Vikings trade for DT Ross Blacklock

[Pondering Her Percy]

Surprisingly the Vikings just cut Armon Watts but traded for DT Ross Blacklock. Blacklock is not good against the run but a solid interior pass rusher. Honestly seems like the same player as Watts but more so a salary move. Watts got an escalator on his contract due to his play last year so getting Blacklock instead actually saves us money.

[StumpHunter]

What the heck? Watts appears to be the better player in every facet of the game.

I am wondering if the coaching staff looked at Watts tape and saw a lot of schemed pressures last year instead of him actually winning on his blocks?

Just weird to trade for a guy who has looked so bad for 2 seasons.

[StumpHunter]

He was the lowest graded player on Houston's defense this preseason. I guess we know why they were willing to move on...

[JJBreaksRecords]

Blacklock is really really bad. They saved some money but lost the better DL. Odd choice for KAM.

[Texas Vike]

Blacklock had an amazing career at TCU. He was on Houston, an absolutely horrendous team, so I wouldn't read too much into his stats there. A change of scenery will do him good. I like this trade.

[IIsweet]

I am with you Texas Vike. A change of scenery can do wonders for a player.
From the Viking fans surface, it is odd.... but obviously the Vikings Coaches and Scouts see it differently. Hoping that they are right once again.

[IIsweet]

I am with you Texas Vike. A change of scenery can do wonders for a player.
From the Viking fans surface, it is odd.... but obviously the Vikings Coaches and Scouts see it differently. Hoping that they are right once again.
Also, there's a reason why he went #40 overall in his draft !!!

[VikingsFan84]

I can not complain much about this trade since it is a low risk, high reward trade

[JJBreaksRecords]

I am with you Texas Vike. A change of scenery can do wonders for a player.
From the Viking fans surface, it is odd.... but obviously the Vikings Coaches and Scouts see it differently. Hoping that they are right once again.
Also, there's a reason why he went #40 overall in his draft !!!

Mond was a 3rd rd pick, and now he's been cut. Bradburry is a 1st rd pick and has stunk his whole time here. Doesnt matter where you are drafted. It matters how you can handle the NFL.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Blacklock had an amazing career at TCU. He was on Houston, an absolutely horrendous team, so I wouldn't read too much into his stats there. A change of scenery will do him good. I like this trade.

Yeah I’m not too sure when it comes to looking at his Houston tape. That team was pretty bad. I liked watts for sure. But maybe they think Blacklock fits this defense better than Watts did.

[StumpHunter]

Blacklock had an amazing career at TCU. He was on Houston, an absolutely horrendous team, so I wouldn't read too much into his stats there. A change of scenery will do him good. I like this trade.

Is the fact the Texans were so bad and were still willing to part ways with Blacklock a negative? This isn't a stacked team letting go of a guy they just don't have room for, this is a terrible team that felt Blacklock was the worst of a bad bunch.

[VikingLord]

Blacklock had an amazing career at TCU. He was on Houston, an absolutely horrendous team, so I wouldn't read too much into his stats there. A change of scenery will do him good. I like this trade.

Is the fact the Texans were so bad and were still willing to part ways with Blacklock a negative? This isn't a stacked team letting go of a guy they just don't have room for, this is a terrible team that felt Blacklock was the worst of a bad bunch.

Could the defensive scheme change explain the move to release Watts and acquire Blacklock? I'm honestly asking your opinion on that question because it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for a move like that. Maybe KAM is just playing a little Moneyball and traded for a guy who fits the role the Vikings have in mind better than Watts even if on the whole Watts is a better player.

KAM strikes me as very calculating in terms of the moves he's making. That might not be a bad thing if the end result is a better overall team.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Is the fact the Texans were so bad and were still willing to part ways with Blacklock a negative? This isn't a stacked team letting go of a guy they just don't have room for, this is a terrible team that felt Blacklock was the worst of a bad bunch.

Could the defensive scheme change explain the move to release Watts and acquire Blacklock? I'm honestly asking your opinion on that question because it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for a move like that. Maybe KAM is just playing a little Moneyball and traded for a guy who fits the role the Vikings have in mind better than Watts even if on the whole Watts is a better player.

KAM strikes me as very calculating in terms of the moves he's making. That might not be a bad thing if the end result is a better overall team.

I think the scheme change definitely plays a factor. And yeah the moneyball thing could be real here as well. I honestly dont think we got any better or any worse because of this move. But saved 1.2 mill. So again, I'm fine with it.

[VikingsVictorious]

Is the fact the Texans were so bad and were still willing to part ways with Blacklock a negative? This isn't a stacked team letting go of a guy they just don't have room for, this is a terrible team that felt Blacklock was the worst of a bad bunch.

Could the defensive scheme change explain the move to release Watts and acquire Blacklock? I'm honestly asking your opinion on that question because it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for a move like that. Maybe KAM is just playing a little Moneyball and traded for a guy who fits the role the Vikings have in mind better than Watts even if on the whole Watts is a better player.

KAM strikes me as very calculating in terms of the moves he's making. That might not be a bad thing if the end result is a better overall team.

I don't like the Blacklock move at all. I consider it with the dropping of Watts to be Kwesi's first significant blunder. That said Blacklock just 2 years ago was considered a great talent. It's possible that he can bounce back in the right environment. There's more to it than just looking at the stats. Same with Reagor. Time will tell.

[VikingsVictorious]

Could the defensive scheme change explain the move to release Watts and acquire Blacklock? I'm honestly asking your opinion on that question because it seems like it could be a reasonable explanation for a move like that. Maybe KAM is just playing a little Moneyball and traded for a guy who fits the role the Vikings have in mind better than Watts even if on the whole Watts is a better player.

KAM strikes me as very calculating in terms of the moves he's making. That might not be a bad thing if the end result is a better overall team.

I think the scheme change definitely plays a factor. And yeah the moneyball thing could be real here as well. I honestly dont think we got any better or any worse because of this move. But saved 1.2 mill. So again, I'm fine with it.

I'm confused with how this saved us money. Blacklock being a 2nd round pick I would think would have a bigger contract than Watts.