Lock up O’Neill?

Funkytown
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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 1, 2021 23:32:32 GMT -6

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Post by Funkytown on Jan 1, 2021 23:32:32 GMT -6

Time to lock up O'Neill? Instructive Scholar, you okay? lol.

Entering this season, there was drama on whether running back Dalvin Cook would sign a long-term extension with the Vikings. Entering next season, plenty of attention will be on whether they can get tackle Brian O’Neill locked up.

Cook agreed to a five-year, $63 million extension before this season. And, judging by what he said Friday, O’Neill also wants to get an extension done.

“I love Minnesota, I love the Vikings, I love everybody here,’’ O’Neill said Friday about whether he wants to remain long term with the team. “I believe in our team, I believe in our locker room, and I believe in our coaches and yes, absolutely.’’

In his third season, O’Neill is Minnesota’s top offensive lineman. He is ranked No. 23 among NFL tackles by Pro Football Focus.

O’Neill played left tackle his senior year of 2017 at Pittsburgh before moving to the right side with Minnesota. It’s not out of the question he could return to left tackle next season.

Left tackle Riley Reiff has a salary-cap number of $13.95 million for 2021, and he likely would need to take a pay cut to return. If Reiff, who is on the COVID-19 reserve list and might not play in Sunday’s season finale at Detroit, does not return, next season’s left tackle could be Ezra Cleveland or O’Neill.

Cleveland, a left tackle at Boise State, moved to right guard as a rookie. O’Neill said Friday he’ll gladly play wherever the Vikings want.

“If they believe in me to (play left tackle), I will attack that responsibility with everything I’ve got to the best of my ability, and same with staying at right or whatever it is,’’ he said.

If O’Neill were to shift positions, he likely could command more in contract negotiations. Left tackles are paid more than right tackles.

Link:

www.twincities.com/2021/01/01/vikings-brian-oneill-on-possible-long-term-extension-i-love-minnesota-i-love-the-vikings/

Last Edit: Jan 1, 2021 23:32:55 GMT -6 by Funkytown

Danchat Content Creator Posts: 19,038 Likes: 16,632	Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 1:15:14 GMT -6 diehardtwinsfan and vikingpwr like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Danchat on Jan 2, 2021 1:15:14 GMT -6 I would try to get it done this offseason. RTs don't make quite as much as LTs, so he shouldn't break the bank.

legendsofthenorth
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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 10:49:24 GMT -6 via mobile

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Post by legendsofthenorth on Jan 2, 2021 10:49:24 GMT -6

Jan 2, 2021 1:15:14 GMT -6 Danchat said:

I would try to get it done this offseason. RTs don't make quite as much as LTs, so he shouldn't break the bank.

Any projections on what a contract might look like for him?

Danchat
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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 11:02:55 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth likes this

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Post by Danchat on Jan 2, 2021 11:02:55 GMT -6

Jan 2, 2021 10:49:24 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth said:

Jan 2, 2021 1:15:14 GMT -6 Danchat said:

I would try to get it done this offseason. RTs don't make quite as much as LTs, so he shouldn't break the bank.

Any projections on what a contract might look like for him?

Maybe something below what Conklin got? He's not in Lane Johnson or Trent Brown territory.

oldbeagle
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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 11:39:25 GMT -6 Funkytown, Danchat, and 1 more like this

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Post by oldbeagle on Jan 2, 2021 11:39:25 GMT -6

Jan 2, 2021 10:49:24 GMT -6 legendsofthenorth said:

Jan 2, 2021 1:15:14 GMT -6 Danchat said:

I would try to get it done this offseason. RTs don't make quite as much as LTs, so he shouldn't break the bank.

Any projections on what a contract might look like for him?

Saw an article on spotrac a few weeks back suggesting an average of $8 million/year. Rick should be doing a happy dance through the streets of Minneapolis if they can lock down O'Neill for that price.

Longship Pro Bowl Posts: 2,363 Likes: 3,095	Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 12:37:15 GMT -6 whoskmoon, comet52, and 2 more like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Longship on Jan 2, 2021 12:37:15 GMT -6 I didn't even know he was in trouble. Is there a chance he could get work release?

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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 14:37:18 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this

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Post by oldbeagle on Jan 2, 2021 14:37:18 GMT -6

Jan 2, 2021 12:37:15 GMT -6 Longship said:

I didn't even know he was in trouble. Is there a chance he could get work release?

