Breaking down the Vikings moves and Brady reaction as 2020 league year begins amid pandemic
By Jeff Diamond, former Vikings GM who co-hosted Monday Night Purple and Purple Sunday Postgame this past season on News Talk 830 WCCO
What a wild week it’s been in the NFL and for the Vikings amid the coronavirus chaos around the world.
The NFL moved forward with the start of their 2020 league year over the objections of some owners and team personnel who felt it was “tone deaf” to be announcing multi-million dollar free agent signings while everyone deals with a pandemic.
Perhaps it’s been a good diversion to have some NFL moves to discuss, at least for a short period when the news is generally dismal these days.
Nationally in terms of the NFL, the attention early this week was on the approval of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement that guarantees labor peace for 10 more years which is good news. Then it was onto free agency with Tom Brady the biggest story as he officially left New England and is signing with Tampa Bay.
The Vikings also made headlines with several major moves, some under the radar yet important signings and a few key player departures including a disgruntled wide receiver. Let’s break down the start of free agency in Vikingland.
Kirk Cousins extension:
I think the Cousins’ extension was clinched when he led the game-winning drive in overtime to beat the Saints in the wild card round. That followed other clutch performances including a Sunday night win in Dallas and a second half comeback to overcome a 20 point halftime deficit against Denver.
Cousins rebounded from his early season struggles to have a terrific October (NFC Player of the Month) and his only down performances in the second half of the season--against the Packers and 49ers-- were due in large part to the run game being shut down and poor pass protection. Cousins has taken on a larger leadership role on the team and he has earned this two year, $66 million extension that reduces his salary cap hit this year by a much needed $9.5 million.
Stefon Diggs traded:
Diggs said during his early October pout that “there’s truth to all rumors” about his selfish desire to be traded to a team that would not be so run-oriented and would target him more in the passing game. Vikings GM Rick Spielman granted Diggs his wish but not until he got a terrific haul of draft choices in return—sending Diggs and a 2020 seventh round pick to Buffalo for their first round pick (No. 22 overall), a fifth rounder, sixth rounder (with these three picks all coming in the upcoming draft) plus a fourth rounder in 2021. It’s good timing to be seeking a receiver as this draft class has an exceptional and deep group of wide receivers so the Vikings should be able to land an immediate replacement for Diggs with one of their two first round picks or even with their second rounder.
I think Spielman played this perfectly, insisting at the recent NFL Combine that there was no reason to believe he would trade Diggs after his second straight thousand yard receiving season. Amazingly, he got a better haul than Houston did for a better receiver in four time Pro Bowler DeAndre Hopkins as the Texans received only a second round pick and an overpaid and underproductive running back in David Johnson from Arizona.
Spielman would not have made the move without a great deal in return since the Vikings must absorb a a $9 million dead money hit to their cap but they do pick up $4.9 million in cap room. Bottom line is the Vikings got a great 2019 season out of the Minneapolis Miracle hero but Diggs became a malcontent so it’s a good thing he’s been traded. Now the pressure’s on to find an adequate replacement in the draft or free agency to start alongside Adam Thielen or play in three wide receiver sets with Thielen and Bisi Johnson.
Anthony Harris franchised:
This move surprised me because I thought Coach Mike Zimmer made it pretty clear in his Combine press conference that the Vikings valued cornerbacks over safeties (other than star Harrison Smith). The franchise tag may be a mechanism to hold Harris until the Vikings can trade him and get something in return.
Harris is an excellent player and great guy in the locker room who is coming off an outstanding season in which he led the league with seven interceptions including postseason. So it would be a good thing if he stays in Minnesota for at least this season and gives the Vikings the best safety combo in the league while their young cornerbacks in Mike Hughes and Chris Boyd improve and they add more quality corners in the draft and free agency.
Defensive starters and contributors leaving:
Before free agency began, the Vikings released two former Pro Bowlers as expected--embattled corner Xavier Rhodes and defensive tackle Linval Joseph. Both players were not productive enough for their salary level and the Vikings cleared almost $19 million in cap room with these two cuts. Joseph is signing with the Chargers and Rhodes is checking his options and could be re-signed at a lower salary although I think it’s best for him to get a new start elsewhere.
Starting corner Trae Waynes is headed to Cincinnati on a 3 year, $42 million deal and starting slot corner Mackensie Alexander also is signing with the Bengals on a one year deal. So the pressure is on to find some new quality corners, considering the players leaving and the fact that former No. 1 pick and a projected starter in Hughes is coming off a neck injury that sidelined him late last season.
