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David F. -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/29/2022 8:17:31 PM)
I noticed Deandre Hopkins didn't make the list. I'd put him between Deebo and Ceedee. Cooper Kupp Tyreek Hill Ja'Marr Chase Stefon Diggs Davante Adams Justin Jefferson Deebo Samuel Ceedee Lamb Mike Evans Keenan Allen Tyler Lockett Jalen Waddle A.J. Brown Amari Cooper DK Metcalf Chris Godwin Terry McClaurin MIke Williams DJ Moore Adam Thielen Christian Kirk Dionte Johnson Hollywood Brown Tee Higgins Michael Pittman Jr. Hunter Renfrow Brandon Cooks Chase Claypool Tyler Boyd Darnell Mooney Courtland Sutton DeVonta Smith Amon-Ra St. Brown Marvin Jones Jr. Brandon Aiyuk Van Jefferson Kendrick Bourne Tim Patrick Jakobi Meyers Russell Gage A.J. Green

ratoppenheimer -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 1:56:23 AM)
. . the nfl passed a rule change - when in a playoff game, both teams get the opportunity to have an offensive possession.... Ben Goessling@BenGoessling The #Vikings’ decision to vote against the NFL’s new overtime rule, a source said, was because they didn’t like the idea of teams having possessions with unlimited time. They supported the idea of each team having a possession; just wanted to do it in a 15 minute period.

Daniel Lee Young -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 4:52:55 AM)
Wait, what? That’s what it is now.. somebody wins, some body loses if neither score a touchdown, next score DOESN’T win? You get equal # of possessions? Till one stops the other after you score? WTF.? How many time can you tie it up? Infinity? 0-0 2-2 3-3 7-7 8-8… Until possessions= one wins? TV Money? Or Vegas?

Phil Riewer -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 7:48:29 AM)
Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0

ratoppenheimer -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 8:08:09 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm

Bill Johanesen -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 9:59:24 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm Why make the difficult decision and cut them when we can simply "restructure" some more. Anyway, cutting those players would be a wholesale rebuild... you even have O'Neill on that list.

Bill Johanesen -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 10:07:39 AM)
We won't know the dead cap after 2023 until players are actually not on the roster, but I presume it could be around $20-30 million. Hope that timeframe isn't in our designated 'SB window' years cause 20 million could help. Oh wait, Kwesi can just get Brzez to add more voidable years to any contract and create more dead cap! Then Mark Wilf can repeat how strategic we were! Those geniuses! Silly me.

David F. -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 11:05:52 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen We won't know the dead cap after 2023 until players are actually not on the roster, but I presume it could be around $20-30 million. Hope that timeframe isn't in our designated 'SB window' years cause 20 million could help. Oh wait, Kwesi can just get Brzez to add more voidable years to any contract and create more dead cap! Then Mark Wilf can repeat how strategic we were! Those geniuses! Silly me. I keep thinking we should have tore it all down and cleared the deck. We would be the only team not maxing our credit cards and making balance transfers to clear a bit of room to make our minimum payments. I believe that would have set us up for a chance at major success. The experts would look back at what we did and say we were the innovators that weren't afraid to go against the grain and it paid off. But then again, 9-8 and 10-7 are technically winning seasons so we've got that to look forward to for at least one season. Ugh.

Mark Anderson -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 11:28:29 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm The average dead cap seems to be in the 15-18M range. We are above that but we sit with the 13th most cap room right now. Next year we will be at a minimum of 17.7 cap space(bottom 10). We have 36 players signed. That is Top 10 for players signed for 2023. Are we in dire straits? No. But, I think it shows that we need to hit on a QB this draft if we want to be in great shape(cap wise) in the near future.

