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Okay, now we know the plans are to try to trade AB. While I'd like to be able to use him as ammunition to be able to move up from #20 into the top 10 to get LSU LB Devin White, that's pretty much a pipe dream at this point. Since AB seems to be sabotaging his value on Twitter these days, I would be happy if we were able to get an early second round pick for him (say the Niners' pick at #36 overall).
We also learned this week that the team will not be using any tags on Le'Veon Bell, so he's free to sign anywhere, and the maximum compensation we could possibly get for him would be a 2020 third round comp pick. However, if we are aggressive in free agency and use our cap space to add a big money defender on day one, we would essentially be cancelling out the possible 3rd round comp for Bell next year (that's why I suggested pursuing a CB2 like Robert Alford who was recently cut by the Falcons, since players who are released do not count against the free agent comp pick formula...but Arizona already signed him, so that's a moot point now anyway). I'm not thrilled with the quality of the free agent CB's this year anyway, and I expect Baltimore to be able to franchise tag C.J. Mosley after trading away Flacco's contract, so I'm still looking for another way to use our resources to improve on defense.
Folks here have been mentioning Xavier Rhodes as a possibility recently. I like it. However, the Vikings aren't going to release him and he's not being traded for a mid-round pick. He's been to the Pro Bowl multiple times and was first team All Pro as recently as 2017. That's the kind of guy they might be looking for a first round pick...or maybe multiple second day picks to obtain. I love the idea of being able to team up Rhodes opposite Haden. That would be like having two CB1's, and by far better than anything we've had in our secondary for a long time. Well, what do we have to give in order to make it happen?
I would offer Minnesota our 2nd round pick this year (52nd overall) and our 3rd round pick in 2020 plus CB Artie Burns in exchange from CB Xavier Rhodes and WR Laquon Treadwell. We can afford to give up our current pick in the latter half of round 2 now if we think we'd be able to obtain a pick in the early portion of round 2 for AB. And we could afford to give up our regular 2020 3rd round pick now if we expect to get a 2020 3rd round comp pick for Bell (and since we'd be spending the majority of our available cap dollars on a big trade rather than a big free agent signing, we wouldn't have to worry about that potential 3rd round comp pick being cancelled out next year).
Burns and Treadwell both have been disappointing 1st round picks 3 seasons into their NFL careers, so perhaps a change of scenery could do them both some good. Minnesota would be losing their top corner in this deal, but adding Burns could replenish some of their depth behind remaining CB's Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, and Mackenzie Alexander. Treadwell wasn't getting much playing time with the Vikes behind the likes of Adam Thielen and Stefan Diggs, but in Pittsburgh he could compete with James Washington and possibly a mid-level free agent signing or mid-round draft pick at WR opposite of Juju Smith-Schuster.
Although he is only 1 year younger than Haden (XR is 28 and JH is 29), Haden has now been in the league for 9 years while Rhodes has been in the league for only 6 years so far, so Rhodes should have more tread on his tires in a relative sense (Haden was relatively young when he was drafted, and Rhodes was comparatively older). Haden is due to have a cap hit of $11.9M in the last year of his deal (I would like to try to also extend Haden's deal for a few more years as well this offseason). Rhodes is signed for 4 more years at similar base salaries to what we've been paying Haden (he's scheduled to make $10.4M in 2019, $9.9M in 2020, $11.15M in 2021, and $13.25M in 2022). The remainder of his prorating signing bonus would be on Minnesota's cap, so we'd only be responsible for those yearly base salaries mentioned above, plus I believe a roster bonus each year of $500K and a workout bonus of $100K, which would only inflate his yearly cap hits to $11M in 2019, $10.5M in 2020, $11.75M in 2021, and $13.85M in 2022). Seems like it would be a better overall allocation of resources to pay a top CB still in the midst of his prime years than a similarly aged RB or WR like Bell or Brown.
