Tag: Rick Spielman

State of the Vikings: Is it a rebuild or not?

This offseason hasn’t been super exciting for Minnesota, but the expectation for the Vikings should still be high.

Minnesota is coming off a year where it went 10-6 in the regular season, and won a playoff game. But some of the decisions the team has made in the offseason has led to people thinking the Vikings might take a step back.

Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Linval Joseph, Xavier Rhodes, Andrew Sendejo, Jayron Kearse and Laquon Treadwell are all reportedly signing with other teams in free agency.

The Vikings’ biggest free agency signing has been the reported deal between the team and defensive tackle Michael Pierce. Other than that, it’s been signings who might turn out to be reserves.

Minnesota extended Kirk Cousins as well. Giving a contract extension to a 31-year-old quarterback is a win-now move, but Cousins’ up-and-down performances with Minnesota has led some fans to believe he isn’t the answer to the team’s problems.

All that is to say that if you think the Vikings are rebuilding, or at least not going to be as good next season, then you have some compelling points to argue.

However, with the front office staff on the team right now, there has to be a sense of urgency.

General manager Rick Spielman’s contract is only through the 2020 season, and so is Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. I think those two will have to construct a team that is at least competitive in 2020-21, or else the team could start a rebuild — without Spielman and Zimmer on staff.

The Vikings reportedly traded Stefon Diggs to the Bills for draft picks, so that’s another point that goes to team rebuild. But the team now has two first-round picks, in a draft class that is deep for wide receiver. The team can replace Diggs with a receiver who is more comfortable with a role other than No. 1.

Regardless if it’s the best route long-term, the Vikings have to win next season based on the contracts of the coach and general manager. Sure, Minnesota lost talent in the offseason, but some of that talent was overpaid, like Waynes, or it was time to move on, like Rhodes.

The Vikings can reload through the draft, and the team already has some decent talent in Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, Dalvin Cook, Kyle Rudolph and many others who will help put a good product on the field.

It might look like a rebuild this offseason, but this is not a Vikings team that can afford to take too many steps back in 2020-21. If Cousins improves for the second year in a row, and the team is able to solve some issues on the offensive line, and at cornerback, then there’s no reason to anticipate a down year. I doubt Zimmer and Spielman expect that.

Vikings earn a ‘poor’ grade from PFF in free agency so far

It’s been an . . . interesting free-agency period so far for the Vikings.

It’s been an . . . interesting free-agency period so far for the Vikings.

Those playing elsewhere include Xavier Rhodes, Stefon Diggs, Andrew Sendejo, Trae Waynes, Jayron Kearse, Everson Griffen, Linval Joseph and Mackensie Alexander.

So far, the only free agent addition has been defensive tackle Michael Pierce.

The folks over at Pro Football Focus have given the Vikings a ‘poor’ grade for their free-agent efforts thus far.

That’s not exactly a surprise. The Vikings had their hands tied given their cap situation. They did extend Kirk Cousins and franchise tag Anthony Harris, who they could still trade. And as of now, there are more moves to be made. Per Over The Cap, the Vikings have $14.29 million in cap space yet available.

We’ll have a better idea of how the Vikings come out of all of this after the rest of the pieces fall, and probably more importantly what Rick Spielman decides to do in the draft with 12 picks.

How should you feel about the Vikings trading Stefon Diggs?

Despite not making a Pro Bowl, Diggs was one of the best receivers in the NFL. But, like many other receivers before him, he wasn’t happy.

Late on Monday night, the Vikings traded wide receiver Stefon Diggs to the Bills in exchange for a first-round pick, fifth-round pick, sixth-round pick and a 2021 fourth-round pick. The Vikings also gave up their 2020 seventh-round draft pick.

So, you’re a Vikings fan. How should you feel?

There’s no doubting Diggs’ talent. Despite not making a Pro Bowl, Diggs was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. But, like many other receivers before him, he wasn’t particularly happy. Why? Do you know any crime detectives who could help us decifer his tweets?

But at least we don’t have to see the tweets again. My goodness. The tweets.

The Vikings went to having maybe the best one-two punch at receiver in the league to perhaps the worst receiving group in the league. Rick Spielman will have to add probably two more receivers for this deal to look decent, especially considering it looks like the Vikings are still in win-now mode. The free-agency group is thin at receiver, but the draft looks incredibly deep. Adam Thielen could use some help right now.

