Vikings Mock v4.7

Still dreamin!

By Mark P Apr 7, 2020, 12:10pm CDT

NFL: Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redskins

Well, it still is very quiet on the free agency front. The Vikings are doing a good job of not spending any money accept for Michael Pierce, a FB, and the dudes that put their foot on the ball. There have been rumors that they were interested in a couple of veteran corners but nothing happened. I am not sure if they have any interest in any veteran safeties even though they only have two on the roster.

The Price Is Right and Let’s Make A Deal have merged into this current offseason strategy. There are many proponents of the organization and how they are one of the best in the NFL, Super Bowl appearances not withstanding. I am not sure of the measure or the goal that leads to this conclusion. Suffice it to say, unless you get to the big dance then everything else is just applying the lipstick.

So, how can I come up with something without knowing if they are working on a couple of big bombs? All I can do is come up with what I would do.

Disclaimer: This is not a PREDICTION of what I think they will do. Some folks get confused with this point.

Here we go.

The Vikings have $12,256,302 in cap space according to overthecap. They could create more by extending Harris which was rumored to be their desire last week. The negotiations must be difficult.

There is rumor that they may be interested in acquiring Trent Williams. Many are against this move because it would involve a new contract for Williams. They are worried about his injury history and that he did not play last year. They are more than comfortable getting the 5th or 6th (or worse) ranked tackle in this draft and rolling with that rookie. It’s a “play it safe” strategy.

There is NO rumor of the Vikings being interested in Jadeveon Clowney although he is someone I want to add to the defensive line. I like Odenigbo but still view him as a rotational player. Clowney would come with a likely 18 mil per year salary. I am OK with that and would give Hunter a raise at the end of this season. It is a lot to spend on the defensive line but they will not be paying any cornerback top money and should only pay one safety top money.

They do need to try and bring in experience at the corner and safety position. If they trade Harris the safety position is really in dire straits. There are not many veteran safeties that could be penciled into a starting spot at this point in time. Maybe Tavon Wilson, Morgan Burnett, Reshad Jones, or Kurt Coleman. Eric Reid is not likely. Trading Harris would push safety into the 1st or 2nd round in this draft and there are some nice options in Grant Delpit, Xavier McKinney, Antoine Winfield Jr, Kyle Duggar, and Ashytn Davis.

It now seems like he may be traded after all if you believe this report (I do ) so I’ll include it here.

At corner, I like Darqueze Dennard, Eli Apple, Daryl Worley, and maybe Tramaine Brock Sr. Can the Vikings afford one of these players? Where would they play? I think the tentative outside corners are probably Hughes and Hill. Dennard would be nice in the slot. Where would Boyd play? Would he come in when they need 4 corners? What about a top draft pick? That may make signing Dennard a bit of a waste. I think the best move is to wait and see if a veteran gets unexpectedly released and then make a deal if the price is right.

There are a lot of questions that remain.

Here are the cap space details from overthecap (link above) ...

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $185,471,365 - $197,727,667 - $12,256,302

2021 - $172,561,689 - $215,000,000 - $42,438,311

2022 - $152,250,134 - $227,500,000 - $75,249,866

2023 - $73,680,000 - $241,000,000 - $167,320,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Trade Anthony Harris & #58 to the Jaguars for #42 and #116.

The difference between #42 and #58 is 160 points plus #116 is 62 points.

That is 222 points which is 3 points less than pick #73 which is the Jaguars 3rd round pick.

Good enough for me.

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $174,641,615 - $197,727,667 - $23,086,052

2021 - $172,561,689 - $215,000,000 - $42,438,311

2022 - $152,250,134 - $227,500,000 - $75,249,866

2023 - $73,680,000 - $241,000,000 - $167,320,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Sign Tavon Wilson S to a 2 year 3.25 mil deal

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $175,530,365 - $197,727,667 - $22,197,302

2021 - $174,311,689 - $215,000,000 - $40,688,311

2022 - $152,250,134 - $227,500,000 - $75,249,866

2023 - $73,680,000 - $241,000,000 - $167,320,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Trade #105 and a 2021 3rd to the Redskins for Trent Williams

Extend Williams with a 4 year 66 mil deal with a 15 mil signing bonus

Salaries of 4.25, 13.75, 16.5, & 16.5 mil

Cap hits of 8, 17.5, 20.25, & 20.25 mil

Add incentives of 1 mil if he makes All Pro and 1 mil if he plays 90% of the snaps

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $182,919,115 - $197,727,667 - $14,808,552

2021 - $191,811,689 - $215,000,000 - $23,188,311

2022 - $172,500,134 - $227,500,000 - $54,999,866

2023 - $93,930,000 - $241,000,000 - $147,070,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Cut or trade Reiff with a post June 1 designation

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $172,530,365 - $197,727,667 - $25,197,302

2021 - $180,061,689 - $215,000,000 - $34,938,311

2022 - $172,500,134 - $227,500,000 - $54,999,866

2023 - $93,930,000 - $241,000,000 - $147,070,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Sign Jadeveon Clowney to a 3 year 54 mil deal with a 15 mil signing bonus

Salaries of 8.5, 12.5, & 18 mil

Cap hits of 13.5, 17.5, & 23 mil

Add incentives of 1 mil if he makes All Pro and 1 mil if he gets 12 sacks

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $185,419,115 - $197,727,667 - $12,308,552

2021 - $197,561,689 - $215,000,000 - $17,438,311

2022 - $195,500,134 - $227,500,000 - $31,999,866

2023 - $93,930,000 - $241,000,000 - $147,070,000

2024 - $16,000,000 - $256,000,000 - $240,000,000

Note: I would release Stephen following the 2020 season (or before).

