Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion

VikingsBoss
Ring of Honor

Posts: 5,259

Likes: 5,565

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Feb 19, 2024 12:35:22 GMT -6

Quote

Post by VikingsBoss on Feb 19, 2024 12:35:22 GMT -6

Feb 19, 2024 11:47:42 GMT -6 Dynalee10 said:

They would be fools to extend Davenpuss he is a clown and didn't even try to get back on the field and was laughing about it when asked if he was going to play . I think if he was on some previous Vikings Defenses and they heard that they would have pummeled him .

I am of two minds on that. It is truly frustrating that potentially getting paid $13 million wasn't enough to keep an ankle injury from ending his season...and delaying its start. However, he was a disruptive force in the few games he played.

He came to the Vikings on a 1 year, prove it deal. He proved he can't be relied upon. No team is going to give him more than the minimum. If the Vikings can be that team? Since he already counts more than you would like against the cap? I wouldn't be dead set against it. If he somehow got it in his head that this may very well be his last chance-maybe it would light the fire to get him on the field for even 9 or 10 games-which, again, for the minimum, knowing what he can do when healthy, would be better than just sucking up $7 million or so of dead cap.

On the other hand, I am not sure Marcus Davenport wants to play football, I think he is just a guy for whom football came easily so he does it, and when it gets hard, he doesn't love it enough to do what it takes to overcome it. Frustrating, but it happens, and he's made a lifetime's worth of money, so what does he care?

The Cardinals have knocked the Vikings out of the playoffs! NO!-Paul Allen, December 28th, 2003

Uncle
Content Creator

Posts: 7,787

Likes: 11,467

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Feb 19, 2024 13:07:55 GMT -6 Brandon likes this

Quote

Post by Uncle on Feb 19, 2024 13:07:55 GMT -6

Feb 19, 2024 12:35:22 GMT -6 VikingsBoss said:

He came to the Vikings on a 1 year, prove it deal. He proved he can't be relied upon. No team is going to give him more than the minimum.

If he agreed to the bare mimimum with little to no guarantees other than performance-based incentives (ie, the Vikings can cut him at any time w/ little to no dead cap, in addition to the $6.8m that's already on the '24 cap from last year's deal), then there's little risk/downside to signing him to that deal outside of him taking up a 90-man roster spot (until the roster is forced to be trimmed to 53 before the '24 season starts).

I'm assuming that he's going to hit the open market and see if another team will offer up a bit of guaranteed money, though. If no other team offers him anything more than that, then perhaps the Vikings would still be a good fit since they currently have little to no EDGE/OLB depth to speak of, so he's not competing for anyone for the EDGE2/OLB2 spot, other than possibly a 2024 rookie, if they draft one in the early rounds...

...and if they don't resign Hunter, heck, it's possible he could be getting EDGE1/OLB1 snaps.

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,549 Likes: 31,478 Fan Since: 1998	Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Feb 21, 2024 16:00:16 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Feb 21, 2024 16:00:16 GMT -6

Purple Pain
Hall of Fame Nominee

Posts: 8,733
Likes: 2,877

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Feb 22, 2024 10:58:14 GMT -6 FSUVike likes this

Quote

Post by Purple Pain on Feb 22, 2024 10:58:14 GMT -6

Brad Spielberger: Potential landing spots for top edge defenders

12. EDGE DANIELLE HUNTER, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Potential landing spot(s): Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars

Hunter has experience playing for Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, or he could shift back to more of a 4-3 base defense under new Jaguars defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen, though Nielsen will also cater to his personnel as he did with the Atlanta defense in 2023.

48. EDGE JOSH UCHE, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Potential landing spot(s): Los Angeles Rams, Minnesota Vikings

Uche can be the pass-rush specialist off the edge opposite rookie Byron Young, who got his career off to a great start in 2023, stepping up in obvious passing situations and chasing down the elusive quarterbacks of the NFC West.

Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores never coached Uche in New England but has an obvious connection there, and he’ll presumably still deploy a platoon defensive line unit that blitzes at one of the highest rates in the NFL, a good fit for Uche

59. EDGE ANDREW VAN GINKEL, MIAMI DOLPHINS

Potential landing spot(s): Minnesota Vikings, Philadelphia Eagles

Van Ginkel stepped up in the absence of several Dolphins edge rushers last season and returns to the Midwest, where he played college football at Wisconsin, also reuniting with former head coach Brian Flores, who drafted Van Ginkel in his first year in Miami.

Philadelphia may move on from Haason Reddick this offseason, and here we have Van Ginkel following defensive coordinator Vic Fangio from Miami. Van Ginkel just had a career year under his tutelage, so why not try to recreate that magic?

