Vikings acquire WR Jalen Reagor From Eagles - Waive ISM

Which would you rather have:

$2M less cap space and lose a mid round pick.
OR
Hold your breath every time Smith-Marsette is standing under a punt.

While having the money would be nice, I would be terrified at watching ISM field punts. The spreadsheets will probably say the Vikings could have squeezed another $1M out of the punt return roster spot, but this is a situation where football need outweighs the math.

Given KAM's penny pinching elsewhere, I'm sure there was a cost benefit calculation done on other returners.

Ultimately even if the cost was higher than I'd like, I was so nervous about ISM returning punts, I can't bring myself to care about what amounts to about 0.8% of the salary cap.

In 24 starts out of 29 games he's played Jalen Reagor has never racked up more than 60 yards receiving in any game.

In his one start in his rookie year ISM went for 100 yards on 3 catches and a TD.

I'm not saying, I'm just saying.

Rick's inflexibile obsession with hoarding picks really never panned out.   His self-styled draft alchemy rarely turned lead into gold and the team suffered for it.


I don't know if they can "fix" anyone or not, but Garret Bradbury hasn't been with any other teams.  As much as I wish he was with some other team...

That is a valid question. Maybe he is being railroaded.

I am on record stating I liked the pick, but not all receivers can be punt returners. I was hoping for more from him.

Darren Wolfson reported today that the Vikings made the Jets the same offer for WR Denzel Mims that they did with the Eagles beforehand, and also contacted the Gaints (Darius Slayton probably), Dolphins, and Jaguars about trading for a receiver of theirs. One thing seems clear - since Bisi tore his ACL (and apparently was going to be the #4 over ISM), it was considered a must to fill the #4 WR spot, while there has been zero steam on acquiring a backup TE. O'Connell is dead-set on using 3+ WR sets and will not be using the backup TEs very often.

Some would suggest that being released despite his performance/pay might suggest something like that going on.  Evidence?  Some say where there's smoke there's fire.

Some folks are overthinking this. Did ISM line up at Outside WR in camp and in Preseason games? Yes. Did he perform well enough to feel good about him getting playing time if/when Thielen gets hurt?

Keenan McCardell, Wes Phillips, Kevin O'Connell and Kwesi together decided he was not. And they saw KJ struggle when asked to do the same thing.

So they went looking for someone that could. Reagor can also run gadget plays and go routes, which was ISM's strength. And return punts.

And there sits Nailor, someone with virtually the identical skillset to ISM. That McCardell also wanted badly even though he already had ISM.

From an analytics perspective why have 2 guys who have identical skillsets when those skills mean you have a lower ceiling?

The answer is that Minnesota expected to see more development from Smith-Marsette. But if he didn't show it they hedged their bet with Nailor.

Reagor doesn't replace ISM. He replaces Bisi with a significantly higher ceiling. Plus he can do everything ISM was slated to do in terms of punt returns, sweeps, screens, etc.

Nailor replaces ISM as a gadget guy, Slot only player that might develop into someone who can play outside as well. And if they don't like his improvement by next year's Draft I can guarantee you there will be a nearly identical player in the 5th or 6th Round to take.