Is there any way they can restructure Cousin's contract? I think they are just stuck with it until a year from March.
I'm starting to think they till take a flier draft pick on a QB day 1 or day 2. If they hit it extends the window.
The only way you can restructure is if you add more years to his deal, and there are significantly better options for that. Guys who you don't have to add years to their deals, and can just convert salary to signing bonus without them even giving consent. Hunter, Diggs, and Kendricks are prime candidates.
You could trade him if he agreed to a trade, so you would need a good team to want him.
He is our QB next year, which is fine as long as they have a backup plan for if he doesn't take the next step and aren't afraid to draft the QBOTF if he is there for you to pick this coming draft.
That's it ... adding more years is the only way to restructure Kirk's deal, but that just kicks the can down the road. Let's say you could get him to agree to $24 million next year instead of $31 million, but add three years to his deal. You still have to pay him that $7 million at some point PLUS raises past $31 million. So while restructuring would help us next year, it would hurt us in succeeding years.
And that's assuming you want Kirk as your franchise quarterback. Of course, by "you" and "your," I mean Spielman and Zimmer.
What's interesting (and probably aggravating for many Vikings fans) is that Kirk's playoff heroics against the Saints may have solidified that extension. If he had just flopped, they might have been ready to move on. But now? I don't know.
It's all going to depend on how many holes we open up given cap space. If Joseph goes, we need 2 DTs. If Griff goes, DE becomes a priority even though we have a few backups that are okay, CB is going to be addressed, OL has holes, maybe #3 WR, backup QB? The more holes, the tougher it will be to fill the massive OL void. Hopefully they dont turn their head the other way, especially with Eflein.
I honestly believe Odenigbo is where Griffen was five years ago ... young, talented, hungry, and ready for prime time. Make the priority signing Odenigbo instead of keeping Griffen. I don't believe we'd be any worse off from a production standpoint, and we might even be better. And we'd certainly be better off cap-wise than Griffen's ridiculous $13.9 million cap hit.
Cutting Griffen saves more than $13 million against the cap. That could be used to sign Odenigbo and a top interior lineman, easily.
Joseph will count $12.9 million against the cap if we keep him, but only costs $2.4 million in dead cap if we cut him. That's $10.5 million in cap savings. I just don't see how the Vikings can keep Joseph at that price. He's not that productive.
There are tough decisions to be made with the Vikings' defense. That's where cap savings is going to come ... Rhodes, Waynes, Griffen, and Joseph. Cutting all four saves $31.5 million, PLUS whatever Waynes costs (likely $10 million or more). Rhodes, Griff and Joseph are all over 30 or will be by the time the season starts.
It sucks. These are guys who have done great things for us in the past, but some of them are going to have to go. It's very possible that the biggest change we see in the Vikings next year is on defense.
I agree with this take. My fear, however, is that Zimmer is too emotionally attached to 'his guys' (read: Griff, Xavier, Linval... I think he's fine with letting Waynes walk). He doesn't have Bellichek's stone-cold killer instinct in him. I hope I'm wrong.
I'm not convinced the offense needs an overhaul. The offensive line needs maturation and a tweak. I'm happy with the tight ends, receivers and running backs, and while I don't think the Vikings can sniff the Superbowl with Cousins next year, they can win games with him at QB.
Special teams, at least at kicker and punter aren't terrible either.
Defense is most ripe for significant changes this offseason.
I don't know if I agree with that, even though it needs changes. I continue to think OL is the area most in need of change, especially if they continue to view the running game as an essential part of their success. If they want to win it all with a strong running game and good defense they need to build a line that plays like the infamous "Hogs". They can't have a line that melts like the Wicked Witch of the West the way this one did in SF on Saturday. Zimmer's not going to have the kind of offense that can assert their will on opponent and give his defense adequate rest until he and Spielman get it through their heads that it requires a terrific line, not just an adequate one. I'm hopeful that O'Neill and Bradbury will be key pieces on that kind of line in the future but that leaves 3 more spots to fill on the way to a Super Bowl. Reiff is 31, only signed for 2 more years and his cap hit next season will be $13.2 million. He might be as ripe for replacement as some of the older defenders.
