If these three things go right, the Vikings can afford Stefon Diggs and Anthony Barr

[purplefaithful]

General manager Rick Spielman said the Vikings remain in conversations with both players’ agents, and made it clear they’d like to retain Diggs and Barr.Last summer, the Vikings kicked off an ambitious plan to retain the core members of their top-ranked defense, breaking with precedent in some ways and signing two veterans (Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph) to new deals when they still had two seasons remaining on their existing contracts.

Those deals were soon followed by an extension for cornerback Xavier Rhodes, and the Vikings signed linebacker Eric Kendricks to a five-year deal in April. Now, with defensive end Danielle Hunter signed to a five-year, $72 million contract, the Vikings have just one more key defensive player to lock up before next March (linebacker Anthony Barr), along with wide receiver Stefon Diggs.
General manager Rick Spielman said Wednesday the Vikings remain in conversations with both players’ agents, and made it clear they’d like to retain both Diggs and Barr before each hits free agency in March. 


http://www.startribune.com/if-these-thre...486733381/

[Guest]

Can the Vikings get deals done with both Barr and Diggs, while still filling up the rest of their roster? The view here is yes — provided a few factors are in place. Here they are:
Productive negotiations that result in competitive — though perhaps not top-of-market — deals: If the Vikings gave Barr a deal that averaged, say, $11 million a season, he’d be among the four highest-paid 4-3 outside linebackers in the league. A deal for Diggs around $13.5 million a season would put him in the top 12 at his position, between players like Allen Robinson and T.Y. Hilton. If either player is intent on trying to climb much higher than that on the list, though, the Vikings might have a tough time retaining everyone...
Young players that can contribute quickly: There’s a reason the Vikings were as aggressive in undrafted free agency as they were this season: In 2019, they’re scheduled to have seven players — Kirk Cousins, Hunter, Rhodes, Griffen, Riley Reiff, Harrison Smith and Joseph — counting for at least $10 million against the cap. Barr and Diggs could be the eighth and ninth players on that list, respectively, with cornerback Trae Waynes on a fifth-year option of $9.069 million, tight end Kyle Rudolph counting for $7.625 million and Kendricks counting for $6.6 million. 
 Draft picks like second-rounder Brian O’Neill and fourth-rounder Jalyn Holmes could prove especially helpful if they can develop quickly, as could younger players like defensive tackle Jaleel Johnson, pass rushers Stephen Weatherly and Tashawn Bower and linebacker Ben Gedeon. Though Mike Zimmer sounded hopeful on Wednesday the Vikings could retain a player like defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, it might be difficult to make the money work...
No surprises: The Vikings weren’t able to enjoy their years of low quarterback costs once Teddy Bridgewater hurt his knee in 2016, forcing the team to trade for Sam Bradford. For the Vikings to make all this work and keep their young players, they can’t afford many unexpected injuries or disappointing players that might force them to fill another hole with a veteran. That’s a lot to ask, in the injury-ridden NFL, and things change quickly...