You can only keep one: Griffen or Harris?

[Maelstrom88]

It sounds like Zimmer is prioritizing Griffen over Harris. He said in essence defensive line is more important than safety. I'm curious what you guys think. I'd say Harris because he is a turnover machine and we are likely to lose Kearse as well. Also I think Odenigbo is ready to start.

[YikesVikes]

It sounds like Zimmer is prioritizing Griffen over Harris. He said in essence defensive line is more important than safety. I'm curious what you guys think. I'd say Harris because he is a turnover machine and we are likely to lose Kearse as well. Also I think Odenigbo is ready to start.

Shouldnt be an issue. Kyle shouldnt be on this team and his 9 million would allow us to have both.

[RandyMoss84]

It sounds like Zimmer is prioritizing Griffen over Harris. He said in essence defensive line is more important than safety. I'm curious what you guys think. I'd say Harris because he is a turnover machine and we are likely to lose Kearse as well. Also I think Odenigbo is ready to start.

Zimmer is right but I rather keep Harris since he is younger than Everson

[Maelstrom88]

It sounds like Zimmer is prioritizing Griffen over Harris. He said in essence defensive line is more important than safety. I'm curious what you guys think. I'd say Harris because he is a turnover machine and we are likely to lose Kearse as well. Also I think Odenigbo is ready to start.

Shouldnt be an issue. Kyle shouldnt be on this team and his 9 million would allow us to have both.

True his production didn't match his salary last year. However, he did catch the game winning touchdown against the Saints and I'm sure what he does in the locker room and off the field counts for some of that salary. Maybe he will be utilized more with Kubiak calling the shots this year.

[YikesVikes]

Shouldnt be an issue. Kyle shouldnt be on this team and his 9 million would allow us to have both.

True his production didn't match his salary last year. However, he did catch the game winning touchdown against the Saints and I'm sure what he does in the locker room and off the field counts for some of that salary. Maybe he will be utilized more with Kubiak calling the shots this year.

Perhaps, we wouldn't have needed a game-winning TD if we had someone else running routes. Or even if everything else was the same, we run the ball on the 2-yard line and still score.

[YikesVikes]

On side note, Harris is 29. I dont want to sign him to a 6 year deal and have to cut him 2 years in. Let him walk.

[PacificNorseWest]

I might be in the minority here, but I say Griff. It is crucial to have a pass rush and it's also much harder to find elite pass rushers in the draft that will contribute day 1. This team does not have time for development in that regard. Zimmer made Sendejo a good player, he can do it again with someone else.

For the record, I want them to bring Harris back, but I'm beginning to think they can't afford him.

Need to keep the Dline strong for sure though.

[StumpHunter]

I might be in the minority here, but I say Griff. It is crucial to have a pass rush and it's also much harder to find elite pass rushers in the draft that will contribute day 1. This team does not have time for development in that regard. Zimmer made Sendejo a good player, he can do it again with someone else.

For the record, I want them to bring Harris back, but I'm beginning to think they can't afford him.

Need to keep the Dline strong for sure though.

A great Dline can hide flaws in your secondary, so this makes a lot of sense.

Ideally we would keep both. Harris is a play maker and was great in coverage and there is NOTHING behind him. If he walks we are taking a safety at 25 almost guaranteed. I would rather we could use that 25th pick on a DT, DE, OT or OG, places we need to improve on over last year or get younger at, but it is what it is.

Using draft picks to replace guys who were very good for you last year is not a way to get better over the previous season.

[VikingLord]

Harris has had what, one good season? In a contract year? How often have we seen guys who crank it up to get paid and then regress?

Griffen, OTOH, has had a great career and been a mostly consistent performer when he has been on the field.

With that said, I say let both walk.

Why do I say that?

Let's start with Harris. No team pays 2 safeties top dollar, and the Vikings already have one getting top dollar who has proven his ability over his career in Harrison Smith. Plus, safety isn't nearly as critical a position as defensive end IMHO. Safeties can be targeted, sure, but if there is a defensive position that can be covered up or compensated for, especially when you already have one top-flight safety, it's the other safety position. Lastly, this is a good draft for safety. Antoine Winfield Jr. is coming out this year. I've seen mocks that have him going in the first round, but he's every bit as effective on the field as his father was, and he'll likely slide down the draft board for much the same reason his father was discounted - i.e. because of his size. He's uber-talented and I would love to see the Vikings get him, even if they had to trade up in the second round.

