It's good to see you both smiling again. I'm relieved the pressure is gone, as much as I'd like to have seen us move forward. It was an unexpected great season.
A couple of thoughts on some players I haven’t said my piece on. 1. Aaron Jones- I’m not totally against brining him back but it can’t be to play the same role. Jones reminded me a lot of a later stage Dalvin cook oddly enough. His blocking was poor, and he was scripted out probably more than he should have been, but at the end of the day the age, physicality, and lack of anything substantial on the ground makes him someone I’m okay with being gone. This RB class is just like the last 3, fairly deep, speedy powerful backs who can pass catch and run. You don’t need to spend high but one of the middle round compensatory picks is a start🤷. Cam Bynum- I’m not sure where this newfound idc attitude with Bynum leaving has come from? Safety isn’t a terribly important position in today’s NFL so I get not wanting to spend the bag, but Bynum has a legitimate argument for a top ten safety in all of football right now…
What if JJ isn't ready, or just isn't good? Y'all banking a lot on an unknown. All we've seen is one good quarter against the Raiders practice squad and pre-season roster cuts. Kwesi's entire financial career was based on understanding and mitigating risk. Betting his career, KOCs career, and the prime of Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson - entirely on the shoulders of an unproven 21 year old, coming off a season long injury, that has never played an NFL snap - is a massive gamble, especially if you just let a guy that won 14 games walk out the door. I think the professionals might have a slightly different view from that of an impatient fan. Kwesi and KOC are the products of clever and deliberate succession planning, Kwesi as Assistant Manager to Andrew Berry at the Browns, KOC under Sean McVay. I think they might manage the transition to JJ a little more carefully and conservatively than outsiders suggest. I'd suggest they would want to be sure that JJ is better than Sam before they pull the trigger. If my job and the next 5 years of the franchise depended on it, I would.
I disagree with you Onebar, after watching Gibbs destroy the Vikes with his speed twice this season, I now think RB should be the first draft pick the Vikes make, especially if Kaleb Johnson is available after a trade back, and especially if JJ is the starting QB. He will need all the help he can get. Vikes first play of the game vs the Rams was a one yard loss rush play that set the tone. The failure of the Vikes run game to provide a serious threat was exactly what enabled the Lions and Rams D Lines to tee off. Jones was solid, and he'd make a great bridge and change up, but they need something more.
Nobody answers a question with that much emotion unless that was their goodbye. Sucks that wilfs deadlocked Minnesota into paying 20 plus million for smith next year even if he retires.
Hitman is a $9m dead cap hit if he leaves, so the last of those Spielman contracts. I was hoping they could get him to at least the NFCCG. You'd think he would have to be in a reduced snap count rotational role and risk finishing up on the bench or injured. I agree with Lupagus - the locker room interview was telling. I don't think he was ready for it because I don't think they expected to lose, but that reality was hitting him.
@@bk0333 Huh? According to OTC he has void years from 2025-2028. 2025 has a $5.3m pro-rated signing bonus and $1.2m base salary* with a cap hit of $6.57m (*per Spotrac) Then 2026-2028 had another 4.2m total in signing bonuses prorated at $1.4m per year. That corresponds with the OTC 2025 dead cap hit of $9.5m ($5.3m + $4.2m). And the -$2.9m cap savings ($9.5m - $6.57m 2025 cap hit). The 25m base salary that Spotrac has in 2026 is not guaranteed, which is why both sites have his dead cap hit as $4.2m in 2026. So, there is no $25m dead unless OTC and Spotrac have both completely messed up. More likely you have...
The talk about resigning Darnold comes with the caveat that the OLine is going to be better. It is not going to hurt my feelings resigning or tagging Darnold with a much better OLine. I think we bring Aaron Jones and unclaimed RB from the draft. CJ Ham and Harrison Smith should retire IMO or the Vikings let them go.
After the his last two performances, no biggest stage of his career and he does this he did great stuff for us in a regular season, but if you’re gonna play like that for the playoffs, it doesn’t matter online didn’t help, but you can’t blame the old line for him, overthrowing everyone and not throwing the ball away and taking every sack
@@mahtomedi1997 You bet that plays a factor in his ability to throw accurately. If he is getting pressure because our OLine stinks will cause those errand balls. It will not give him the time to get the time to release as he wants. I also point out that this situation has stood since 2009. That's how long our OLine has stunk regardless of the PFF scores. I am not say we should resign Darnold, but I wouldn't be tore up over it. Darnold definitely becomes better with a better OLine. I will add if the Vikings don't improve their OLine McCarthy will end up being a bust for our team. Football is won or lost in the Trenches.
