It’s a dark time. Meaningful games are over and people far and wide are faced with the crippling reality of having to deal with the real world sans their football fix. Sure, baseball starts soon but it’s, at best, sports methadone that cannot compare. As I continue to chase that dragon, it leads me to look towards the offseason team building of my favorite franchise. Let’s explore.

Free Agency

According to Over the Cap, the Minnesota Vikings have around $55 million in cap space, 7th most in the NFL. This is not a final number and can expand with contract restructures and other devil magic from Viking’s cap Jesus and living embodiment of the singularity, Rob Brzezinski. This will allow me to play fast and loose with my predictions.

Baseless Prediction #1 – The Biggest Vikings FA Signing Will Be a Safety

We all saw how the past season ended. It was clear this team was lacking in the interior trenches, both sides. You’d think that would lead me to predicting a Trey Smith or Milton Williams. Maybe you’d say, ‘the only corners currently under contract are Mekhi Blackmon and UDFA Dwight McGlothern, they should be targeting D.J. Reed!’ Oh you sweet baby smooth brained sheep. Sure, all of those options would fill a need but both will be addressed but none of them will be the Vikings biggest free agent splash. That honor will go to Miami Dolphins safety, Jevon Holland.

Now why, after making a reasonable case for at least 3 other positions, would I go in this direction? I could say it’s because I’m a genius voice of my generation and any peasant thoughts that are not my own should be taken as seriously as a TikTok stars meme coin, but I won’t. Instead, we will just look at the facts, starting with the state of the safety position group.

Harrison Smith is a legend, indisputable. He very well may be back and I think he will be. His previous running mate, Cam Bynum, is about to get his bag. I love Bynum. Anyone who likes fun can have no other feelings toward the man. The amount of money Mr. Bynum will command is more than the Vikings should spend when for a few million more a year they can upgrade to Holland. Even if Smith doesn’t come back, Theo Jackson is a restricted FA and will be back at a reasonable rate. Pairing either of them with Holland would elevate that group exponentially. Kwesi is the GM but he does not rule with an iron fist. He’s smart and listens to his coaches. Brian Flores is not only a top tier defensive coordinator, he is also an incredible evaluator of talent. Look no further than last years free agent signings of Blake Cashman, Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel. The latter being a former player for Coach Flores in Miami. He knew what he had in Van Ginkel and made sure to bring him into the fold. Flores also drafted Holland in his final season with Miami. He knows what he has in him as well. You could argue that other positions should be addressed first but with Holland, you get a far and away upgrade over the second tier of players at the other positions of need.

Baseless Prediction #2 – They Let Byron Murphy Jr. Walk

Murphy was phenomenal last season. I would love to have him back. I just don’t want him back at around 17+ million a year, which is what PFF is currently projecting. I would much rather have Chavarius Ward and Nate Hobbs. You could get both players for about the same price as Murph. Ward had a down year in San Francisco but there was a lot of stuff going on off the field that surely, and understandably, contributed to that. I see Ward as a better player than Murphy and he should be cheaper. This would allow them to bring in a guy like Hobbs or even reup Shaq Griffin. Either would be fine as a number 3 corner and relatively cheap, maybe 5 mil a year. I’d rather have Ward straight up over Murphy but if it also allows the signing of Hobbs or Griffin for the same total amount, that’s a no brainer. A top 3 CB room of Chavarius Ward, Mekhi Blackmon and Shaq Griffin/Nate Hobbs/Dwight McGlothern? That fills me with feelings I think people refer to as joy.

Baseless Prediction #3 – All 3 Interior Offensive Line Positions Are Not Currently On the Roster

The final two games of the season proved this position group requires a complete overhaul. Luckily, there are plenty of options in free agency. I don’t see the Vikings spending 20+ million on Trey Smith. Sure, he’s easily an upgrade over either guard spot but for a little more you could upgrade all 3 interior spots. You could sign G Mekhi Becton for around 9 mil, C Drew Dalman for around 12 mil and a long in the tooth veteran like Kevin Zeitler or Brandon Scherff for around 6 mil. Cutting Bradbury would add another 3 or so mil in cap space. James Daniels is also a possible low risk high reward option as a 27 year old who is coming back from an Achilles injury. With so many options, I would much rather spread that money around to upgrade everywhere. The Vikings are set at both tackle spots and with these additions, they would have one of the most formidable offensive lines in the league. Something the front office would surely value considering…

Baseless Prediction #4 – Sam Darnold Will Not Be Brought Back

I won’t go too in depth on this one. I’ve already done that here. J.J. McCarthy will be the Vikings starting quarterback next year. Whether the national media or various sects of the fanbase understand that or not, it’s what’s happening. The only question that remains is if they franchise tag Sam and trade him. This would obviously require knowledge that a team like the Raiders or Rams (if Stafford retires) would be willing to part with draft picks, but regardless, he will not be the Vikings starting QB next year. Again, if you have further questions regarding this situation, go here.

Baseless Prediction #5 – The Vikings Will Not Break the Bank on a Defensive Tackle

Okay, relax. This does not mean they will not sign an improvement at this position of great need. It only means they will not sign a Milton Williams or Osa Odighizuwa. This upcoming draft is flush with two of Minnesota’s biggest needs, DT and RB. We can get into the draft later, and we will, but taking advantage of this glut of talent at these positions of necessity is how the organization will approach this. The most I can see them spending would be on a guy like B.J. Hill and even that seems like too much. Drafting someone and pairing them with a vet like Calais Campbell or Poona Ford seems far more likely.

Baseless Prediction #6 – Aaron Jones and Cam Akers Both Return

This is far less sexy but seems like a forgone conclusion. Aaron Jones is not the future but he was still really great for most of the year. KOC has traded for Cam Akers TWICE so zero chance they let him leave again. We should all strive to find someone who feels the way KOC does about Akers. The purest of loves. Anyways, this is not the end of the answer to a piss poor run game, just the beginning. The upgrades I previously proposed to the interior of the offensive line would help but they will also be drafting their RB of the future. As mentioned, this draft is stupid deep at running back. Even with the pathetic amount of draft capital, they can grab a difference maker who isn’t asked to carry the full load with these other two veterans in the fold.

Conclusion

All of these things will clearly come to fruition. Mark them down, tag Old Takes Exposed, do what you have to do. I am Neo in the Matrix, I see the code, I am the prophet. I’m also very excited to see how this offseason shakes out. The Vikings locked up KOC and somehow get to keep Brian Flores because the rest of the league is stupid and afraid of Roger Goodell. They have the cap space to make all these moves and more. They may not have the draft picks trading back out of 24 could net them a respectable amount of selections in a draft that is deep but not top heavy. The future is bright, my friends. Let the offseason begin.