Category: Offseason

What the Vikings can do about the Linval Joseph contract

Linval Joseph has been a stalwart of the Vikings defense these past seasons, but what should the team do about his contract?

Vikings defensive tackle Linval Joseph has shown glimpses of promise for the team, but with the way the salary cap situation is playing out at the moment, no player with a cut friendly contract is safe.

Joseph’s contract results in the Vikings saving over $10.4 million and creates $2.4 million in dead money in the first year, per Over The Cap. That’s a lot of money saved for a team that is considering re-signing talents like Everson Griffen, Anthony Harris, Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes. If Minnesota wants to sign even one of those guys, especially Harris, Joseph is a candidate that either has to restructure or leave, as hard as that would be.

I hope he restructures. He had three sacks, a forced fumble and 26 total tackles this season. Those numbers aren’t staggering, but he’s also a large defensive tackle, whose job it is to take up holes and command double teams, so sometimes that’s the way it goes, even if you’re doing things like getting pressure or the defensive as a unit is having success.

That said, Joseph’s numbers don’t necessarily stand out, and unfortunately for him the later years of his contract have no guaranteed money. It seems as though the Vikings will be able to restructure, signing him for much cheaper, or he will have to find a team in desperate need of a defensive tackle.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer gives his takes on candy at 2020 NFL Combine

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer has a preference for Twizzlers, Reese’s.

The NFL Combine is a time for coaches, scouts and other team employees to evaluate some of the top talent going to the pros next season.

It’s also a time where there are a lot of media members asking questions, and not all of those questions have to do with the current draft class.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer got his share of unrelated questions at the NFL Combine.

Asked about his choice between Twizzlers and Red Vines, Zimmer answered Twizzlers to a group of reporters.

Next, he was asked about his preference between Reese’s and Twix, Zimmer said Reese’s.

Do these answers actually say something about Zimmer’s decision making as coach of the Vikings? Absolutely not. It is all in good fun, though.

Red Vines have been in the news recently. LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers enjoyed some of the candy while sitting on the bench in what ended up a 118-109 win over the Pelicans, per Business Insider.

Vikings meet with OL Prince Tega Wanogho at combine

Tega Wanogho is projected to go somewhere around the second round. 

It’s no secret that the Vikings will be trying to address their offensive line this offseason and through the 2020 NFL Draft.

One name to watch is Auburn tackle Prince Tega Wanogho, who met with the Vikings at the combine in Indianapolis.

Tega Wanogho is projected to go somewhere around the second round.

A name to keep an eye on during this process.

The danger of giving Dalvin Cook a big contract

Cook enters the final year of his rookie contract and the Vikings have a decision to make for the running back.

There’s no disputing that Vikings running back Dalvin Cook is one of the better running backs in the league.

Cook enters the final year of his rookie contract and the Vikings have a decision to make for the running back who had more than 1,600 all-purpose yards in 2019 to go with 13 touchdowns.

This is a bit complicated, though. Cook has also missed 19 games through the first three years of his career.

If you take a look at the highest-paid running backs for 2020, it’s not a very flattering list.

Todd Gurley is due $17.25 million. Le’Veon Bell is due $15.4 million. David Johnson is due $14.1 million. The only defensible player in the top five is Ezekiel Elliott, who is due $10.9 million.

What makes players like Rasheem Mostert (due $3.2 million in 2020), Josh Jacobs ($2.7 million) and Aaron Jones ($2.19 million) so valuable is that they are good, but they also give team’s financial flexibility at a position that has proven to be somewhat replaceable.

Let’s not forget that Alexander Mattison ran for 462 yards on 100 carries last season. He’s due just $624,500 in 2020.

The Vikings are certainly a better team with Cook than without, but Rick Spielman and Co. will have to make the smart move for the franchise, not the emotional one.

Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer likes current draft class of tackles

At the NFL Combine, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer talked about the current crop of offensive linemen in the draft.

The Vikings could be in the market for a tackle in the offseason.

Whether that’s cutting Riley Reiff and having an opening there, or just adding depth at tackle and free agency, there are many different ways the Vikings can go about it.

If Minnesota chooses to find talent in the draft, head coach Mike Zimmer is a fan of the tackles in the 2020 draft class.

“I think the tackles are pretty good. I think the guards maybe dropped off a little bit from last year,” Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine. “We’re just starting to process. We’re going to try and figure out what’s the best for us.”

Zimmer not being high on the class of guards this year might be bad news for a team that gave up pressure in the interior of the offensive line, especially in Week 16 against Green Bay. However, tackle is still a position Minnesota will need to fill. And the class might not be good, but the Vikings could still find a guard to fill out a platoon role.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says he met with Everson Griffen’s agent, expects him to be back

Mike Zimmer on Everson Griffen: “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Everson Griffen made the decision to void his contract and enter free agency, but that doesn’t mean he can’t re-sign with the team.