Mark Anderson -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 11:33:26 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: David F. quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen We won't know the dead cap after 2023 until players are actually not on the roster, but I presume it could be around $20-30 million. Hope that timeframe isn't in our designated 'SB window' years cause 20 million could help. Oh wait, Kwesi can just get Brzez to add more voidable years to any contract and create more dead cap! Then Mark Wilf can repeat how strategic we were! Those geniuses! Silly me. I keep thinking we should have tore it all down and cleared the deck. We would be the only team not maxing our credit cards and making balance transfers to clear a bit of room to make our minimum payments. I believe that would have set us up for a chance at major success. The experts would look back at what we did and say we were the innovators that weren't afraid to go against the grain and it paid off. But then again, 9-8 and 10-7 are technically winning seasons so we've got that to look forward to for at least one season. Ugh. Jacksonville and Houston have cleared the deck. Let's see what happens in the next couple years.

ratoppenheimer -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 11:38:18 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen quote: ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm Why make the difficult decision and cut them when we can simply "restructure" some more. Anyway, cutting those players would be a wholesale rebuild... you even have O'Neill on that list. i wasn't implying that we cut them...but there are some, like bradbury and cook, that we might consider...several other seasoned vets could get the axe.... bradbury is not technically under contract next year, but spotrac adds his 5th-year option in anyway....

bstinger -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 11:56:21 AM)
quote: ORIGINAL: David F. quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen We won't know the dead cap after 2023 until players are actually not on the roster, but I presume it could be around $20-30 million. Hope that timeframe isn't in our designated 'SB window' years cause 20 million could help. Oh wait, Kwesi can just get Brzez to add more voidable years to any contract and create more dead cap! Then Mark Wilf can repeat how strategic we were! Those geniuses! Silly me. I keep thinking we should have tore it all down and cleared the deck. We would be the only team not maxing our credit cards and making balance transfers to clear a bit of room to make our minimum payments. I believe that would have set us up for a chance at major success. The experts would look back at what we did and say we were the innovators that weren't afraid to go against the grain and it paid off. But then again, 9-8 and 10-7 are technically winning seasons so we've got that to look forward to for at least one season. Ugh. I was all for the tear it down mode. I hope they are as smart as they think they are running it all back, but I doubt it. The Wilf's mandated this course of action I'm sure.

Todd M -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 4:50:53 PM)
When the sting of the disappointing season was still with me I would have let them tear it down. But I really liked this team heading into 21. Now we've made major changes where it was needed with the staff and our adding pieces that will help. Couple solid starters in the draft and I'll be all in again.

Bill Johanesen -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 5:01:13 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson quote: ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm The average dead cap seems to be in the 15-18M range. We are above that but we sit with the 13th most cap room right now. Next year we will be at a minimum of 17.7 cap space(bottom 10). We have 36 players signed. That is Top 10 for players signed for 2023. Are we in dire straits? No. But, I think it shows that we need to hit on a QB this draft if we want to be in great shape(cap wise) in the near future. What will you think if they don't address, let alone hit on, a QB in this draft? Further, what if the additions and holdovers are enough to keep us at, say, #15 in next year's draft out of reach of the supposed top QBs?

Bill Johanesen -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 5:07:43 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bstinger quote: ORIGINAL: David F. quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen We won't know the dead cap after 2023 until players are actually not on the roster, but I presume it could be around $20-30 million. Hope that timeframe isn't in our designated 'SB window' years cause 20 million could help. Oh wait, Kwesi can just get Brzez to add more voidable years to any contract and create more dead cap! Then Mark Wilf can repeat how strategic we were! Those geniuses! Silly me. I keep thinking we should have tore it all down and cleared the deck. We would be the only team not maxing our credit cards and making balance transfers to clear a bit of room to make our minimum payments. I believe that would have set us up for a chance at major success. The experts would look back at what we did and say we were the innovators that weren't afraid to go against the grain and it paid off. But then again, 9-8 and 10-7 are technically winning seasons so we've got that to look forward to for at least one season. Ugh. I was all for the tear it down mode. I hope they are as smart as they think they are running it all back, but I doubt it. The Wilf's mandated this course of action I'm sure. Seems the Wilf's definition of being "competitive" year in and year out is basically not being mathematically eliminated until late Dec. I'd say they have FAILED in their edict for half the time they have been owners. Or perhaps they mean financially... hell, they got a new stadium, sell out seats, lap up massive network contracts, sell a lot of merchandise, and watch the franchise value increase every year. Perennial winning!

