Cap Expert Talks Vikings, Darnold, Other Free Agents

[MaroonBells]

Very long, but very interesting conversation with cap expert. 

https://kstp.com/minnesota-sports/watch-...offseason/

[StickierBuns]

This was enough for me: 'Why OL Ed Ingram is a strong candidate to be released'.

[MaroonBells]

This was enough for me: 'Why OL Ed Ingram is a strong candidate to be released'.

Yes, apparently because he started so many games his first three seasons, he's earned several incentives that make his salary too high for a backup, which is a shame because we could use the depth. He also said based on cap realities Trey Smith "will not" be resigned by the Chiefs, that Harry "will" retire, and that Murphy's contract could rival that of AJ Terrell's (wow, I hope not).

[purplefaithful]

Yes, apparently because he started so many games his first three seasons, he's earned several incentives that make his salary too high for a backup, which is a shame because we could use the depth. He also said based on cap realities Trey Smith "will not" be resigned by the Chiefs, that Harry "will" retire, and that Murphy's contract could rival that of AJ Terrell's (wow, I hope not).

Murphy is not a great CB...Had a good year though. 

They may have to choose between him and Bynum vs both.

[MaroonBells]

Murphy is not a great CB...Had a good year though. 

They may have to choose between him and Bynum vs both.

That was kinda my thought as well. I don't think of Murphy as a shut-down corner. But his agent has a very good argument. No corner had more interceptions than Murphy. He was elected to the Pro Bowl where he won the defensive MVP award. And his PFF coverage grade in 2024 was actually higher than Terrell's. 

I've been thinking since mid-season that he could be a very tough signing for the Vikings due to all of the above arguing top of market, while everything else suggests he's merely above average. You have to wonder how good he'd be outside of a Flores defense.

[purplefaithful]

He's right...To have this # of FA's/RFA's in one year and on a 14/3 team is pretty crazy

$60mm in cap space is nice, I say no way they allocate 40 of that 60 to Sam. Not w/out a trade in place.

[Montana Tom]

The more I read all the various prognostications over and over, I truly believe that the smartest thing for the Vikings to do is to survey the landscape and do some phone intel.

If there is a long-term market for Sam, say 3-4 years (and I believe that market exists given the teams who are in QB hell right now...in one NFL draft order listing top four position needs, 8 of 13 first picks list QB as a need), that the Vikings will indeed sign him to a one-year Franchise Tag.
They will indeed trade him for picks. Maybe a first rounder plus. And whoever trades with us is going to be a team who had a poor record, most likely giving us a top 10 pick in addition to our #24 pick.

[Knucklehead]

The more I read all the various prognostications over and over, I truly believe that the smartest thing for the Vikings to do is to survey the landscape and do some phone intel.

If there is a long-term market for Sam, say 3-4 years (and I believe that market exists given the teams who are in QB hell right now...in one NFL draft order listing top four position needs, 8 of 13 first picks list QB as a need), that the Vikings will indeed sign him to a one-year Franchise Tag.
They will indeed trade him for picks.  Maybe a first rounder plus.  And whoever trades with us is going to be a team who had a poor record, most likely giving us a top 10 pick in addition to our #24 pick.

I don't see any team giving up their first round pick in a trade for Darnold. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, based on the Alex Smith trade from KC to Washington in 2018, KC received a 3rd round pick & CB, Kendall Fuller. Smith had a more consistent career than Darnold has had.

Second, any team trading for Darnold will need to sign him to a new contract. I may be incorrect on this point but I believe that if we slap the franchise tag on Darnold & he signs it, the floor of his new contract will be at least $41M. I've read this elsewhere as a reason that Darnold's camp would welcome the franchise tag. It would increase the starting point for a new contract.

[purplefaithful]

I don't see any team giving up their first round pick in a trade for Darnold. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, based on the Alex Smith trade from KC to Washington in 2018, KC received a 3rd round pick & CB, Kendall Fuller. Smith had a more consistent career than Darnold has had.

Second, any team trading for Darnold will need to sign him to a new contract. I may be incorrect on this point but I believe that if we slap the franchise tag on Darnold & he signs it, the floor of his new contract will be at least $41M. I've read this elsewhere as a reason that Darnold's camp would welcome the franchise tag. It would increase the starting point for a new contract.

Unless the mkt develops in a way we can't fathom in Feb, I agree (at the bold). 

I would be delighted with a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. 

I keep telling myself all it takes is 2 interested teams though