Ham might be that pre-season roster cut. Michigan RB Kalel Mullings is a 240lb converted TE that played with McCarthy in 2023, and might be that perfect short yardage fullback hybrid guy. He is currently slated to go in the 5th round. th-cam.com/video/JW9FK4H2sNs/w-d-xo.html
The Vikes have a $3.2m dead cap hit on the books if Jones hits FA. $2.4m of that is deferred if he is extended - so if he's resigned for $5m, his cost against the 2025 cap would only be $2.5m. Why wouldn't you extend him if he only cost $2.5m?
I may be wrong, but you don’t have to defer void cap if a new deal is reached. That money has already been payed by the team to the player it’s just another way for teams to spend over the cap. So why not offer Jones something like a 1 year 5is million dollar deal, if he takes that that void cap is completely off the books, at least that’s the way I understand it.
@@bk0333 Yes, I am confident that you have most of that right. The pro-rated bonuses have already been PAID, but are split out over subsequent years to spread the cap hit. However, I believe the money sits in each void year, until the whole contract is voided, then it all accelerates into that year. But if the contract is extended, the pro-rated amount stays with each year of the contract. So, I'm pretty confident the last bit works a a little differently. It doesn't take the void cap off the books - it takes the 2026, 2027 and 2028 void cap out of the 2025 cap year. The 2025 void hit stays in the 2025 year, but the other years do not execute until that year occurs or the contract finishes. Currently Jones deal is 2025 Void $800k signing bonus 2026 Void $800k signing bonus 2027 Void $800k signing bonus 2028 Void $800k signing bonus The 2025 salary cap includes all the void years as a dead cap hit of $3.2m if Jones is cut before the 2025 season. If Jones is extended at $5m base salary for 2025, his cap hit would be $5m plus the pro-rated $800k signing bonus for 2025, resulting in a total cap hit of $5.8m for 2025. Because Jones is still under contract, the 2026 -2028 void years would not execute and those pro-rated bonuses would stay in place against those future salary caps. The $2.4m dead cap for 2026-2028 has already been included in the 2025 dead cap hit of $3.2m dead cap hit, because it has been assumed that Jones's contract will not be extended. When Jones's deal is extended that $2.4m will be reversed out of the 2025 cap, effectively creating $2.4m of new space, and will be reallocated at $800k per year to the 2026-2028 salary caps. So even though it would (theoretically) cost $5.8m in 2025 cap space to extend Jones, after the $2.4m is reversed out, the net cost against the current $76m would be only $3.4m. Now if Kwesi structured Aaron Jones 2025 contract the same was as his 2024 contract then he could easily bring Jones 2025 cap hit down under $2m. ($5m - $1.8m base, $3.2m signing bonus prorated at $800k per year over 2025-2028. That would make Jones 2025 deal a $3.4m cap hit (1.8m base + 800k 2024 bonus + 800k 2025 bonus = $3.4m). So after the $2.4m existing void years are reversed out, Jones costs $1m against the $76m 2025 cap space. It would mean Kwesi would have a $4.8m dead cap bill for Jones in 2026 but that is peanuts. That's the $1.6m in each of the remaining void years 2026, 2027, 2028. (i.e. the 800k 2024 bonus + 800k 2025 bonus in each year). Skol!
JJ would've been the first pick in the 2025 draft so essentially Minnesota has the #1 overall pick... actually better ifbyou think about plus JJ has a full year un the NFL going through an entire off-season. As a Lions fan who loves JJ i want him in Minnesota because i believe in KOCs offensive mind along with the weapons. But for the love of God please fix the interior of your oline.
Smith has to go, his ridiculous playing so far off the line basically makes the defense play 10 on 11. Why does flores let this guy wander like a lost dog. Come on man.
What? You think Bynum is gone too? Hitman is likely leaving. Metellus is a wild card more than a safety, so we're starting Theo Jackson and Jay Ward next season? Oh C'mon boys. Can we please stop looking at the player in isolation and look at the way the roster is constructed? As you point out, Vikes fans have an overly inflated view of Bynum, and he is likely seen as a solid Safety producing in Flores' system rather than an elite talent. I'd bet 80-90% chance he is extended at a solid number around $8m apy. Kwesi doesn't over pay for players that are just above average.
