PHP's "Favorite Time of the Year" Mock Offseason

[Texas Vike]

I guess they thought it worked so well with Remmers that they ought to try it with Rieff?

I guess in a sense, if Reiff is going to cost us $6 million in dead money, we should use him somewhere. And the fact that this draft is way more Tackle heavy than it is Guard, it's a move to definitely consider.
...
We've done a better job drafting OL recently but we arent drafting enough of them IMO. I say the most ideal situation....a guy like Ford in the first, defense in the 2nd (LB or DE) and Lindstrom in the 3rd.

I agree, and @ 18 we may find that our board's top OL prospects are gone, so we end up drafting a DL (Sweat, for example) or a LB like Devin Bush, depending on what we do with Sheldon Richardson and Barr's contracts. Both guys have impressive highlight film worth watching. Bush is a smaller guy, but damned if he doesn't pop up everywhere on the field driving RBs backwards and sacking unsuspecting QBs. I like his motor and his tackling. Sweat is just a physical specimen. We could use a meaner DL, IMO.

[Texas Vike]

Not sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as anywhere since it's a significant off season hypothetical scenarios thread...


This is a "Bold prediction," so it's kind of click-baity, but it's the off-season, so who cares?

The Vikings trade cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Mike Zimmer would likely fight tooth and nail against losing one of his star defensive players. But Minnesota's best chance at bolstering its weakest link -- the offensive line -- might come from cutting into an area where the Vikings are OK depthwise and have valuable trade leverage. Coming off the most difficult season of his career, Rhodes will turn 29 ahead of the 2019 campaign and account for $13.4 million against the salary cap. Minnesota's crop of cornerback talent is in a good spot with Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes (who is coming off an ACL injury) and the early rise of undrafted free agent Holton Hill. Trading Rhodes now, knowing they're in a good spot with their rest of their corners, could provide the Vikings with an option to garner more talent for the O-line. -- Courtney Cronin

Rhodes had a down year, but there's no way I see this happening.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Not sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as anywhere since it's a significant off season hypothetical scenarios thread...


This is a "Bold prediction," so it's kind of click-baity, but it's the off-season, so who cares?

The Vikings trade cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Mike Zimmer would likely fight tooth and nail against losing one of his star defensive players. But Minnesota's best chance at bolstering its weakest link -- the offensive line -- might come from cutting into an area where the Vikings are OK depthwise and have valuable trade leverage. Coming off the most difficult season of his career, Rhodes will turn 29 ahead of the 2019 campaign and account for $13.4 million against the salary cap. Minnesota's crop of cornerback talent is in a good spot with Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes (who is coming off an ACL injury) and the early rise of undrafted free agent Holton Hill. Trading Rhodes now, knowing they're in a good spot with their rest of their corners, could provide the Vikings with an option to garner more talent for the O-line. -- Courtney Cronin

Rhodes had a down year, but there's no way I see this happening.

I mean I did say this about a month ago on here. If we were to trade one player, I think it should be Rhodes. We proved vs. the Saints that we didnt NEED him as much as some would think. This is probably the most trade value he is going to hold for the rest of his career. It sucks to hear because I do like Rhodes, but I think it's a smarter move than some may think

[VikingLord]

Not sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as anywhere since it's a significant off season hypothetical scenarios thread...


This is a "Bold prediction," so it's kind of click-baity, but it's the off-season, so who cares?

The Vikings trade cornerback Xavier Rhodes.

Mike Zimmer would likely fight tooth and nail against losing one of his star defensive players. But Minnesota's best chance at bolstering its weakest link -- the offensive line -- might come from cutting into an area where the Vikings are OK depthwise and have valuable trade leverage. Coming off the most difficult season of his career, Rhodes will turn 29 ahead of the 2019 campaign and account for $13.4 million against the salary cap. Minnesota's crop of cornerback talent is in a good spot with Trae Waynes, Mackensie Alexander, Mike Hughes (who is coming off an ACL injury) and the early rise of undrafted free agent Holton Hill. Trading Rhodes now, knowing they're in a good spot with their rest of their corners, could provide the Vikings with an option to garner more talent for the O-line. -- Courtney Cronin

Rhodes had a down year, but there's no way I see this happening.

This would be a classic Belichek move if it happens. Trade a guy who has value and is likely to fetch a decent price from someone, but whose loss can be compensated for, and then turn that extra draft capital into a solid, young player or players.

Still, not sure what Rhodes would fetch in terms of a draft pick at this point. Definitely some teams that could use an established and talented vet at CB, but could Spielman get a 1st rounder for him? Probably not. Maybe a 2nd and a 4th, or even a 2nd and 3rd, but that's about it. And would Spielman be willing to make a deal like that, even if there are guys who can theoretically step up?

[Texas Vike]

Not sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as anywhere since it's a significant off season hypothetical scenarios thread...


This is a "Bold prediction," so it's kind of click-baity, but it's the off-season, so who cares?



Rhodes had a down year, but there's no way I see this happening.

I mean I did say this about a month ago on here. If we were to trade one player, I think it should be Rhodes. We proved vs. the Saints that we didnt NEED him as much as some would think. This is probably the most trade value he is going to hold for the rest of his career. It sucks to hear because I do like Rhodes, but I think it's a smarter move than some may think

Cronin should quote you then, or send you a tip for doing her job

I don't like the idea, personally. If one defends the team's decision to draft Hughes at a position of strength last year, arguing that you can never have too many high quality secondary players (as the season proved, we needed our depth), then the argument is weakened by now saying one is up for trading one of the best players at that position.

