What we're NOT hearing.....

That's what allowed them to make all those FA signings... it helped that Winston's $21M in 2019 was coming off the books. They were able to find a massive upgrade in Brady that cost a $28.3M hit on the 2020 cap, so only a $7M increase from Winston.

Whose fault is that for the Vikings? How much dead weight do the Vikings have on a 7-9 team?

And I am saying that the value added with Watson is more than the value of those picks.  Draft picks are great until you put a name to them and they end up being turds like Hughes, Bradbury and Gladney.  

You add Watson and you don't need to run to setup the pass, since you have a QB who can be successful without play action.  He completely changes the dynamic on this offense and you would see us compete with GB next season as the best offense in the NFL.  What 3 1st rounders are going to do that for us?

Cherry picking the bad draft choices? What about Jefferson, Cook, Kendricks, and Rhodes?  Giving up all of those first and second round picks doesn't look so good now. Considering the Vikings could have selected Thomas instead of Treadwell and Jackson instead of Hughes, the opportunity costs could be higher, but even with an odds on good pick analysis, three firsts and a couple seconds is just too much.


Watson had a better season than Cousins in 2020, but one could easily support the premise that Cousins had a better 2019 season by almost any passing metric, and how are the Vikings supposed to protect Watson with no high draft picks and no cap space to bring in free agents?

Vikings fans are saying about Watson now what they said about Cousins just a few short seasons ago: his cost is at market value; he is such an upgrade that it is worth it; he is the one player the Vikings need to take it to the next level. If Watson is such a difference maker, how come the Texans didn't win more with him at the helm? The Texans have one wild card win with Watson - the same as the Vikings with Cousins.

As a GM, I would trade Cousins because of his contract, but giving up the house and taking on an even larger contract is likely not the best option going forward.

It wasn't cherry picking as much as using the Viking's last 3 1st rounders.  Just as an FYI, I would give up Jefferson, Cook, Kendricks and Rhodes (in his prime) for Watson anyway.  The Texans would probably turn down that offer though.    

Watson, in his very first season as a full time starter, took his team to the playoffs with a good defense and good all around supporting cast.  His second season he took a lesser team with a terrible defense, but still a solid supporting cast on offense to the divisional round of the playoffs and went up 28-0 on the eventual SB champs before his D gave up 51 points. Last year there isn't a QB in the history of the NFL who could have gotten that particular Texans team to the playoffs. 

He is a dynamic passer who is great regardless of the system he plays in.  There are maybe 5 of those in the NFL today and it takes that level of QB to win it all most of the time.  That is why you give up the farm for him.  
 

You can add 1 more loss for Houston there.........

Tampa had several playoff games from 2001-2019, and winning a Super Bowl means winning playoff games.

Tampa Bay: Two Super Bowl Wins (2002, 2020)
Minnesota Vikings: No Super Bowl Wins

I'm not saying the Viking should have jettisoned all their players, but the team has players getting paid higher than value, and there are replacements out there to be had in the draft and free agency.