If you know kwesi as much as you think you do, and I’m saying you do, you know he isn’t going to outbid someone for a position that has become less and less relevant. Safeties play deeper in todays nfl, they aren’t as involved in middle middle coverage and if they are they aren’t true safeties, branch, Joseph, Harrison smith, Minkah, McKinney, metellus are all postinless at the end of the day. Those are the guys Kwesi would pay. Cam is great, but you can find someone in FA for far cheaper who can play the same role essentially.
@@bk0333 I agree, I think it is very unlikely that Kwesi would get into a bidding war. He has literally said that he won't, I think in an interview at the 2023 GMs meeting. I don't think he will for Bynum. I think he will make a lower value offer than the market predictions, I'm guessing around $8m apy 3 years, and I'd expect Bynum will take it. He knows Hitman is gone. He has the relationships with Metellus, Jackson, the coaching of Flores - that is a strong drawcard. The model of loyalty from Hitman. The experience of Sam being dicked around at a lot of bad franchises. I wouldn't underestimate the draw of the organisation. But sure, Kwesi is elite at finding that undervalued guy like Phillips, Cashman, Oliver. I wouldn't doubt that Kwesi could find some LB/Safety hybrid like Raiders Divine Deablo or Trevon Moehrig, and I would love either of them, and they could both be an upgrade, but the Raiders have $92m in cap space so neither likely hit the market. So, sure. It depends on the what price Kwesi values Bynum, and how much Bynum values money over situation.
![Lp. Точка Невозврата #3 ВОЛШЕБНАЯ ФРАЗА [Личное Измерение] • Майнкрафт](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/BilZhLRtLUE/mqdefault.jpg)
It's good to see you both smiling again. I'm relieved the pressure is gone, as much as I'd like to have seen us move forward. It was an unexpected great season.
Harrison Smith is all time Viking for me dude is tough and vastly underrated
A couple of thoughts on some players I haven’t said my piece on.
1. Aaron Jones- I’m not totally against brining him back but it can’t be to play the same role. Jones reminded me a lot of a later stage Dalvin cook oddly enough. His blocking was poor, and he was scripted out probably more than he should have been, but at the end of the day the age, physicality, and lack of anything substantial on the ground makes him someone I’m okay with being gone. This RB class is just like the last 3, fairly deep, speedy powerful backs who can pass catch and run. You don’t need to spend high but one of the middle round compensatory picks is a start🤷.
Cam Bynum- I’m not sure where this newfound idc attitude with Bynum leaving has come from? Safety isn’t a terribly important position in today’s NFL so I get not wanting to spend the bag, but Bynum has a legitimate argument for a top ten safety in all of football right now…
O likne O line !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What if JJ isn't ready, or just isn't good? Y'all banking a lot on an unknown. All we've seen is one good quarter against the Raiders practice squad and pre-season roster cuts.
Kwesi's entire financial career was based on understanding and mitigating risk. Betting his career, KOCs career, and the prime of Jefferson, Addison, Hockenson - entirely on the shoulders of an unproven 21 year old, coming off a season long injury, that has never played an NFL snap - is a massive gamble, especially if you just let a guy that won 14 games walk out the door.
I think the professionals might have a slightly different view from that of an impatient fan. Kwesi and KOC are the products of clever and deliberate succession planning, Kwesi as Assistant Manager to Andrew Berry at the Browns, KOC under Sean McVay.
I think they might manage the transition to JJ a little more carefully and conservatively than outsiders suggest. I'd suggest they would want to be sure that JJ is better than Sam before they pull the trigger. If my job and the next 5 years of the franchise depended on it, I would.
It’s gonna be a sad day when Hitman officially retires!!!!!!!!!
i agree the game was too big for him. we'll see. but it JJ is a flop then its the same old shit. we need to have a real offensive line
I disagree with you Onebar, after watching Gibbs destroy the Vikes with his speed twice this season, I now think RB should be the first draft pick the Vikes make, especially if Kaleb Johnson is available after a trade back, and especially if JJ is the starting QB. He will need all the help he can get.
Vikes first play of the game vs the Rams was a one yard loss rush play that set the tone. The failure of the Vikes run game to provide a serious threat was exactly what enabled the Lions and Rams D Lines to tee off. Jones was solid, and he'd make a great bridge and change up, but they need something more.
