Minnesota Vikings offseason preview

I don't know what the fuck is gonna happen. The Kwesi'n'Kevin era is an unknown. We have some idea perhaps of what some of the differences will be, but fact is we can't say for certain who will stay, who will go, who will come.

But I'm still gonna do that position by position thing. Cause the people demand it. 

QB:

You may have heard something about how Kirk Cousins has a $45 million cap hit for 2022. It is basically the only thing the dipshits at Skor North have talked about for months. They would have you believe there is no chance the Vikings will keep Kirk. Yet almost everything the team and players have said points to Kirk returning. Fact is that unless some team swoops in and offers a deal that is frankly too good to pass up (i.e. multiple very high picks and then some), Kirk Cousins WILL be the week 1 2022 starter under an extension that will find some middle ground between a major pay raise and a major pay cut.

Behind him, no reason to think Kellen Mond won't be in line to be the official backup this time, and with an offensive minded coaching staff he may actually have a real shot to develop. 

Sean Mannion can take his 1 career TD pass and piss off.

RB:

Could be some mystery here. I think the odds of any move being made with Dalvin Cook are small, if anything just because there is a lot of money left on his deal, and I doubt he could be dealt for a haul. KOC could utilize Dalvin a lot more in unorthodox ways, so keeping him around certainly makes sense. When healthy he is still an elite weapon, and I doubt KOC will use him as a workhorse back, which should help his durability. 

Alexander Mattison is heading into the last year of his rookie contract. I don't see him as a long term guy, so he could be a possible cut or trade candidate with little penalty. 

Kene Nwangwu would seem destined for a major breakout in 2022. A guy with that speed and versatility would seem like a lock for a bigger role.

CJ Ham remains as a fullback with his own versatility.

WR:

Justin Jefferson came 17 yards short of Randy Moss's team record even with all the bullshit going on. What do you think he will do now with a creative offensive mind scheming to get him the ball?

Adam Thielen stands out as a prime trade or restructure candidate. He is into his 30s now, has had injury issues, and while still a good player, particularly in the redzone, he is not worth the money with younger and cheaper guys demanding more catches.

One of those guys is the 2021 breakout KJ Osborn, who will again play a big role. And we saw enough of Ihmir Smith-Marsette late in the season to justify an expanded role for him. Bisi Johnson, back off injury, would have a shot as a still cheap depth guy.

Dede Westbrook and Chad Beebe, best of luck in your future endeavors.

TE:

Okay, THIS will be the Irv Smith breakout season. I gotta be right one of these years. If injuries don't screw it up again Irv should be a major weapon.

Tyler Conklin may have played well enough to price himself off the Vikings. You're not paying Smith starter money yet but you will be, and you can't pay that much for two tight ends. 

I would hope they keep Chris Herndon just so that draft pick they dealt for him wasn't a waste, and he would seem to be a good pick for TE2. Got a couple young guys behind him too.

OL:

Every year this unit is a focus, and it will be again. Although I think this time there are multiple quality pieces to build around. 

Brian O'Neill is locked in at RT. Christian Darrisaw had some rookie bumps, but there's no reason to think he can't stick at LT. Ezra Cleveland seems pretty well looked in at guard. Now, a new offensive approach, not seemingly designed to make the OL fail, will undoubtedly help all 5 positions. 

Still, we again need another guard. Oli Udoh was a miserable failure and is an obvious cut. Wyatt Davis never got a shot in 2021 but you can bet he will get one in 2022. 

Guard will also surely be a position the team will look at in free agency. 

And then there is center. Garrett Bradbury is a bust. He absolutely will not have his 5th year option picked up. Beyond that, his dead cap hit makes a flat out release seem unlikely. I'm sure they would trade him if they could, but what are you going to get for him? They could just ride out the year with him and hope a new system helps him, but for this offense to soar like it could it probably needs a new man in the middle. 

Rashod Hill has stuck here for years as a versatile backup, and I suppose if the price is right he could stick again. Mason Cole is probably also only back if the price is right.

DL:

This whole unit will be in overhaul mode, both in the switch to a primary 3-4, but also because the whole group could be gone.

Danielle Hunter ranks 2nd behind Kirk as the offseason's biggest priority. His huge roster bonus looms. He missed most of 2021, after missing all of 2020. What we saw of him last year showed he is still elite, but is he becoming JJ Watt, an elite player who doesn't see the field enough to justify the cost?

Hunter knows he is probably only getting one more big contract, as he nears 30. His price surely would be less now than if they settled on a long term deal a year ago, but I don't know. I think he is gone. I just don't think you can devote that kind of money to such a big question mark. And I know that if he leaves and stays healthy he will be a beast for whatever team he goes to, and Vikings fans will never let Kwesi forget it. But I would take that chance.

No idea what will happen with Everson Griffen. I'm sure he would like to be back. I want him to be back. I'm sure this is the only place he even would play. But, harsh as it is, can you count on him as a major piece anymore after what happened? My guess is that, since Minnesota is probably the only team he would play for anyway, the team will wait until after the draft to decide whether or not he is back here.

On the interior, there will also likely be change. Dalvin Tomlinson more than likely will stay, possibly with a restructuring. But I see almost no way that Michael Pierce's snakebit Vikings tenure continues, barring a major pay cut. 

There will be chances then for the assortment of young guys on the line to step up, like Wonnum and Watts and Lynch and maybe Patrick Jones sees the field. Plus I would guess that any big free agent moves might lean in this direction. Sheldon Richardson could also return as a valuable guy who can play both inside and out. 

LB:

Eric Kendricks is being talked about as a possible cap cut. I just don't see it, particularly with the Donatell defense putting more of a focus on that position. I would extend him. 

Anthony Barr was specifically mentioned by KOC in his intro presser, but I think that the only way Barr is back is if the outside offers just are not there. Injuries have become a yearly issue with him too, although he is less a financial risk than Hunter.

This group remains thin beyond them, so I would expect it to be a free agency and draft focus. Really the whole defense will be. 

DB:

Hope we bring back Patrick Peterson. Perfect veteran leader.

I don't see Harrison Smith being released. Could be another restructure. 

Beyond that, we have the young guys like Dantzler and Bynum and Hand. I'm sure this will, yes, be a draft focus. Yes, cue the jokes. We might take a 1st round corner again.

Mackensie Alexander is gone. Xavier Woods is iffy to return, and frankly I'd rather roll with Bynum opposite the Hitman.

ST:

Greg Joseph and Jordan Berry are both free agents. We have a new special teams coach. I have no idea if they want either of these guys back, but you might as well.