And then...in the draft:
1.20 Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson
Potentially one of the best all around TE prospects to come out in the draft since our own Heath Miller. Hockenson worked well in 2TE sets at Iowa with teammate Noah Fant (who might be a 2nd round pick in this draft in his own right), so he should be able to work well with Vance McDonald. We could easily use more 2TE sets this coming year as opposed to the 3+WR we seemed to prefer this past year, and since Hockenson, McDonald, and Juju are all accomplished blockers as well as receivers, we can keep opponents guessing about whether a run or a pass might be coming next rather than telegraphing our play selection based on formation.
2.36 (from SF for AB) Alabama ILB Mack Wilson
He's not Ryan Shazier, but no one is. I think he's more of a borderline round 1-2 prospect than a bona fide mid 1st round guy at this point. He is an improvement over the likes of Vince Williams, Jon Bostic, L.J. Fort, and Tyler Matakevich, though. If he does not make it down to #36, though, there could be some other potential options here, such as Devin Bush instead.
3.83 Michigan OLB Chase Winovich
An upgrade over Anthony Chickillo who could also push Bud Dupree for playing time as well. And the fact that he grew up in Allegheny County never hurt when our front office is scouting players.
4. Georgia RB Elijah Holyfield
A replacement for Stefan Ridley. Didn't get much of a shot for most of his college career because of the presence of guys like Nick Chubb and Sony Michel ahead of him on the depth chart, but this year he was able to showcase his violent running style, which is not surprising considering who his father is (our front office also tends to like guys with strong athletic bloodlines as well).
6. (from OAK) Utah FS Marquis Blair
Depth behind Sean Davis. A hard hitter in spite of a small frame...could be something once he gets in a pro weight program and adds some pounds.
6. Arkansas G Hjalte Froholdt
Interior OL depth. Comes from Denmark with very little experience playing OL, but seems to have the skill set to turn into something if given the time. I would feel better if it were Mike Munchak shaping this lump of clay into a potential player, but we'll see how much of his magic touch rubbed off on protégé Shaun Sarrett.
7. (from TB) Arkansas DE Armon Watts
Depth along the d-line. Only a one year starter in college, but has the frame we tend to look for in our d-linemen and seems to have the functional strength to anchor against double teams and potentially beat single blockers.
We also learned this week that the team will not be using any tags on Le'Veon Bell, so he's free to sign anywhere, and the maximum compensation we could possibly get for him would be a 2020 third round comp pick. However, if we are aggressive in free agency and use our cap space to add a big money defender on day one, we would essentially be cancelling out the possible 3rd round comp for Bell next year (that's why I suggested pursuing a CB2 like Robert Alford who was recently cut by the Falcons, since players who are released do not count against the free agent comp pick formula...but Arizona already signed him, so that's a moot point now anyway). I'm not thrilled with the quality of the free agent CB's this year anyway, and I expect Baltimore to be able to franchise tag C.J. Mosley after trading away Flacco's contract, so I'm still looking for another way to use our resources to improve on defense.
Folks here have been mentioning Xavier Rhodes as a possibility recently. I like it. However, the Vikings aren't going to release him and he's not being traded for a mid-round pick. He's been to the Pro Bowl multiple times and was first team All Pro as recently as 2017. That's the kind of guy they might be looking for a first round pick...or maybe multiple second day picks to obtain. I love the idea of being able to team up Rhodes opposite Haden. That would be like having two CB1's, and by far better than anything we've had in our secondary for a long time. Well, what do we have to give in order to make it happen?
I would offer Minnesota our 2nd round pick this year (52nd overall) and our 3rd round pick in 2020 plus CB Artie Burns in exchange from CB Xavier Rhodes and WR Laquon Treadwell. We can afford to give up our current pick in the latter half of round 2 now if we think we'd be able to obtain a pick in the early portion of round 2 for AB. And we could afford to give up our regular 2020 3rd round pick now if we expect to get a 2020 3rd round comp pick for Bell (and since we'd be spending the majority of our available cap dollars on a big trade rather than a big free agent signing, we wouldn't have to worry about that potential 3rd round comp pick being cancelled out next year).
