Moves the Vikings should make for 2020

[StumpHunter]

Going to throw a strange idea out there. I know this is never going to happen. Just for conversation purposes.

Remember the immediate impact Favre had for us? And how it seemed gross right away but worked out very well?
What if:
1) We trade Cousins to the Chargers. They get to test drive Cousins and see if they want to extend him as a long term solution. Let's just say we get a 2nd or 3rd round pick for him.
2) We sign Brady to a 1 year deal.
3) We draft multiple OL and a QB project (ala Jimmy GQ) in the first 4 rounds.
4) Sign a solid OL in FA.

I know many of you will say Cousins is finally familiar with our system, why trade him now. But with Brady, I don't think it would take long to get acclimated.

Would it be gross to win a SB with Brady? A win is a win. Thought it would be gross with Farve too, but they worked out okay. Thoughts?

I don't think Brady can win a Superbowl at this point in his career. Favre was a different beast IMHO. He was already intimately familiar with the NFC North and came in with a huge chip on his shoulder vis-a-vis the Packers, plus the team he joined was so stacked it won in spite of the head coach more than because of him.

Brady is far less physically gifted than Favre, which is magnified by his age. Brady in theory could make the team better offensively, but he also might well make it worse. While I'm not a huge Cousins fan, he can legitimately threaten deep. I'm not sure Brady can do that anymore. Plus, this Vikings team is not as talented overall as the one Favre joined in 2009 IMHO.

But even beyond those fit and feel issues, I think Cousins' has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Vikings. While he might agree to a trade, I don't think the Vikings can count on that, nor could they count on finding a trade partner willing to take on the final year of his contract. It's possible, but I don't get a good feeling on that. They might luck into a team needing to make a deal due to some unforseen circumstances, but barring that I don't see Cousins going anywhere this year and I wouldn't even be surprised if Spielman extended him in an effort to free up some cap space.

If Cousins is extended it will have nothing to do with needing to free up cap space. The Vikings can move cap from this year to the next few years pretty easily without extending Cousins.

[YikesVikes]

I don't think Brady can win a Superbowl at this point in his career. Favre was a different beast IMHO. He was already intimately familiar with the NFC North and came in with a huge chip on his shoulder vis-a-vis the Packers, plus the team he joined was so stacked it won in spite of the head coach more than because of him.

Brady is far less physically gifted than Favre, which is magnified by his age. Brady in theory could make the team better offensively, but he also might well make it worse. While I'm not a huge Cousins fan, he can legitimately threaten deep. I'm not sure Brady can do that anymore. Plus, this Vikings team is not as talented overall as the one Favre joined in 2009 IMHO.

But even beyond those fit and feel issues, I think Cousins' has a no-trade clause in his contract with the Vikings. While he might agree to a trade, I don't think the Vikings can count on that, nor could they count on finding a trade partner willing to take on the final year of his contract. It's possible, but I don't get a good feeling on that. They might luck into a team needing to make a deal due to some unforseen circumstances, but barring that I don't see Cousins going anywhere this year and I wouldn't even be surprised if Spielman extended him in an effort to free up some cap space.

If Cousins is extended it will have nothing to do with needing to free up cap space. The Vikings can move cap from this year to the next few years pretty easily without extending Cousins.

If Brady can't win a chip, neither can Cousins. Their number last year was very similar but Brady played with no ones and Cousins with a top 3 offensive personel.

[Passepartout]

Yeah as the days of Brady and Belichick are coming to an end. But Cousins just give him a chance hopefully.

[S197]

Vikings received 3 compensatory picks, a 3rd and two 7th rounders. They have 10 picks in total. No pick in the 5th round.

[StumpHunter]

Vikings received 3 compensatory picks, a 3rd and two 7th rounders. They have 10 picks in total. No pick in the 5th round.

That 3rd round pick is huge. It opens up the possibility for Rick to do the right thing and trade up to get guys he feels strongly about, and also trade back and pick up 10 7th rounders.

