Category: Offseason

Vikings take Houston OT Josh Jones in Bleacher Report’s post-combine mock draft

In a post-combine mock, Bleacher Report thinks the Vikings will take an offensive lineman.

With the offensive line being a need for the Vikings, the team could very well take one off the board at No. 25.

That’s Bleacher Report’s thinking. Minnesota drafted Houston offensive tackle Josh Jones in a post-combine mock draft done by Bleacher Report.

Here is some of what they said about the pick:

“You could pick many positions for the Minnesota Vikings’ selection at No. 25 overall and not go wrong. Quarterback of the future, cornerback, defensive tackle and the always-popular offensive line pick all make sense. In this mock draft, based on player and positional value, left tackle Josh Jones gets the call.”

I like the choice of Jones and I think all of the Vikings’ positional needs Bleacher Report mentioned are true. Though it’s possible Riley Reiff returns, he could be a cap casualty, and that means there is an opening at tackle. Based on all the needs this team has, it should try to prioritize offensive tackle or corner depending on what happens with cuts and free agency.

Will the Vikings use the franchise tag on anyone?

Are the Vikings going to use a franchise tag on anybody? Probably not.

The Vikings are not a team that is known for their use of the franchise tag.

Minnesota has only used the franchise tag twice since the option has existed, according to Vikings.com (it has not used the tag since again this article has come out).

If Minnesota does use the franchise tag, it seems likely that it would be on safety Anthony Harris. The team could tag Mackensie Alexander, Trae Waynes and others, but I think most of the Vikings free agents either wouldn’t command the price of a franchise tag or would be willing to sign with the team, so it doesn’t make a ton of sense.

Harris is coming off a stellar year in which he had a league-high six interceptions. Harris could also earn a $13.8 million annual salary in free agency, per Spotrac.com. Based off that number, the Vikings could save money by signing Harris to the franchise-tag price  for safeties, which is $11.15 million, per Touchdown Wire. Harris will be a player who’s looking for a big contract in free agency and it might be smart for Minnesota to tag him so he stays.

However, the problem with the Vikings using a tag in that situation is that it doesn’t really work out given the current salary cap. The team has just over $1.3 million in cap space.

If Minnesota cut Riley Reiff and Xavier Rhodes, it could save enough money to re-sign Harris, but then the team would be back where it started: right up against the salary cap. Minnesota wouldn’t really have the money to sign other free agents and it probably couldn’t sign some of the rookies it would draft.

The Vikings could also cut Linval Joseph and other veteran players, but then the team is at a point where it lacks too much depth. The Vikings need certain veterans to stay on the team so it’s not a 2020-21 roster of rookies and recent signings.

The deadline for franchise tags is March 10, and Minnesota will have a decision to make when it comes to Harris: should they tag him and be in trouble with the cap, or should they risk letting him walk?

Vikings select TCU DT Ross Blacklock in recent CBS Sports mock draft

CBS Sports predicted that the Vikings will go for a defensive tackle in the draft.

A lot of mock drafts predict that the Vikings will need a defensive tackle next season, but there isn’t a consensus about who that pick will be.

In a CBS Sports mock draft, the outlet predicted that the Vikings would take TCU’s Ross Blacklock to add depth to defensive tackle.

“Linval Joseph was the Vikings’ best defensive [lineman] but the unit ranked 30th against the run, according to Football Outsiders. Blacklock, meanwhile, is an explosive player with a great mix of power, quickness and strength. He requires — and routinely beats — double teams and is extremely disruptive along the line of scrimmage.”

A player that commands double teams is valuable on the Vikings defensive line because it makes it harder for offensive lines to hone in on Danielle Hunter. In a double-team situation, Blacklock can either warrant a double team and open up holes for other Vikings defensive linemen or beat both the offensive lineman and make a play. I see it as a good, safe choice for Minnesota, especially if Linval Joseph leaves.

Antoine Winfield Jr. and the Vikings would be a good match

Antoine Winfield Jr. could trade in his maroon and gold for purple and gold.

The Vikings could use a safety in the NFL Draft if Anthony Harris ends up taking his talents elsewhere.

And that safety could be a player who rooted for the Vikings growing up: Antoine Winfield Jr., who played for the Gophers in college.

“That would just be incredible. When my dad played, I grew up a Vikings fan. That would be incredible to play for Minnesota after watching them all these years,” Winfield told reporters.

Some mock drafts have predicted that he could go in the second or third round, so Minnesota could draft him after shoring up depth at offensive line, defensive line or cornerback.

Winfield is coming off a season where he tallied three sacks and seven interceptions in 2019. His stock probably would have been higher this draft had he not been injured in 2018. Before he suffered an injury he was having a pretty solid season, too.

There’s also the size factor. At 5-10, Winfield Jr. is considered undersized by some, and he would be a slight change from Harris, who is 6-1. However, like Harris he was a ballhawk last season, and assuming some of that can translate to the NFL, he can likely add value to the Vikings, a team in need of positions to be filled in the draft.

The cornerback can also return punts, which adds a role the Vikings could have used against the 49ers when Marcus Sherels was struggling.

If Minnesota is in need of a safety, I say they take a chance on him. Winfield Jr. proved to be high-motor player in college, and it would be fun to have a Winfield on the team again.

Star Tribune lists three players as could-be cuts on Vikings

Who will get cut by the Vikings this offseason?

