Moves the Vikings should make for 2020

[RandyMoss84]

What the hell is Diggs’ problem? The big issue is that if Diggs get traded then Vikings would only have 1 good wide receiver on the team, I honestly would rather see Diggs traded for a good wide receiver than a draft pick since the draft is a crapshoot, let’s trade Diggs to Texans for Hopkins! I know it will not happen but it is nice to dream!

[Mothman]

This one is sure to start a firestorm ... just call me "The Arson."

In the name of rampant speculation and total conjecture, however, Bill Barnwell of ESPN has put together a scenario where the Vikings do not go into 2020 with Cousins behind center, and instead get themselves a reunion with Teddy Bridgewater instead.

Barnwell has a look at how eight star NFL players could have wide-ranging effects on the rest of the league, depending on who they sign with. One of those players is quarterback Philip Rivers, who will be parting ways with the Los Angeles Chargers and heading into free agency. Here’s how Barnwell’s scenario works:

1. Rivers signs with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to take over as their starting quarterback, with the Bucs letting Jameis Winston go.
2. Minnesota then trades Cousins to the Chargers for a second-round pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
3. The Vikings then turn around and sign Bridgewater to a “$100 million deal.” I’m assuming that’s for four years, though Barnwell doesn’t specify. It would still put his cap figure for 2020 below what Cousins would be making.

This is what I love about the offseason (one of the few things I love about it).

You may now light each other on fire.

Kapp, if that scenario plays out I might light myself on fire.

[Dames]

And now ... as I speculated weeks ago and was nearly laughed off the board ...

On his show today, Colin Cowherd has suggested that the #Vikings are looking to "move on" from wide receiver Stefon Diggs.

This is all over Twitter. Word is that Diggs is unhappy and wants out.

Obviously nothing has happened yet, but if it does ... well, I promise I won’t say I told ya so.

There is way too much smoke for there not to be some fire. We've been hearing this for a long time, and Diggs has not shut it down. He just speaks in riddles. Sad, but if it happens I hope we gain something positive out of it.

[CharVike]

And now ... as I speculated weeks ago and was nearly laughed off the board ...



This is all over Twitter. Word is that Diggs is unhappy and wants out.

Obviously nothing has happened yet, but if it does ... well, I promise I won’t say I told ya so.

There is way too much smoke for there not to be some fire. We've been hearing this for a long time, and Diggs has not shut it down. He just speaks in riddles. Sad, but if it happens I hope we gain something positive out of it.

The main thing is we need to get some value for him. What that is I don't know. It all depends on how many teams want him. That will tell the story. If he goes WR becomes a must have. It might be anyway. A rookie won't be the answer so forget that route. But money will be freed up and we will need to hit FA or look for a trade.

[J. Kapp 11]

He is a back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver. He averaged more than 17 yards per reception. He’s among the elite in the NFL at contested catches. He’s stayed healthy the past two seasons. And as far as receivers with his credentials go, he’s relatively cheap.

If that’s not worth a first-round pick, at minimum, then I don’t know what is. During the season last year, rumor was a first and a second. Teams are more desperate during the season than in the offseason, but that gives us a gauge of where he is as far as value is concerned.

To me, it wouldn’t be the end of the world to trade him, especially if he’s disgruntled. There are some good receivers on the FA market this year. I’d take a chance on A.J. Green in a short-term deal, or try to pry Amari Cooper from Dallas. And the draft capital could be used to bolster both the defensive backfield and the offensive line with cheap talent. We managed to get along without Adam Thielen last year. We can get along without Diggs.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Regardless I don’t think diggs is going anywhere. I will say, I didn’t see the diva in him early in his career but I’m starting to see it now. And I don’t think it helps that he’s best friends with Kearse who currently can’t stand the Vikings. Diggs is slowly becoming a child and loves stirring the pot. Something that a guy like Thielen hardly ever does. It’s getting annoying to watch. Like just be you, play football and enough with the childish antics.

Again, his crap has annoyed me but I doubt he goes anywhere. He simply has some growing up to do. No less, if he was actually unhappy he better be careful what he wishes for because he could land with a terrible team and be even more frustrated. I think it’s all smoke in the end regardless

[VikingLord]

If that’s not worth a first-round pick, at minimum, then I don’t know what is. During the season last year, rumor was a first and a second. Teams are more desperate during the season than in the offseason, but that gives us a gauge of where he is as far as value is concerned.

