09-07-2020, 02:18 PM
By not re-signing defensive end Everson Griffen, and with running back Dalvin Cook declining a contract extension, the Minnesota Vikings may have ended up with the NFL’s top pass-rushing tandem.The Vikings used the $12 million they were willing to spend on Griffen and Cook to pay Yannick Ngakoue, acquired for a couple draft picks in an absolute steal of trade with Jacksonville.
After all, it’s a lot harder to find a good pass-rushing defensive end than it is a decent running back.
Unless the 6-feet-2, 246-pound Ngakoue, just 25 years old, suffers a major injury or is a complete bust, his contract with the Vikings won’t end with this season. When the season is over, he’ll either receive a mega-extension or be franchised. If franchised, he’ll receive at least $15 million for 2021.
Acquiring Ngakoue, though, could prove internally delicate for the Vikings.
Defensive end Danielle Hunter, who just turned 25 last month, is signed through 2023 at annual average pay of $14.4 million. He isn’t expected to be thrilled about playing for less than Ngakoue.
Hunter’s contract, by the way, isn’t even among the NFL’s top 15-paid defensive ends.
It’s no guarantee that safety Anthony Harris, franchised this season for $11.4 million, will be back with the Vikings for 2021, and that could free up money for Ngakoue, and perhaps even an extension for Hunter.
Same for linebacker Anthony Barr ($12.7 million this season) if he doesn’t have an exceptional year. And also for left tackle Riley Reiff, whose deal this season was $11 million before being cut by $5 million in a contract restructure last week, NFL Network reported.
Regarding other forthcoming economic issues, the Vikings probably won’t be able to afford both Harris and fellow safety Harrison Smith ($10.3 million) next year. One will have to go.
After this season ends, the Vikings could move right tackle Brian O’Neill over to replace Reiff, but that will cost the team a significant payroll increase for O’Neill.
The way it looks now, Cook will play this season for his $1.3 million contract. If the Vikings can sign Ngakoue to an extension before next March, the team could franchise Cook. Depending on NFL revenues during this COVID-19 season, that could cost about $8.3 million for 2021. Or the Vikings could trade Cook.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon, in the same 2017 draft class as Cook, last week signed a $48 million, four-year contract, but the real money is in the first two years of the deal: $20 million.It’s unknown whether the Vikings offered Cook a similar contract and whether he declined. If so, and if he’s injured this season, he and his agent will be sorry.
https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/05/ch...ffen-swap/
After all, it’s a lot harder to find a good pass-rushing defensive end than it is a decent running back.
Unless the 6-feet-2, 246-pound Ngakoue, just 25 years old, suffers a major injury or is a complete bust, his contract with the Vikings won’t end with this season. When the season is over, he’ll either receive a mega-extension or be franchised. If franchised, he’ll receive at least $15 million for 2021.
Acquiring Ngakoue, though, could prove internally delicate for the Vikings.
Defensive end Danielle Hunter, who just turned 25 last month, is signed through 2023 at annual average pay of $14.4 million. He isn’t expected to be thrilled about playing for less than Ngakoue.
Hunter’s contract, by the way, isn’t even among the NFL’s top 15-paid defensive ends.
It’s no guarantee that safety Anthony Harris, franchised this season for $11.4 million, will be back with the Vikings for 2021, and that could free up money for Ngakoue, and perhaps even an extension for Hunter.
Same for linebacker Anthony Barr ($12.7 million this season) if he doesn’t have an exceptional year. And also for left tackle Riley Reiff, whose deal this season was $11 million before being cut by $5 million in a contract restructure last week, NFL Network reported.
Regarding other forthcoming economic issues, the Vikings probably won’t be able to afford both Harris and fellow safety Harrison Smith ($10.3 million) next year. One will have to go.
After this season ends, the Vikings could move right tackle Brian O’Neill over to replace Reiff, but that will cost the team a significant payroll increase for O’Neill.
The way it looks now, Cook will play this season for his $1.3 million contract. If the Vikings can sign Ngakoue to an extension before next March, the team could franchise Cook. Depending on NFL revenues during this COVID-19 season, that could cost about $8.3 million for 2021. Or the Vikings could trade Cook.
Bengals running back Joe Mixon, in the same 2017 draft class as Cook, last week signed a $48 million, four-year contract, but the real money is in the first two years of the deal: $20 million.It’s unknown whether the Vikings offered Cook a similar contract and whether he declined. If so, and if he’s injured this season, he and his agent will be sorry.
https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/05/ch...ffen-swap/
