StumpHunter wrote: ↑Wed Jan 29, 2020 6:32 pm
Well, one is a RG, one is a LT. I have different expectations from them, as they face different challenges. So does the entirety of the NFL.
Fair enough.
I don't think the Vikings will replace Kline this season. It would only save 1.5 million to cut him, and as you pointed out, they have too many other holes to fill. Reiff is a better candidate for being cut, because of his contract, but as I have said, I don't think that makes the line better and again, just creates another hole to fill. If the next franchise LT comes along in the draft or the next great RG, I want the Vikings to take them. That is all I am saying.
Yeah I mean cutting Kline is definitely out of the cards IMO. At least I would hope. Cutting Reiff doesnt necessarily make the line better no. But I feel like if we're just replacing one "bad" lineman at a time each year, it's going to be hard to ever get to lets say a top 10 OL. Obviously this year I would think it's Elflein that is replaced and rightfully so. But if we really want to see an improvement up front, fixing one OL position a year isnt going to do it. One thing I will say regarding cutting Reiff is if they do, they better have a damn good plan in return. Whether it's Vaitai, moving Oneill, something crazy like trading for Trent Williams or drafting one early. If I had the choice I would cut Reiff. Will the Vikings cut Reiff, I would say it's a solid 70% no they wont. I have a weird feeling they are going to restructure him and move him to LG which I dont know if I am crazy about. But at this rate, I feel like the chances of them hunting for a new LT is as high as finding a new LG. Because moving Reiff or cutting Reiff creates that hole.
LG is a whole other story. They absolutely need find Elf's replacement in the draft. The good FA guards like Thuney are going to be grossly over priced and so are the mediocre ones. To finally get better at that spot, they need to invest draft capital into it. That is how the line will significantly improve over this season.
Oh yeah I agree that was why I wasnt fuming on here last year when we werent signing a "big name" OL early in free agency. Because this happens every year where guys like Billy Turner and Bobby Hart land big contracts and they are horrible offensive lineman. I mean hell, Matt Kalil landed $55 million when he showed he was one of the worst, if not the worst, LT in the NFL when he was here. This is a huge reason why I was such a fan of the Kline signing. Because 1.) He's always been known for his pass blocking and 2.) compared to what most guards get in FA, Kline was dirt cheap.
I also know that last year Saffold was at the top of many lists on who we should try and sign. Just to put that in perspective and just to further prove my point when it comes to FA not being the answer, Saffold landed a $44 million contract. He's averaging $11 million a year. Kline is averaging $5.1 million a year. So Saffold is averaging more than double what Kline is getting. Saffold gave up 6 sacks this year and was an absolute liability in the first half of the year. He improved towards the end of the year but so did Kline grading out as a top 5 pass blocking guard. And just to add the cherry on top, Saffold played in between Ben Jones (one of the best centers in the NFL) and Taylor Lewan one of the better LTs in the NFL. Kline played in between Bradbury who was just as bad pass blocking as Elflein was and O'Neill who is good. But the point is, Saffold played next to a better tandem that Saffold did and Saffold was arguably worse than Kline was. I think Saffold gained a lot of higher grades at years end because of how Henry was playing too. You almost dont need to block for that guy he's so good. He's a man amongst boys.
So in the end, is Kline's contract really too much? When you look at it this way, no not at all. It's actually pretty darn good given what we got out of him. Whereas Saffold or most other grossly overpaid FA lineman out there, their contracts are nowhere near worth it and the chance of them ever playing out that entire contract are slim. So yeah I agree we need to heavily invest in drafting offensive lineman, not signing them. Solid stop gaps like Kline are fine but to pay top dollar for middle of the road or worse offensive lineman is not. I'm sure there will be a few guys on here in the early stages of free agency upset with Spielman because he's not signing offensive lineman and other teams are but I'm glad he does that to be honest.
It's just this is where we have to pick our poison. Getting someone like Bredson in my mock is a great hit for the 2nd-3rd round. If we're looking for a LT, you almost have to go round 1. Maybe 2 but that's a stretch given where we pick. So if we want to go LT in the draft, positions like DT and CB are going to have to wait chances are. So I guess the biggest question is, what is the best position in FA where we can get an immediate impact player, CB, DT, or OL? Because I dont think we can just address these 3 big needs entirely in the draft. I feel like we need to eliminate at least one via FA.
They have needs there too, of course but it's WAY past time to address OG with a top-notch prospect and it would be nice to see them do it this year.