If you’ve been reading about the Vikings’ offseason outlook, then the three players the Star Tribune mentioned as possible cuts to save money, won’t surprise you much.

The Star Tribune reported that defensive tackle Linval Joseph, offensive lineman Riley Reiff and corner Xavier Rhodes could all be possible cuts by the Vikings this offseason.

The Star Tribune also reported that Joseph is due $11.15 million, Reiff is due $10.9 million and Rhodes is due $9.9 million.

This list is definitely not surprising in theory, but it will be interesting to see what the Vikings actually put into practice. Will they only cut one or two of those players and restructure some other players? Or will they part ways with all? It’s hard to say, but it seems likely that at least one of those guys will either take a pretty big pay cut or be forced to find a different place to play.

Vikings pick Oklahoma defensive tackle Neville Gallimore in recent mock draft

Defensive tackle Neville Gallimore has been a familiar name on mock drafts for the Vikings so far.

When recent mock drafts try to narrow down what Minnesota will do with its No. 25 overall pick, Neville Gallimore is a name that comes up a lot.

The Oklahoma defensive tackle came up yet again, going to the Vikings in a recent mock draft done by FanSided.

The outlet mentioned the team’s problem with the current salary cap and how the team will have to emphasize the draft more this year because of it.

They also said this:

A big-bodied lineman that surprisingly isn’t the best run defender, Gallimore is adept at applying pressure on the quarterback using his hands to disrupt defenders and his athleticism to change directions quickly once he has disrupted them. Gallimore is the type of defender that the Vikings seem to like and needs trumps best player available here for the cap-strapped Vikings.

If Linval Joseph stays, Gallimore could be a nice complement to him, and if not, then the Vikings will lack depth at defensive tackle and might want to add Gallimore anyway, so it makes sense.

Sports Illustrated lists Hawaii QB Cole McDonald, others as options for Vikings

Hawaii quarterback Cole McDonald impressed at the NFL Combine, and he could fall to Minnesota in the draft.

The Vikings could use a backup quarterback, but with needs at other positions, it would make sense for the team to wait and take a player later in the draft, or find a young quarterback in free agency that Minnesota could develop.

In regards to the NFL Draft option, Sports Illustrated highlighted some quarterbacks who the Vikings could take:

  • James Morgan, Florida International
  • Anthony Gordon, Washington State
  • Cole McDonald, Hawaii
  • Steven Montez, Colorado
  • Jake Luton, Oregon State

As Sports Illustrated pointed out, McDonald ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine. He’s a guy whose stock could rise because of that. I think similar to Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts, he hasn’t always looked like the perfect pro prospect. Also like Hurts, though: he can add a new dimension to the Vikings’ offense with his speed.

Overall, I would like to see any of these guys go to the Vikings, especially if the team can get any of them past the fifth round.

Vikings 2020 Draft Wishlist: Defensive Tackle

The Minnesota Vikings might have a void to fill at defensive tackle. Would you want them to fill in in the NFL Draft?

Linval Joseph is yet another player that could be a cap casualty in the offseason. If that’s the case, it becomes crucial to find a player to replace him — either in the draft or in free agency.

If it’s the draft, it’s possible the Vikings go for a player in the first round. Joseph’s ability to plug up the holes has helped Minnesota stop the run, but the team is only average at doing that compared to other teams in the league. The Vikings ranked No. 13 in rushing yards per game, per Pro Football Reference, and losing Joseph opens up a pretty big weakness in the defense.

Minnesota should go for size here.

Possible options: TCU’s Ross Blacklock, South Carolina’s Javon Kinlaw

Vikings take Washington quarterback Jacob Eason in Detroit Free Press mock draft

So crazy, it might just work.

It might be kind of crazy for the Vikings to use their first-round draft pick on a quarterback, but there’s a case to be made, that’s what the Detroit Free Press predicted.

The Vikings selected Washington Huskies quarterback Jacob Eason with the 25th overall pick in the mock draft done by the Detroit Free Press.

The outlet had this to say about the pick: “ESPN reported he was unimpressive in combine interviews, but his arm could still get him in Round 1.”

Unimpressive in combine interviews isn’t exactly what you want to hear as a Vikings fan, but it’s also not a deal breaker, and if that hurts his stock and has nothing to do with his on-field performance, then maybe it could actually work in the Vikings’ favor.

There could be a lot of quarterbacks taken in the NFL Draft before Minnesota gets a chance to pick. If that’s the case, and the team still wants a quarterback, then it might be beneficial for a talent like Eason to fall a bit, so that the Vikings could take him.

Vikings 2020 Draft Wishlist: Edge Rusher

An edge rusher on a rookie contract could be beneficial for the Vikings.

Yet another position that could lack depth after the salary cap is fixed. Everson Griffen put together a strong season in 2019-20: eight sacks and an interception.

However, with Griffen reportedly voiding his contract and entering free agency, he is unfortunately a candidate that Minnesota might not have next season. Due to Minnesota not having a lot of space, an edge rusher on a rookie contract might be beneficial for the team, especially if the Vikings can find value at No. 25.

The Vikings could use a speedy edge rusher to pair opposite of Danielle Hunter. That way, offensive lines wouldn’t be able to hone in on Hunter as much and the other defensive end has more opportunity to provide pressure if they do. Hunter tallied 14.5 sacks last season.

Possible options: Penn State’s Yetur Gross-Matos, Iowa’s AJ Epenesa