125. EDGE KYLE VAN NOY, BALTIMORE RAVENS

Potential landing spot(s): Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings

Van Noy to Carolina is not just about our hypothetical of Brian Burns leaving, but it also could fill a void left behind by off-ball linebacker Frankie Luvu, who was also a key cog in the Panthers' pass rush, bringing a similar overall skill set to Van Noy.

In Minnesota, Van Noy reunites with Brian Flores but also adds versatility, primarily lining up on the edge but also as a potential speller of undrafted free agent rookie Ivan Pace Jr.

127. EDGE MARCUS DAVENPORT, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Potential landing spot(s): Cincinnati Bengals, San Francisco 49ers

Cincinnati used its 2023 first-round pick on edge defender Myles Murphy and has other young players on the edge, but here the Bengals add a big athlete who can line up and rush from the inside, something they need more of whether or not they keep D.J. Reader around.

Davenport could become the latest student of the Kris Kocurek career rehabilitation school and has a similar profile to Arik Armstead if he doesn’t return in 2023, given his size allowing him to line up on the interior. This is an intriguing buy-low on a former first-round pick, something the 49ers love to do along the defensive line.

139. EDGE ANFERNEE JENNINGS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS

Potential landing spot(s): Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks

We’re going back to the Brian Flores connection here and prioritizing a good early-down run defender for a defense that needs help in that area.

Seattle’s edge defender unit earned one of the lowest grades in the NFL against the run, with a lot of smaller pass-rusher builds. Here, the Seahawks add an early-down run stuffer to the platoon.

141. EDGE D.J. WONNUM, MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Potential landing spot(s): Detroit Lions, Washington Commanders

Detroit may not want to make a big splash on the defensive line, perhaps prioritizing the secondary, but Wonnum can log a lot of snaps and we saw defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn jack up his blitz rate toward the end of 2023, which Wonnum is certainly comfortable with after his season in Minnesota.

Washington will likely sign multiple edge rushers this offseason, and we’ve mentioned the pass-rush specialist types above in Bryce Huff and Dorance Armstrong, but here they could add a three-down player who is solid all-around. Dan Quinn’s Cowboys had one of the deepest edge groups in the NFL, and we don’t expect that to change much.

Norse
Backup

Posts: 443

Likes: 327

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 1, 2024 8:43:57 GMT -6

Quote

Post by Norse on Mar 1, 2024 8:43:57 GMT -6

Not much talk about the offensive side of the ball.
Thoughts on what the OL could look like at the start of preseason.
What are the chances of Bradbury getting released before the deadline?
Would seem like now is our chance for a upgrade.

WIll Risner be back?

slapnut19
Hall of Fame Nominee

Posts: 9,415
Likes: 3,016
Member is Online

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 1, 2024 9:16:14 GMT -6 via mobile Norse likes this

Quote

Post by slapnut19 on Mar 1, 2024 9:16:14 GMT -6

Mar 1, 2024 8:43:57 GMT -6 Norse said:

Not much talk about the offensive side of the ball.
Thoughts on what the OL could look like at the start of preseason.
What are the chances of Bradbury getting released before the deadline?
Would seem like now is our chance for a upgrade.

WIll Risner be back?

it's a good free agent crop of guards and a couple centers. Is this the year where we can afford a legit upgrade on the interior oline?

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,549 Likes: 31,478 Fan Since: 1998	Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 7, 2024 15:37:17 GMT -6 via mobile Brandon and Norse like this Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Mar 7, 2024 15:37:17 GMT -6

Funkytown
Owner

Purple Pain Big Dog

Posts: 67,549

Likes: 31,478
Fan Since: 1998

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 7, 2024 19:02:22 GMT -6 via mobile Brandon and Norse like this

Quote

Post by Funkytown on Mar 7, 2024 19:02:22 GMT -6

Mar 7, 2024 18:41:15 GMT -6 Uncle said:

My only issue with just flatout releasing Bradbury is that he may have a bit of trade value to teams who run heavy zone-blocking, like the LAR. The Rams released backup OC Brian Allen earlier this offseason and their starting OC from 2023, Coleman Shelton, will be testing the free agent market.

Bradbury might have a bit of value to the Rams depending on how the free agent market shapes up - they would only be on the hook for Bradbury's base salaries in '24 & '25 ($4.7m & $4.9m, respectively) which is less than what PFF is predicting for Shelton on the open market ($5.3m AAV). The Rams are also slated to have a bag of compensatory Day 3 picks in the 2024 Draft and I'm sure a comp pick in the 5th or 6th would be fine for Kwesi to unload him vs just outright releasing him. I'm not sure if Tennessee is still running outside-zone heavy like they used to, but the Titans might be interested, too.

I would definitely look for an upgrade in free agency and/or the Draft, but I wouldn't release him outright as there could be a need for a few teams depending on how free agency shakes out.