Burns and Treadwell both have been disappointing 1st round picks 3 seasons into their NFL careers, so perhaps a change of scenery could do them both some good. Minnesota would be losing their top corner in this deal, but adding Burns could replenish some of their depth behind remaining CB's Trae Waynes, Mike Hughes, and Mackenzie Alexander. Treadwell wasn't getting much playing time with the Vikes behind the likes of Adam Thielen and Stefan Diggs, but in Pittsburgh he could compete with James Washington and possibly a mid-level free agent signing or mid-round draft pick at WR opposite of Juju Smith-Schuster.
Although he is only 1 year younger than Haden (XR is 28 and JH is 29), Haden has now been in the league for 9 years while Rhodes has been in the league for only 6 years so far, so Rhodes should have more tread on his tires in a relative sense (Haden was relatively young when he was drafted, and Rhodes was comparatively older). Haden is due to have a cap hit of $11.9M in the last year of his deal (I would like to try to also extend Haden's deal for a few more years as well this offseason). Rhodes is signed for 4 more years at similar base salaries to what we've been paying Haden (he's scheduled to make $10.4M in 2019, $9.9M in 2020, $11.15M in 2021, and $13.25M in 2022). The remainder of his prorating signing bonus would be on Minnesota's cap, so we'd only be responsible for those yearly base salaries mentioned above, plus I believe a roster bonus each year of $500K and a workout bonus of $100K, which would only inflate his yearly cap hits to $11M in 2019, $10.5M in 2020, $11.75M in 2021, and $13.85M in 2022). Seems like it would be a better overall allocation of resources to pay a top CB still in the midst of his prime years than a similarly aged RB or WR like Bell or Brown.
And then...in the draft:
1.20 Iowa TE T.J. Hockenson
Potentially one of the best all around TE prospects to come out in the draft since our own Heath Miller. Hockenson worked well in 2TE sets at Iowa with teammate Noah Fant (who might be a 2nd round pick in this draft in his own right), so he should be able to work well with Vance McDonald. We could easily use more 2TE sets this coming year as opposed to the 3+WR we seemed to prefer this past year, and since Hockenson, McDonald, and Juju are all accomplished blockers as well as receivers, we can keep opponents guessing about whether a run or a pass might be coming next rather than telegraphing our play selection based on formation.
2.36 (from SF for AB) Alabama ILB Mack Wilson
He's not Ryan Shazier, but no one is. I think he's more of a borderline round 1-2 prospect than a bona fide mid 1st round guy at this point. He is an improvement over the likes of Vince Williams, Jon Bostic, L.J. Fort, and Tyler Matakevich, though. If he does not make it down to #36, though, there could be some other potential options here, such as Devin Bush instead.
3.83 Michigan OLB Chase Winovich
An upgrade over Anthony Chickillo who could also push Bud Dupree for playing time as well. And the fact that he grew up in Allegheny County never hurt when our front office is scouting players.
4. Georgia RB Elijah Holyfield
A replacement for Stefan Ridley. Didn't get much of a shot for most of his college career because of the presence of guys like Nick Chubb and Sony Michel ahead of him on the depth chart, but this year he was able to showcase his violent running style, which is not surprising considering who his father is (our front office also tends to like guys with strong athletic bloodlines as well).
6. (from OAK) Utah FS Marquis Blair
Depth behind Sean Davis. A hard hitter in spite of a small frame...could be something once he gets in a pro weight program and adds some pounds.
6. Arkansas G Hjalte Froholdt
Interior OL depth. Comes from Denmark with very little experience playing OL, but seems to have the skill set to turn into something if given the time. I would feel better if it were Mike Munchak shaping this lump of clay into a potential player, but we'll see how much of his magic touch rubbed off on protégé Shaun Sarrett.
7. (from TB) Arkansas DE Armon Watts
Depth along the d-line. Only a one year starter in college, but has the frame we tend to look for in our d-linemen and seems to have the functional strength to anchor against double teams and potentially beat single blockers.
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