Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 18,19 March 2023

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah is still weaving his magic and a lot of things remain unclear. They signed Dean Lowry yesterday to a 2 yr 8.5M deal and formally announced the Marcus Davenport signing. The Harrison Smith and Jordan Hicks restructures/pay cuts are not reflected yet on any of the salary cap tracking sites nor are the Lowry and Davenport signings. Za’Darius Smith, Dalvin Cook, and Danielle Hunter still show the same cap number as well. The team is sitting at negative $2,684,895 in cap space according to overthecap.

Sooner or later the details will be revealed. I am guessing the 5M guarantee on Za’Darius Smith’s salary does not mean the team wont save 12M if he is moved. It may mean if he is moved the other team takes on that guarantee. I do not believe the Vikings had to pay him any money.

Also, I am not sure if the team saves $5,898,727 or $7,898,727 if Cook is cut or traded. There is belief that they save the latter number if he is traded and the former number if he is released.

I am also wondering what they did with the remaining years in Harrison Smith’s contract. As a wannabe GM, there would be no way that I would not ask to remove those years or cut the salary amounts down in the negotiations just completed. If they did not touch those years then Smith has to know that they will release him or ask him to take yet another cut next year. Maybe both parties decided to wait and see if Smith wants to continue putting his body through the grind after this season? Ideally, they would have removed those remaining years (turned them into void years - no sure if it is doable but I think they did that with Barr) and given Smith a 4.5M signing bonus (or so) that they could spread over those remaining years. That would lower his salary to 3.5M, add 1.5M to each year in restructure amount, lower his cap hit this year by 9.2M, raise the dead money in 2024 to 10.8M, and lower the cap savings in 2024 to 12.3M.

Pure speculation.

Since yore last open thread ...

Tyler says Dalvin Cook Shouldn’t Be Scapegoated For Vikings’ Rushing Woes

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Vikings agree to terms with DL Dean Lowry

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Our Minnesota Vikings Free Agency Tracker

Remaining Free Agents

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-100-best-available-2023-free-agents

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https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-free-agency-2023-bobby-wagner-adam-thielen-headline-top-remaining-players-available-at-each-position/

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https://www.profootballnetwork.com/nfl-free-agency-2023-best-remaining-free-agents-include-steele-beckham-clowney/

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I was surprised that the Chiefs got Drue Tranquill for only a 1 year 3M deal with incentives that could push it to 5M. Considering the Vikings approach this year, would it have been better to go for Drue instead of asking 31 year old Jordan Hicks to take a cut? Tranquill was just as good but maybe he is not a fit?

I thought it would be nice to get a safety but after they brought back Smith, it probably would have been a waste of cap space. I think a receiver would be nice and Darius Slayton or Mecole Hardman come to mind right away. Another corner would be good. Maybe they go for Dalton Risner and try to trade Cleveland?

One interesting thing is that they decided Mullens was good enough to back up Cousins. You saw other backups like Mariotta, Minshew, and Darnold get signed elsewhere for more. Perhaps I am biased but I have to admit that Mullens starting any games this upcoming season is a little worrisome.

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Yore Mock

TRADES

Trade Partner: Seattle Seahawks

Sent: Future Round 1 Pick, Round 1 Pick 23, Danielle Hunter, Future Round 2 Pick

Received: Round 1 Pick 5, Round 5 Pick 16

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Trade Partner: Kansas City Chiefs

Sent:

Round 3 Pick 24

Received: Round 3 Pick 32, Round 5 Pick 31, Round 7 Pick 32

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Trade Partner: LA Rams

Sent: Round 5 Pick 23

Received: Round 5 Pick 32, Round 7 Pick 6

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Trade Partner: San Francisco 49ers

Sent: Round 5 Pick 32

Received: Round 5 Pick 38, Round 7 Pick 36

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5: R1 P5 QB Will Levis - Kentucky 6’3.7 229

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95: R3 P32 WR Nathaniel “Tank” Dell - Houston 5’8.3” 165

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119: R4 P17 LB DeMarvion Overshown - Texas 6’2.5” 229

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151: R5 P16 C Ricky Stromberg - Arkansas 6’3” 306

Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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166: R5 P31 DL Moro Ojomo - Texas 6’2.9” 292

Photo by Adam Davis/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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173: R5 P38 S Daniel Scott - California 6’0.7” 208

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211: R6 P34 OT Nick Saldiveri - Old Dominion 6’6.2” 318

Photo by Bobby McDuffie/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

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223: R7 P6 TE Zack Kuntz - Old Dominion 6’7.3” 255

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249: R7 P32 CB Cory Trice - Purdue 6’3.3” 206

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253: R7 P36 EDGE Eku Leota - Auburn 6’3” 255

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This mock was before the Udoh re-signing so maybe the tackle is not necessary considering they still have Lowe.

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