Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@ MaroonBells said:
KJO one week, Hockenson the next, with a steady diet of JJ throughout. Cousins is taking what the defense gives I guess. I felt pretty confident that the TE would have a big role in this offense. Just thought his name would be Irv and not TJ. Be interesting to see if Irv can make it back before the playoffs, and what role he'll have.
Yup, well said.
Players and coaches wont say so publicly out of respect, but they're not going to keep ISJ with Hock. Anything we see this season with them together will be the last.
I had real high hopes for ISJ too. TJH ceiling is just that much higher.
Having them both in the long-run would be a hoot and tough for D's, but there just aint enough catches to keep everyone happy, including KJO and whoever else in that WR room in coming seasons.
Oh no doubt. Irv won't be on the team next year for the same reason Conklin wasn't this year. It's a contract year and the Vikings have put their chips in on another TE.
I do think, though, Irv is going to go on and have a nice career with another team. Someone is going to get a steal with him.
I don't see him coming back this year even if he gets cleared to play again. That ship has sailed.
Quote: @TBro said:
I don't see him coming back this year even if he gets cleared to play again. That ship has sailed.
If he's cleared to play how do you keep him out? He's in a contract year, his camp would raise holy hell if he isn't given a chance to prove his worth and considering the Vikes need all the draft picks they can get its in there best interest if he plays great and gets a monster FA deal, or at least enough to bring a day 2 pick.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ TBro said:
I don't see him coming back this year even if he gets cleared to play again. That ship has sailed.
If he's cleared to play how do you keep him out? He's in a contract year, his camp would raise holy hell if he isn't given a chance to prove his worth and considering the Vikes need all the draft picks they can get its in there best interest if he plays great and gets a monster FA deal, or at least enough to bring a day 2 pick.
Who are you going to take reps away from so he can get some snaps and showcase his skills for his next team? If he could block, you could take some snaps away from Mundt, but he can't be counted on to do that. I don't see him getting any meaningful playing time unless there is an injury to TJ. Maybe KOC could use him as another receiving option with he and TJ in a double TE formation but pass protection is a huge issue which is why Mundt is more valuable right now. If it disrupts the chemistry they already have in the passing game, I wouldn't force him back in the lineup. KOC has had plenty of time to think about this situation so we will see what happens if and when he is cleared to play.
Quote: @TBro said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ TBro said:
I don't see him coming back this year even if he gets cleared to play again. That ship has sailed.
If he's cleared to play how do you keep him out? He's in a contract year, his camp would raise holy hell if he isn't given a chance to prove his worth and considering the Vikes need all the draft picks they can get its in there best interest if he plays great and gets a monster FA deal, or at least enough to bring a day 2 pick.
Who are you going to take reps away from so he can get some snaps and showcase his skills for his next team? If he could block, you could take some snaps away from Mundt, but he can't be counted on to do that. I don't see him getting any meaningful playing time unless there is an injury to TJ. Maybe KOC could use him as another receiving option with he and TJ in a double TE formation but pass protection is a huge issue which is why Mundt is more valuable right now. If it disrupts the chemistry they already have in the passing game, I wouldn't force him back in the lineup. KOC has had plenty of time to think about this situation so we will see what happens if and when he is cleared to play.
KOC was the first to bring up the possibility of having him back for the playoffs about a month ago or so. And if he's back sooner, you take reps away from Hock so he can get a little more rest before the playoffs.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ TBro said:
I don't see him coming back this year even if he gets cleared to play again. That ship has sailed.
If he's cleared to play how do you keep him out? He's in a contract year, his camp would raise holy hell if he isn't given a chance to prove his worth and considering the Vikes need all the draft picks they can get its in there best interest if he plays great and gets a monster FA deal, or at least enough to bring a day 2 pick.
Irv Smith monster free agent deal, eh? His "camp raising holy hell"?
Is it just all fantasy all the time around here?
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
@ MaroonBells said:
KJO one week, Hockenson the next, with a steady diet of JJ throughout. Cousins is taking what the defense gives I guess. I felt pretty confident that the TE would have a big role in this offense. Just thought his name would be Irv and not TJ. Be interesting to see if Irv can make it back before the playoffs, and what role he'll have.
Yup, well said.
Players and coaches wont say so publicly out of respect, but they're not going to keep ISJ with Hock. Anything we see this season with them together will be the last.
I had real high hopes for ISJ too. TJH ceiling is just that much higher.
Having them both in the long-run would be a hoot and tough for D's, but there just aint enough catches to keep everyone happy, including KJO and whoever else in that WR room in coming seasons.
Yeah, I don't see Cousins looking his way even if he does make it back. He was invisible before he got hurt again.
Here's the contract they were talking about for ISJ before he was injured (again). I'm assuming Hockenson will be in the same range going forward. I don't honestly see them activating Smith prior to the playoffs. I don't think there's enough catches to go around and not sure I want a rusty ISJ added to the locker room.
"While Smith is deserving of an extension, it will trigger a domino effect that will force Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office to make some difficult decisions. Before getting into the minutiae of it all, there needs to be a baseline of what Irv Smith Jr.’s extension will look like. Fortunately, Jonnu Smith‘s career production is comparable to Irv’s. Jonnu Smith signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the New England Patriots last offseason.
Using Jonnu Smith’s contract as a starting point, I was able to get a better understanding of what a hypothetical Irv Smith Jr. extension would look like. The only modifications I made were increasing the signing bonus from $15 to $20 million and balancing how the money was prorated over the four-year deal."
Here’s how it all turned out:
| Irv Smith Jr. | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | | Base Salary | $1,285,698 | $2,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $10,500,000 | $12,500,000 | | Prorated Bonus | $4,559,260 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | | Cap Number | $5,844,958 | $6,500,000 | $8,500,000 | $14,500,000 | $16,500,000 |
Quote: @badgervike said:
Here's the contract they were talking about for ISJ before he was injured (again). I'm assuming Hockenson will be in the same range going forward. I don't honestly see them activating Smith prior to the playoffs. I don't think there's enough catches to go around and not sure I want a rusty ISJ added to the locker room.
"While Smith is deserving of an extension, it will trigger a domino effect that will force Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office to make some difficult decisions. Before getting into the minutiae of it all, there needs to be a baseline of what Irv Smith Jr.’s extension will look like. Fortunately, Jonnu Smith‘s career production is comparable to Irv’s. Jonnu Smith signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the New England Patriots last offseason.
Using Jonnu Smith’s contract as a starting point, I was able to get a better understanding of what a hypothetical Irv Smith Jr. extension would look like. The only modifications I made were increasing the signing bonus from $15 to $20 million and balancing how the money was prorated over the four-year deal."
Here’s how it all turned out:
| Irv Smith Jr. | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 | | Base Salary | $1,285,698 | $2,500,000 | $4,500,000 | $10,500,000 | $12,500,000 | | Prorated Bonus | $4,559,260 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | $4,000,000 | | Cap Number | $5,844,958 | $6,500,000 | $8,500,000 | $14,500,000 | $16,500,000 |
Not sure who thinks anyone was giving Irv that kind of money.
I don't disagree...given the production and availability. This was assuming that ISJ would perform at a high (Hockenson) level. Certainly, the talent was always there with Irv...but not going to miss the injury history. Hopefully, he has enough on film to secure a decent deal with a new team and secure the Vikings a higher compensatory pick.
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