Top needs in free agency and draft

[fiestavike]

After a frustrating end to our season, I took a step away from Vikings football and this board. Since FA and draft season are here/ on the horizon, I've decided to reengage. Plus, we are all in need of some distractions and entertainment these days.

With 5 of the top 105 picks, the Vikings are set up to add some fresh young talent. I suspect that they will move up to take OT Tristan Wirfs from Iowa. They have the fire power to do it. The question is will they find a trade partner and how low can they reasonably target him? I'd say around 14-15 would be likely.

At WR, we need to add a couple of guys IMO and the position is fortunately deep this year. I like guys who know how to run routes and who haven't simply excelled at the college level due to speed or physical talent. Those players are usually busts in the NFL, when they are suddenly surrounded by guys just as talented as they are and they lack the ability to use technique to win. So even though I have watched TCU's Jalen Reagor for a few years and think he's a heck of WR, I think he's very behind the curve on football intelligence and route running. He's a freakish athlete though. I'd rather add two WRs in the 2nd to 5th rounds. Hometown hero Tyler Johnson would be a great pick in the 2nd and maybe take a flyer on Peoples-Jones from Michigan, a highly rated HS player who just never found his groove in college. As a UT Longhorn alum, I also watched Duvernay a bit this year, and I think he'd be an intriguing prospect in the 6th or 7th. The guy is built like a RB and apparently isn't good at running routes, but his speed and power are undeniable.

We also need to address CB in the first few rounds, but I haven't scouted the position yet.

Draft season is the most enjoyable time to be a fan for me.

[IIsweet]

No way Wirfs falls that far. He is the most athletic OL in the draft, and he was dominant n college. Top 10 if not top 5 pick. Josh Jones from Houston should be available at 22.
I would take BPA, but hopefully that falls in OL CB or DL.
Based on draft position, CB Fulton could be realistic and great pick. Would like WR in 2nd rd. So much talent. This is where I start moving up and around. Leviske Shenault,Tee Higgins, Tyler Johnson, KJ Hamler, Denzel Mims, Branden Aiyuk, Michael Pittman, Chase Claypool..... Plenty of talent ! Get at least 2 of these guys.

[StumpHunter]

Back to the topic at hand.

We need to get a low end vet CB in FAs at some point that Zim can work his magic with.

Some options that fit Zimmer's defense would be:

Prince Akamura
Xavier Rhodes
Kevin Johnson (to take over for Mack in the slot)
Jimmy Smith

Some of those names might not be very popular around here, but those guys are serviceable if used correctly.

WR needs to be addressed from a depth standpoint in FA as well. Guys we might be able to afford with some upside or proven dependability:

Perriman
Fitzgerald (pipe dream)

I really don't like anyone else who we could afford. Robby Anderson and Sanders would be nice, but I think they will cost too much.

In the draft, my priorities based on impact this upcoming season:
WR
DE
CB X 2
3 Tech
OG X 2

OT

Those first 5 spots don't have a clear starter at this point. OG is a bigger need then the ones above it, but the impact a rookie could have over who we currently have on the roster isn't as significant. If that makes any sense. Finding a starting LT would be nice as it would free up a ton of cap, but it sounds like if you don't draft one in the first, you aren't getting an immediate starter. Since we have 6-7 starting spots open outside of LT, I prefer they spend a first on one of those positions and let Reiff go for one more year.

[StumpHunter]

Pretty sure he meant "money hit" there and missed a space. All the kids are saying it these days.

I'm so old. I googled it, and still don't know what it is exactly.

I was making a joke. A bad one apparently.

[VikingsVictorious]

We obviously have different metrics to measure QB play.

So does the rest of the league, apparently.

No other way to see it IMO. Cousins has given us excellent QB play for the last two years. Move on. He is not the droid you are looking for.