Another big contributor on the defensive line—Stephen Weatherly—is signing a 2 year, $12.5 million contract with Carolina. Weatherly’s versatility and athleticism will be missed on the D-line and special teams. We’ll see if the Vikings can re-sign Everson Griffen who opted out of his contract in order to test the market.
These departures are creating several holes on defense that need to be filled via the draft and free agency.
Joseph’s replacement coming from Baltimore:
The Vikings are filling Joseph’s spot with the signing of Michael Pierce, a highly touted defensive tackle who has been an excellent run defender for a strong Ravens defense. Pierce will reportedly receive $27 million over three years. I like this signing of a quality player who along with Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, Armon Watts and Jalyn Holmes should have the Vikings in good shape on the interior defensive line. Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had a breakout season with seven sacks, also moved inside as a pass rusher last season and could continue in that role or start at defensive end if Griffen signs elsewhere.
Restricted free agents and three other key vets returning:
It’s good news that the Vikings are giving their excellent starting fullback C.J. Ham a four year, $12.25 million deal that makes the Pro Bowler the second highest paid fullback in the league. Ham was a restricted free agent.
The Vikings put a second round tender (for $3.1 million) on their other restricted free agent--starting linebacker Eric Wilson who now will be back for at least one more season. Minnesota also is re-signing backup quarterback Sean Mannion and their kicking duo coming off excellent seasons—kicker Dan Bailey and punter/holder Britton Colquitt.
Josh Kline release:
This was another surprise to me as I thought Kline played fairly well last season at right guard after signing a three year, $15.5 million deal but he did miss three games due to injury. The move only saves $1.6 million in cap room and Kline could be re-signed by the Vikings. If not, it opens the door for last year’s fourth rounder Dru Samia to step in or perhaps a new draft pick or Riley Reiff will be moved from tackle to guard. The offensive line certainly will be addressed in a major way in the upcoming draft, likely with a first or second round tackle or guard.
Stay tuned as the wheeling and dealing will continue with free agency hitting the second wave after the early flurry of signings around the league. And the Vikings have to keep a close eye on their cap space with money needed to sign their draft picks—now up to 12 picks including the two first rounders and five picks in the first three rounds that should be a big boost in replenishing the roster. Also on their radar is a possible extension for Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook that will require significant cap room.
Around the NFL Observations:
1.Brady to Bucs: In this year when the offseason programs will be delayed “indefinitely” according to the NFL due to the coronavirus, I think Brady should have stayed in New England on a one year deal and then left in 2021 if that was his desire. It’s a huge disadvantage for a quarterback—even one as smart as Brady—to not be able to work with his new coaches and teammates in OTAs and mini camp this spring if indeed it’s wiped out by the virus. And who’s to say training camp will open on time in late July.
I think Brady’s chances for success and a seventh Super Bowl title would have been much better if he was still in New England as coaching will be more important than ever with the shortened or eliminated offseason. Brady was working with the best coaching staff in the league in New England under Bill Belichick and offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels. And Belichick will be bringing in better weapons at wide receiver and tight end with four picks in the first three rounds of the upcoming draft and via free agency.
Tampa Bay does have two thousand yard receivers in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin and a talented tight end in O.J. Howard. Coach Bruce Arians has a great track record with quarterbacks other than last year’s turnover-prone Jameis Winston. It’s just not the right year for Brady to make this move.
2. Vikings vs. NFC South QBs: With Brady moving to the NFC South, it’s become quite the outstanding quarterback division. The 2020 regular season schedule matches up the Vikings and the rest of the NFC North against the NFC South which sets up these exciting matchups for Minnesota: home vs. former Vikings starter and new Carolina QB Teddy Bridgewater and vs. Atlanta’s former NFL MVP Matt Ryan. On the road, the Vikings will face two future Hall of Famers in Brady and the Bucs and Drew Brees with the Saints.
Add to the mix matchups at home against Dak Prescott who was just franchised by the Cowboys and Ryan Tannehill, the 2019 passer rating leader who recently was signed to a $29 million per year deal by the Titans after leading them to the AFC title game. And on the road against Philip Rivers (newly signed by the Colts), Russell Wilson in Seattle and Deshaun Watson in Houston. Throw in two games against Aaron Rodgers and it might be the toughest overall slate of QBs the Vikings have ever faced. Better get that pass rush and secondary some more top players in the coming months!
Jeff Diamond was the NFL Executive of the Year in 1998 after the Vikings' 15-1 season. He also is former president of the Tennessee Titans. He does sports/business consulting, media and speaking work including corporate and college speaking on Negotiation, Management, Leadership and Sports Business--contact him at diamondj4@comcast.net