Man, if Spielman could swing a 1st and a 2nd for Diggs, do that deal. That is a no-brainer.

I personally think he wouldn't fetch more than a high 2nd. He's a good receiver, but he's not really special.

[StumpHunter]

He is a back-to-back 1,000-yard receiver. He averaged more than 17 yards per reception. He’s among the elite in the NFL at contested catches. He’s stayed healthy the past two seasons. And as far as receivers with his credentials go, he’s relatively cheap.

If that’s not worth a first-round pick, at minimum, then I don’t know what is. During the season last year, rumor was a first and a second. Teams are more desperate during the season than in the offseason, but that gives us a gauge of where he is as far as value is concerned.

To me, it wouldn’t be the end of the world to trade him, especially if he’s disgruntled. There are some good receivers on the FA market this year. I’d take a chance on A.J. Green in a short-term deal, or try to pry Amari Cooper from Dallas. And the draft capital could be used to bolster both the defensive backfield and the offensive line with cheap talent. We managed to get along without Adam Thielen last year. We can get along without Diggs.

If you are replacing him with AJ or Cooper that is one thing (you won't be), but we need to improve on last season, not just manage with Adam Theilen.

This offense takes a huge step backwards without Diggs. Trading him doesn't give us cap this year, it likely results in us just using the 1st we get for him on WR anyway (a WR who will not be as good as Diggs), and pretty much ensures Zimmer and Rick are gone next year after a 6-10 season.

[S197]

If we're taking a saints QB I would prefer Taysom Hill. Even if he crashed and burned at QB, he's versatile enough that he can be used in many different ways on offense. Of course it all depends on what tender the Saints place on him. And of course the extremely unlikely event Cousins is dealt but I would do that over the trading for Teddy scenario.

Hill is a gadget player, not a QB. I would like him on the Vikings too, but in the same way the Saints use him, in the run game and as a TE and as an emergency QB.

He struggled in preseason which is why they brought in Bridgewater but I wouldn't mind giving him a shot. To be clear, this is based on the scenario Kapp presented where Cousins is dealt for a 2nd. I'd rather grab Hill with that 2nd (if that's the tender) and the $8M or so he'll make vs Teddy who I think has the potential to command more than $20M.

Then draft a QB and let them battle. Worse case scenario you got another offensive weapon for $8M. I don't think there's a chance in hell Cousins is traded but that would be the move I make in that hypothetical.

[S197]

Look at Diggs Instagram. He's deleted every single picture of him in a Vikings uniform.

[Maelstrom88]

I'd be surprised if they trade him. I would just ignore it if I were the team and tell him we will see him in camp. He shouldn't have signed a contract if he didn't want to be here.

[J. Kapp 11]

If that’s not worth a first-round pick, at minimum, then I don’t know what is. During the season last year, rumor was a first and a second. Teams are more desperate during the season than in the offseason, but that gives us a gauge of where he is as far as value is concerned.

Man, if Spielman could swing a 1st and a 2nd for Diggs, do that deal. That is a no-brainer.

I personally think he wouldn't fetch more than a high 2nd. He's a good receiver, but he's not really special.

Is it possible he’s not really special because he’s had Vikings quarterbacks throwing to him?

[J. Kapp 11]

If that’s not worth a first-round pick, at minimum, then I don’t know what is. During the season last year, rumor was a first and a second. Teams are more desperate during the season than in the offseason, but that gives us a gauge of where he is as far as value is concerned.

Man, if Spielman could swing a 1st and a 2nd for Diggs, do that deal. That is a no-brainer.

I personally think he wouldn't fetch more than a high 2nd. He's a good receiver, but he's not really special.

Rather than my previous satirical post, let’s look at this from a comparative standpoint.

The Raiders traded Amari Cooper to Dallas after 3+ seasons in Oakland. Over his four seasons, he had 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 TDs. Oakland received a first-round draft choice.

