Win-Now Mode

Lots of speculation that the Vikings need to win now for Zimmer and Spielman to keep their jobs. If the Vikings get two starters from this draft in 2021, and if they drafted many more with the potential to start in future years, isn't that a good draft strategy? Doesn't it show that the GM and the owners are not desperate to win now?

As noted, they signed a lot of free agents to one-year deals. And that made sense for both teams and players because the Cap is low this year and is expected to increase next year. A lot of players took less this year with the hope of getting paid next year.

Maybe their position is not that desperate. Maybe they are confident that they can rebound this year with a better defense. There are many unanswered questions on both offense and defense, but the team knows more than we do. They have a better idea about whether Hunter will be healthy and productive, and they know more about what to expect from 2nd year guys like Wonnum. I'm not saying the Vikings will be great on either offense or on defense. But both could be good, and that would be a huge improvement over the 2020 defense. And if the O-line does not suck in pass protection this year, the offense could be great. I see the Vikings as less desperate to win now than this article assumes, and not being desperate to win now is a good thing.

For the skeptics and realists on this board, yes, the O-line could suck in pass protection - especially if the rookies don't start or if they start and struggle. And the team could struggle if key players get injured. I still think the Vikings are not positioned to contend in 2021; I don't see their pass rush being elite, and I don't see the O-line holding up against teams with great pass rushes. For these reasons, a decent year would look similar to 2019. I just hope the O-line does not get crushed by the Packers, Bears, or 49ers.