Post by Purple Pain on Jan 31, 2024 11:26:08 GMT -6
Purple Insider - Future of the Vikings, Part 8: The timeline
...
“Competitive rebuild”
It isn’t often that a general manager lays out the team’s plans in such a clear way as the “competitive rebuild” description provided by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. When Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022, the ownership wanted to give the 2021 roster another chance because the general feeling inside the building was that they were sabotaged by drama and dysfunction.
So they extended Kirk Cousins, added veteran Za’Darius Smith, brought back Patrick Peterson and took another swing with most of the Zimmer/Spielman roster. It started out in magical fashion with the Vikings destroying Green Bay in Week 1 and rolling to an 8-1 start that included a signature comeback against the Buffalo Bills. Reality set in during the second half of the season and the Vikings went 5-3 the rest of the way and then they came up short against the New York Giants in the opening round of the playoffs.
The prevailing question of whether the last-dance approach to 2022 was worth it wasn’t easy to answer. There were plenty of memorable moments but the Vikings ultimately produced a negative point differential and failed to advance past Wild Card Weekend. The goal was to compete for the Super Bowl, not be happy with a fun regular season. It would have been better for the long run if they began a long-term plan from Day 1.
Waiting to tear down the old to make room for the new resulted in a rocky 2023 season. The “rebuild” part really hit hard when they parted ways with Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Adam Thielen, Za’Darius Smith, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks and Dalvin Cook. A 4-4 start to the season made it seem as if splitting the difference might allow them to reach the playoffs and watch a bunch of young players emerge as quality starters. But Cousins’ torn Achilles threw a wrench in those plans. The backup quarterback play wasn’t good enough and eventually the thin defense fell apart with injuries.
The last two years have led the Vikings to a crossroads. The “competitive rebuild” has not put them in position to be Super Bowl favorites heading into 2024 even if they extend Cousins and do everything possible in free agency. But they have too much talent to tank in 2024 and plan to pick their next quarterback.
Is the answer to bring back Cousins on a two-year deal and hope to return to the postseason in 2024 and truly compete around draft picks and signings in 2025? Is it to draft a quarterback and find a bridge QB who can keep them in the mix for 2024 and then spend like crazy in the offseason prior to 2025 with the cap space created by Cousins’ exit?
If they retain Cousins, how will they fill all the current needs? In order to even fill out a starting lineup they must add: Edge rusher (x2), defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, No. 3 wide receiver, left guard, running back.
If they draft a quarterback and sign a bridge QB, what are realistic expectations for 2024? Would ownership be patient through another 7-10 season if it meant progress in the long run? “Competitive rebuild” sounds great until you hit the “rebuild” part.
When the brass took over and gave Cousins the shortest extension possible and then did not extend him again last offseason, it seemed that all roads were leading to the 2024 draft class. It would be a thematic move to spend their highest draft pick since 2015 on a QB but it’s possible that everyone was spooked by the 7-10 season in 2023 and is afraid of the pressure that might come along with another non-competitive year.
How the Vikings interpret where they stand within the “competitive rebuild” plan that was hatched from Day 1 will determine the entire direction of the franchise going forward. And we will have an answer by mid-March when they make a decision on Cousins’ future in purple.
It isn’t often that a general manager lays out the team’s plans in such a clear way as the “competitive rebuild” description provided by Kwesi Adofo-Mensah. When Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell took over in 2022, the ownership wanted to give the 2021 roster another chance because the general feeling inside the building was that they were sabotaged by drama and dysfunction.
So they extended Kirk Cousins, added veteran Za’Darius Smith, brought back Patrick Peterson and took another swing with most of the Zimmer/Spielman roster. It started out in magical fashion with the Vikings destroying Green Bay in Week 1 and rolling to an 8-1 start that included a signature comeback against the Buffalo Bills. Reality set in during the second half of the season and the Vikings went 5-3 the rest of the way and then they came up short against the New York Giants in the opening round of the playoffs.
The prevailing question of whether the last-dance approach to 2022 was worth it wasn’t easy to answer. There were plenty of memorable moments but the Vikings ultimately produced a negative point differential and failed to advance past Wild Card Weekend. The goal was to compete for the Super Bowl, not be happy with a fun regular season. It would have been better for the long run if they began a long-term plan from Day 1.
Waiting to tear down the old to make room for the new resulted in a rocky 2023 season. The “rebuild” part really hit hard when they parted ways with Peterson, Dalvin Tomlinson, Adam Thielen, Za’Darius Smith, Adam Thielen, Eric Kendricks and Dalvin Cook. A 4-4 start to the season made it seem as if splitting the difference might allow them to reach the playoffs and watch a bunch of young players emerge as quality starters. But Cousins’ torn Achilles threw a wrench in those plans. The backup quarterback play wasn’t good enough and eventually the thin defense fell apart with injuries.