In 2013, the Vikings traded Percy Harvin to Seattle for a first, a third, and a seventh. Harvin had played four seasons in Minnesota, compiling 280 receptions for 3,382 yards and 20 TDs.

Stefon Diggs’ first four seasons ... 302 receptions, 3,493 yards and 24 TDs. Yes, better than both Cooper and Harvin.

If Rick Spielman accepts anything less than a first for Diggs (and probably more) he should be fired.

[VikingLord]

Man, if Spielman could swing a 1st and a 2nd for Diggs, do that deal. That is a no-brainer.

I personally think he wouldn't fetch more than a high 2nd. He's a good receiver, but he's not really special.

Rather than my previous satirical post, let’s look at this from a comparative standpoint.

The Raiders traded Amari Cooper to Dallas after 3+ seasons in Oakland. Over his four seasons, he had 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 TDs. Oakland received a first-round draft choice.

In 2013, the Vikings traded Percy Harvin to Seattle for a first, a third, and a seventh. Harvin had played four seasons in Minnesota, compiling 280 receptions for 3,382 yards and 20 TDs.

Stefon Diggs’ first four seasons ... 302 receptions, 3,493 yards and 24 TDs. Yes, better than both Cooper and Harvin.

If Rick Spielman accepts anything less than a first for Diggs (and probably more) he should be fired.

Well when you put it like that...



Diggs to me is kind of an enigma. The stats certainly suggest he should fetch at least as much as Cooper did. Harvin was kind of unique in that he did a lot more than just catch passes. He was also effectively a hybrid running back and he returned kicks and did all of that extremely well.

But when I think about Diggs, he just doesn't jump off the page the same way Cooper and Harvin did. That is obviously unfair and highly subjective given the objectively better stats he has. He is by all measures better than those players.

In a strange way, that works in the Vikings favor. If Spielman can't get sufficient value there is no reason to trade him. I'm not exactly sure what Diggs' issue is, but unless he's threatening to hold out or something to try to force a move there really isn't any pressing reason to ship him. Spielman shouldn't consider making any trades that don't grossly favor the Vikings.

[J. Kapp 11]

Rather than my previous satirical post, let’s look at this from a comparative standpoint.

The Raiders traded Amari Cooper to Dallas after 3+ seasons in Oakland. Over his four seasons, he had 225 catches for 3,183 yards and 19 TDs. Oakland received a first-round draft choice.

In 2013, the Vikings traded Percy Harvin to Seattle for a first, a third, and a seventh. Harvin had played four seasons in Minnesota, compiling 280 receptions for 3,382 yards and 20 TDs.

Stefon Diggs’ first four seasons ... 302 receptions, 3,493 yards and 24 TDs. Yes, better than both Cooper and Harvin.

If Rick Spielman accepts anything less than a first for Diggs (and probably more) he should be fired.

Well when you put it like that...



Diggs to me is kind of an enigma. The stats certainly suggest he should fetch at least as much as Cooper did. Harvin was kind of unique in that he did a lot more than just catch passes. He was also effectively a hybrid running back and he returned kicks and did all of that extremely well.

But when I think about Diggs, he just doesn't jump off the page the same way Cooper and Harvin did. That is obviously unfair and highly subjective given the objectively better stats he has. He is by all measures better than those players.

In a strange way, that works in the Vikings favor. If Spielman can't get sufficient value there is no reason to trade him. I'm not exactly sure what Diggs' issue is, but unless he's threatening to hold out or something to try to force a move there really isn't any pressing reason to ship him. Spielman shouldn't consider making any trades that don't grossly favor the Vikings.

Exactly. Couldn't agree more.

I'm on the fence about this. Diggs is a dynamic player, no doubt. The Vikings would definitely need to replace him, and do it this season. That makes it, at best, a wash as far as salary cap. So as far as salary cap is concerned, it may not be in the Vikings' best interest to trade him.

But if they can get at least a first-rounder for a guy they drafted in the 5th, especially if he doesn't want to be here? That would be hard to pass up, especially if it's from a team drafting in the upper half of the draft.

(Are you listening, Jon Gruden? You already went for Antonio Brown and whiffed, so I know you're chomping at the bit to wash off the stink of that deal. Make us an offer. We'll treat you like a brother. Promise.)