As for Griffen, for me two things allow the Vikings to move on from him. First is his age. He's getting up there in mileage and while he is still performing at a high level relatively speaking, he's likely on fumes at this point. He's likely to start declining sooner rather than later, and tying up a lot of money in a guy his age at his position is a risky proposition. Second is the Vikings depth at the position. The Vikings are relatively deep at DE. They have some younger players who stepped up towards the end of last year and who look promising. Losing Griffen if they have no effective replacements is one thing. Losing him if they do is more acceptable, and in my view they do.

I guess one other factor for me in the Griffen discussion is the possibility of the draft offering immediate help at that position, and in this draft I see that possibility. Most mocks I've seen have Yetur Gross-Matos of Penn State falling to #25. I've watched this guy's highlights and while I understand why he might be available at #25, I see a potentially special player who, with the right coaching, could develop into an impact every-down DE. You get a guy like Gross-Matos from this upcoming draft in the 1st and a guy like Winfield in the second and you've improved your cap situation and the overall defense at the same time. Both of those guys are immediate starters.

And one other factor looms for me too. The defense wasn't all that great overall last year. Yeah, Harris had a good year and Griffen played well for the most part, but the overall result wasn't great, especially against certain teams. I'd say if Spielman and Zimmer are trying to hold together a consistent defense that finished in the top 5 last year, maybe make sacrifices to do that, but last year's Vikings defense wasn't special even if particular players on it played well at times.

[StumpHunter]

Harris has had what, one good season? In a contract year? How often have we seen guys who crank it up to get paid and then regress?

Griffen, OTOH, has had a great career and been a mostly consistent performer when he has been on the field.

With that said, I say let both walk.

Why do I say that?

Let's start with Harris. No team pays 2 safeties top dollar, and the Vikings already have one getting top dollar who has proven his ability over his career in Harrison Smith. Plus, safety isn't nearly as critical a position as defensive end IMHO. Safeties can be targeted, sure, but if there is a defensive position that can be covered up or compensated for, especially when you already have one top-flight safety, it's the other safety position. Lastly, this is a good draft for safety. Antoine Winfield Jr. is coming out this year. I've seen mocks that have him going in the first round, but he's every bit as effective on the field as his father was, and he'll likely slide down the draft board for much the same reason his father was discounted - i.e. because of his size. He's uber-talented and I would love to see the Vikings get him, even if they had to trade up in the second round.

As for Griffen, for me two things allow the Vikings to move on from him. First is his age. He's getting up there in mileage and while he is still performing at a high level relatively speaking, he's likely on fumes at this point. He's likely to start declining sooner rather than later, and tying up a lot of money in a guy his age at his position is a risky proposition. Second is the Vikings depth at the position. The Vikings are relatively deep at DE. They have some younger players who stepped up towards the end of last year and who look promising. Losing Griffen if they have no effective replacements is one thing. Losing him if they do is more acceptable, and in my view they do.

I guess one other factor for me in the Griffen discussion is the possibility of the draft offering immediate help at that position, and in this draft I see that possibility. Most mocks I've seen have Yetur Gross-Matos of Penn State falling to #25. I've watched this guy's highlights and while I understand why he might be available at #25, I see a potentially special player who, with the right coaching, could develop into an impact every-down DE. You get a guy like Gross-Matos from this upcoming draft in the 1st and a guy like Winfield in the second and you've improved your cap situation and the overall defense at the same time. Both of those guys are immediate starters.

And one other factor looms for me too. The defense wasn't all that great overall last year. Yeah, Harris had a good year and Griffen played well for the most part, but the overall result wasn't great, especially against certain teams. I'd say if Spielman and Zimmer are trying to hold together a consistent defense that finished in the top 5 last year, maybe make sacrifices to do that, but last year's Vikings defense wasn't special even if particular players on it played well at times.

He was very good in 2018 too and I remember him being solid whenever he filled in for Dejo or Smith in prior years. He has 31 starts in total and I don't remember a bad one.


I like your idea of drafting a DE at 25, and getting younger there. Griffen is very good but he is not in that elite conversation. There is room for improvement and you are only going to improve through the draft.

[fiestavike]

Neither. Let both walk. We don't have the cap for either one.