Cornerbacks, Salary Cap, and more
Posted: Thu May 17, 2018 9:46 am
PURE CREATIVE SPECULATION DISCLAIMER
In looking at the Vikings defensive backfield, there are going to be some valuable pieces that aren't going to be on this team come week 1. At Cornerback, Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, and Hughes are players who will not be cut. Marcus Sherels and Terrance Newman could be fighting for the last spot (depending on how many they keep), and Holton Hill has an outside chance to beat out one or both of them. They may keep them all and reduce the roster somewhere else, tab Sherels a specialist, cut Kearse and have Newman backup both S and CB, but that seems unlikely given that Kearse is also a core special teams player who still has a lot of upside. One solution might be to cut Terrance Newman given his future with the team is limited to this year, but he provides so much versatility and leadership that I can't see that happening. Trying to slip Hill onto the practice squard is a gamble the Vikings could (and likely will) take, but its possible his play in the preseason will make the success of that gamble unlikely.They may try to trade one of their bubble players for a 6th or 7th round pick to take away a bit of the sting of losing a good player, but thats often easier said than done. Or, they may do something drastic, and trade a potential starter (Waynes or Alexander perhaps) for a pick or position player leading into this season. Just for fun, lets assume that player in Trae Waynes because not only would you get the most for him, but he would also provide the most cap relief. Obviously, you wouldn't trade Waynes just so you could keep Sherels, but if you could keep Sherels, get a 1st round pick, plus have the cap room to retain Stefon Diggs or Danielle Hunter, well...now it might be interesting.
Spotrac has Anthony Barr's next contract at an estimated 5 years for 38.4 million which averages to about 7.6 million. That seems low to me, but even if its an accurate market value, It would be tough to sign him for that number when he's making 12 million in 2018, and the franchise mark is around 15 million. Without a large pile of guranteed money, it might be hard to reach a deal with the former #9 overall pick heading into this season. If the vikings had more quality depth at LB, one could entertain the same speculation about Barr as I am tossing out for consideration with regard to Waynes. Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs on the other hand, have planty or reason to sign extensions now. Both are in the last year of their repective deals, and both are being paid just under 2 million dollars. If they avoid injury, both can expect hefty increases in their salaries in 2019. Having the players currently rostered, the Vikings have the unique opportunity to advance that payday to 2018, but in order to sign both of them, they would need some additional cap room. The security of money in hand and guranteed money on a contract is a pretty big motivation for players who are only earning 1.9 this year and stand to see their earnings potential drop significantly on the back of a single play. They should be able to secure one of those players even under their current cap constraints, but being able to lock both those players in now, then addressing Barr and Richardson after this year, all while having two first round picks in your back pocket is something that would have to be seriously considered. Making a move like that might come down to how much trust the Vikings have in Hughes and Alexander, and how 40+ year old Newman looks in camp. Another silver lining is that it could lead the Vikings use another 1st round pick on a CB in next years draft, causing a near total meltdown among the Vikings faithful.
In looking at the Vikings defensive backfield, there are going to be some valuable pieces that aren't going to be on this team come week 1. At Cornerback, Rhodes, Waynes, Alexander, and Hughes are players who will not be cut. Marcus Sherels and Terrance Newman could be fighting for the last spot (depending on how many they keep), and Holton Hill has an outside chance to beat out one or both of them. They may keep them all and reduce the roster somewhere else, tab Sherels a specialist, cut Kearse and have Newman backup both S and CB, but that seems unlikely given that Kearse is also a core special teams player who still has a lot of upside. One solution might be to cut Terrance Newman given his future with the team is limited to this year, but he provides so much versatility and leadership that I can't see that happening. Trying to slip Hill onto the practice squard is a gamble the Vikings could (and likely will) take, but its possible his play in the preseason will make the success of that gamble unlikely.They may try to trade one of their bubble players for a 6th or 7th round pick to take away a bit of the sting of losing a good player, but thats often easier said than done. Or, they may do something drastic, and trade a potential starter (Waynes or Alexander perhaps) for a pick or position player leading into this season. Just for fun, lets assume that player in Trae Waynes because not only would you get the most for him, but he would also provide the most cap relief. Obviously, you wouldn't trade Waynes just so you could keep Sherels, but if you could keep Sherels, get a 1st round pick, plus have the cap room to retain Stefon Diggs or Danielle Hunter, well...now it might be interesting.
Spotrac has Anthony Barr's next contract at an estimated 5 years for 38.4 million which averages to about 7.6 million. That seems low to me, but even if its an accurate market value, It would be tough to sign him for that number when he's making 12 million in 2018, and the franchise mark is around 15 million. Without a large pile of guranteed money, it might be hard to reach a deal with the former #9 overall pick heading into this season. If the vikings had more quality depth at LB, one could entertain the same speculation about Barr as I am tossing out for consideration with regard to Waynes. Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs on the other hand, have planty or reason to sign extensions now. Both are in the last year of their repective deals, and both are being paid just under 2 million dollars. If they avoid injury, both can expect hefty increases in their salaries in 2019. Having the players currently rostered, the Vikings have the unique opportunity to advance that payday to 2018, but in order to sign both of them, they would need some additional cap room. The security of money in hand and guranteed money on a contract is a pretty big motivation for players who are only earning 1.9 this year and stand to see their earnings potential drop significantly on the back of a single play. They should be able to secure one of those players even under their current cap constraints, but being able to lock both those players in now, then addressing Barr and Richardson after this year, all while having two first round picks in your back pocket is something that would have to be seriously considered. Making a move like that might come down to how much trust the Vikings have in Hughes and Alexander, and how 40+ year old Newman looks in camp. Another silver lining is that it could lead the Vikings use another 1st round pick on a CB in next years draft, causing a near total meltdown among the Vikings faithful.