Mark Anderson -> RE: General Vikes Talk (3/30/2022 5:26:58 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen quote: ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson quote: ORIGINAL: ratoppenheimer quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer Sean Borman @SeanBormanNFL · 11m A look at Adam Thielen’s reworked contract and the net cap hit impact compared to his old deal, per OTC: 2022: $11.668M (saves $5.16M) 2023: $19.967M (higher by $2.01M) 2024: $21.655M (higher by $3.15M) 2025: $2.25M (void) Dead Money and Cap savings 2023: 13.5/6.4 2024: 7/14.6 2025: 2.25/0 so, if we flat out cut thielen the 2022 cap saving would have been about $6m, and we would no longer have a contract with him.... we are down to $4.5mm in cap space in 2023.... in 2023 we can cut these players and save: Bradbury $13.2mm o'neill $7mm thielen $6.4mm harrison smith $7.5mm z-smith $10.8mm cook $7.9mm kendricks $9.7mm hicks $5mm cj ham $3mm The average dead cap seems to be in the 15-18M range. We are above that but we sit with the 13th most cap room right now. Next year we will be at a minimum of 17.7 cap space(bottom 10). We have 36 players signed. That is Top 10 for players signed for 2023. Are we in dire straits? No. But, I think it shows that we need to hit on a QB this draft if we want to be in great shape(cap wise) in the near future. What will you think if they don't address, let alone hit on, a QB in this draft? Further, what if the additions and holdovers are enough to keep us at, say, #15 in next year's draft out of reach of the supposed top QBs? I'll let you know in May.

Todd M -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/1/2022 1:11:29 PM)
# of days after the draft I start feeling this is the year... Probably won't get through the whole thing...[&:] I really like what we got going on. If you look back Ricky was down with this plan before it even started.

Tom Sykes -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 11:55:17 AM)
I myself don’t see much of a plan. I see an overall approach to keeping the same starters together … adding some value players … moving cap resources back a couple years … most of all, relying on coaching and scheme change over upgrading talent for ‘super-competitive’ results. This all might come to fruition, Kwesi might prove to have a better eye for talent than Spielman but IMO there’s no way of guessing we are better or worse than last season … the approach has been so low-key conservative.

Phil Riewer -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 12:11:06 PM)
We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved.

Tom Sykes -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 1:25:55 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Of course you do. For me, different doesn't automatically equate to better. I hope so but ... that doesn't make it so. Zad is the one aggressive change to the roster. We put ourselves out there to get better. I think Hicks was a canny move for a more durable player than Barr ... that's good value, not upgraded LB talent. I don't think they functioned in the same roles ... but ... I will certainly take Hicks' tackle production over Barr's whatever it was that made him so valuable to Zimmer, for sure. Good move. Everything else –so far– has been an attempt to find better value than resigning Cole, Alexander or retaining Pierce – in players that have a chance to perform as well or better .... but that's no given. Davis=Cole, Phillips-Pierce, Hicks=Barr, Sullivan=Alexander. Just bodies: Mundt, Schlottmann, Hairston

bohumm -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 1:27:08 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Not to mention Hunter coming back. The Vikings currently have no holes on the defense, assuming Lynch, Watts, Twyman, or someone can man the 3-4 DE position that is still open. That doesn't mean everyone is good or that improvements can't/won't be made, but there are no more gaping chasms like we have at center on offense. So the offense is basically the same with a better scheme/philosophy and hopefully better coaching, and the defense is improved or at least the same everywhere except maybe safety. "Competitive rebuild" is driving many crazy, but it seems the Wilfs want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, which a worse team accomplished last year. I think the contracts and teambuilding is pointing at an inflection point in 2024, when there should be sufficient cap room along with turnover of personnel the next two years to give a opportunity to make a big leap. Obviously a QBOTF is a huge part of it, but Kwesi has positioned the next two years to satisfy the Wilfs and the year after that to make moves to raise a quantum or two.

