Comparing FA OL grades to current Vikings
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/03/how-many-impact-offensive-linemen-remain-in-free-agency/
Guard, Rodger SaffoldThe 31-year-old guard will be highly coveted on the free agent market because of his consistency and durability over the past three seasons. He’s ranked somewhere between above average and elite among guards between 2016 and 2018 and has excelled in both the run and pass game. Considering the Rams ran an outside zone scheme, which the Vikings plan on running in 2019, he should be Minnesota’s top target.
Compton was put in an unfair position being forced to start a full season for the first time. Putting a top-notch talent in for a replacement player would make a significant difference on the ground and in protecting Kirk Cousins.
Pass blocking: 72.6
Run blocking: 71.6
Pressures: 29 on 766 passing snaps
Comparison: Tom Compton
Pass blocking: 60.6
Run blocking: 60.2
Pressures: 34 on 560 snaps
Tackle, Ja’Wuan JamesIronically James’ grades and numbers are worse than they appear because of a game against teh Vikings in which he gave up two sacks and graded a 38.8. Aside from that game, the 19th overall pick in 2014 has put together solid stretches over the last three seasons. He graded a strong 77.8 in pass blocking in 2017 but his season was shortened by injury. James has some of the explosive athletic traits (91st percentile in 3-cone drill) that the Vikings aim to find. Signing James would push 2018 second-round pick Brian O’Neill to left tackle and move Riley Reiff inside. The Vikings would be projecting O’Neill to be better than Reiff over the next season and beyond and expecting Reiff to be a left guard upgrade.
Pass blocking: 67.3
Run blocking: 69.1
Pressures: 26 on 491 passing snaps
Comparison: Brian O’Neill
Pass blocking: 65.5
Run blocking: 58.3
Pressures: 31 on 531 passing snaps
Center, Matt ParadisParadis has been in the argument for the NFL’s best center since becoming a starter in 2015. While the team still appears to feel confident in Elflein, who faced extremely difficult circumstances in 2018, Paradis would instantly give the Vikings a better chance against the elite interior defensive linemen of the NFC North a la Snacks Harrison, Akiem Hicks and Kenny Clark. Signing a center would allow the Vikings to move Elflein over to guard, where he would likely be an upgrade.
Pass blocking: 78.6
Run blocking: 77.4
Pressures: five on 353 passing snaps
Comparison: 2018 Pat Elflein
Pass blocking: 44.3
Run blocking: 44.3
Pressures: 33 on 567 passing snaps
Center, Mitch MorseMorse is not of the caliber of Paradis, so we have to look at him through a different lens. Would he be better than what we expect a fully-healthy Elflein (in a better system fit) to be? In Morse’s case, it’s clear that he’s a better pass blocker, but might not be an upgrade in run blocking. Over the last two seasons he has graded out below average. In this case, the Vikings would have to decide that protecting Cousins against the interior D-line beasts of the NFC North was their top priority.
Pass blocking: 82.7
Run blocking: 61.3
Pressures: Five on 534 passing snaps
Comparison: 2017 Pat Elflein
Pass blocking: 66.1
Run blocking: 67.6
Pressures: 26 on 600 passing snaps
Guard, Andy Levitre Health is certainly a concern for the veteran guard, who missed most of the 2018 season and a chunk of 2017, but when he’s healthy, Levitre has been an above average guard for his entire career. He played a key role on the 2016 Atlanta Falcons, who reached the Super Bowl and put together one of the most explosive offenses of the past decade. Levitre is a left guard, so the Vikings would still have to find an upgrade at right guard, but if he’s back to 100 percent, the former Bill/Titan/Falcon could instantly improve the Vikings pass and run blocking.
*Pass blocking: 81.3
*Run blocking: 71.9
*Pressures: 12 on 412 passing snaps
*injured in 2018, stats are from 2017
Comparison: Mike Remmers
Pass blocking: 61.1
Run blocking: 58.2
Pressures: 42 on 705 passing snaps
Tackle, Trent BrownThe massive left tackle does not fit the mold of athletic offensive linemen the Vikings will be looking for, but he was extremely effective for the Patriots in pass protection, especially during their playoff run. His success doesn’t appear to be only based on playing in New England. During his final year in San Francisco the 6-foot-8 tackle scored a 79.2 PFF grade in pass protection and gave up 16 pressures in 240 snaps. If the Vikings were willing to pay and could work around his lack of mobility in the zone scheme, Brown would protect Cousins’ backside as well or better than Reiff. It would be especially attractive to the Vikings that one of his best games (88.3 grade) came against Chicago. Brown also gave up zero sacks from Week 10 through the Super Bowl.
