Should the Vikings cut Pat Elflein?

[fiestavike]

Doing so would save appx 2 million with very little dead money, however it might cost them a compensatory pick down the road. With only 11 million in cap space, cutting Elflein would cover a huge chunk of the rookie deals (given the top 53 rule), and perhaps let the vikings sign/retain one or two more players. Are we ready to give up on him?

[VikingsVictorious]

Doing so would save appx 2 million with very little dead money, however it might cost them a compensatory pick down the road. With only 11 million in cap space, cutting Elflein would cover a huge chunk of the rookie deals (given the top 53 rule), and perhaps let the vikings sign/retain one or two more players. Are we ready to give up on him?

Not currently in favor of Cutting Elf to save 2 million. But if we add a couple good guards in the draft FA then probably.

[Rhodes Closed]

I say see how Elflein develops in year three without injury and getting more adjusted to the Guard position on an NFL level.

[RandyMoss84]

Stick with him for 1 more year and if he still sucks, trade him or cut him

[fiestavike]

Stick with him for 1 more year and if he still sucks, trade him or cut him

This is his last year under contract, so the Vikings might be playing this from no man's land if they keep him. If he flops, its easy to cut bait, but if he succeeds, they probably don't have the cap to retain him anyway, and again he's gone. You are basically keeping him for whatever he can do this year, plus the hope of a compensatory pick. If they like Samia, or anybody else on the roster, there is a strong case to be made for cutting Pat now and giving those reps to a developing player you will have a rookie deal for a bit longer, or folding his salary into another player's deal.

I believe the vikings need to figure out if they think they're in contention this year, or if they are building toward the next two years. How much of the future do they want to mortgage in pursuit of a pretty long shot this year?

[VikingsVictorious]

Stick with him for 1 more year and if he still sucks, trade him or cut him

This is his last year under contract, so the Vikings might be playing this from no man's land if they keep him. If he flops, its easy to cut bait, but if he succeeds, they probably don't have the cap to retain him anyway, and again he's gone. You are basically keeping him for whatever he can do this year, plus the hope of a compensatory pick. If they like Samia, or anybody else on the roster, there is a strong case to be made for cutting Pat now and giving those reps to a developing player you will have a rookie deal for a bit longer, or folding his salary into another player's deal.

I believe the vikings need to figure out if they think they're in contention this year, or if they are building toward the next two years. How much of the future do they want to mortgage in pursuit of a pretty long shot this year?

That is a very good question. And one that Spielman gets the big bucks to decide. Seems like we are currently straddling the fence. I do believe we can be a playoff team this year, but it's probably more sensible to go all in on the rebuild.

[S197]

They need to cut their OL scouts. Who is the last halfway decent guard we've drafted? It feels like after the Hutchinson trade it's been a constant rotation of underperformers.

[halfgiz]

We just cut Josh Kline. Which is surprising.