FSUVike's Offseason Plan

Uncle , who is an absolutely essential part of this community, is going to provide some numbers he shared with me regarding how this fits the Cap.

First, Jor-El has talked me into the idea that KOC has decided he can't live without Kirk. I do believe Kwesi wanted flexibility and O'Connell was confident that he could identify and develop a successor for Cousins.

That belief was shattered when Kevin couldn't coach up Dobbs, Mullens or Hall to consistently do his 3 Big Things: hit your back foot and get the ball out with timing and accuracy to your primary read (1), whip through your progressions if the primary isn't an option (2), take what the Defense gives you if your secondary and tertiary targets are also not available (3).

Identifying any Rookie QB, no matter how talented, to learn this complex Offense AND do the 3 Big Things with consistency is no longer something I believe O'Connell thinks is possible.

Now, most coaches would adjust their gameplans and playcalling to assist a Rookie. Kevin didn't do that except for 2 plays for Hall against the Vikings most hated rival in a must win game.

So for the purposes of this exercise I'm saying he talks Kwesi into bringing Cousins back. Would I do it? Hell no. Fool me 6 times, shame on me. Kirk can win a Superbowl with Shanahan or McVay and a monster Defense. That ain't happening with O'Connell and Minnesota. But that's what I think happens.

Kwesi will give some BS statements about checking in on 'the guy' they really want in the Draft and the cost being prohibitive. About how the Locker Room and JJ feel about Cousins. Etc. But at the end of the day this is about Kevin needing Kirk.

So I'm thinking 3 years, with the first 2 being for a fully guaranteed 70 million. The 3rd year has an easy out if Cousins falls off a cliff.

This gives Kirk his much ballyhood 'structure'. KAM saves face because it's not more than what Cousins' Agent asked for last year. Kevin gets to keep his security blanket.

Let's please not use this thread to debate whether this will or even should happen. Let's just pretend it's a done deal, for better or for worse.

So that got me thinking (insert jokes). What can the Vikings do to fix the Defense if that happens?

First, they need to extend JJ and Hunter. But I'm totally not a Cap Guru. So I reached out to Uncle. Him and Jor-El and I go all the way back to Purple Thoughts. And I have tons of respect. Uncle crunched the numbers and will share them in this post.

But the bottom line is that Kwesi can extend Kirk, JJ and Hunter and still take a swing at a Tier 1 Free Agent. So who should that be?

Well, the CB Market is too thin. Johnson likely gets tagged by the Bears. Snead isn't worth breaking the bank for. Fuller is probably getting paid more for what he's done than what he will do.

I'm not sold on the Edges. Allen is likely staying with the Jags. Burns is good/not great and about to be paid like he's great.

But what about IDL? When was the last time the Minnesota Vikings had a legitimate great IDL? Kevin Williams? Jones will be too pricey. Madubuike has only had one really good year and the Ravens will likely tag him.

What about Christian Wilkins? Drafted by Brian Flores. The Dolphins Cap is trending towards being as bad as the Saints. So it's going to be very difficult for them to retain him. He's great against the run and has improved as a pass rusher every year.

Pair him with Hunter, Phillips stuffing the run (and never getting after the QB) and a Rookie Edge and now you are looking at getting consistent pressure without having to blitz all the time.

Uncle will provide the numbers, but believe it or not there's actually still room to sign another Free Agent. Someone like Chidobe Awuzie who's been a bit of a late bloomer.

Draft Dallas Turner or Jared Verse or Latu at #11 to pair with Wilkins and Hunter and beef up the talentless Cornerbacks Room with a Tier 2 Free Agent, and while the Defense still needs more CB help and depth, things are starting to turn around to the point that Minnesota can survive losing Flores after next year.

In the 3rd and 4th I look of IOL, RB and another developmental CB. Go WR3/4 shopping in the 5th.

In a weak NFC (outside of San Francisco) the Vikings can now compete for the honor of losing in the NFCCG. While maybe slowly developing a QBOTF behind Cousins.

That's all I got. Uncle will provide the numbers when he's ready.