[fiestavike]

No way Wirfs falls that far. He is the most athletic OL in the draft, and he was dominant n college. Top 10 if not top 5 pick. Josh Jones from Houston should be available at 22.
I would take BPA, but hopefully that falls in OL CB or DL.
Based on draft position, CB Fulton could be realistic and great pick. Would like WR in 2nd rd. So much talent. This is where I start moving up and around. Leviske Shenault,Tee Higgins, Tyler Johnson, KJ Hamler, Denzel Mims, Branden Aiyuk, Michael Pittman, Chase Claypool..... Plenty of talent ! Get at least 2 of these guys.

Seems that OT gets shallow pretty quickly, as does DT. S also doesn't look too deep. WR and CB have a lot more depth. You don't want to outsmart yourself and reach, but there is a case to be made for waiting on CB and WR until round 1 is over, I think. However, there is also a good chance that the top OT and DT prospects will be gone by 22, and BPA clearly wind up being WR and CB. If so, the Vikings are less likely to find as many immediate impact players for 2020.

Best case scenario might be that a top OT and top 3Tech slide to 22 and 25, and we find a CB, WR, and G who can contribute in the 2nd and 3rd.

[VikingsVictorious]

I appreciate most of your posts, but the way you laid it on so thick about Cousins not being worth $hit unless he has perfect protection on every play sure makes you look like a hater.

Please drop the "hater" talk. It's counterproductive.

Please don't circumvent board filters so you can swear either.

Thanks.

I personally don't consider that swearing. It's one of my favorite words, but if you are sensitive to it I will acquiesce to your request. I believe I made an accurate summation of your post that to me was ridiculously negative regarding Cousins. To me that is hating. However, you probably believe your post was an accurate description of his shortcomings so you don't see your own post that was ridiculously negative IMO as being hating.

[fiestavike]

So does the rest of the league, apparently.

No other way to see it IMO. Cousins has given us excellent QB play for the last two years. Move on. He is not the droid you are looking for.

Ok. I'm happy you like Kirk. If your view is that there is only one way to see things, its probably best we don't discuss this further.

[VikingsVictorious]

After a frustrating end to our season, I took a step away from Vikings football and this board. Since FA and draft season are here/ on the horizon, I've decided to reengage. Plus, we are all in need of some distractions and entertainment these days.

With 5 of the top 105 picks, the Vikings are set up to add some fresh young talent. I suspect that they will move up to take OT Tristan Wirfs from Iowa. They have the fire power to do it. The question is will they find a trade partner and how low can they reasonably target him? I'd say around 14-15 would be likely.

At WR, we need to add a couple of guys IMO and the position is fortunately deep this year. I like guys who know how to run routes and who haven't simply excelled at the college level due to speed or physical talent. Those players are usually busts in the NFL, when they are suddenly surrounded by guys just as talented as they are and they lack the ability to use technique to win. So even though I have watched TCU's Jalen Reagor for a few years and think he's a heck of WR, I think he's very behind the curve on football intelligence and route running. He's a freakish athlete though. I'd rather add two WRs in the 2nd to 5th rounds. Hometown hero Tyler Johnson would be a great pick in the 2nd and maybe take a flyer on Peoples-Jones from Michigan, a highly rated HS player who just never found his groove in college. As a UT Longhorn alum, I also watched Duvernay a bit this year, and I think he'd be an intriguing prospect in the 6th or 7th. The guy is built like a RB and apparently isn't good at running routes, but his speed and power are undeniable.

We also need to address CB in the first few rounds, but I haven't scouted the position yet.

Most of the "experts" see Tyler Johnson as a 3rd round pick at best. I don't think we want to use our 2nd on him.

[StumpHunter]

So does the rest of the league, apparently.

No other way to see it IMO. Cousins has given us excellent QB play for the last two years. Move on. He is not the droid you are looking for.

He played excellent in 2018? That is preposterous.

[VikingsVictorious]

No other way to see it IMO. Cousins has given us excellent QB play for the last two years. Move on. He is not the droid you are looking for.

He played excellent in 2018? That is preposterous.