Pass blocking: 71.6
Run blocking: 65.4
Pressures: 39 on 744 passing snaps
Comparison: Riley Reiff
Pass blocking: 71.3
Run blocking: 68.3
Pressures: 42 on 541 passing snaps
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@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James.w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Kentis" said:They have plenty of space... ;)@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Geoff Nichols" said:You mean “they’ll have” ... B)@"Kentis" said:They have plenty of space... ;)@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Kentis" said:Before 3pm on Wednesday I would think they'll have >$20M in space to work with (barring one big internal resigning that is still a possibility).@"Geoff Nichols" said:You mean “they’ll have” ... B)@"Kentis" said:They have plenty of space... ;)@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Geoff Nichols" said:Do tell Geoff...! :)@"Kentis" said:Before 3pm on Wednesday I would think they'll have >$20M in space to work with (barring one big internal resigning that is still a possibility).@"Geoff Nichols" said:You mean “they’ll have” ... B)@"Kentis" said:They have plenty of space... ;)@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Kentis" said:The Vikings would love to keep Sheldon Richardson. The holdup in their negotiations is around the money and term. Ideally if you were to go longer term on the deal you would like a slight discount in overall money and vice-versa. His camp is shaping up his outside market so that will be the determining factor.@"Geoff Nichols" said:Do tell Geoff...! :)@"Kentis" said:Before 3pm on Wednesday I would think they'll have >$20M in space to work with (barring one big internal resigning that is still a possibility).@"Geoff Nichols" said:You mean “they’ll have” ... B)@"Kentis" said:They have plenty of space... ;)@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. w/ what cap space...? :s
@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James.If so, I'd have to imagine O'Neill heads to LT and Reiff kicks inside...hopefully Reiff modifies his contract...
@"BarrNone55" said:Exactly what I was thinking.@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. If so, I'd have to imagine O'Neill heads to LT and Reiff kicks inside...hopefully Reiff modifies his contract...
@"BarrNone55" said:That'd be the thought unless you unexpectedly release Reiff.@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. If so, I'd have to imagine O'Neill heads to LT and Reiff kicks inside...hopefully Reiff modifies his contract...
@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James.Very interesting - but fits past talent desires/patterns, like - 1. Targeting past top picks (possibly ones the Vikings liked originally)2. Investing costly resources in OTs, not interior OL. I'm not saying they don't intend to improve C/G positions, but Spielman has usually seemed to think those can take less-expensive players.
@"Geoff Nichols" said:Is this something they are actually considering? To me that's a lot of shuffling on a line and putting guys in spots they haven't played before and hoping things turn out for the best. I thought O'Neill had a solid year at RT, but is he stout enough to play LT? Reiff has never played guard and had another solid season outside of getting punked by Kalil Mack (not the first and wont be the last). Ju'Wuan James is a pretty pedestrian RT and not the line upgrade we need IMO. Unless they out right just cut Reiff for cap savings, I don't see this as being the best option to fixing our line issues.@"BarrNone55" said:That'd be the thought unless you unexpectedly release Reiff.@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. If so, I'd have to imagine O'Neill heads to LT and Reiff kicks inside...hopefully Reiff modifies his contract...
@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James.Why not Paradis and kick Elflein to guard instead of moving Rieff inside? Elflein is a weak link at center and would be better at RG. Signing a FA LT is going to way more expensive than an interior lineman.
@"lakeerievike" said:They view Elf as a center. Not saying the right player wouldnt change that but given the money Paradis would take up I dont know if that’d be their preferance.@"Geoff Nichols" said: They're going hard after Ja'Wuan James. Why not Paradis and kick Elflein to guard instead of moving Rieff inside? Elflein is a weak link at center and would be better at RG. Signing a FA LT is going to way more expensive than an interior lineman.
Clearly the Vikings still don't have a clue when it comes to OL if Juwan James is the big catch. Shuffle everyone to a new position and count on Easton being 100%. Can draft all defense then.
I just don't see why Reiff would agree to a pay cut and get moved in to guard. It seems like he could just hit FA and probably get payed LT money to play LT somewhere, so where is the leverage the Vikings have and why would he want to stay here if we're pushing him inside?
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