Every team has limited cap resources and must divide them wisely. No team has two receivers with contracts averaging at least $6 million a year -- which is precisely what the Vikings would have been staring down with Bowe and Harvin after the season.

That's why draft picks are valued so highly and receiver is likely to be among the Vikings' top targets in April. Early projections have Cal's Keenan Allen, Tennessee's Justin Hunter and Southern Cal's Robert Woods as first-round prospects.

They could go the free-agent route, too, as they tried with Pierre Garcon before he signed a five-year, $42.5 million deal with Washington in March. But the crop of receivers under 30 with expiring contracts is thin, with Bowe and Green Bay's Greg Jennings a sizeable cut above the rest.

For now, it's Harvin, Jerome Simpson and Michael Jenkins, plus whatever they can get from Stephen Burton, Devin Aromashodu and Jarius Wright. Simpson and Aromashodu are on one-year deals, and Jenkins has a $2.425 million roster bonus due in March that almost surely won't be paid.

The Vikings can do better. They know that better than anyone. But they're building for the long haul, not selling out for 2012, and expecting a quick fix at any position was a pipe drem.

Guess im a desenting fan because the good teams like New England just do it when they need help at position they do what it takes . The best way around overpaying is just sign them to a one year prove it deal then go from there , we can make all the excuses about it but in my opinion wideout is the biggest weakness of this team and Bowe is an upgrade over everyone but Harvin .

Bowe's contract expires after this season. Once his contract is up, it's unlikely he'd settle for a one year deal and it's unlikely he'd have to settle for one. The Vikes would either have traded a draft pick (or picks) to acquire Bowe for 1/2 a season or they'd need to pay him pretty serious money next year to keep him. That money could be in the form of a long term deal with a substantial signing bonus or it could be "franchise tag" money which means they'd be paying him as if he was a top 5 receiver... which he's not.

Wow a franchise tag lol I was just wanting an option on getting a better player at a position of need lets not over react to my opinion and it is an opinion only the Vikings org, will do what they want no matter what I or you or any other message board messiah thinks .

Bowe's contract expires after this season. Once his contract is up, it's unlikely he'd settle for a one year deal and it's unlikely he'd have to settle for one. The Vikes would either have traded a draft pick (or picks) to acquire Bowe for 1/2 a season or they'd need to pay him pretty serious money next year to keep him. That money could be in the form of a long term deal with a substantial signing bonus or it could be "franchise tag" money which means they'd be paying him as if he was a top 5 receiver... which he's not.

Heck, Jim ... they'd have to pay some serious money THIS SEASON. I believe the article says he has $5.04 million left on his contract. Considering he wouldn't be up to speed for probably the first 3 or 4 games, that's way too much.

FYI no team locks up 2 WRs at 6m each. Bowe was never an option. But hey, lets hate our FO its a cool thing to do right?

Who said anything about hating the front office ? I just said id like to get Bowe because I see this season as being better than I expected and thought he could be a big help .

At some point we HAVE to pay big money for a vet WR. Either through draft picks or cash, lotsa cash. I dont like Ponder, but we needs to see what he can do. I think alot on this board were wrong and Simpson wont help help. I dont think a rookie WR will either (unless we somehow get a Jones or Blackmon) because thats not how the Vikings do thing (afraid of the Hershal Walker deal). We need a REAL WR here and it isnt the end of the world if we give alot up and maybe have to fill some holes with less then steller players.

Hunter’s size, track speed, and freakish athleticism have opened the door to Randy Moss comparisons. While these comparisons may be a little premature just 33 receptions into his college career, they aren’t exactly unfounded either.

The draft is deep again with quality wide outs. Justin Hunter should be our first look, scary talented. I read one scout even comparing him to Randy Moss, I know very far stretched, but the guy has a lot of talent. The only FA Wideout we should be interested in is Jennings because I doubt he'll command a huge sum, favorable, but not huge. By the time hes done hopefully our first round WR is hitting huge strides and maybe *crosses fingers* we get back Childs.

____


http://frogsfootballfantasy.com/prospec ... unter.html

Last years draft, people were saying the same thing and look we we got. As i said before a bust (based on one year) and a busted (one that experts say is hard for a WR to come back 100% from). Im tired of this nonsense of we cant get a vet. Look what winfield has done for this team. The draft is a crap shot. We need a freaking WR right NOW! We have for a few years.

My point was, we knew a MAJOR need last year was for a WR. Too a point where alot of people thought we might pick Blackmon over Kalil. We got Simpson, a PI specialist, and Carlson, the most overpaid TE in the history of the NFL, doing nothing for us. They havent helped Ponder at all. And our draft picks, that everyone says we HAVE to have to build this team around, will turn out to be busts, IMO. Childs might make it, but I doubt it. Spend the friggin money ona real WR. Not a #2 or 3, a #1. Make a deal, make it happen. Pretend we are like all the other teams in the NFL.

The Vikings had multiple needs last year when the draft came around. The back end of their defense was terrible, Charlie Johnson was awful at Left Tackle, Hutchinson was past his prime, they let E.J. Henderson go in free agency so they didn't have an experienced MLB, there was a need for an upgrade at the DT spots because Kevin Williams did not play well last year and Remi Ayodele was terrible. Yes WR was a major need, but the Vikings had a lot of major needs. It's going to take more than one draft to fix the Vikings.

Sadly we weren't going to fix every major hole in one offseason, if anyone thought that was possible it's a good idea to rehash your expectations. You would think after the randy moss situation we wouldn't have fans crying to rent a player for 8 games.

The Vikings were in on Pierre Garcon but weren't willing to give him that ridiculous contract he got. He's a #2 who got #1 money.

This year's FA WR class was weak outside of Vincent Jackson.

And next year will be the same...all the #1 will want the BIG #1 money. And had better pay it or this offense wil continue to stagnant(sp?). It would open everything up with a real ourside threat. Not one we develope, one that already knows the ropes.

So we should pay two guys #1 money? Because that's what we're going to be paying Harvin after this year.