It seems weird to say the Vikings are in win-now mode, but here they are trading their best wide receiver. How does that make sense?

It seemed like Diggs was gone no matter what. If he wasn’t happy in Minnesota (and he wasn’t shy about it), that would be bad for the locker room and a distraction, much like it was last season. While the Vikings don’t have his replacement, Spielman got an absolutely haul for him — especially when you consider what the Texans got back for DeAndre Hopkins earlier in the day. 

It’s not an ideal move, certainly, to trade your best receiver and the man who gave us the Minneapolis Miracle. But the Vikings did about as good as they could have in getting a solid return for a disgruntled star. Now it’s about to Spielman to find receivers to fill his place.

We can’t wait for the tweet when Diggs finds out about Josh Allen’s accuracy.

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.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman thinks Kevin Stefanski will be ‘phenomenal’

Vikings GM Rick Spielman said that Kevin Stefanski improved the Vikings offense in 2019-20, and will be phenomenal as a head coach.

After serving as an assistant for the Vikings since 2006, Kevin Stefanski moved on in the offseason, taking a job as the head coach of the Cleveland Browns.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman has been with the Vikings since 2006 as well. Asked about Stefanski’s leadership at the NFL Combine, Spielman said the former Vikings coach has grown in that role.

“I went and sat in the offensive meetings and from when he was a young pup to where he is now. Even though it may seem calm, cool, collective, there is presence about him when he’s in front of a group,” Spielman told reporters. “He grabs (the players’) attention.”

Spielman said, that with help from Gary Kubiak, Stefanski was able to take the next step as a coach. Kubiak was offensive advisor for the Vikings and is now the offensive coordinator this season.

“From the last three games, when he took over as the offensive coordinator the year before and how much our offense improved this year, I think Kevin is going to be a phenomenal head coach in this league,” Spielman said.

Rick Spielman talks Stefon Diggs, Dalvin Cook and more at the NFL Combine 

Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman took questions on Tuesday morning, discussing some of the Vikings’ offseason needs. 

The NFL Combine is officially underway, meaning the draft is just two months away. Minnesota Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman took questions on Tuesday morning, discussing some of the Vikings’ offseason needs. 

The biggest news of the offseason thus far has been the speculation that Stefon Diggs no longer wants to be in Minnesota. Diggs deleted his Vikings pictures off his Instagram and has continued to send out tweets that have Vikings fans in a panic. In his press conference, Spielman shut down the Diggs trade rumors. 

This is good news for the Vikings, who are already thin at the wide receiver position. A lot can change between now and the beginning of the season, so it will be interesting to see if this story continues throughout the offseason. 

Spielman hinted that Dalvin Cook is a player that they are looking to extend after the draft. He noted that they are trying to keep together the core group of talent on offense, which includes both Diggs and Cook. 

While talking with Paul Allen on KFAN FM, Spielman touched on the hiring of Gary Kubiak as the offensive coordinator. Kirk Cousins hasn’t had consistency when it comes to play calling in his career, so Spielman believes keeping Kubiak will play a big role in the improvement of Cousins in his third year with the Vikings. 

The Vikings GM also discussed his offensive line and secondary, two positions with multiple question marks heading into the regular season. Spielman mentioned having two solid young guys in Brian O’Neill and Garrett Bradbury, but noted it is still a work in progress. 

“I think it’s still a work in progress,” Spielman told reporters. “I think when we went to the outside zone, there were specific guys who have to have specific physical traits that we’re looking for. I think that will be an area that we will continue to try and improve. But we made tremendous strides from last year.”

In terms of the secondary, there could be a lot of moving pieces for the Vikings once free agency begins. Spielman noted that Anthony Harris has improved drastically and that he is a part of the core group they will try to keep together for years to come. 

With the Vikings cap situation being the worst in the NFL, this offseason is set up to be interesting, to say the least. With the number of needs the team has, the combine is just the beginning of the puzzle.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman throws water on Stefon Diggs trade rumors

Vikings GM Rick Spielman makes it seem unlikely that Stefon Diggs leaves Minnesota.

Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs has seemed to have his future in question for several months.

