Friday Mailbag: Mystery Vikings theatre

The Rodgers drama seemed to come to an end (ish?) this week and fans have questions

Photo courtesy Minnesota Vikings

---

Happy Friday everyone! The first wave of free agency is behind us and… it came along with more drama than I expected. Let’s dive in…

Joe K… Do you think the Vikings are waiting to add a backup quarterback until the comp pick period is over? If so, do you think they likely have an agreement with someone and are just holding back announcing until it won't impact a future draft pick?

That could be the case. Maybe they were waiting to see what Cam Robinson signed for in order to have an idea of what they could spend on a backup in order to stay ahead of the NFL’s magic formula. Or the backups who are on the market might be weighing their options. If you are a fringe starter like Carson Wentz, you probably don’t want to sign with the Vikings if there’s still a chance that somebody might let you compete for a starting gig. Aaron Rodgers could be holding some things up. I know it’s something that everyone wants resolved but I’m guessing they won’t start 2025 without another QB on the roster.

Eldon… So with the latest reports from Pelissero yesterday the Rodgers thing is finally put to bed right??

Yes and no. I’m aware that a big part of Vikings land wants The Athletic reports to be fake and made up and Rodgers propaganda etc. but I don’t think that was the case. As Stefon Diggs once said, there’s truth to all rumors. When a player of Rodgers’s caliber is available and there’s uncertainty about the future at QB, the team has to talk about it. For now, it appears the Tom Pelissero report means that they have decided to put the ball in McCarthy’s hands and go forth with the plan.

But nobody knows better than Vikings fans how quickly things can change, so they probably don’t want to totally close the door on the idea. If McCarthy were to get injured or have problems coming back, it seems they could still circle back to the idea if Rodgers hasn’t signed anywhere. That’s just my read on it.

Ramsey K… Designating Garrett Bradbury as a post June 1st cut is really interesting...what's your take on what they're gonna do with the remainder of the money? I know we're over the 2026 cap as of now but that can be solved easily with restructures to O'Neill, Hock, etc...

We might have gotten to the point where the desire for transactions in the offseason is greater than the actual news available. I didn’t see Bradbury’s June 1 designation as being interesting or some type of signal that they are going to make a big trade. His couple million bucks on next year’s cap or this year’s cap wasn’t going to turn the tides between them getting a big-name player or not. I was assuming that they were thinking that cap dollars in 2026 are going to be less punitive than cap dollars right now because of the way the cap keeps exploding each year.

That doesn’t mean they won’t make another move. In an ideal world, there’s cap space in case the Vikings want to make a last minute training camp signing like Stephon Gilmore or mid-season trade like they did with Hockenson. They might keep space for that or want to roll it over to next year to deal with some of the high 2026 cap hits.

We have reached the point where the Vikings are now in chase-that-ring mode with the cap. That means going forward, they should pull every lever and push every cap button to stack as much talent as they can get.

Dale S… I am sure this is going to be a common question but after what appears to be a successful free agency campaign, is there one position they will target in the draft, or are they free to go BPA? And Is there one player who they would absolutely not pass if they were still on the board?

Shoring up so many weaknesses in free agency allows the Vikings to go after pretty much any position that they want and there’s a good argument for quite a few different spots. For me, defensive tackle should remain a priority with the two guys they signed being in their 30s and the value of hitting on one of those beasts. I view cornerback and guard as positions that aren’t desperate needs but they are still needs.

The guy that has my attention as someone you’d just take at 24 and not worry about trading back is Derrick Harmon from Oregon. Just a massively productive player who also apparently is a high IQ guy that would fit with Flores. Outside of that, maybe if someone truly shocking falls like Will Campbell or Will Johnson. Otherwise, there’s so much talent in the back end of the first round that they can trade down and still get a quality prospect.

Lorne S… Just wondering about your thoughts on Blake Brandel. Is he a candidate to start at left guard this year? In previous shows, there was discussion about how the guard position takes time to learn. He is only 28 and has played just over 1,600 snaps, most of them last year. Do you think the Vikings will move on from him, or will they bring him back?