If you add in the need for a 3rd WR and the looming question of who will play QB beyond 2020, I think the offensive challenges this offseason at least rival those on defense. Of course, if the Vikings see Cousins as their starter beyond 2020, that changes the picture, at least from their point of view.
There's a reason I'm in favor of blowing the whole thing up and going into rebuilding mode.
I'm not convinced the offense needs an overhaul. The offensive line needs maturation and a tweak. I'm happy with the tight ends, receivers and running backs, and while I don't think the Vikings can sniff the Superbowl with Cousins next year, they can win games with him at QB.
Special teams, at least at kicker and punter aren't terrible either.
Defense is most ripe for significant changes this offseason.
I don't know if I agree with that, even though it needs changes. I continue to think OL is the area most in need of change, especially if they continue to view the running game as an essential part of their success. If they want to win it all with a strong running game and good defense they need to build a line that plays like the infamous "Hogs". They can't have a line that melts like the Wicked Witch of the West the way this one did in SF on Saturday. Zimmer's not going to have the kind of offense that can assert their will on opponent and give his defense adequate rest until he and Spielman get it through their heads that it requires a terrific line, not just an adequate one. I'm hopeful that O'Neill and Bradbury will be key pieces on that kind of line in the future but that leaves 3 more spots to fill on the way to a Super Bowl. Reiff is 31, only signed for 2 more years and his cap hit next season will be $13.2 million. He might be as ripe for replacement as some of the older defenders.
If you add in the need for a 3rd WR and the looming question of who will play QB beyond 2020, I think the offensive challenges this offseason at least rival those on defense. Of course, if the Vikings see Cousins as their starter beyond 2020, that changes the picture, at least from their point of view.
There's a reason I'm in favor of blowing the whole thing up and going into rebuilding mode.
If Gary Kubiak (or some version of him, such as Klint Kubiak) is OC, you won't see hogs. Outsize zone requires athletes, not hogs, and that's what Kubiak runs. That's not to say it can't work. Look at S.F. They're doing it in spades, and their line features the same type of athletes we have, only obviously either a) lots more talented, or b) much better coached, or c) both.
The defense is the first place I believe you'll see changes. It's where the age and highest salaries are. If Zimmer does the emotional attachment thing and hangs on to guys just because he trusts them or likes them, then I'm pretty much done with Zimmer. You simply can't pay Xavier Rhodes $13 million + to allow easy touchdowns. Holton Hill can do that, and he'll work for blunts.
J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:21 pm
You simply can't pay Xavier Rhodes $13 million + to allow easy touchdowns. Holton Hill can do that, and he'll work for blunts.
J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 6:21 pmIf Gary Kubiak (or some version of him, such as Klint Kubiak) is OC, you won't see hogs. Outsize zone requires athletes, not hogs, and that's what Kubiak runs.
Good point. Different schemes require different athletes. I was trying to make a point about dominant performance, not a particular style of player so the Hogs were just intended as an example of a dominant run-blocking o-line. Building a line that can run block as effectively as those Broncos lines that helped Davis win 2 Super Bowls would work too. Basically, when the Vikings play in a game like last Saturday's, they need a running game that can do what SF's running game did to them. Of course, they also need a defense that won't allow that anymore. There's plenty of work to do on both sides of the ball.
The defense is the first place I believe you'll see changes. It's where the age and highest salaries are.
It's also what Zimmer prioritizes so I expect the focus to be on that side of the ball this offseason.
If Zimmer does the emotional attachment thing and hangs on to guys just because he trusts them or likes them, then I'm pretty much done with Zimmer. You simply can't pay Xavier Rhodes $13 million + to allow easy touchdowns. Holton Hill can do that, and he'll work for blunts.
