So come NFL Draft Night, Day 1....

I will be hoping Kwesi gives Flores some tools to work with; unless Kirk has decided to move on!

@"StickyBun" said: ....how are you going to be feeling? Strangely, I think I'm going to be a little anxious. PF's comment about loving and hating this time of year is correct. It seems like a lot is riding on this Draft....and we'll know what's going on with Kirk at that time as well. Big offseason to say the least. 

I think it's the biggest offseason in decades, but it's not all about the draft. Most of the drama is going to come before the draft. By draft night, we will already have our presumptive starter (hopefully Cousins) and may already sit somewhere in the top 4. And the only question will be: who will drop? JJ or Maye? 

As a 50 year fan of this team I'm expecting the feeling will be disappointment, Nuclear option, you know, like CFIAvike said;Kwesi will not see value at 11 for one
of the second tier QBs. Which means we’ll probably take a corner from
Clemson or try to get cute and trade down again.

@"FLVike" said:

As a 50 year fan of this team I'm expecting the feeling will be disappointment, Nuclear option, you know, like CFIAvike said;Kwesi will not see value at 11 for one of the second tier QBs. Which means we’ll probably take a corner from Clemson or try to get cute and trade down again.

lol, can't be discounted. Its taken a toll on our fan souls this Vikings team. 

Draft night a lot of anticipation as the picks come off the board.  Seeing good players drop knowing we will get somebody at a position of need or BPA that can help in year one.  Finally the Vikings are on the clock and we see the time ticking away until the pick has to be in.  Then we think don't trade the pick because there are impact players left to choose from.  Finally we hear "we have a trade" and the anticipation goes right out the fucking window.  Thanks Kwesi for doing your best Rick impersonation.

I am hoping for an offseason that gives me renewed hope.... I am expecting an offseason that is more like wash rinse repeat.  Its been so long since the team has made a big statement in the offseason its kind of hard to really get excited.  knowing that a new approach wont come together in one offseason ( if it ever does ),  but also feeling that the tweak it approach hasnt paid dividends either... at least with the new approach we can see exactly what KOC and KAM envision a team to be and either rally around that or tune into the NHL preseason,  but until they put a stamp on this thing it just seems like SOSDD

Really hoping for some 1st tier FA signings so that we aren't dependent on hitting home runs in a completely unpredictable draft. Of the list of DL, S, LB, IOL, RB, give me 2 to 3 of these in any combination, and our draft becomes exponentially easier. Of course signing 3 is a pipe dream, but a guy can dream.

@"FLVike" said:

As a 50 year fan of this team I'm expecting the feeling will be disappointment, Nuclear option, you know, like CFIAvike said;Kwesi will not see value at 11 for one of the second tier QBs. Which means we’ll probably take a corner from Clemson or try to get cute and trade down again.

IT seems the Vikings lately have trouble when they try to get Value instead of just drafting good players. 

That said, if they are sitting in the top 4 on draft night I will be pretty nervous (in a good way).

If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

@"supafreak84" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

If (when) he goes, I hope he takes the Wilfs with him because those two have proven over and over again they aren't football men and don't know shit about football. Good businessmen, but that has nothing to do with competently running an NFL franchise. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

If (when) he goes, I hope he takes the Wilfs with him because those two have proven over and over again they aren't football men and don't know shit about football. Good businessmen, but that has nothing to do with competently running an NFL franchise. 

Good owners hire good football people to run that side of the operations. I think we had that for a while with the RS/Brez/Zimm era, but that ended in mediocrity. 

I think we're all worn-down and frustrated with mediocrity. I know I am. 

 For me this is the make or break off-season with KAM. 

@"supafreak84" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

If (when) he goes, I hope he takes the Wilfs with him because those two have proven over and over again they aren't football men and don't know shit about football. Good businessmen, but that has nothing to do with competently running an NFL franchise. 

Good owners hire good football people to run that side of the operations. I think we had that for a while with the RS/Brez/Zimm era, but that ended in mediocrity. 

I think we're all worn-down and frustrated with mediocrity. I know I am. 

 For me this is the make or break off-season with KAM. 