It was clear that losing Christian Darrisaw hurt Blake Brandel but even Weeks 1-8, he was 34th of 64 by PFF and had four of eight games grade below average. Not that he should be thrown in the same basket as other failed Vikings guards because he was a shade better than his predecessors but when we talk about development at any position we have to consider where potential upside comes from. He only has 1,600 snaps because the team didn’t see him as a starter until they had no better options or money to spend on that spot. He was a sixth-round pick in large part because he didn’t have great athleticism, which puts a ceiling on him. Guards do improve slower but we’re talking three years, not six.

He could definitely become more consistent technically as he goes along and improve his consistency but he’s been in the league now for years and years and still gave up the second most sacks and third most pressures in the NFL. If he has to start, it’s not going to crush your offense like some previous guards. I would just prefer that they looked for a difference maker there — somebody that the other team is worried about rather than viewing as a weak point to attack.

Chris H… Random non-Vikings question: I was reading a PFT post about the Giant's QB situation, and Mr. Florio described Tommy DeVito as a "journeyman who has yet to do much journeying". As the foremost authority on Journeymen QBs, I put the question to you: Can you be a journeyman quarterback if you've only played on one NFL team?

I get where he’s coming from. I’m guessing DeVito is going to play for 9 teams by the time his career is over. Still, you can’t be a journeyman until you’ve gone on the journey. That’s what makes those guys so great. Sage Rosenfels and I put together criteria that makes a journeyman a few years ago. I believe it was 1) Must play for at least 4 teams 2) must have actually started games 3) must have a shining moment or memorable win 4) must be beloved. DeVito has started, has his shining win over the Packers and is beloved but he just needs three more teams. Give it time.

Matt D… I love the idea of drafting Derrick Harmon to add even more interior pass rush to this defense, but it looks like Allen and Hargrave both had below average run defense grades last year. Does it make more sense to go elsewhere round 1 and add a pure run stuffing DT later in the draft to add the DT depth they’ll need to keep these older guys fresh?

Jonathan Bullard’s really good 2024 should tell you that run stuffing DTs are always available in free agency, it’s the pass rushers who never reach the market. Sometimes the grades can be deceiving too. Hargrave was once considered a terrific run stuffer but his job description might have changed. Some teams want their DTs to sell out to rush the passer and maybe grab a running back if they get a chance, whereas other teams are focused more on having the DTs play the technique to stop the run.

The thing about drafting a guy like Harmon is that if it’s a home run pick, the guy can be a Viking for 10 years. DT is one of the most consistent positions in the NFL from year to year. I like the idea of taking him and letting him learn the ropes from Allen and Hargrave.

Chad I… Assuming that pretty much all first-rounders have the physical ability to succeed in the NFL, what are the primary reasons that a player becomes a bust? I certainly buy into the, teams fail QBs theory. Injuries aside I assume that some of the reasons are lack of ability or willingness to adjust to the mental and workload aspects of the pro game, wrong fit. From a percentage standpoint, what would your breakdowns be?

To paraphrase Kirk Cousins and Kevin O’Connell: Each bust has its own story. Laquon Treadwell couldn’t create separation on his own and struggled with route details. Lewis Cine suffered a horrific injury and never seemed to grasp the defense. Kellen Mond couldn’t process at NFL speed. Wyatt Davis didn’t love football. Christian Ponder didn’t have confidence. Irv Smith Jr. got hurt and then his team changed offenses.

Sometimes a guy just completely changes. Coming out of college he might seem like the perfect prospect and it might appear that he loves football more than anything and then he just goes down the wrong path after getting paid. There’s a high percentage of busts who view getting drafted as “I made it” rather than “I’m just getting started.”

There are thousands of these guys who didn’t make it. That’s why when there’s a guy like Patrick Peterson in the locker room, it’s like, whoa. All the players who tried and he’s going to be one of a couple hundred that wears a gold jacket. Crazy.