I would extend Hunter with a 5 year 97.5 mil deal with a 25 mil signing bonus after the 2020 season

Salaries of 7, 8, 18.5, 19.5, & 19.5 mil

Cap hits of 17, 18, 23.5, 24.5, & 24.5 mil

This extension does not change the cap hit for Hunter in 2021 (saves 750K) and raises his cap hit in 2021 by 250k.

In 2022, it raised his cap hit 6 mil but hopefully is well worth it.

New 2021 cap space details after cutting Stephen and extending Hunter ...

Year - Total Liabilities - Salary Cap (Projected) - Cap Room

2020 - $185,419,115 - $197,727,667 - $12,308,552

2021 - $193,061,689 - $215,000,000 - $21,938,311

2022 - $195,750,134 - $227,500,000 - $31,749,866

2023 - $102,680,000 - $241,000,000 - $138,320,000

2024 - $40,500,000 - $256,000,000 - $215,500,000

2025 - $24,500,000 - $256,000,000 - $231,500,000

Still, plenty of room to keep players they want like Ifeadi Odenigbo, Dalvin Cook, and Holton Hill.

So heading to the draft the offensive line is probably set. Wludford has been doing some excellent pieces and this one about Oli Udoh brings up an apt comparison with Kelechi Osemele.

I also recall reading about the length of time it takes learning Kubiak’s zone blocking system. I cannot find it now but the jist of it was that it takes at least a year for younger players.

The Vikings seem to be really “high” on Samia and Udoh. In another of Wludford’s pieces about the possibility of trading for Williams the left side could very well be Williams & Udoh. I could live with that and that may lead to a release of Elflein which would save 2 mil in cap space.

But for now I think it is set although I could see taking one or two more developmental players.

Here is the roster heading into the draft ...

QB - Cousins, Mannion, Browning

RB - Cook, Mattison, Abdullah, Boone, Brooks-James

FB - Pork

TE - Rudolph, Smith, Conklin, Dillon

WR - Thielen, Sharpe, Johnson, Beebe, Hollins, Davis, Mitchell

OL - Williams, Elflein, Bradbury, Samia, O’Neill, Udoh, Collins, Hill, Jones, Dozier

DT - Pierce, Stephen, Johnson, Holmes, Watts, Mata’afa

DE - Hunter, *Clowney, Odenigbo, Zettel, Yarbrough

LB - Barr, Kendricks, Wilson, Gedeon, Smith, Gates

CB - Hughes, Hill, Boyd, Fields, Sayles, Hall, Meadors

S - Smith, Wilson

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

Drafttek big board with random

PRE DRAFT TRADES

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

SENT: ROUND: 2 PICK: 26 & ANTHONY HARRIS

RECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 10 & ROUND: 4 PICK: 10

WASHINGTON REDSKINS

SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 41 & 2021 3RD

RECEIVED: TRENT WILLIAMS

DRAFT DAY TRADES

LA CHARGERS

SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 22 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 22

RECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 5 & ROUND: 3 PICK: 7

DENVER BRONCOS

SENT: ROUND: 2 PICK: 10

RECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 14 & ROUND: 4 PICK: 12

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 25 & ROUND: 5 PICK: 9

RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 17

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

SENT: ROUND: 4 PICK: 10 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 26

RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 37

MIAMI DOLPHINS

SENT: ROUND: 4 PICK: 26

RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 7 & ROUND: 5 PICK: 27

25: R1P25 WR DENZEL MIMS BAYLOR

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 01 Sugar Bowl - Georgia v Baylor

37: R2P5 S GRANT DELPIT LSU

College Football Playoff National Championship - Clemson v LSU

46: R2P14 CB JAYLON JOHNSON UTAH

71: R3P7 QB JALEN HURTS OKLAHOMA

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl - LSU v Oklahoma

81: R3P17 RB J.K. DOBBINS OHIO STATE

College Football Playoff Semifinal at the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl - Clemson v Ohio State

101: R3P37 C TYLER BIADASZ WISCONSIN

118: R4P12 DL RAEKWON DAVIS ALABAMA

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: DEC 29 CFP Semifinal at the Orange Bowl - Alabama v Oklahoma

153: R5P7 LB WILLIE GAY JR. MISSISSIPPI STATE

NCAA Football: Charleston Southern at Mississippi State

173: R5P27 WR ANTONIO GIBSON MEMPHIS

219: R7P5 WR LYNN BOWDEN JR. KENTUCKY

249: R7P35 CB L’JARIUS SNEED LOUISIANA TECH

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 18 NFLPA Collegiate Bowl