The last two years have led the Vikings to a crossroads. The “competitive rebuild” has not put them in position to be Super Bowl favorites heading into 2024 even if they extend Cousins and do everything possible in free agency. But they have too much talent to tank in 2024 and plan to pick their next quarterback.
Is the answer to bring back Cousins on a two-year deal and hope to return to the postseason in 2024 and truly compete around draft picks and signings in 2025? Is it to draft a quarterback and find a bridge QB who can keep them in the mix for 2024 and then spend like crazy in the offseason prior to 2025 with the cap space created by Cousins’ exit?
If they retain Cousins, how will they fill all the current needs? In order to even fill out a starting lineup they must add: Edge rusher (x2), defensive tackle, linebacker, cornerback, No. 3 wide receiver, left guard, running back.
If they draft a quarterback and sign a bridge QB, what are realistic expectations for 2024? Would ownership be patient through another 7-10 season if it meant progress in the long run? “Competitive rebuild” sounds great until you hit the “rebuild” part.
When the brass took over and gave Cousins the shortest extension possible and then did not extend him again last offseason, it seemed that all roads were leading to the 2024 draft class. It would be a thematic move to spend their highest draft pick since 2015 on a QB but it’s possible that everyone was spooked by the 7-10 season in 2023 and is afraid of the pressure that might come along with another non-competitive year.
How the Vikings interpret where they stand within the “competitive rebuild” plan that was hatched from Day 1 will determine the entire direction of the franchise going forward. And we will have an answer by mid-March when they make a decision on Cousins’ future in purple.
...
How much time do they have?
Whether the Vikings can look down the road toward 2025 as a season to be back in contention depends on how much time ownership is willing to give the leadership. It was reported that Adofo-Mensah signed a four-year deal when he was hired, which is short by industry standard but the NFL is year-to-year for everyone in charge. In order to slow play the “competitive rebuild” the Wilfs would need to believe that the folks running the show can get them from Point A to Point B without trying to circumvent the process with free agency/trade hacks.
There are examples of teams buying into decision makers through thick and think and having it pay dividends. Kyle Shanahan’s tenure in San Francisco began with three of his first four seasons resulting in six wins or fewer. They have won 35 games in the last three years and return to the Super Bowl next week. Marvin Lewis twice rebuilt the Bengals around a young quarterback. Buffalo suffered a 6-10 season after making the playoffs in Sean McDermott’s first year and they have won the division around Josh Allen every year since.
The Vikings seem to have the strength within the walls of TCO Performance Center to push through ups and downs. The players have voted their culture in high regard when polled by the NFLPA and they have enough talent on offense to set up a rookie to succeed.
Trust and patience are not things billionaire owners are generally known for but it hasn’t been forever since this ownership saw a rebuild. The Vikings drafted Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 and went 7-9 and then quickly got back on track in 2015.
Can they buy that as a way forward? Or will fear of failing with a draft pick be too strong?
We will find out soon which way they choose…
Whether the Vikings can look down the road toward 2025 as a season to be back in contention depends on how much time ownership is willing to give the leadership. It was reported that Adofo-Mensah signed a four-year deal when he was hired, which is short by industry standard but the NFL is year-to-year for everyone in charge. In order to slow play the “competitive rebuild” the Wilfs would need to believe that the folks running the show can get them from Point A to Point B without trying to circumvent the process with free agency/trade hacks.
There are examples of teams buying into decision makers through thick and think and having it pay dividends. Kyle Shanahan’s tenure in San Francisco began with three of his first four seasons resulting in six wins or fewer. They have won 35 games in the last three years and return to the Super Bowl next week. Marvin Lewis twice rebuilt the Bengals around a young quarterback. Buffalo suffered a 6-10 season after making the playoffs in Sean McDermott’s first year and they have won the division around Josh Allen every year since.
The Vikings seem to have the strength within the walls of TCO Performance Center to push through ups and downs. The players have voted their culture in high regard when polled by the NFLPA and they have enough talent on offense to set up a rookie to succeed.
Trust and patience are not things billionaire owners are generally known for but it hasn’t been forever since this ownership saw a rebuild. The Vikings drafted Teddy Bridgewater in 2014 and went 7-9 and then quickly got back on track in 2015.
Can they buy that as a way forward? Or will fear of failing with a draft pick be too strong?
We will find out soon which way they choose…
... and neither is this Chris guy.