J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Jan 13, 2020 4:22 pm
I honestly believe Odenigbo is where Griffen was five years ago ... young, talented, hungry, and ready for prime time. Make the priority signing Odenigbo instead of keeping Griffen. I don't believe we'd be any worse off from a production standpoint, and we might even be better. And we'd certainly be better off cap-wise than Griffen's ridiculous $13.9 million cap hit.
Cutting Griffen saves more than $13 million against the cap. That could be used to sign Odenigbo and a top interior lineman, easily.
Joseph will count $12.9 million against the cap if we keep him, but only costs $2.4 million in dead cap if we cut him. That's $10.5 million in cap savings. I just don't see how the Vikings can keep Joseph at that price. He's not that productive.
There are tough decisions to be made with the Vikings' defense. That's where cap savings is going to come ... Rhodes, Waynes, Griffen, and Joseph. Cutting all four saves $31.5 million, PLUS whatever Waynes costs (likely $10 million or more). Rhodes, Griff and Joseph are all over 30 or will be by the time the season starts.
It sucks. These are guys who have done great things for us in the past, but some of them are going to have to go. It's very possible that the biggest change we see in the Vikings next year is on defense.
I agree with this take. My fear, however, is that Zimmer is too emotionally attached to 'his guys' (read: Griff, Xavier, Linval... I think he's fine with letting Waynes walk). He doesn't have Bellichek's stone-cold killer instinct in him. I hope I'm wrong.
Unfortunately I think you're absolutely right Zimmer does not have that killer instinct he's too attached to deadweight players
Again, I don’t understand the infatuation with teddy. He has way more limitations as a passer than cousins does. He doesn’t test downfield no less doesn’t have the arm for it, doesn’t have the accuracy especially on deeper passes, is way more conservative, etc.
And I don’t wanna hear that “guys get behind him” or “he’s a leader. The entire offense did nothing but talk cousins up this year. Theilen and Rudy recently said they’ve never been around a guy that prepares as much as he does.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I’ve never seen a QB get more praise and love by fans for doing so little for an organization. Kyle sloter makes a good push for that but teddy is right there with him. His passing ability when he was here was very underwhelming. And guys want to claim that cousins can’t operate when cook isn’t running well or out (even though I pointed out 4 games where that wasn’t the case this year and we went 3-1 in those games) go look at Teddy with AP in 2015. When AP played well, we won. When he didn’t we lost. Literally just about every time from what I can remember. The difference is, cousins has the passing ability to win us games when the run game is shut down where teddy doesn’t. Yeah cousins didn’t win us every game when cook wasn’t going anywhere. But he kept us competitive in many and won some. Teddy couldn’t do that because he has limitations as a passer and is very conservative.
Teddy is not coming back here and we aren’t trading cousins. So let’s put that to bed
The saddest thing in life is wasted talent and the choices you make will shape your life forever.
-Chazz Palminteri
What I would like to see first off, cut Rhodes,he is a shell of his former self. Next move on from Gedeon,hurt and slow,offer Waynes,Reif, and Griffen average at position salaries and be prepared in the draft if they walk.Joseph would be harder to replace than many think, not many his size with his athleticism, Elflein is a backup at best.
So I don't know anything about Jon Runyan Jr. other than that he's the son of Jon Runyan but I already want him. His dad was my kind of offensive lineman. If he's anything like him he could be a great RT for the next decade. My early favorite player coming out No one steal him in any mock drafts
I wonder if Vegas has a prop bet about not drafting a QB in all 7 rounds. If Rick is still GM I would put a lot of money on that. Also, Cousins has a no trade clause. He isn’t going anywhere.