He isn't in trouble, just getting to the end of his rookie contract. He will have one more season after this one. Usually, this is the time to extend for the Vikings. Prob better to lock him in sooner rather than later

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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 18:25:48 GMT -6 vikingpitbull and huthuthike like this

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Post by Deleted on Jan 2, 2021 18:25:48 GMT -6

With salaries rising for offensive lineman,OTC estimates O'Neill is worth $12M.If the plan is to leave him at RT,he should get at least $10-$11M.If they want to move him to LT then the price will be much higher.

Good luck trying to figure out a contract with minimal cap space and a roster full of holes.

Decent linemen get paid,and if the Vikings don't pony up then O'Neill would be wise to play out the final year of his deal and go from there.Someone will pay him what he's worth.

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Lock up O’Neill? Jan 2, 2021 19:53:00 GMT -6

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Post by Danchat on Jan 2, 2021 19:53:00 GMT -6

Jan 2, 2021 18:25:48 GMT -6 @aussie61 said:

With salaries rising for offensive lineman,OTC estimates O'Neill is worth $12M.If the plan is to leave him at RT,he should get at least $10-$11M.If they want to move him to LT then the price will be much higher.

Good luck trying to figure out a contract with minimal cap space and a roster full of holes.

Decent linemen get paid,and if the Vikings don't pony up then O'Neill would be wise to play out the final year of his deal and go from there.Someone will pay him what he's worth.

Getting O'Neill extended should be a priority over most other players on the roster, and the money can put the expensive years of the deal onto 2023-2025 where we have little money being paid at the moment. Knowing how Spielman loves to extend his guys, I think there's a very high chance it gets done over the 2021 offseason. $11-12M sounds right to me.

Having a roster full of holes hasn't stopped Spielman from making extensions.

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Lock up O’Neill? Feb 1, 2021 13:35:34 GMT -6 Danchat likes this

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Post by Funkytown on Feb 1, 2021 13:35:34 GMT -6

PFF: Young offensive players who deserve early extensions

MIKE MCGLINCHEY, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
The 49ers have one of the longest lists of impending free agents in the NFL, which certainly may work against this early extension happening. After trading a 2020 fifth-round pick and 2021 third-round pick for star left tackle Trent Williams, PFF’s No. 5 2021 Free Agent, they likely need to first focus on retaining him.

Nevertheless, if San Francisco is interested in locking up both bookends along the offensive line, that could make sense as well. McGlinchey is a former top-10 pick, so it may be difficult to drive a hard bargain, but his 32nd-ranked 61.1 pass-blocking grade in 2020 was very pedestrian. On the other hand, his 90.9 run-blocking grade is in a league of its own — the next best is an 87.1, and only one other right tackle eclipsed 85.0 on the season.

The argument could be that he excels in the less valuable aspect of offensive line play and that he benefits tremendously from Kyle Shanahan’s run-dominant offense, though that’s likely why they brought him aboard in the first place.

It could also make sense if San Francisco wanted to get out ahead of the right tackle market a bit, with players like New Orleans Saints RT Ryan Ramczyk and Carolina Panthers RT Taylor Moton primed to sign gigantic extensions this offseason.

Contract Projection: Five years, $82.5 million ($16.5M APY), $50 million total guaranteed.

BRIAN O’NEILL, MINNESOTA VIKINGS
O’Neill fits the same mold as McGlinchey, except he’s slightly less dominant in the run game but comes with a higher floor in pass protection. He’s allowed 12 fewer pressures over the last two seasons on almost an identical number of pass-blocking snaps.

While this doesn’t necessarily have to impact individual negotiations, unlike McGlinchey’s situation in San Francisco where the 49ers may be shelling out huge money to Trent Williams, the Vikings may not have another offensive lineman on a veteran contract in 2021 if they choose to move on from left tackle Riley Reiff.

Contract Projection: Five years, $75 million ($15M APY), $42.5 million total guaranteed.

KOLTON MILLER, LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
Last but not least, Miller falls on the opposite end of the spectrum to McGlinchey and O’Neill. He offers little by way of run blocking (his best single-season run-blocking grade is 55.6) but has steadily developed into a strong blindside protector for Derek Carr.

When the Raiders made this pick at No. 15 overall in 2018, it was widely regarded as a reach on a developmental project. Well, a rookie-year 52.7 pass-blocking grade was followed by a sophomore-year 68.1 pass-blocking grade, and this season Miller took another big step, finishing the 2020 season with an 81.3 pass-blocking grade. He allowed 65 pressures in 2018, the most in the NFL among left tackles by 13, but he chopped that number by more than half to just 31 in 2020.

The trajectory and playstyle are somewhat reminiscent of Atlanta Falcons 2014 first-round left tackle Jake Matthews, who struggled in his first season but has since rattled off six straight 79.6-plus pass-blocking grades. He also only has one career run-blocking grade better than a 67.9. Las Vegas could be smart to lock Miller up long-term before he also starts rattling off quality seasons.

