Re-Loading vs. Re-Tooling vs. Rebuilding in 2020

That's a tempting sentiment because of how the ends of the holy trinity's (Spielman, Zimmer, Cousins) contracts align next year, and because of how, if we squint really hard, some of us feel like we can see a possible contender being built out of the smoldering ruins of the team that was practically carted en masse off the field of Levi's Stadium two weeks ago.

And that's all built around the idea that hey, it's only one season. If it doesn't happen, no biggy.  You move on it 2021.

That sounds entirely rational on the surface, but to me, it's all predicated on the idea that either the Vikings are

A) just a few minor tweaks away from a team that's at least as strong as their 2017 edition, or....

B) in need of some major additions, but will be able to make them without compromising the cap and draft in 2021 and beyond.

It's hard for me to see how either is true.  And my not seeing how major pieces can be added without mortgaging the future isn't even so much a criticism of Spielman as it is an acknowledgement that ANY GM would probably struggle to turn the 2019 sixth seed into a 2020 juggernaut without creating issues for future drafts and caps.

What's potentially even worse than that shortage of resources for 2021 and beyond if the 2020 Vikes aren't a Super Bowl team is that said resource shortage could be a hindrance to drawing the top candidates to replace Spielman and Zimmer in 2021.

Then you're not just off to a slow start with the new GM you wanted; you're off to a slow start with your third or fourth choice and looking at doing it all over in a few years.

No its actually 22 and I know the list inside and out. I also understand the value of each player to say they aren't important is false. When they are 2nd string and you have little to no talent behind them and they come 8n and there was little to no drop off that is very important. I like how you skirt around the FA we all know to be important to justify the numbers to be less than they are. So look at it by position and tell me what we have if we cut or restructure the vets listed and let 90% of our top FA walk. Paint me a picture I can accept.

It's all hard to replace if the bottom 25% is actually who you count on to fill major rolls. I think some have forgotten or are too young to remember what types of teams we had with a thrifty ownership. This is in the same realm and many will find out. When GMs and HC on the hotseat go all in and it fails it won't be pleasant. People can act like it's not close or won't happen. This ain't the first go around for some that have a few wrinkles.

How many "strings" do you think an NFL team has? All the Vikings free agents are first or second string! Welcome to the NFL where you have 53 men on a roster. Most teams have 3 specialists-K,P, and LS (50), most have another 1 or 2 who, despite technically playing a postion-like Marcus Sherels being a CB or Steve Tasker being a WR-really only play ST (48-9). Then you have 22 starters (26-7). Assuming every starter has a backup plus nickel and dimebacks, or scatbacks, extra wideouts or the occasional third QB and that is an ENTIRE roster. No NFL team has a fifth-string weakside LB like your standard DI FBS squad.

So, you are fretting over Laqoun Treadwell, Marcus Sherels, and Sean Mannion be free agents? Oh my God, we will never be able to replace that! Actually, I can muff punts, drop passes, and hold a clipboard as well as any of those guys for considerably less than they make...but, I bet you can find a guy of reasonable skill to replace all of them for minimal investment. Or, you could even decide to pay a backup QB $3 million or so. Brett Jones, Dakota Dozier, Rashod Hill? Guys who have value but the type of guys who are replaced by draftees or UFA whom are cheaper en masse every year.

The Vikings are in no different situation than any other NFL team.