Most recently, he deleted the team’s presence from his social media accounts in an apparent attempt to distance himself from the Vikings. So there are questions about whether or not he’ll be in purple and gold again next season. The media (for quite some time) has suggested New England would be an interesting landing spot for the 26-year-old.

At the NFL Combine in Indianapolis on Tuesday, Vikings general manager Rick Spielman faced questions about a potential trade for Diggs.

“There is no reason to anticipate that Stefon Diggs is not going to be a Minnesota Viking,” he told reporters, via SKOR North’s Matthew Coller.

Diggs has recorded 365 receptions, 4,623 yards, and 30 touchdowns in his five seasons in Minnesota. Diggs is in the second year of a five-year contract that seems to be fairly reasonable at $14.4 million per year.

It’s easy to take Spielman’s comments at face value. But it’s also possible that his remarks are an attempt to get more than what’s already being offered for the wide receiver on the trade market. If teams see that the Vikings aren’t looking to get rid of him, they may become more desperate and part with more in order to bring him in.

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Vikings GM Rick Spielman on the Vikings offensive line: ‘It’s still a work in progress’

Vikings GM Rick Spielman addressed the state of the offensive line at the NFL Combine.

The offensive line has to be a point of concern for the Vikings in the offseason.

What are they going to do about Riley Reiff? Will they cut him or restructure his contract due to the salary cap situation, or will they keep him on? Will the Vikings draft an offensive lineman in the first round to shore up depth or will they draft one in the later rounds? They could even hold off on drafting one altogether. And what is the team going to do in free agency when it comes to the offensive line?

Vikings GM Rick Spielman addressed the state of the offensive line at the NFL Combine.

“I think it’s still a work in progress,” Spielman told reporters. “I think when we went to the outside zone, there were specific guys who have to have specific physical traits that we’re looking for. I think that will be an area that we will continue to try and improve. But we made tremendous strides from last year.”

As previously reported, Pro Football Focus gave just one Vikings offensive lineman above a grade of 70 on a 100-point scale this season.

It will be interesting to see if the salary cap, plus the level of play, leads to the Vikings finding an offensive lineman in the draft.

“All the passing and everything that’s done in this league, you’re going to win in the trenches, both on the offensive and defensive side,” Spielman said.

Vikings GM Rick Spielman: ‘There is no reason … to anticipate that Stefon Diggs is not going to be a Minnesota Viking’

Vikings GM Rick Spielman addressed the rumors about Stefon Diggs at the combine.

Wide receiver Stefon Diggs has been a cause of concern for Vikings fans as of late for his suspicious behavior on social media.

But when Vikings general manager Rick Spielman was asked about Diggs at the 2020 NFL Combine, he didn’t make it seem like the wide receiver is on the move anytime soon.

“Stefon (Diggs) last year probably had his most productive year,” Spielman told reporters. “He’s a young receiver we’ve just extended. And he’s not only a major part of our offense and a major part of our organization (for) winning games, but he also does a lot of things for this organization off the field as well.”

Diggs was the Vikings leading receiver last year with 1,130 yards, which was also a career high for the wide receiver. He had six touchdown receptions as well.

“There is no reason … to anticipate that Stefon Diggs is not going to be a Minnesota Viking,” Spielman said.

Vikings currently more than $11 million over 2020 cap

The Vikings are in a tough spot as they head into the 2020 offseason.

The Vikings are in a tough spot as they head into the 2020 offseason.

According to Over The Cap, the Vikings are already $11.36 million over the 2020 cap.

Now, the Vikings do have plenty of options to create more cap space. If the Vikings cut ties with Riley Reiff ($8.8 million), Everson Griffen ($13.1 million) and Xavier Rhodes ($8.1 million), that will already free up $30 million.

Griffen’s situation is a little different because his contract will technically be voided because he had six or more sacks last season.

Of course, there are players that the Vikings will try to bring back and there’s a possibility that the team will want to restructure deals with Reiff and Griffen instead of cutting them outright. (There’s not as much hope for Rhodes.)

There’s also safety Anthony Harris, who is an unrestricted free agent after having one of the best seasons among safeties in the league in 2019.

Cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are also unrestricted free agents.

Rick Spielman and Co. have plenty of work in front of them.