Contract Projection: Four years, $62 million ($15.5 million APY), $37.75 million total guaranteed.

Link:

www.pff.com/news/nfl-offensive-players-early-extensions-lamar-jackson-josh-allen-and-baker-mayfield

Longship
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Lock up O’Neill? Feb 1, 2021 14:06:16 GMT -6 Minniman likes this

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Post by Longship on Feb 1, 2021 14:06:16 GMT -6

In a franchise that didn't have a recent history of offensive line play that bordered on dysfunction, you'd sit down with O'Neill's agent and see how extending him compared to other options.

If you're the Vikings, you sit down with O'Neill's agent and hope that he has the professional courtesy to let you pretend that you have some other option besides paying whatever they're asking, short of a deal that makes you a league-wide laughingstock.

And that's because the Vikings are already going to end up replacing over half of their offensive line in the next 16 months, even if they retain O'Neill. If they can't retain him, the Vikings stand to end up trying to pull off the draw poker equivalent of producing a winning hand with 5 new cards.

Last Edit: Feb 1, 2021 14:07:51 GMT -6 by Longship

Minniman Moderator Posts: 13,640 Likes: 8,137	Lock up O’Neill? Feb 4, 2021 16:50:12 GMT -6 Longship likes this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Minniman on Feb 4, 2021 16:50:12 GMT -6 Time to lock up O'Neill? With what money?
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Lock up O’Neill? Feb 4, 2021 17:31:46 GMT -6 Minniman and legendsofthenorth like this

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Post by Danchat on Feb 4, 2021 17:31:46 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2021 16:50:12 GMT -6 Minniman said:

Time to lock up O'Neill? With what money?

It wouldn't be very hard to backload the deal - we have very little cap obligations past 2022. If it's a 5 year extension, you can spread the bigger hits to the later part of the deal. A reminder on Vikings' salaries:

2021: $197M
2022: $180M
2023: $116M
2024: $30M

The 2021-22 numbers are bad, no doubt, but there is room to get long-term guys like O'Neill under contract.

Last Edit: Feb 4, 2021 17:47:49 GMT -6 by Minniman

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Lock up O’Neill? Feb 4, 2021 23:44:52 GMT -6

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Post by Deleted on Feb 4, 2021 23:44:52 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2021 17:31:46 GMT -6 Danchat said:

It wouldn't be very hard to backload the deal - we have very little cap obligations past 2022. If it's a 5 year extension, you can spread the bigger hits to the later part of the deal.

That all sounds fine,but how would you construct the contract so that there are no big dead money hits in the later part of the contract?

And take in to account that players and agents want guaranteed money up front.

And then take in to account that O'Neill's agents are the same guys that represent Goff,Wentz and Bortles and the 3 teams that did those deals are regretting it. I know a right tackle contract isn't as big as a QB deal,but these agents play hard ball.

Oh,and also take into account the projected cap numbers for 2022 and beyond must be considered with a grain of salt until the Covid situation is well and truly fixed.

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Lock up O’Neill? Feb 5, 2021 11:40:14 GMT -6 via mobile Danchat likes this

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Post by wxman91 on Feb 5, 2021 11:40:14 GMT -6

Feb 4, 2021 23:44:52 GMT -6 @aussie61 said:

Feb 4, 2021 17:31:46 GMT -6 Danchat said:

It wouldn't be very hard to backload the deal - we have very little cap obligations past 2022. If it's a 5 year extension, you can spread the bigger hits to the later part of the deal.

That all sounds fine,but how would you construct the contract so that there are no big dead money hits in the later part of the contract?

And take in to account that players and agents want guaranteed money up front.

And then take in to account that O'Neill's agents are the same guys that represent Goff,Wentz and Bortles and the 3 teams that did those deals are regretting it. I know a right tackle contract isn't as big as a QB deal,but these agents play hard ball.

Oh,and also take into account the projected cap numbers for 2022 and beyond must be considered with a grain of salt until the Covid situation is well and truly fixed.

You are correct that we can’t afford a lot of up-front money, but there are ways around it. Let’s go with a 5/$70m extension. Go with a relatively low $10m signing bonus but a more aggressive set of guarantees ($21m fully guaranteed for a total of $31m guarantees).

Cap hits:

2021: Current salary + $2m SB
2022: $10m fully guaranteed + $2m SB
2023: $11m fully guaranteed + $2m SB
2024: $12m + $2m SB (dead cap $4m)
2025: $13m + $2m SB
2026: $14m