I agree with all that and will add the competitive mandates are a problem because it bleeds into every football decision they make, right or wrong. I just don't think competitive rebuilds work in today's NFL without a franchise QB already in place. The Chargers are a "competitive rebuild" team, not the Vikings. The Bengals are a competitive rebuild team, the Vikings are not. 

I just think the Wilfs are more interested in checking off political boxes for the organization and selling tickets than actually becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders. I've noticed over the years the only time they make any moves is when the home crowd is booing the team out of their own building. Maybe that will be the case this upcoming season..

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"supafreak84" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"RS Express" said: If Kirk's been resigned, I'll be hopeful that we still take a QB and waiting to hear the reasons if they don't (it better be good Kwesi).  

If Kirk's signed elsewhere, I'll be a wreck knowing we HAVE to land a QB and knowing that everyone else knows it too and is just waiting to pole vault over us  :#

If the Vikings don't take a QB it will be because they have signed Cousins to a 3-year deal. I don't think that's very likely, but that's the only way this pick is not a QB. 

Your second scenario won't happen. Kwesi's been a mixed bag so far. Some good decisions mixed with some bad. But if he goes into the draft without a presumptive starter, it will mean he's a fucking idiot and should be escorted out of the building with his boxes and stapler. No, just won't happen. 

Yep. I'm still wait and see on KAM, but he's definitely been a mixed bag. Time to put your stamp on the direction of this franchise. My leash is very short now with the KAMster. The next few months will tell the tale.

If (when) he goes, I hope he takes the Wilfs with him because those two have proven over and over again they aren't football men and don't know shit about football. Good businessmen, but that has nothing to do with competently running an NFL franchise. 

Good owners hire good football people to run that side of the operations. I think we had that for a while with the RS/Brez/Zimm era, but that ended in mediocrity. 

I think we're all worn-down and frustrated with mediocrity. I know I am. 

 For me this is the make or break off-season with KAM. 

I agree with all that and will add the competitive mandates are a problem because it bleeds into every football decision they make, right or wrong. I just don't think competitive rebuilds work in today's NFL without a franchise QB already in place. The Chargers are a "competitive rebuild" team, not the Vikings. The Bengals are a competitive rebuild team, the Vikings are not. 

I just think the Wilfs are more interested in checking off political boxes for the organization and selling tickets than actually becoming legitimate Super Bowl contenders. I've noticed over the years the only time they make any moves is when the home crowd is booing the team out of their own building. Maybe that will be the case this upcoming season..

This is a puzzling take, but it keeps getting repeated for some reason. Competitive rebuilds are the only things that actually DO seem to work. KC, Rams, Bucs, 49ers, Ravens, Eagles. They were all competitive rebuilds. I can't think of a single team in recent history--at least since Mike Lynn rebuilt the Cowboys--that tore it up and rebuilt a consistent winner. 

Who are these teams totally tearing it down, rebuilding and winning Super Bowls? Also curious why you think the Chargers and Bengals are competitively rebuilding, but the Vikings are not. 

If the Vikings get the QBOTF right, thats more than 1/2 the battle. 

IF they dont? It just doesnt matter what label we slap on it. 

I would love to have seen how they stacked the QB's last year and this one. 

@"purplefaithful" said: If the Vikings get the QBOTF right, thats more than 1/2 the battle. 

IF they dont? It just doesnt matter what label we slap on it. 

I would love to have seen how they stacked the QB's last year and this one. 

That's just it. Rebuild is kind of a misnomer. All teams are rebuilding all the time. It's the tear-down part so many advocate that very few teams do. It's not a tear down if you're not trading away valuable assets. The Raiders did it when they traded Mack. The Bears did it when they traded the same dude, then Roquan. You could argue that the Lions did it when they traded Stafford. But the Lions have always been crap, so they've been picking in the top 10 for the last 30 years. I just think they're drafting better now, and they have a better coach.

There's no one-size-fits-all strategy. What might work for the Bears wouldn't necessarily work for the Vikings. I don't think you tear down a team with JJ, Addison, TJ, Darrisaw, O'Neill. And if a tear down is supposed to result in piles of cap space, the Vikings have $130M in cap space next year, coming off a season where they were, prior to Kirk's injury, easily one of the best teams in the NFC. That's kind of a rebuild. And a competitive one at that. 

But again, it's all about the QB. You don't get that right, nothing else matters.