see him move outside and take on a more active role

The Bad

George Iloka- Also gave the Texans the win with 2 missed assignments that led to TD's

I'd mention the Harrison Smith hit but we can all agree it was the right call and he was rightfully ejected whether Zimmer was bitching or not.

Again as I said a wins a win but the Texans have way more problems than we do. They have the elusive franchise QB but nothing around him due to Bill O brien trading away the franchise in a matter of 3 years. The one thing we can be thankful we have is draft capital to rebuild the roster which the Texans don't have. They have the highest payroll in the NFL and nothing to show for it. Lets just say Bill O Brien won't be getting a NFL job for a while. We draw a tough matchup this coming weekend against a Seahawks team with arguably the best young WR in the league in DK Metcalf. Between him and Lockett I think Wilson will be craving this secondary up this weekend. I hope Gladney, Dantzler, and that secondary are ready they will need it.

Alright then moving on, So in The PT 1 section of this blog I said the most realistic scenario would be a rebuild with Cousins as the QB with Spielman and Zimmer returning for a 7th season. I had us trading a 5th overall pick and a possible younf franchise QB to build around for 2 1st round picks to improve the DL/ OL as well as building depth in the secondary. Well lets throw tis out of the water, Lets say that the Wilfs are tired of where this team is going and Cut both Rick Spielman and Mike Zimmer

First off who would replace Rick Spielman, I think this is a easy decision as the guy is already on the Staff

George Paton- He's been on the staff for a long time and I think would be the right in house candidate to replace Rick. I think he would retain Rob Brzezinski as Executive VP. So now that the GM is in Place lets move to Head Coach candidates

My choices for Head coach

1. Eric Bieniemy

2. Brian Schottenheimer

3. Jason Garrett

4. Joe Brady

Long Shots

1. Lincoln Riley

2. Greg Roman

3. Kellen Moore

4. Ryan Day

This was a tough decision as there are alot of good coaches on here and one I'm sure you all were surprised with and that's Jason Garrett. Bieniemy was my clear cut choice at the start of his but I think he will want to go where he already has a franchise QB in place " Houston". So I'm going to go with the up and coming head coach Joe Brady.

Brady was a NFL assistant for the Saints in 2017 and 2018, before going on to LSU in 2019 where his offense set records in almost all categories. He's got a connection in Minnesota already with Jefferson and a RB in cook similar to what he had with Alvin Kamara. I went back and watched his offense in LSU where they threw the ball 70% of the time and I thought does he run the ball at all? This year Carolina is ranked 18th in the league so he can run a balanced offense. He's young "only 31" but I feel he brings a innovative offense to the league and seeing again what Jefferson did in that offense in LSU in 2019 along with Joe Burrow I think this could be a fun and interesting time in this franchises tenure.

FA/ Draft

Where do we go from here? If you read my Pt 1 blog I made a list as to who could leave and who could be resigned. Depending on who the DC could be I would like to see us stay with a 4-3 defensive front with a hybrid 3-4 look. if we do pick. It might change a bit based on the cap issues but I will still let the expiring contracts. I think we would stick with the zone blocking scheme with the need to get your playmakers in space. I think the big need is still the need to get bigger on the interior of the OL so lets fix that shall we.

Brandon Scheriff, OG- I'm going to go with a 4 year 14 million dollar deal for a instant plug and play RG. I'd like to see what Dru Samia does when given the proper time. But, If we can find a upgrade at the position I'd like it to be him. Joe Thuney was a possibility but I don't like the track record of New England OL outside of that system that they run. It doesn't always end up good.

Yannick Ngakoue- DE- Again you don't trade for a guy like this just to let him walk. Pay him 4 years 80 Million

Extend Hunter- Get hunter extended long term and pay him on par with Yannick. You will have bookend DE's for the next 4 years

Trades

Lets say for the sake of this we again go 4-12, 5-11 and are picking at #7.

Vikings trade 2021 # 7 and a 4th round pick overall pic to the New Orleans Saints for a 2021 #1 & #2 and a 2022 #1 pick.

Again guys this is a build for the long haul as I want to add talent but still am building draft picks. The saints would presumably be moving up to take their next QB as Drew Brees is in his last year. I would guess it would be for Lance as I just can't see using a #1 pick on a guy that is going to sit presumably for the next 2 years. We move back in the draft "say mid 20's" pick up a 2nd round pick we lost in Yannick and pick up a 2022 1st round pick.

To the draft

1st round via trade "from the Saints"- Trey Smith, OG, Tennessee- We solidify one G spot with the signing of Scheriff but need to lock down the LG position. I would assume Cleveland is going to be the starting LT in 2021 but this would mean help open some holes for Cook and Comp as well as give Kirk time to find his weapons.

2nd round via trade " from the Saints"- Jaime Newman, QB, Wake Forest- Considering Newman never played a down for the bulldogs in 2020 after opting out, I think ultimately had he played for Georgia I think he would be in top half of the 1st round consideration. Newman was spot on for Wake in 2019 and was pegged last year as a 1st round pick. He's got the live arm and can run for yards with his legs as well. He gets a chance to sit and learn a NFL offense for 2 years. I think Joe Brady will fall in love with Newman's playmaking.

3rd round- Jay Tufele, DT, USC- A Pure 3 technique DT for the NFL he fits in perfectly next to the big man Michael Pierce. Tufele opted out of the 2020 season again, more tape would help his cause but good interior DL are hard to find and he has a ton of upside

4th round- Paris Ford, S, Pittsburgh- With Harrison Smith not getting any younger and Anthony Harris playing on a 1 year deal we need to get some youth in behind both of these guys. He's a batting ram and very versatile in coverage. I think he would be a steal at this point in the draft

4th round- Paddy Fisher, LB, Northwestern- Troy Dye could become a starter in time but we still need guys that can come in and contribute. Fisher is a pure ILB and can come in and give Kendricks a break when needed.

5th- Jaquan Bailey, DE, Iowa State- I included Bailey in my last mck as I just don't think the guy gets teh credit he deserves. He's arguably Iowa state's best defensive player and lines up in multiple positions for the Iowa state. He can rush standing up or with his hand in the ground

5th- Kadarius Toney, WR, Florida - Give this guy the ball in space and watch things happen. Joe Brady will enjoy his new toy in the 5th round

5th- DJ Daniel, CB, Georgia- A late round CB with some size and range to him. His 3 cone drill and 40 will really dictate where he lands but at 6'1 and 210 lbs he's worth a late round flier.

6th- Gunnar Vogel, OT, Northwestern- A late round swing T probably going to the practice squad

7th- Felepie Franks, QB, Arkansas- Very raw and up and down play at times. A huge arm but is on the fringe of being drafted

Well there you have it guys, let me know what you think and enjoy the rest of your weekend

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.