Quote: @"Geoff Nichols" said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@"BarrNone55" said:
I think Berger would be the G getting replaced...a five star S next to Smith would be awesome...I'm not sold on any 3t not named Wilkins...
Well, yeah, but my assumption is that Isadora goes into Berger's position and then Easton becomes the weak link. But the beauty is that he's not even that much of a WEAK link. Seriously, it's hard to find holes in this depth chart. Even at 3T you have Jaleel Johnson. Even at safety, you have Dejo under contract for two more years. Where do you go? It's a beautiful problem to have. You really have to start looking at contracts and terms...
Stick with what made this roster deep, taking BPA and figuring out the rest later.
That is no time to go through every FA and which holes will need to be filled, but they will pop up throughout the off-season. The interior O-line will need to be addressed in some capacity since both Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen will be free agents. Depending on what is done with them will dictate that need.
Otherwise CB may be the largest need on defense with OG/OT, TE, and possibly QB following closely on the offensive side of the ball.
I have to agree that Spielman does MUCH better when he goes BPA than for need. And its not even close. It has served the franchise well. I think the heartburn picks that have failed are high round need picks mostly over the years.
Quote: @Tyr said:
@"Geoff Nichols" said:
@ MaroonBells said:
@"BarrNone55" said:
I think Berger would be the G getting replaced...a five star S next to Smith would be awesome...I'm not sold on any 3t not named Wilkins...
Well, yeah, but my assumption is that Isadora goes into Berger's position and then Easton becomes the weak link. But the beauty is that he's not even that much of a WEAK link. Seriously, it's hard to find holes in this depth chart. Even at 3T you have Jaleel Johnson. Even at safety, you have Dejo under contract for two more years. Where do you go? It's a beautiful problem to have. You really have to start looking at contracts and terms...
Stick with what made this roster deep, taking BPA and figuring out the rest later.
That is no time to go through every FA and which holes will need to be filled, but they will pop up throughout the off-season. The interior O-line will need to be addressed in some capacity since both Tom Johnson and Shamar Stephen will be free agents. Depending on what is done with them will dictate that need.
Otherwise CB may be the largest need on defense with OG/OT, TE, and possibly QB following closely on the offensive side of the ball.
I agree that CB will be a need. Secondary depth, especially at corner is critical for our defense and while Newman has stepped up again, you would think that he's got to be nearing retirement and Brock has been a disappoint so far. Then you have Waynes and Alexander, who have been making some progress, but have been slow to develop. We could certainly do worse than them, but I think the door is still open to upgrade at those spots.
There are times where I wonder if it even makes sense to extend Waynes or if we are better off just trying to develop another corner? He's been good against the run and has times where he can cover well downfield, but I don't think that his hips will ever get more fluid, he still doesn't get his head back to locate the ball, he tends to be handsy, but weirdly not strong on the press. I am sure part of that is comparing him to Rhodes and part of it was not wanting to draft him, especially over Peters. Though I will admit that as much of a playmaker as Peters is, he probably isn't the style of corner that Zimmer would want.
Waynes will end up being an interesting decision. Everyone will get a feel for it in May when they ultimately decide to pick up or decline his 5th year option. That'll be valued in the range of $8.6M or so. That'd leave him under team control through 2019. Mac's deal is up after 2019 as well and you have to question if they'd pay 3 CB's. The answer is probably no unless they trade one of Barr/Hunter for cost control, which I doubt would happen. So finding a DB has to be a consideration.
The next 1-2 years is going to be VERY interesting. Next year we have Barr making 12+ million on his 5th year deal. We also have McKinnon, the QB decisions, Harris, Stephen, Sirles, Easton, Johnson, Forbath and Floyd as the main players the need to be dealt with. But it's the 2019 year when all hell breaks loose even if we extend Barr this next summer. Barr (unless re-signed early), Kendricks, Waynes, Hunter and Diggs ALL will be looking to get paid. They're going to be popping ant-acids like Pez in the near future.
I haven't been Waynes' biggest fan, but he has held up pretty well. I am starting to think I was wrong when I said he probably would not develop much beyond where he was after 3 or 4 games this year. He has been tighter in coverage lately. He does not get his head around much, but I do have hope for him. And I think they pick up his 5th year.
That said, I am not real high on Mac, at least not in the slot. He looks like he will either play outside or not at all.
Easton is another one who has looked better recently. I guess that is not a big surprise. This is his first year starting; he should be getting better.
I thought Sirles was only an RFA after this season. If so, he will be back. Ant Harris played well vs. LAR. It's just one game, but it's something. I like Jet - close call on him. I doubt he will cost much to keep. Stephen is not bad but should not be too hard to replace. Neither Floyd has done anything. Can't see paying either one. Forbath? What are our options?
I agree on Guice...but Calvin Ridley is a stud. I don't see him still being on the board when the Vikings pick in the 1st round.
I will echo the sentiments on many here with needs:
- RG: Berger is retiring and has played excellent this season. I'm not sold on Isidora simply being a plug and play guy and think we could use an upgrade there. Maybe a guy who can also play some swing tackle. I think it's also possible we could take a pure tackle and kick Remmers inside to RG next season. As we know, you can not leave the offensive line short on talent and quality depth.
- CB: Newman is another guy who is retiring and Brock is a free agent behind him. I would expect the Vikings to pick up the option on Wayne, but depth and future development is crucial. We also know this is Zim's favorite position group.
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
I agree on Guice...but Calvin Ridley is a stud. I don't see him still being on the board when the Vikings pick in the 1st round.
I will echo the sentiments on many here with needs:
- RG: Berger is retiring and has played excellent this season. I'm not sold on Isidora simply being a plug and play guy and think we could use an upgrade there. Maybe a guy who can also play some swing tackle. I think it's also possible we could take a pure tackle and kick Remmers inside to RG next season. As we know, you can not leave the offensive line short on talent and quality depth.
- CB: Newman is another guy who is retiring and Brock is a free agent behind him. I would expect the Vikings to pick up the option on Wayne, but depth and future development is crucial. We also know this is Zim's favorite position group.
Yeah, it's nice to at least have options on the roster, but even if Isadora is capable of being a starter, we still need quality depth behind him. I also think that Easton is OK, but if they have a chance at an athletic guard who can get out and actually block on screens, then that would be huge.
At this point, I'd pick up Waynes 5th year option, since we'd need time to develop a replacement and having depth at corner is critical. However, extending him past that 5th year is where my uncertainty really kicks in. He's a frustrating player, often covering tight down field and getting beat because he can't make a play on the ball. That will happen some to any corner, but I'm just not optimistic that he'll be able to make that next step and learn to turn his head back and use his length to break up plays.
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