The Minnesota Vikings Offseason
The Good: Signing Patrick Peterson to 1yr/8 Million
Patrick Peterson is on a hall of fame track with his career and although his play has diminished over the last couple seasons, he still offers value as another starting outside corner and veteran presence at a cheap 1yr/8 million prove it deal for him to show that he still has value. He can still be a good player and the deal he signed will ensure that he will give 110% of himself in 2021.
The Bad: Signing Dalvin Tomlinson to 2yrs/21 Million
Paying for defensive lineman is a risky business as they far too often have pop years of production and can break down easily due to the the intensity of the position and normally when a defensive lineman gets paid it's to pass rush up the middle and collapse the pocket. But Dalvin Tomlinson has never been a pass rusher in his career, solely a run stuffer and paying a run stuffer 10.5 million a year seems like a steep price to pay for a guy whose job half the time can be done by younger players and draft picks. Hopefully the Vikings run defense takes it up from his presence in the middle and regains the dominance in the front seven.
The Ugly: Letting Riley Reiff go
The Minnesota Vikings let go of Riley Reiff in free agency, a reliable offensive tackle that has been a rock solid lineman for the Vikings. And to make matters worse he Reiff went to the Cincinnati Bengals for only 7.5 Million for 1 yr, a cheap price for an above average offensive tackle. Riley Reiff is going to make Joe Burrows life a lot easier on the edge and Kirk Cousins could suffer the consequences in 2021.
Offseason Grade (Pre Draft): B-
NFL Draft Summary
Day 1Grade: A+
Selection: Christian Darrisaw
The Minnesota Vikings made a great draft move by moving back in the draft and still grabbing one of the top offensive tackles in the draft in Christian Darrisaw who is going to make the Vikings rushing attack go from good to monstrous as Darrisaw is one of the meanest run blockers in this draft with the potential to be an excellent pass protector. The Vikings getting Darrisaw ten slots further back was an underrated steal in the draft and Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins are both going to benefit.
Day 2 Grade: B+
Selections: Kellen Mond, Chazz Surratt, Wyatt Davis, Patrick Jones IIThe Vikings drafting Kellen Mond in the Day 2 was a bit of a reach at quarterback but quarterbacks outside of Day 1 of the draft are always a crapshoot, no matter how high they are picked. Chazz Surratt was an absolute steal as many had him as a fringe Day 1 player with his athleticism and instincts for a player that's only played a couple seasons on defense in his career. Wyatt Davis a steal as well as many projected him to get selected in Day 1 until an injury in his final game caused him to tumble out of the 1st round. Patrick Jones II was a very productive edge rusher at Pitt but had a rough draft process which made him a potential steal as well.
Day 3 Grade: C+
Selections: Kene Nwangwu, Camryn Bynum, Janarius Robinson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Zach Davidson, Jaylen TwymanThe Vikings decided to pick players they liked throughout the draft process with running back Kene Nwangwu getting picked to start off their draft process who served a #2 back for Iowa State. Camryn Bynum was a productive cornerback at Cal Berkeley and will be a nice rotational piece on the outside. Janarius Robinson is a big edge rusher that will bring added depth in run defense. Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been on teams radar throughout the draft process with exceptional athleticism and playmaking ability and will be a potential starter for Minnesota. Zach Davidson is another big-bodied edge rusher that will prove to be an asset in run defense. Jaylen Twyman went from potential top 20 pick to barely getting drafted after a horrible 40 time but he's a good pass rusher and will certainly find himself in the defensive line rotation.
Selection: Christian Darrisaw
The Minnesota Vikings made a great draft move by moving back in the draft and still grabbing one of the top offensive tackles in the draft in Christian Darrisaw who is going to make the Vikings rushing attack go from good to monstrous as Darrisaw is one of the meanest run blockers in this draft with the potential to be an excellent pass protector. The Vikings getting Darrisaw ten slots further back was an underrated steal in the draft and Dalvin Cook and Kirk Cousins are both going to benefit.
Day 2 Grade: B+
Selections: Kellen Mond, Chazz Surratt, Wyatt Davis, Patrick Jones IIThe Vikings drafting Kellen Mond in the Day 2 was a bit of a reach at quarterback but quarterbacks outside of Day 1 of the draft are always a crapshoot, no matter how high they are picked. Chazz Surratt was an absolute steal as many had him as a fringe Day 1 player with his athleticism and instincts for a player that's only played a couple seasons on defense in his career. Wyatt Davis a steal as well as many projected him to get selected in Day 1 until an injury in his final game caused him to tumble out of the 1st round. Patrick Jones II was a very productive edge rusher at Pitt but had a rough draft process which made him a potential steal as well.
Day 3 Grade: C+
Selections: Kene Nwangwu, Camryn Bynum, Janarius Robinson, Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Zach Davidson, Jaylen TwymanThe Vikings decided to pick players they liked throughout the draft process with running back Kene Nwangwu getting picked to start off their draft process who served a #2 back for Iowa State. Camryn Bynum was a productive cornerback at Cal Berkeley and will be a nice rotational piece on the outside. Janarius Robinson is a big edge rusher that will bring added depth in run defense. Ihmir Smith-Marsette has been on teams radar throughout the draft process with exceptional athleticism and playmaking ability and will be a potential starter for Minnesota. Zach Davidson is another big-bodied edge rusher that will prove to be an asset in run defense. Jaylen Twyman went from potential top 20 pick to barely getting drafted after a horrible 40 time but he's a good pass rusher and will certainly find himself in the defensive line rotation.
