Malik Willis: massive shift in the line

If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

No doubt. I was just commenting on the rapid shift of the line. It was like in a couple of hours. Maybe there was a tip or some inside information. 

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Trading down from 12 to 32 for what they got made no sense either so nothing would surprise me.  I have no confidence that this guy has a clue of what he is doing and fully expect today will be more of the same. 

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Agreed.  If the Vikes choose Willis at 34 I will not be upset that it is Willis but I will be highly disappointed in Kwisi for not understanding the import of the 5th year option in QB selection.  It will show another fundamental failure.  That being said, if I was the Vikings I would be sending all sort of signals that I planned on picking Willis and then trade back a couple of picks (if I can get far greater value).

@"JR44" said:

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Trading down from 12 to 32 for what they got made no sense either so nothing would surprise me.  I have no confidence that this guy has a clue of what he is doing and fully expect today will be more of the same. 

I could be wrong but I think that's just the shift from before the draft to now. And that's likely only because he's one of the top players available and the Vikings have one of the first picks. As others have said, if the Vikings really liked Willis, they would've taken him at 32. 

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Maybe. The Bucs may have taken Cine since they lost Whitehead and those two are out of similar molds. The 5th year option has also lost some of its appeal in the new CBA, but I'd argue it still has value at the QB position specifically. The issue you run into with Willis (if you're MN) is he's sitting a year or 2 on a 4-year deal. So you get 2 seasons maybe 1 before you extend him of real benefit? 

I know they've done plenty of work on him so its not like I'd be floored if they took him 

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Another line of thinking could be, lets lock in a plug and play starting safety for 5 years on the rookie scale, instead of the potential for 3 years from a QB that may not be there our next pick. Kirk is the starter for two more years here 99% i would think 

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"pattersaur" said: If the Vikings wanted QB I think they definitely would’ve done it at 32 so they could get the 5th year option. Makes no sense to give that to a safety instead who 85(99?)% chance would still be there 2 picks later. 

Maybe. The Bucs may have taken Cine since they lost Whitehead and those two are out of similar molds. The 5th year option has also lost some of its appeal in the new CBA, but I'd argue it still has value at the QB position specifically. The issue you run into with Willis (if you're MN) is he's sitting a year or 2 on a 4-year deal. So you get 2 seasons maybe 1 before you extend him of real benefit? 

I know they've done plenty of work on him so its not like I'd be floored if they took him 

A lot of talk on teams trading into end of the first round last night for QBs. Didn't happen. Why? My feeling is fifth-year options on rookie deals becoming fully guaranteed in the 2020 CBA changed the dynamic completely.

In fact, those options can actually be problematic now.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2022

How? Here's how—in the old system, the Giants could've picked up Daniel Jones' option for 2023 knowing that, so long as he stayed healthy, they could cut him next March if he struggled. In the new system, pick it up and you're locked in.

(Ask Carolina and Cleveland about that.)

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2022

So if you have a guy you're not sure on, like where the Giants are with Jones, you either pick it up and tie yourself down for an extra year at a high price; or decline it and things stand to get real awkward.

Might be better just having a four-year deal and the franchise tag.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 29, 2022

Ian Rapoport stated on @nflnetwork that the Minnesota #Vikings are a team to watch for QB Malik Willis.

— vikesinsider (@vikesinsider) April 29, 2022

I know KAM and any GM/Exec at his level is never going to think like this or let it affect their decisions, but I’m just some guy at a desk and I just realized if the Vikings trade back tonight and the other team takes Willis, there’s a somewhat decent chance we traded directly out of the best WR AND the best QB of the class. Even for us that’d be impressive.  :s

@"pattersaur" said: I know KAM and any GM/Exec at his level is never going to think like this or let it affect their decisions, but I’m just some guy at a desk and I just realized if the Vikings trade back tonight and the other team takes Willis, there’s a somewhat decent chance we traded directly out of the best WR AND the best QB of the class. Even for us that’d be impressive.  :s

Now that would be a kick in the head. But you can say that about anyone. Vikings might have picked the 1st All Pro from this draft class in Cine. They might pick another tonight.

And let's not forget that while Williams has elite speed, he's super skinny, fragile, currently hurt, and probably won't contribute this year. And though I like Willis's upside, he has to learn how to play pro-style QB. If he does, watch out. But the odds are against it.