Nobody answers a question with that much emotion unless that was their goodbye. Sucks that wilfs deadlocked Minnesota into paying 20 plus million for smith next year even if he retires.
Hitman is a $9m dead cap hit if he leaves, so the last of those Spielman contracts. I was hoping they could get him to at least the NFCCG. You'd think he would have to be in a reduced snap count rotational role and risk finishing up on the bench or injured. I agree with Lupagus - the locker room interview was telling. I don't think he was ready for it because I don't think they expected to lose, but that reality was hitting him.
They owe Harrison 25 million dollars next year in dead cap already…
@@bk0333 Huh?
According to OTC he has void years from 2025-2028.
2025 has a $5.3m pro-rated signing bonus and $1.2m base salary* with a cap hit of $6.57m (*per Spotrac)
Then 2026-2028 had another 4.2m total in signing bonuses prorated at $1.4m per year.
That corresponds with the OTC 2025 dead cap hit of $9.5m ($5.3m + $4.2m).
And the -$2.9m cap savings ($9.5m - $6.57m 2025 cap hit).
The 25m base salary that Spotrac has in 2026 is not guaranteed, which is why both sites have his dead cap hit as $4.2m in 2026.
So, there is no $25m dead unless OTC and Spotrac have both completely messed up. More likely you have...
He said he would go if Flores goes
The talk about resigning Darnold comes with the caveat that the OLine is going to be better. It is not going to hurt my feelings resigning or tagging Darnold with a much better OLine. I think we bring Aaron Jones and unclaimed RB from the draft. CJ Ham and Harrison Smith should retire IMO or the Vikings let them go.
After the his last two performances, no biggest stage of his career and he does this he did great stuff for us in a regular season, but if you’re gonna play like that for the playoffs, it doesn’t matter online didn’t help, but you can’t blame the old line for him, overthrowing everyone and not throwing the ball away and taking every sack
@@mahtomedi1997 You bet that plays a factor in his ability to throw accurately. If he is getting pressure because our OLine stinks will cause those errand balls. It will not give him the time to get the time to release as he wants. I also point out that this situation has stood since 2009. That's how long our OLine has stunk regardless of the PFF scores. I am not say we should resign Darnold, but I wouldn't be tore up over it. Darnold definitely becomes better with a better OLine. I will add if the Vikings don't improve their OLine McCarthy will end up being a bust for our team. Football is won or lost in the Trenches.
we need to stop going after only glory players
Darnold goes to the Steelers
Ham might be that pre-season roster cut.
Michigan RB Kalel Mullings is a 240lb converted TE that played with McCarthy in 2023, and might be that perfect short yardage fullback hybrid guy. He is currently slated to go in the 5th round.
th-cam.com/video/JW9FK4H2sNs/w-d-xo.html
You want Eagles to get Sam Darnold? That could happen.
keep CJ he has more blocks than the O line.
Harry will retire if he isn't a Viking
The Vikes have a $3.2m dead cap hit on the books if Jones hits FA. $2.4m of that is deferred if he is extended - so if he's resigned for $5m, his cost against the 2025 cap would only be $2.5m.
Why wouldn't you extend him if he only cost $2.5m?
I may be wrong, but you don’t have to defer void cap if a new deal is reached. That money has already been payed by the team to the player it’s just another way for teams to spend over the cap. So why not offer Jones something like a 1 year 5is million dollar deal, if he takes that that void cap is completely off the books, at least that’s the way I understand it.
@@bk0333 Yes, I am confident that you have most of that right. The pro-rated bonuses have already been PAID, but are split out over subsequent years to spread the cap hit.
However, I believe the money sits in each void year, until the whole contract is voided, then it all accelerates into that year.
But if the contract is extended, the pro-rated amount stays with each year of the contract.
So, I'm pretty confident the last bit works a a little differently. It doesn't take the void cap off the books - it takes the 2026, 2027 and 2028 void cap out of the 2025 cap year. The 2025 void hit stays in the 2025 year, but the other years do not execute until that year occurs or the contract finishes.
Currently Jones deal is
2025 Void $800k signing bonus
2026 Void $800k signing bonus
2027 Void $800k signing bonus
2028 Void $800k signing bonus
The 2025 salary cap includes all the void years as a dead cap hit of $3.2m if Jones is cut before the 2025 season.