Florian K… Since guards are seemingly all the rage right now, have you noticed an uptick in teams considering drafting tackles to play guard this year or has that always been and we're just noticing it more? I've noticed it from well known scouts and evaluators mentioning it more this year, at least to my memory.

It might also just be that this draft class is loaded with tackles who have positional flexibility but it does seem that there is a lot more consideration for tackles to move to guard. I also think there will be a lot less resistance from tackles to move to guard because the position is getting paid. When these guys see a solid guard like Will Fries getting $18 million per year, which is in the same ballpark of a top 10 tackle, they’re going to be more interested in sliding inside. Offenses have to find a way to close the gap somehow. The DTs are winning the battle for the middle, this might be one way for O-lines to catch up.

Steve D… Is Teddy Bridgewater a viable option for backup QB?

Theoretically it’s a good option. In Teddy’s last 36 starts, he has 46 touchdowns, 24 INTs and a 93.8 QB rating. Those numbers would put him at the top of the backup QB market and he’s the best character guy you’re ever going to find (as you guys know). But there’s a few caveats to advocating him as the backup: 1) Would he come back to Minnesota as QB2 after once being considered the franchise QB? 2) Does he still want to play? 3) It’s been a long time since he actually played, is he still able to play at a high level?

The Vikings need to be able to trust their backup QB to play if McCarthy gets hurt or struggles mightily. They would probably feel more stable with someone who has been playing.

Derrick K…It seems like everyone is impressed with how Kwesi handled this free agency. How it actually works out is TBD. Can we just credit Kwesi now and understand his process is good and results can be random (injuries)? I’m extremely impressed with Kwesi as GM.

Yep. This is his plan from Day 1 coming to life. There’s been some bumps along the way and they need to build a younger foundation but when you think about where they wanted to be when KAM was hired in 2022… this is it. Rookie QB contract, veteran stacked roster, superstars on long-term contracts. We have seen this work with the early Goff Rams, the Purdy 49ers, the Hurts Eagles etc. And to do it without having to tank is really something. KOC also deserves a ton of credit for creating this culture. Every single free agent we talked with this week pointed to the NFLPA survey that the Vikings always crush as being influential in their decision.

That said, it’s gotta work.

Scott M…I have a repeat question that has me puzzled. It appears that Kwesi has been given full reign on free agents and has done a great job of building a new offensive and defensive line. My old question is, is there any word on his contract? I would have thought they would have him signed by now?

Well, they have been busy. Maybe it was tabled for a while during all this. I don’t have any new information on it but the owner’s meetings are in 10 days. I’ll be there. We’ll be talking with KOC and presumably Mark Wilf, so that’s something that will come up unless there’s news about it before then. I said that I would raise an eyebrow if it wasn’t done by the Combine and my eyebrow has been up a little bit but if it’s not done by the draft, that’s definitely going to be puzzling.

Keep in mind, all the things that looked like they might be super dramatic with this team have not yet turned out to be super dramatic.

Jeff… Is there a realistic option at guard for the Vikings in the third round if the Vikings go with another position in the first?

Using Mock Draft Database, the guys who are college guards who are being projected somewhere around the third round(ish) are Dylan Fairchild from Georgia, Miles Frazier of LSU and Sac State’s Jackson Slater. If Ohio State’s Donovan Jackson, Georgia’s Tate Ratledge, Jonah Savaiinaea from Arizona or Marcus Mbow of Purdue drops into the third, those would be all strong picks for the Vikings.

There are a handful of tackles who might have a chance to move inside that are currently getting third-round grades like West Virginia’s Wyatt Milum or LSU’s Emery Jones Jr.

Bottom line: They will have options there, yes.

There was a chart that somebody tweeted the other day about the percentages that every offensive line played together last season and most of them were at 50% or less. It really underscores the importance of continuing to draft these guys and have the next man up ready to go. If they don’t go all-in with an early guard and start Brandel, they do need someone right behind him who is developing.

Rob… I've felt a trade down was 90% likely (yeah, yeah, need a trade partner), and it still seams likely given the wealth of players they'd have available 8 or 10 spots later, but given the way Kwesi's filled so many gaps, what do you think the percentage is now? I mean, if they want a day one starter at left guard they could take Zabel. Or a freak at DT like Grant, or all-everything DB in Barron if they're still there at 24...