Tom Sykes -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 1:41:43 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bohumm quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Not to mention Hunter coming back. The Vikings currently have no holes on the defense, assuming Lynch, Watts, Twyman, or someone can man the 3-4 DE position that is still open. That doesn't mean everyone is good or that improvements can't/won't be made, but there are no more gaping chasms like we have at center on offense. So the offense is basically the same with a better scheme/philosophy and hopefully better coaching, and the defense is improved or at least the same everywhere except maybe safety. "Competitive rebuild" is driving many crazy, but it seems the Wilfs want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, which a worse team accomplished last year. I think the contracts and teambuilding is pointing at an inflection point in 2024, when there should be sufficient cap room along with turnover of personnel the next two years to give a opportunity to make a big leap. Obviously a QBOTF is a huge part of it, but Kwesi has positioned the next two years to satisfy the Wilfs and the year after that to make moves to raise a quantum or two. We had no business being in the playoffs last year. In no shape or form should last year be our baseline for challenging anything except new regime change. No holes on defense? Hunter and Zad will make a real difference on our DL ... I still don't see much difference at DT, LB, CB, S over last years abysmal defense so we'll see how much of a difference. I'm looking forward to the draft and the rest of the offseason. At the very least I hope we get one starter out of the draft and we make a few more solid value additions like Hicks. At CB, IOL, TE, for sure. We shall see.

bohumm -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 1:59:57 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes quote: ORIGINAL: bohumm quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Not to mention Hunter coming back. The Vikings currently have no holes on the defense, assuming Lynch, Watts, Twyman, or someone can man the 3-4 DE position that is still open. That doesn't mean everyone is good or that improvements can't/won't be made, but there are no more gaping chasms like we have at center on offense. So the offense is basically the same with a better scheme/philosophy and hopefully better coaching, and the defense is improved or at least the same everywhere except maybe safety. "Competitive rebuild" is driving many crazy, but it seems the Wilfs want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, which a worse team accomplished last year. I think the contracts and teambuilding is pointing at an inflection point in 2024, when there should be sufficient cap room along with turnover of personnel the next two years to give a opportunity to make a big leap. Obviously a QBOTF is a huge part of it, but Kwesi has positioned the next two years to satisfy the Wilfs and the year after that to make moves to raise a quantum or two. We had no business being in the playoffs last year. In no shape or form should last year be our baseline for challenging anything except new regime change. No holes on defense? Hunter and Zad will make a real difference on our DL ... I still don't see much difference at DT, LB, CB, S over last years abysmal defense so we'll see how much of a difference. I'm looking forward to the draft and the rest of the offseason. At the very least I hope we get one starter out of the draft and we make a few more solid value additions like Hicks. At CB, IOL, TE, for sure. We shall see. Think front seven vs DL/LB. Think availability as a significant factor in quality of play. PP and new slot are at least as good as last year, and Dantzler is better than Breland. All could be improved upon for sure, but none is a hole. Bynum may or may not be as good as Woods, but there's also a decent chance he's better in his second year; he looked pretty good last year when called upon. Hicks, Kendricks, Hunter, and Smith are a formidable LB group in 3-4; potentially much closer to great than good. Harrison more available than Pierce, and as good. Tomlinson is solid. 3-4 DE is an easy position to fill for 15-20 snaps per game. On passing downs, Hunter and Smith move up to DE, one DL goes out/more are switched out, and the new slot comes in, who has graded out better than Alexander. If you don't see how that is improved, you're not looking, or you don't want to see it.