Not preposterous and based on statistics a verifiable fact.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Last season the Vikings finished in a 4 way tie for 5th in the NFL. Not a championship, but a quite good season.

And Cousins still collapses in a heap under even slight pressure. People are allowed to note that and not 'hate' Cousins. Many people have noted it. Its not news.

Again, false. He was under pressure plenty of times in that saints game and still delivered.

Not sure how a QB that not only:
“collapses under pressure”
“cant win a big game”
“can’t win a playoff game”
“cant beat a winning team”
“cant win in prime time”
“cant beat a good team on the road”
“can’t orchestrate a comeback”
“Cant make clutch throws”
“Cant operate with pressure in his face”

And the narratives carry on....

somehow beat the NFC favorite, New Orleans saints, on the road, in the playoffs?? But I’m sure all the cronies will somehow find a way to chalk it up as “luck”.

To be honest, I can bet money that there wasn’t a single game in cousins entire NFL career that carried more “pressure” than that New Orleans game did. It was a legit SB contender, they were heavily favored, it was on the road, a playoff environment.....and guess what, he fricken beat them. If he can win that game, I believe he can beat anyone.

[VikingsVictorious]

And Cousins still collapses in a heap under even slight pressure. People are allowed to note that and not 'hate' Cousins. Many people have noted it. Its not news.

Again, false. He was under pressure plenty of times in that saints game and still delivered.

Not sure how a QB that not only:
“collapses under pressure”
“cant win a big game”
“can’t win a playoff game”
“cant beat a winning team”
“cant win in prime time”
“cant beat a good team on the road”
“can’t orchestrate a comeback”
“Cant make clutch throws”
“Cant operate with pressure in his face”

And the narratives carry on....

somehow beat the NFC favorite, New Orleans saints, on the road, in the playoffs?? But I’m sure all the cronies will somehow find a way to chalk it up as “luck”.

To be honest, I can bet money that there wasn’t a single game in cousins entire NFL career that carried more “pressure” than that New Orleans game did. It was a legit SB contender, they were heavily favored, it was on the road, a playoff environment.....and guess what, he fricken beat them. If he can win that game, I believe he can beat anyone.

If I recall correctly most of the broadcasters had us losing by 14 points or more.

[StumpHunter]

He played excellent in 2018? That is preposterous.

Not preposterous and based on statistics a verifiable fact.

The statistics say he was top 5 in turnovers, lead an offense that was bottom ten in scoring efficiency, and crapped the bed against almost every good team he faced. That isn't excellent QB play.

Winston threw for more TDs and yards this year than Cousins did in 2018, does anyone consider his play excellent? The guy is going to be a backup somewhere this year.

[StumpHunter]

And Cousins still collapses in a heap under even slight pressure. People are allowed to note that and not 'hate' Cousins. Many people have noted it. Its not news.

Again, false. He was under pressure plenty of times in that saints game and still delivered.

Not sure how a QB that not only:
“collapses under pressure”
“cant win a big game”
“can’t win a playoff game”
“cant beat a winning team”
“cant win in prime time”
“cant beat a good team on the road”
“can’t orchestrate a comeback”
“Cant make clutch throws”
“Cant operate with pressure in his face”

And the narratives carry on....

somehow beat the NFC favorite, New Orleans saints, on the road, in the playoffs?? But I’m sure all the cronies will somehow find a way to chalk it up as “luck”.

To be honest, I can bet money that there wasn’t a single game in cousins entire NFL career that carried more “pressure” than that New Orleans game did. It was a legit SB contender, they were heavily favored, it was on the road, a playoff environment.....and guess what, he fricken beat them. If he can win that game, I believe he can beat anyone.

One drive in OT does not make a career. There are a lot more examples of him failing in that situation than succeeding and even in that game he struggled through most of the 4 quarters in regulation.

Case did basically the same thing when he played NO in the playoffs. That doesn't define his career. His career defines his career.