It’s still a very high percentage, maybe 70%. It just makes way too much sense when they don’t have a desperate need. I’m sure there are a couple of players on their list that they couldn’t pass up but otherwise this draft appears to be really deep with players at positions the Vikings need. It has late-first/early-second guards, corners, defensive tackles and safeties. It should be their goal to come away with at least three top-100 players if not more. In this case, more bites at the apple are definitely better than going all-in for one guy.

Jason…Who is the best and worst free agent signing since your started covering the team?

Adjusting for price, it’s Michael Pierce. He signed a three-year, $27 million contract in 2020 and then sat out the 2020 season and played 251 snaps in 2021 before being let go. What made it even worse was that he was great in those 251 snaps. He had a 78.5 PFF grade and 16 pressures. The other one that comes to mind is Kendall Wright. He had like 50 catches the previous season and they signed him to be a slot guy and he never even took a first-team rep in camp.

Maybe it’s recency bias but Jonathan Greenard has to be the best since I got here. Andrew Van Ginkel and Blake Cashman are right there too. I hadn’t quite arrived yet but we can throw Linval Joseph in the mix. He went from being a solid guy to the premier nose tackle in the league in 2017. Terence Newman was really valuable in 2017. Patrick Peterson’s bang-for-buck was tremendous. Za’Darius Smith, same deal.

Riley Reiff was a good one. He stabilized a position that was in peril before. This is a non-Kirk list. Kirk is too complicated to try to rank versus linebackers and tackles.

Masaki… How does the signings of Allen and Hargrave impact the role of Harrison Phillips?

I wouldn’t expect his role to change much. He is a body mover. It was interesting, last year he explained to me how Brian Flores moves the front around to bring the offensive linemen where they want them — so, like having Phillips start out over the right guard and swing to the left side to move the guard while someone else hits that gap. He’s going to keep doing stuff like that and holding blocks to give chances for one-on-ones with the DTs. It would be good for Phillips to get a little more rest, which I think is possible with these two signings and the development of Jalen Redmond and Levi Drake Rodriguez.

Jake… Do you think the Vikings should draft Luther burden if available at pick 24? I was watching his highlights and the guy is an absolute beast after the catch. I think he could work really well with JA and Jett’s

I can’t imagine a lot of fans would be on board with picking a wide receiver when there are other spots that need a little more attention but nobody will ever convince me that drafting another weapon is bad. When you look at free agency this year, how many wide receivers were available? Old Davante Adams got $22 million and then the next biggest free agent signing was $10 million. There are a lot of good receivers in the league but they usually don’t end up hitting free agency and it’s not clear how the Vikings will approach Addison in two years. Plus, as you mentioned, Burden’s playing style would be a good compliment over the next two years. I’m into it.

Bradley P… Who has the better agent: Kirk Cousins or Marcus Davenport?

Matthew, I’m confused on the going’s on at TCO. We’re told that they don’t leak anything but we get this frustrating Rodgers drama, the Vikings wanting to resign Cousins and Sam, potential KOC and Jefferson trades… Do they have a negative mole inside or what’s up?

Kirk has the GOAT agent. He can’t be touched.

There have been some very strange things “leaked” out in recent years that seemed to undermine them more than anything. This Rodgers situation is its own monster though. It’s clear that some people are telling The Athletic that the Rodgers conversation is real and after talking to some folks myself, I do not believe that information is coming entirely from Aaron’s side.

Your question “what’s up?” is the one that we’re all asking throughout this thing. I wish I could tell you more definitively who’s telling who what info, I just don’t really know. If I had to guess, I’m thinking that the discussion inside the building was very real but they would have preferred that never make the light of day and they’re trying to quell the noise. That’s just a guess though. I’d be absolutely elated if this officially ended and we never had to talk about it again.

Ben… The Vikings have stacked this roster around McCarthy. What’s a reasonable expectation for McCarthy’s first full season??