Mothman wrote: ↑Sun Jan 12, 2020 7:27 pm
I know I'm repeating myself but it really feels like this would be a good time to make big changes. Since we're talking about contracts, considering the results so far, I don't think it makes sense to extend Spielman, Zimmer or Cousins and having all 3 work through a "lame duck" season this year isn't a great idea either. I know it's probably wishful thinking but I'd like to see the Wilfs be assertive, make a good hire at GM, have the team take it's lumps with the cap in 2020 and work to set themselves up with plenty of draft picks, cap room and possibly a new QB in 2021.
This really is a pretty logical time to do a "hard reboot" of this team. They've finished the last 3 seasons by getting mauled in an important game. When you look at their personnel needs, cap situation, contract decisions (not to mentioned the way they've ping-ponged between 8-win seasons and playoff appearances over the last 5 years) it's very difficult to imagine they will be a Super Bowl team next season. If they don't extend Zimmer, Spielman and Cousins this offseason we're likely looking at a scenario where the organization will be making decisions about all 3 after another 8 or 9 win year and will the choice be any clearer at that point? What will have been accomplished by waiting?
I understand the counterarguments to this view but it feels like this particular run to win a Super Bowl is over and it may just be a question of how long the denouement will last.
Bottom line we all want a Super Bowl. IMO we need to win the division and get home field first. People saying we need a QB is ok but we need one that is as good or better than Rodgers or don't even waste time. I don't see a guy in the draft who will be that type of player. I don't see a guy hitting FA like him. Our focus needs to be on D. We need to become dominate to have a chance at the show. A team can't be middle of the road on D and make the show. This Joesph guy blows. He gets blown off the point. Forget the SF game because we were a tired team. This happened all year. He's finished. Can't hold the point at all. Our starting CBs need to get the boot also. Teams don't even go after Waynes very often because Rhodes is just a body out there. He's the target. More times than not when teams do go after Waynes he gets smoked. He is better than at first but his CAP is too high for what he can do. Waste of big money. The hope needs to be on Hughes. That's a big risk but sometimes a risk must be taken. Elf shouldn't even be on a team let alone starting. He gets pushed all over the place. He needs to be replaced. The rest we need to go with. Be nice to get a dominate LT but are there any available. I doubt it. Reif is ok. He'll have horrible games against some players but there's nothing better that's available. Teams keep top LT. It's an important position.
At the end of the day this team won a playoff game. That's not easy. Zim and Speilman won't get fired. They had a dam good season when compared across the board.
This is a team that was top 8 in scoring offense, top 5 in scoring defense. They beat a very good Saints team in the playoffs and then got beat by a better team.
Why? And how do we improve on an already solid team, so that doesn't happen again next season?
#1 Elflien needs to be replaced. It should be via the draft, but Rick has absolutely refused to invest significant draft capital in the guard position and instead chooses to buy guards in FAs. I don't understand the logic, and it clearly isn't working. We don't have money to buy a guard this offseason, so I am very concerned Elf will not be shelfed.
#2 Upgrade at 3 tech or possibly both DT spots. Again, this has to happen via the draft or possibly they already have an upgrade on the roster. If so, I am not sure why he wasn't starting over a scrub like Stephen.
#3 Find an explosive edge rusher in the draft to put at LDE opposite Hunter. We cannot afford to take a step back in our pass rush when Griffen walks. The pass rush to the defense is like a QB is to the offense. Without a good one you are sunk.
#4 Upgrade at one starting CB spot or find a new nickle CB. If Mack moves to the outside, I don't trust Hughes on the other side of him. If somehow Hughes becomes significantly better, then we need to figure out what to do at the nickle CB spot. There is no one on the roster who can play nickle outside of Hughes and Mack apparently, since they had to use Sendejo there and he was just awful at it. I think the majority of the FA money they have will go to fill this spot.
In short, to improve over this season, we need to find 4 good immediate starters in the draft. One at a position the GM sucks at identifying (guard), one at a position that takes a year or two to figure out in Zimmer's D (CB). F*ck.
No one steal him in any mock drafts 