Furthermore, we don't know yet how Hughes will return from his ACL injury and surgery. For every AD there is an Alex Smith. The road to recovery is arduous and sometimes misfortunes happen. I think we should (and will) stand pat and look to FA and the draft to fix our OL, especially if Rhodes wouldn't even get us a 1st rounder. Not worth it.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Not sure where to put this, but I guess here is as good as anywhere since it's a significant off season hypothetical scenarios thread...


This is a "Bold prediction," so it's kind of click-baity, but it's the off-season, so who cares?



Rhodes had a down year, but there's no way I see this happening.

This would be a classic Belichek move if it happens. Trade a guy who has value and is likely to fetch a decent price from someone, but whose loss can be compensated for, and then turn that extra draft capital into a solid, young player or players.

Still, not sure what Rhodes would fetch in terms of a draft pick at this point. Definitely some teams that could use an established and talented vet at CB, but could Spielman get a 1st rounder for him? Probably not. Maybe a 2nd and a 4th, or even a 2nd and 3rd, but that's about it. And would Spielman be willing to make a deal like that, even if there are guys who can theoretically step up?

I mean Spielman did land a late first from Seattle for Harvin. I could see a team that is a possible contender with a later first round pick be willing to do it. Either way, I doubt Rhodes is traded

[Cliff]

Thanks for this, PHP. It's a good read. I have little to contribute because I don't watch college ball but the FA moves would be great, I think. I wouldn't be too hurt if they let Barr walk but I don't think Zimmer wants that to happen at all.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Thanks for this, PHP. It's a good read. I have little to contribute because I don't watch college ball but the FA moves would be great, I think. I wouldn't be too hurt if they let Barr walk but I don't think Zimmer wants that to happen at all.

Thanks Cliff! Yeah I personally think Barr is easily replaceable in the 2nd-3rd round. Especially if we could land a guy like Vosean Joseph

[YikesVikes]

Great job PHP.

Just want to point out I don't think Risner last until the 4th round and I don't think were taking a DE. Even if we lose Griffen,

Griffen, Hunter, Ade Aruna, Weatherly, Bower, Odenigbo (who they promised was in their future), is a pretty packed roster.
They love Aruna. Weatherly seemed to garner respect. Bower could be the odd man out but they seem to like him too. I just don't see where they invest a 3rd into the DE position. My guess is that you are close and they take Risner in the 3rd and Jeffery Simmons in the 4th. Simmons gets a redshirt year or can be brought back week 15 or so if fully healthy. I believed he was a 1st rounder if not injured and its a ACL, treated like a rolled ankle in 2019.

[YikesVikes]

2nd thought. They take riser at the end of 3rd (Comp pick). I think he gets taken by a team trading up at the start of the 4th round. In the 4th round we take Hakeem Butler. 6'6 with spectacular jumpball skills. Something we are missing from the rest of the roster. Imagine 1st and goal. Diggs and Theilan to the left, Kyle at the line and Butler out wide right. Team puts their best guys on Diggs and Theilan, who runs a corner and a slant. Butler runs a fade to the right corner and kyle has an option route (Cook on a swing to the left). How do you defend that.

Better yet. Same formation but butler is lined up at fullback in the I and motions to the SE position with a safety or LB on him.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHg40Dz94p0

[YikesVikes]

Came back to say that I'm just not a fan of Sweat. I have no doubt in my mind that Cody needs to be our pick at 18. I sat and watched his film. He won't be a guard in the NFL unless selected by a team with a good RT and LT. His feet is too good for that. He also literally plays to the whistle. If the guy from FL is gone Cody is the next best lineman in the draft. He is one notch below Quentin Nelson is my opinion.

[J. Kapp 11]

The Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer reports the Vikings will consider moving LT Riley Reiff to guard.

Signed to a big deal back in 2017, Reiff has mostly struggled at left tackle with the Vikings, although he was hampered by a foot injury early in the 2018 season. Perhaps a position switch would help, but moving Reiff would leave a big hole at the toughest position to fill along the offensive line. Fixing that line will be one of Minnesota's biggest priorities this offseason. Feb 5 - 10:33 AM

Hmmm.... I mean if they keep anyone on this OL outside of O'Neill and Elflein, I'd rather it be Reiff than Remmers or Compton. However, I'm not sure how I feel about this. We tried to do this with Remmers and it failed badly.

The difference is that we moved Remmers to guard out of necessity, while we'd be moving Reiff because he may actually be better suited to playing guard. The knock on Reiff at tackle is that he has relatively short arms, so he struggles against speed. You correctly pointed out the issues he had with Jerry Hughes. The lack of arm length wouldn't hurt Reiff at guard, while his strength would be an asset.

A move to guard might actually make Reiff -- and the Vikings -- better.

[Texas Vike]

I think your point on arm length is valid, but I still see this as driven by necessity:

1) Our OL sucks. 2) We're on the books for lots of dough with Reiff, so it doesn't make financial sense to cut him, therefore, 3) they're going to try to move him to G.

Has he EVER played G? I hope it works, but I have my doubts. It seems more financially driven than it is due to a better fit as G.

[YikesVikes]

Correct me if I'm wrong but can't we cut Reiff for 2 million in dead money post June 1st?

[Texas Vike]

Correct me if I'm wrong but can't we cut Reiff for 2 million in dead money post June 1st?

IIRC, it is more like 6 million.