khans2k5 wrote:I would rather pay Cook big money than Diggs. Cook with a mediocre line this year was one of the best players in the entire league. I think we should pivot to a Titans model and ditch Cousins and use that money to invest in a real identity of Cook/Mattison behind a strong O Line. Bring in a serviceable QB in the mid-salary range or even draft one to get that rookie deal and let the skill guys be the offense. There's no point paying a QB who can't elevate his teammates like Kirk. You can get that for much cheaper who can do similar or close with the weapons we have as we saw with Case. I think RB has now been undervalued in the league so if you can get Cook for 10-12 on average that would be what I would push for.
I did remember seeing Cousins was number one in the NFL on passes completed to highly covered targets. He was 50% or so. So while he isn't very mobile at all, is somewhat slow in getting the ball out and reading defenses he is highly accurate and had a very good season.
I'm definitely on board with upgrading the backup spot, someone with upside potential, someone who could take over if need be in two years or if Cousins gets hurt. I think Cousins deal runs through next season anyways. It doesn't make sense to just cut him and sign someone worse.
I'd be on board with this plan but you gotta guy a guy for cheap. That's not always easy to do. I'm a Keenum fan and Cousins fan but at this point I would say Cousins was probably worth the extra money. You can blow money on olineman that aren't worth much more than guys that are much cheaper.
Cousins isn't exactly an extend the play type and he isn't a super quick decision making pocket dude either. He does a lot of things pretty well but isn't wildly elite but I think he is pretty good. I dot think he is all about the money and I wonder if he would take a nice contract but not a huge one if he felt like the team he was on could compete and they actually valued him. His time in Washington there was always someone In the organization basically Disrespecting him. He made his point getting a nice fully guaranteed contract. What Cousins has left to prove in the league is winning. If he is the team guy he claims to be he might take something in the mid to even high 20 million range instead of looking for a raise. It won't be long till some top backups are making 10 million or more. I'm certainly not suggesting Cousins is the guy for the next 3-5 years but...we could likely do worse. People ride Cousins hard in part because he is being paid well. If he was making like 17 million he would be more easy to live with his flaws.
The Vikings oline is based more on athletic ability than pushing guys around. That will be mostly fine if you get guys that are actually good... Hopefully Bradbury comes around. If he doesn't that's gonna really hurt.
Wold you rather pay an elite guy or some guys that likely are just above average? When considering not paying Cook and instead paying the oline that's something to consider. I honestly go back and forth about that. Cook is a pretty special a HOF RB talent. Often legit high level oline guys (or sometimes just above averages ones) get Cook (high level RB money) money for just one player. Mattison and Boone are nice players and are cheap for a couple more years. Remember when people were not happy about that Mattison pick? :)
The Vikings need to hit on a later pick in the draft or u drafted guy or a young guy they bring In that Another organization let go. Imagine how bad things would have been if they hadn't gotten Joe Berger to fill in for those years he was here? A bad oline would have been an even bigger disaster. It's time the Vikings find another Sullivan, Berger or even Fusco. It's actually happened before we can do it again!...maybe. lol
Yeah we need Bradbury to be a stud. Not sure he will become one or get much stronger. He is already 24 years old where Elfein is 25 and just finished his 3rd year in the league. Just not sure he will ever be able to be strong enough. I had such hope for him, but I think the Vikings really wanted Chris Lindstrom.
Dru Samia is only 22 yo. I have hope he becomes starting RG for us. Oli Udoh has the potential to play and is a strong guy. Hopefully, we develop them both and they contribute next year. Zimmer talks about big boy football. You need maulers on the OL to play that way on the grass.
Aviante Collins is 26-year-olds and I think this was his last chance. It is to bad he has all of the tools.
Now looking back at the draft.
Only 1 of the all-rookie team OL was picked in the 1st. Most of the guys got hurt, but we passed on everyone of these guys. Erik McCoy would have been perfect here and is only 22 years old.
C - Erik McCoy, New Orleans Saints
G - Elgton Jenkins, Green Bay Packers; Dalton Risner, Denver Broncos
T - Tytus Howard, Houston Texans; Jawaan Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars
As for Mattison. I didn't like the pick then and like it better now, but we could have had Chauncey Gardner-Johnson who started 7 games for the Saints and made the all-rookie team. . He is the type of guy we need to get the defense younger and help our cap situation.
This WR class has a ton of talent. It depends on what picks come back, but I think you can get an impact receiver in this draft and save some money trading away Diggs.
This WR class has a ton of talent. It depends on what picks come back, but I think you can get an impact receiver in this draft and save some money trading away Diggs.
Interesting. Last year's WR class was SUPER deep but what I remember that there wasn't exactly guys at the top that were exciting even if there were good players as rookies this year. What's the talent like this year? I haven't looked. Just curious how it compares.
This WR class has a ton of talent. It depends on what picks come back, but I think you can get an impact receiver in this draft and save some money trading away Diggs.
Interesting. Last year's WR class was SUPER deep but what I remember that there wasn't exactly guys at the top that were exciting even if there were good players as rookies this year. What's the talent like this year? I haven't looked. Just curious how it compares.
There's 7 guys so far projected to go in the top 2 rounds with another 2 that could sneak into those rounds but have a bottom grade of round 3. Alabama could potentially have 3 first rounders each with their own unique receiving style. There's several big guys in the 6'3-6'4 range that we could get if we want a bigger receiver next to Thielen. Hell even a guy from our own backyard in Tyler Johnson could be a good option at the next level in rounds 2-3. I don't know much about the smaller school guys but 6 guys coming from Alabama, Clemson, LSU, Oklahoma and Clemson have all played big in big games. I think there is plenty of talent. Maybe not a bunch of superstars, but plenty of guys who I think will see snaps.
I would be open to trading both Diggs and Cook to gather picks. I would want a 1st and 3/4th for Diggs and 1st or 2nd & 3rd for Cook. The more I think about it I would go full out tank mode for Trevor Lawrence. Draft OL and WR's with picks from trades of Cook and Diggs. Build for 2022.
bleedspeed177 wrote:I would be open to trading both Diggs and Cook to gather picks. I would want a 1st and 3/4th for Diggs and 1st or 2nd & 3rd for Cook. The more I think about it I would go full out tank mode for Trevor Lawrence. Draft OL and WR's with picks from trades of Cook and Diggs. Build for 2022.
I'm not that high on Lawrence. He played subpar this last season and not very well in the playoffs. They beat Ohio St barely but it was him running that did the most damage. Then in the Championship game he was pretty much awful with a bunch of overthrows. He underperformed against an easy schedule during the year as well despite having elite WR's and a running game. Nearly lost to North Carolina.
I will need to see a much improved version this upcoming season to see him go number 1. Which should happen, but we'll see.
