Great article Mathew but it's time to move on from these guys and cut the losses there's no way they can survive with a 40 million dollar cap hit with Kirk and another big chunk with Barr.
More than any other year of the Spielman/Zimmer regime, this feels like one where they really have to get creative with the cap and the roster and "win" during the free agency period. I would say working out a new contract for Hunter (or, less palatable probably, getting a real haul for him in a trade) is really the starting point, but beyond that Spielman has to figure out how to add impact players on both lines, probably in the secondary, and probably at WR. If they don't get free agents who make serious contributions--last year, and other years, they did not--the Vikings probably don't make the playoffs and the Spielman/Zimmer era is probably over. Of course they will fill holes in the draft (I agree with Grant that, under Matthew's scenario, Christian Barmore looks like a great pick), but you have to operate under the assumption that none of your draft picks will give quality starter snaps, and you need to add a lot of those.
Yep, I think what this exercise shows us is that a big signing would probably offer a boost but there's such a big price to be paid. If they brought in 4-6 solid free agents and still did a lot of the money moving, it probably adds up to greater value
Yeah, to me Barmore's value is higher because the DT market is just bad and there aren't many players in the draft other than him who could be starters right away
I think that when you look at the Reiff situation, you have to step back and say is Hill better than Dozier? The answer is yes and therefore you resign Hill and use that money to plug up the middle with 1 Big Fish or 2 Smaller fish. There are some decent centers in this draft that will be around day 2 and 3 so I would 100 percent draft one to compete with Bradbury. Somewhere you obviously have to take a tackle as well but again that can be done later on. In my opinion you take the BPA at 14 and package some of the later stuff to get into the second. I know Barmore is attractive but I think Atkins will end up in Minnesota on a friendly deal coming off that labrum. There is depth later in the draft like Jaylen Tyman who is a pass rushing machine from the interior.
I’m with you on BPA. They’re in a position with enough needs that they can just take talent and let the rest play out. It does feel like there should be a strong effort to get into the second round to take a tackle because there are a lot of solid tackle prospects in this draft
Love this tool! I aimed a little higher with bringing on both the big free agent guards (never going to happen) but that went along with cousins extension which also probably not going to happen.
I think the strongest potential to restructure by simply converting base to signing bonus is thielen. Barr i think would have to be a reiff like restructure which is more of a pay cut than kicking can down road. Boone and beebe would be non tender candidates as i think you can bring them back on minimum type deals at 900 k which could save couple million.
The Cousins extension might be a thing that happens at some point...probably next year though. I didn't think of the base salary with Thielen, that's a good idea. That's the thing... they can absolutely sign someone big, it's just how far they're willing to go to do it
Great article Mathew but it's time to move on from these guys and cut the losses there's no way they can survive with a 40 million dollar cap hit with Kirk and another big chunk with Barr.
More than any other year of the Spielman/Zimmer regime, this feels like one where they really have to get creative with the cap and the roster and "win" during the free agency period. I would say working out a new contract for Hunter (or, less palatable probably, getting a real haul for him in a trade) is really the starting point, but beyond that Spielman has to figure out how to add impact players on both lines, probably in the secondary, and probably at WR. If they don't get free agents who make serious contributions--last year, and other years, they did not--the Vikings probably don't make the playoffs and the Spielman/Zimmer era is probably over. Of course they will fill holes in the draft (I agree with Grant that, under Matthew's scenario, Christian Barmore looks like a great pick), but you have to operate under the assumption that none of your draft picks will give quality starter snaps, and you need to add a lot of those.
Yep, I think what this exercise shows us is that a big signing would probably offer a boost but there's such a big price to be paid. If they brought in 4-6 solid free agents and still did a lot of the money moving, it probably adds up to greater value
So in this scenario, I’d say Christian Barmore looks like a good target at pick 14 with how the roster is set up.
Yeah, to me Barmore's value is higher because the DT market is just bad and there aren't many players in the draft other than him who could be starters right away
Yeah that’s what it sounds like. Most years I wouldn’t be a fan of a DT at 14 but with our roster situation, beggars can’t be choosers this year lol
I think that when you look at the Reiff situation, you have to step back and say is Hill better than Dozier? The answer is yes and therefore you resign Hill and use that money to plug up the middle with 1 Big Fish or 2 Smaller fish. There are some decent centers in this draft that will be around day 2 and 3 so I would 100 percent draft one to compete with Bradbury. Somewhere you obviously have to take a tackle as well but again that can be done later on. In my opinion you take the BPA at 14 and package some of the later stuff to get into the second. I know Barmore is attractive but I think Atkins will end up in Minnesota on a friendly deal coming off that labrum. There is depth later in the draft like Jaylen Tyman who is a pass rushing machine from the interior.
I’m with you on BPA. They’re in a position with enough needs that they can just take talent and let the rest play out. It does feel like there should be a strong effort to get into the second round to take a tackle because there are a lot of solid tackle prospects in this draft
Love this tool! I aimed a little higher with bringing on both the big free agent guards (never going to happen) but that went along with cousins extension which also probably not going to happen.
I think the strongest potential to restructure by simply converting base to signing bonus is thielen. Barr i think would have to be a reiff like restructure which is more of a pay cut than kicking can down road. Boone and beebe would be non tender candidates as i think you can bring them back on minimum type deals at 900 k which could save couple million.
The Cousins extension might be a thing that happens at some point...probably next year though. I didn't think of the base salary with Thielen, that's a good idea. That's the thing... they can absolutely sign someone big, it's just how far they're willing to go to do it