Cap Expert Talks Vikings, Darnold, Other Free Agents

StickierBuns wrote:
This was enough for me: 'Why OL Ed Ingram is a strong candidate to be released'.

Yes, apparently because he started so many games his first three seasons, he's earned several incentives that make his salary too high for a backup, which is a shame because we could use the depth. He also said based on cap realities Trey Smith "will not" be resigned by the Chiefs, that Harry "will" retire, and that Murphy's contract could rival that of AJ Terrell's (wow, I hope not).

MaroonBells wrote:

Yes, apparently because he started so many games his first three seasons, he's earned several incentives that make his salary too high for a backup, which is a shame because we could use the depth. He also said based on cap realities Trey Smith "will not" be resigned by the Chiefs, that Harry "will" retire, and that Murphy's contract could rival that of AJ Terrell's (wow, I hope not).

Murphy is not a great CB...Had a good year though. 

They may have to choose between him and Bynum vs both.

purplefaithful wrote:

Murphy is not a great CB...Had a good year though. 

They may have to choose between him and Bynum vs both.

That was kinda my thought as well. I don't think of Murphy as a shut-down corner. But his agent has a very good argument. No corner had more interceptions than Murphy. He was elected to the Pro Bowl where he won the defensive MVP award. And his PFF coverage grade in 2024 was actually higher than Terrell's. 

I've been thinking since mid-season that he could be a very tough signing for the Vikings due to all of the above arguing top of market, while everything else suggests he's merely above average. You have to wonder how good he'd be outside of a Flores defense.

He's right...To have this # of FA's/RFA's in one year and on a 14/3 team is pretty crazy

$60mm in cap space is nice, I say no way they allocate 40 of that 60 to Sam. Not w/out a trade in place.

The more I read all the various prognostications over and over, I truly believe that the smartest thing for the Vikings to do is to survey the landscape and do some phone intel.

If there is a long-term market for Sam, say 3-4 years (and I believe that market exists given the teams who are in QB hell right now...in one NFL draft order listing top four position needs, 8 of 13 first picks list QB as a need), that the Vikings will indeed sign him to a one-year Franchise Tag.
They will indeed trade him for picks. Maybe a first rounder plus. And whoever trades with us is going to be a team who had a poor record, most likely giving us a top 10 pick in addition to our #24 pick.

Montana Tom wrote:
The more I read all the various prognostications over and over, I truly believe that the smartest thing for the Vikings to do is to survey the landscape and do some phone intel.

If there is a long-term market for Sam, say 3-4 years (and I believe that market exists given the teams who are in QB hell right now...in one NFL draft order listing top four position needs, 8 of 13 first picks list QB as a need), that the Vikings will indeed sign him to a one-year Franchise Tag.
They will indeed trade him for picks.  Maybe a first rounder plus.  And whoever trades with us is going to be a team who had a poor record, most likely giving us a top 10 pick in addition to our #24 pick.

I don't see any team giving up their first round pick in a trade for Darnold. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, based on the Alex Smith trade from KC to Washington in 2018, KC received a 3rd round pick & CB, Kendall Fuller. Smith had a more consistent career than Darnold has had.

Second, any team trading for Darnold will need to sign him to a new contract. I may be incorrect on this point but I believe that if we slap the franchise tag on Darnold & he signs it, the floor of his new contract will be at least $41M. I've read this elsewhere as a reason that Darnold's camp would welcome the franchise tag. It would increase the starting point for a new contract.

Knucklehead wrote:

I don't see any team giving up their first round pick in a trade for Darnold. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, based on the Alex Smith trade from KC to Washington in 2018, KC received a 3rd round pick & CB, Kendall Fuller. Smith had a more consistent career than Darnold has had.

Second, any team trading for Darnold will need to sign him to a new contract. I may be incorrect on this point but I believe that if we slap the franchise tag on Darnold & he signs it, the floor of his new contract will be at least $41M. I've read this elsewhere as a reason that Darnold's camp would welcome the franchise tag. It would increase the starting point for a new contract.

Unless the mkt develops in a way we can't fathom in Feb, I agree (at the bold). 

I would be delighted with a 2nd or 3rd rd pick. 

I keep telling myself all it takes is 2 interested teams though ;)

Knucklehead wrote:

I don't see any team giving up their first round pick in a trade for Darnold. I say that for a couple of reasons. First, based on the Alex Smith trade from KC to Washington in 2018, KC received a 3rd round pick & CB, Kendall Fuller. Smith had a more consistent career than Darnold has had.

Second, any team trading for Darnold will need to sign him to a new contract. I may be incorrect on this point but I believe that if we slap the franchise tag on Darnold & he signs it, the floor of his new contract will be at least $41M. I've read this elsewhere as a reason that Darnold's camp would welcome the franchise tag. It would increase the starting point for a new contract.

Russell Wilson was 34 when he was traded to the Broncos for two 1sts and two 2nds. Desean Watson was facing major league problems when he was traded to Cleveland for three 1sts. The difference is, unlike those players, Darnold is not under contract, so he can only be traded if he's either extended or tagged. 

So I think it would be more accurate to compare Darnold to Matt Cassell in 2009, the last time a QB was tagged and traded. Patriots received the #34 overall pick for Cassell and a mid-level player. 

Can the Vikings get that for Sam? No idea, but I have a sneaking suspicion they won't tag him at all and just let him go get what he can on the open market.

StickierBuns wrote:
Looks like Kellen Moore is going to be HC of the Saints:

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/saints-to-hire-kellen-moore-eagles-offensive-coordinator-will-reportedly-join-new-orleans-after-super-bowl/

Not the most desirable job, but still a HC. 

He's a good coach, good offensive mind. Pass 1st guy who did an admirable job of evolving his play calling with that HOF tailback and the mix of players on that Eagles offense. 

For some reason, his start wasn't as bright as it used to be?

Basically waited to announce it till the day before the SB.

Late as usual to this convo, but that non exclusive franchise tag looks pretty tempting. If we got a second rounder out of this it would be huge for us this year.

I’m still torn on Sam going. He played so damn well. Did he peak? I don’t think so. It will be torture if he outperforms our choices at QB.

Bullazin wrote:
Late as usual to this convo, but that non exclusive franchise tag looks pretty tempting. If we got a second rounder out of this it would be huge for us this year.

I’m still torn on Sam going. He played so damn well. Did he peak?  I don’t think so. It will be torture if he outperforms our choices at QB.

Not as tortuous as being a Giants fan and watching Saquon today, but I get it. 

I personally think Sam had the best situation here with this surround, coaching, culture etc...He's certainly not going to get that at a lot of the qb needy franchises. 

Dont wish him nothing but the best, but my $ is he's peaked here. 

I would be falling on a sword to keep him if we had won the North and gotten past the Wild Card Rd. Its not all on him, but a lot of it was.