If Jones is extended at $5m base salary for 2025, his cap hit would be $5m plus the pro-rated $800k signing bonus for 2025, resulting in a total cap hit of $5.8m for 2025.
Because Jones is still under contract, the 2026 -2028 void years would not execute and those pro-rated bonuses would stay in place against those future salary caps.
The $2.4m dead cap for 2026-2028 has already been included in the 2025 dead cap hit of $3.2m dead cap hit, because it has been assumed that Jones's contract will not be extended.
When Jones's deal is extended that $2.4m will be reversed out of the 2025 cap, effectively creating $2.4m of new space, and will be reallocated at $800k per year to the 2026-2028 salary caps.
So even though it would (theoretically) cost $5.8m in 2025 cap space to extend Jones, after the $2.4m is reversed out, the net cost against the current $76m would be only $3.4m.
Now if Kwesi structured Aaron Jones 2025 contract the same was as his 2024 contract then he could easily bring Jones 2025 cap hit down under $2m.
($5m - $1.8m base, $3.2m signing bonus prorated at $800k per year over 2025-2028. That would make Jones 2025 deal a $3.4m cap hit (1.8m base + 800k 2024 bonus + 800k 2025 bonus = $3.4m). So after the $2.4m existing void years are reversed out, Jones costs $1m against the $76m 2025 cap space.
It would mean Kwesi would have a $4.8m dead cap bill for Jones in 2026 but that is peanuts.
That's the $1.6m in each of the remaining void years 2026, 2027, 2028.
(i.e. the 800k 2024 bonus + 800k 2025 bonus in each year).
Skol!
I'm not a Risner fan, but he is a useful depth guy at worst, and there is not much talent out there, and he isn't expensive.
JJ would've been the first pick in the 2025 draft so essentially Minnesota has the #1 overall pick... actually better ifbyou think about plus JJ has a full year un the NFL going through an entire off-season.
As a Lions fan who loves JJ i want him in Minnesota because i believe in KOCs offensive mind along with the weapons.
But for the love of God please fix the interior of your oline.
Smith has to go, his ridiculous playing so far off the line basically makes the defense play 10 on 11. Why does flores let this guy wander like a lost dog. Come on man.
What? You think Bynum is gone too? Hitman is likely leaving. Metellus is a wild card more than a safety, so we're starting Theo Jackson and Jay Ward next season? Oh C'mon boys. Can we please stop looking at the player in isolation and look at the way the roster is constructed?
As you point out, Vikes fans have an overly inflated view of Bynum, and he is likely seen as a solid Safety producing in Flores' system rather than an elite talent. I'd bet 80-90% chance he is extended at a solid number around $8m apy. Kwesi doesn't over pay for players that are just above average.
If you know kwesi as much as you think you do, and I’m saying you do, you know he isn’t going to outbid someone for a position that has become less and less relevant. Safeties play deeper in todays nfl, they aren’t as involved in middle middle coverage and if they are they aren’t true safeties, branch, Joseph, Harrison smith, Minkah, McKinney, metellus are all postinless at the end of the day. Those are the guys Kwesi would pay. Cam is great, but you can find someone in FA for far cheaper who can play the same role essentially.
@@bk0333 I agree, I think it is very unlikely that Kwesi would get into a bidding war. He has literally said that he won't, I think in an interview at the 2023 GMs meeting.
I don't think he will for Bynum. I think he will make a lower value offer than the market predictions, I'm guessing around $8m apy 3 years, and I'd expect Bynum will take it. He knows Hitman is gone. He has the relationships with Metellus, Jackson, the coaching of Flores - that is a strong drawcard. The model of loyalty from Hitman. The experience of Sam being dicked around at a lot of bad franchises.
I wouldn't underestimate the draw of the organisation.
But sure, Kwesi is elite at finding that undervalued guy like Phillips, Cashman, Oliver.
I wouldn't doubt that Kwesi could find some LB/Safety hybrid like Raiders Divine Deablo or Trevon Moehrig, and I would love either of them, and they could both be an upgrade, but the Raiders have $92m in cap space so neither likely hit the market.
So, sure. It depends on the what price Kwesi values Bynum, and how much Bynum values money over situation.
The big issue with bringing Darnold back was the expense, and recent games lowered it.
The budget can accommodate a FA guard or two.
we don'r need akers