[VikingLord]

Vikings received 3 compensatory picks, a 3rd and two 7th rounders. They have 10 picks in total. No pick in the 5th round.

That 3rd round pick is huge. It opens up the possibility for Rick to do the right thing and trade up to get guys he feels strongly about, and also trade back and pick up 10 7th rounders.

Not sure how much additional ammo a late 3rd provides to make a substantive move in the 1st, nor am I sure who might be there assuming Rick was targeting moving up into the 10-15 range. He'd have to give up a king's ransom to get an impact player from #25. I don't see anyone in this year's draft after Tua that would be worth that kind of gamble, and I'm not even sold on him.

If anything, I'd prefer to see Rick hold at #25 or even move down a bit from there as I think the draft really flattens out after the first 15 picks or so. There could be someone that falls. I saw a mock this morning that had Kinlaw falling to the Vikings at #25. I've seen other mocks that have Espenesa falling. Sitting at #25 or moving back if possible makes sense to me, especially if the Vikings are going to target a CB with their first pick as most mocks seem to believe they'll do.

That extra 3rd rounder might come in handy if Spielman wants to make a move up in the 2nd, though. That is a more intriguing prospect, especially if he wants to target a 2nd tier QB prospect or even a CB in that round. If he went OL/DL in round one, for example, he might find a blue chip CB still on the board 10 picks into round two that he can make a move to get. Or heck, he might take one of OL/DL in round one and then move up to take a DL/OL in round 2. This is a draft that is shaping up to provide some good solid value along both lines. Personally, I'd target a secondary player in the 3rd. Not that the Vikes don't need help there, but this draft is very flat in the secondary and I think the Vikings can find value there later.

[StumpHunter]

That 3rd round pick is huge. It opens up the possibility for Rick to do the right thing and trade up to get guys he feels strongly about, and also trade back and pick up 10 7th rounders.

Not sure how much additional ammo a late 3rd provides to make a substantive move in the 1st, nor am I sure who might be there assuming Rick was targeting moving up into the 10-15 range. He'd have to give up a king's ransom to get an impact player from #25. I don't see anyone in this year's draft after Tua that would be worth that kind of gamble, and I'm not even sold on him.

If anything, I'd prefer to see Rick hold at #25 or even move down a bit from there as I think the draft really flattens out after the first 15 picks or so. There could be someone that falls. I saw a mock this morning that had Kinlaw falling to the Vikings at #25. I've seen other mocks that have Espenesa falling. Sitting at #25 or moving back if possible makes sense to me, especially if the Vikings are going to target a CB with their first pick as most mocks seem to believe they'll do.

That extra 3rd rounder might come in handy if Spielman wants to make a move up in the 2nd, though. That is a more intriguing prospect, especially if he wants to target a 2nd tier QB prospect or even a CB in that round. If he went OL/DL in round one, for example, he might find a blue chip CB still on the board 10 picks into round two that he can make a move to get. Or heck, he might take one of OL/DL in round one and then move up to take a DL/OL in round 2. This is a draft that is shaping up to provide some good solid value along both lines. Personally, I'd target a secondary player in the 3rd. Not that the Vikes don't need help there, but this draft is very flat in the secondary and I think the Vikings can find value there later.

That is funny, I was actually thinking of taking the two 3rds and moving up in the third or maybe even late in the 2nd. I like when the Vikings target guys in the draft and don't just wait for players to fall to them.

[Maelstrom88]

Rumor has it they are working on a Cousins extension hoping to get it done quickly after the CBA. I think if they extend him they really should just extend the coaching staff as well and Spielman. Cousins works best with Kubiak so if you're going to extend one you should extend the other as well. I would wait on a Cook extension though. He is a special talent but I want to see if he can stay healthy over a full 16 or 17 Game season. Hopefully free agency doesn't get pushed back because of the virus.