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer seems optimistic that will happen.

“We met with his agent yesterday, I think it was. Everson (Griffen) is a terrific person for us,” Zimmer told reporters at the NFL Combine. “I think our situation is the right one for him and we expect him to be back.”

Griffen’s contract void should not come as much of a surprise, regardless of whether he comes back or not. Due to the Vikings cap situation, Griffen’s contract took up too much space.

“I think he wants to back and those kinds of things usually work its way out,” Zimmer told reporters.

If Zimmer’s quote is any indication, it seems like the Vikings will re-sign him for a lesser deal, in order to have more space to sign other players. If Griffen re-signs, that would obviously change the first-round draft outlook of this team. Minnesota could shore up depth at other positions like offensive line or cornerback if Griffen is able to come back.

Vikings OC Gary Kubiak on Garrett Bradbury: He commands a room

Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak was impressed with center Garrett Bradbury from an early stage.

Vikings offensive coordinator Gary Kubiak sat in a room with Garrett Bradbury for about two minutes before he realized it.

Kubiak watched Bradbury command the room and be totally in control of what’s going on. Kubiak said on KFAN he wasn’t just impressed with the center as a player, but also as a person.

“He watched his film he explained everything to us. He didn’t just tell us what he was doing, he told us what the other 10 guys, the quarterback as well, were supposed to be doing,” Kubiak said.

Bradbury is entering his second season with the team, while Kubiak was moved from offensive advisor to offensive coordinator this season after the departure of Kevin Stefanski.

If tackle Riley Reiff ends up being a cap casualty, then there’s a chance a rookie offensive lineman will have to step up into a starting role for the second consecutive season.

Recently, Bradbury ranked as the 23rd best rookie on a list done by our friends over at Touchdown Wire.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer says they’re ‘not as concerned’ about corner as everyone else

Mike Zimmer on the cornerback situation: “We’re not as concerned, I guess, as everybody else”

Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer went on KFAN, and the cornerback position inevitably came up.

Asked about the cornerback position for next season and changes that might occur, Zimmer seemed to downplay the potentially high turnover rate.

“Every year there is going to be change at some places,” Zimmer told the radio station. “We’re not as concerned, I guess, as everybody else.”

“I’ve had all different kinds of corners play for me throughout my career, and a lot of times you’ll change schemes to help protect guys and use more double coverage than you would single coverage.”

With free agency and the combine not over, it’s probably hard to determine just how much depth cornerback will have next year. Zimmer said there’s still a lot of time.

“We’ll figure it out.”

Vikings select cornerback Jeff Gladney in CBS Sports mock draft

No surprise that CBS Sports predicted a cornerback going to the Vikings in a mock draft. The player might surprise you, though.

The corner is a big question mark for the Vikings this offseason, due to Mackensie Alexander and Trae Waynes becoming free agents.

Those two might not come back, and Xavier Rhodes could possibly get cut due to the salary cap situation. The cornerback position has been a large part of Mike Zimmer’s scheme on defense, which adds up to the Vikings possibly taking a corner in the first round.

At least, that’s what CBS Sports thinks.

The outlet predicted that TCU cornerback Jeff Gladney would go off the board to Minnesota at No. 25 in a recent mock draft. 

The outlet had this to say about the pick:

Mike Zimmer loves drafting young cornerbacks, and you can argue that the position is one of their biggest needs this offseason. Gladney is a versatile corner prospect who can do anything you ask of him.

Gladney had just one interception in his final season of college, but he also tallied 14 pass deflections. 

Personally, I think Gladney will go a little later in the draft, given the other talent at cornerback this year, so it’s surprising to see his name at pick No. 25.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman on Iowa Hawkeyes players: ‘They’re very well coached’

The spirit of the Hawkeyes is alive in Minnesota.

From former players like Chad Greenway to ones currently on the team such as Riley Reiff, Minnesota has no problem drafting and signing Hawkeyes.

Asked about the development of Iowa’s players, Spielman said they’re a very well-coached team, and that they do a good job of developing offensive linemen.

“Watching those kids come in at Iowa, and some of those guys get passed up that maybe (are) not five-star recruits,” Spielman said. “And to see what that program does and how they develop talent, they can take a three-star guy and make him into a first, second round pick, just by the coaching they’re getting.”

Spielman also talked about how Iowa’s a good stylistic fit for the NFL. The Hawkeyes run a Pro Style on offense. Spielman doesn’t think that’s the only reason Iowa players get drafted.

“You still have to have the physical traits for this level,” he said.