Tom Sykes -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 2:08:19 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bohumm quote: ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes quote: ORIGINAL: bohumm quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Not to mention Hunter coming back. The Vikings currently have no holes on the defense, assuming Lynch, Watts, Twyman, or someone can man the 3-4 DE position that is still open. That doesn't mean everyone is good or that improvements can't/won't be made, but there are no more gaping chasms like we have at center on offense. So the offense is basically the same with a better scheme/philosophy and hopefully better coaching, and the defense is improved or at least the same everywhere except maybe safety. "Competitive rebuild" is driving many crazy, but it seems the Wilfs want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, which a worse team accomplished last year. I think the contracts and teambuilding is pointing at an inflection point in 2024, when there should be sufficient cap room along with turnover of personnel the next two years to give a opportunity to make a big leap. Obviously a QBOTF is a huge part of it, but Kwesi has positioned the next two years to satisfy the Wilfs and the year after that to make moves to raise a quantum or two. We had no business being in the playoffs last year. In no shape or form should last year be our baseline for challenging anything except new regime change. No holes on defense? Hunter and Zad will make a real difference on our DL ... I still don't see much difference at DT, LB, CB, S over last years abysmal defense so we'll see how much of a difference. I'm looking forward to the draft and the rest of the offseason. At the very least I hope we get one starter out of the draft and we make a few more solid value additions like Hicks. At CB, IOL, TE, for sure. We shall see. Think front seven vs DL/LB. Think availability as a significant factor in quality of play. PP and new slot are at least as good as last year, and Dantzler is better than Breland. All could be improved upon for sure, but none is a hole. Bynum may or may not be as good as Woods, but there's also a decent chance he's better in his second year; he looked pretty good last year when called upon. Hicks, Kendricks, Hunter, and Smith are a formidable LB group in 3-4; potentially much closer to great than good. Harrison more available than Pierce, and as good. Tomlinson is solid. 3-4 DE is an easy position to fill for 15-20 snaps per game. On passing downs, Hunter and Smith move up to DE, one DL goes out/more are switched out, and the new slot comes in, who has graded out better than Alexander. If you don't see how that is improved, you're not looking, or you don't want to see it. Or I'm not just loosely projecting on what I want to see.

Bill Johanesen -> RE: General Vikes Talk (4/2/2022 2:21:08 PM)
quote: ORIGINAL: bohumm quote: ORIGINAL: Phil Riewer We didn’t upgrade Slot Cb? We didn’t upgrade with Hicks over Barr? I see upgrades on the interior oline? Zed isn’t an Upgrade? I see at least 4 positions are improved. Not to mention Hunter coming back. The Vikings currently have no holes on the defense, assuming Lynch, Watts, Twyman, or someone can man the 3-4 DE position that is still open. That doesn't mean everyone is good or that improvements can't/won't be made, but there are no more gaping chasms like we have at center on offense. So the offense is basically the same with a better scheme/philosophy and hopefully better coaching, and the defense is improved or at least the same everywhere except maybe safety. "Competitive rebuild" is driving many crazy, but it seems the Wilfs want to stay in the hunt for the playoffs, which a worse team accomplished last year. I think the contracts and teambuilding is pointing at an inflection point in 2024, when there should be sufficient cap room along with turnover of personnel the next two years to give a opportunity to make a big leap. Obviously a QBOTF is a huge part of it, but Kwesi has positioned the next two years to satisfy the Wilfs and the year after that to make moves to raise a quantum or two. "... currently have no holes on the defense..." So that up front statement is followed by a bunch of things that make the statement true only in a technical sense. Basically, right now we can field a defense that is not an embarrassment to the NFL (like, we've met the minimum standards if they had some). In the hunt for the playoffs is a pathetic term used by the networks that really means those laundry lists of teams that haven't been mathematically eliminated. And that's with almost half the league making the playoffs! As for positioning to make a big leap in 2024, and sufficient cap room... that is a year Kwesi has used to park dead cap! If anything, he has created a (probable) substantial drag on the roster based on this dead cap. Yes there will be roster turnover that will open cap, ideally the bloated contracts will be gone, but also talent will need to be replaced. And there are a few pieces to build on: Jefferson (who will break the bank), O'Neill and (hopefully) Darrisaw, and ideally a couple of or a few younger players or undiscovered talent. But ultimately we will need a heck of a lot more talent, and as you say, a QB. Problem is, that dead cap will show up right when we need cap room to essentially rebuild. Sorry, but you don't get out of this mess w/o pain if you want to be truly competitive. The pain hasn't been felt yet. The only way to limit or eliminate the pain is by having say a couple of consecutive drafts that absolutely knock it out of the park. Like historically. We dream that every year. But last I checked we still have the same scouts.

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