Speaking of the free agent market, I know our OL Coach, Chris Kuper, probably has somewhat of a relationship with Broncos OC Lloyd Cushenberry III (who's one of the top free agenty OC's), but I'm not willing to pay what PFF predicts his contract would be: 4-yrs, $50m ($12.5m AAV) and $34.25m guaranteed. Cushenberry has had 1 good, overall year (2023) out of his first 4 and I wouldn't be willing to shell out $10m+ AAV on a player without some solid consistency.

Brandon
Team Captain

Enter your message here...

Posts: 1,656
Likes: 1,778

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 7, 2024 21:50:25 GMT -6 via mobile

Quote

Post by Brandon on Mar 7, 2024 21:50:25 GMT -6

Upgrading over Bradbury would be music to my ears. It would be nice if they could upgrade in the draft with a guy like Zach Frazier or Jackson Powers-Johnson, but that doesn't seem in the cards.

dougpaschal
Team Captain

Posts: 1,880
Likes: 488

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 8, 2024 8:45:36 GMT -6 via mobile

Quote

Post by dougpaschal on Mar 8, 2024 8:45:36 GMT -6

Center Garrett Bradbury has guided Vikings through QB, OL changes

How tricky is it to snap to multiple quarterbacks? Two of his fellow linemen who have played center in the past — David Quessenberry and Dalton Risner — say that there is a lot more going on between center and QB than meets the eye.

“It is very difficult,” Quessenberry said. “That is one of they key starting points for any offense is the center-quarterback exchange. The dynamic between those two is one of the most important things in the whole offense. Seeing him being able to do that with multiple quarterbacks and doing it at a high level and still getting everybody on the same page is a testament to the player he is.”

www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/vikings/center-garrett-bradbury-has-guided-vikings-through-qb-ol-changes

Last Edit: Mar 8, 2024 13:32:11 GMT -6 by dougpaschal

ratsalad All Pro Elite Posts: 2,985 Likes: 1,480	Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 8, 2024 8:58:29 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by ratsalad on Mar 8, 2024 8:58:29 GMT -6 Lloyd Cushenberry has to be the most british name in the NFL

Funkytown Owner Purple Pain Big Dog Posts: 67,549 Likes: 31,478 Fan Since: 1998	Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 8, 2024 10:33:38 GMT -6 via mobile Quote Select Post Deselect Post Link to Post Member Give Gift Back to Top Post by Funkytown on Mar 8, 2024 10:33:38 GMT -6 Hmm.

Uncle
Content Creator

Posts: 7,787

Likes: 11,467

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 8, 2024 10:53:19 GMT -6 Funkytown likes this

Quote

Post by Uncle on Mar 8, 2024 10:53:19 GMT -6

^"Whoever comes and gets me"? The comment doesn't sound like someone who's sticking around with his current team...

You really do have to wonder if he's looking at Ezra Cleveland level money - or more, since he "replaced him" in a sense - and perhaps, like Cousins, the Vikings aren't willing to "go there" with him...

When it comes to the LG spot in free agency, you're probably looking at these players:

- Conner Williams (Miami), played LG in Dallas and OC in Miami the last 2 yrs; suffered an ACL in Week 14 of '23 season though and his recovery timeline is up-in-the-air
- Damien Lewis (Seattle), has starting experience at both OG spots, but primarily played at LG for the 'Hawks
- Jon Runyan (Green Bay), has experience at both OG spots, but his play has slowly declined over the course of his first 4 years
- Johah Jackson (Detroit), solid run blocker but struggles in pass-pro (basically a poor-man's Ezra Cleveland)

There are a few others, but then you'd start to enter Tier 3 territory and players that probably won't be upgrades to Risner, and it's already a question if some of the players mentioned above are clear-cut upgrades over Risner.

It would be interesting if the Vikings signed both Lloyd Cushenberry III and Damien Lewis as they were both starting along the IOL for the 2019 LSU Tigers Championship Team, along with WR Justin Jefferson. Jay Ward and Ed Ingram were also backups for that team...

...there's a reason why some people out there nickname the Vikings, "LSU North"...

mikenessfan
Living Legend

Posts: 20,402
Likes: 2,561

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 8, 2024 11:00:38 GMT -6 via mobile

Quote

Post by mikenessfan on Mar 8, 2024 11:00:38 GMT -6

Risner not worth the contract Cleveland got even though it wasn’t huge. I wouldn’t mind him coming back, but at a deal that works for Vikings cap wise where they aren’t hurting their cap much at all.

slapnut19
Hall of Fame Nominee

Posts: 9,415
Likes: 3,016
Member is Online

Goal #1: Fix. The. Trenches. - OL & DL Discussion Mar 10, 2024 14:44:25 GMT -6 via mobile FSUVike likes this

Quote

Post by slapnut19 on Mar 10, 2024 14:44:25 GMT -6

I would target LG Simpson from Baltimore or Lewis from Seattle. Both around 330 lbs and good run blockers. Enough with the barely 300 LB guys like Cleveland and Risner