The Minnesota Vikings are at a crossroads. Sitting at 4-4, too good to surrender on the season, too unhealthy to coast ahead as-is, the season-ending damage the Kirk Cousins has successfully sealed this workforce’s destiny in 2023 — or has it?
Coming earlier than the Soccer Courtroom docket right this moment:
Case 23-00851 “Ought to the Vikings commerce for a quarterback to avoid wasting their season?
Sure, the Vikings ought to save their season — James Dator
Minnesota made its choice in the course of the offseason to decide to a “aggressive rebuild.” That first half, “aggressive” can’t be deserted now simply because Kirk Cousins is finished for the 12 months. Because it stands this workforce doesn’t have an excellent possibility at QB, however they might simply flip a late-round decide for a participant who might get them into the playoffs.
That is much less about successful and shedding proper now, and extra establishing confidence for the longer term. Punting on 2023 now would ship a transparent message to Justin Jefferson that this workforce isn’t dedicated to successful in a critical manner — and getting their famous person locked up long-term is essentially the most important aspect to the way forward for this workforce.
It’s too late within the season to decide to a full tank. At 4-4 the workforce shall be locked, at greatest, into the No. 9 or No. 10 decide. They’re already in draft purgatory relating to discovering an elite quarterback, and they also may as nicely attempt to compete.
If we take a look at the NFC North, and the NFC as a complete, there’s an enormous hole to get into the playoffs and make noise. There aren’t many convincing groups within the convention, and even the most effective ones have been very inconsistent. Minnesota’s offensive firepower with Jefferson again within the fold is nice sufficient to shock, particularly with Jordan Addison rising as a respectable risk.
Long run the Vikings want to remodel their workforce. No person is arguing that they don’t want to really rebuild this workforce. Now isn’t the time ceaselessly. Save the season, construct some confidence, and see what you are able to do within the offseason to search out the quarterback of the longer term to construct for sustained success.
The Vikings have a possibility — Mark Schofield
“Nice moments are born from nice alternative.”
These had been the phrases of Herb Brooks, as portrayed by Kurt Russell within the Disney film Miracle. A movie that revisits the 1980 United States gold medal-winning hockey workforce.
What the Vikings have proper now is a chance.
They entered this season hoping to drag off a “aggressive rebuild,” an strategy outlined by basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and head coach Kevin O’Connell as a method of revamping the roster, whereas staying in playoff rivalry.
Via three quarters of Sunday’s recreation towards the Inexperienced Bay Packers, it appeared like they may really pull it off. Minnesota was main their division rivals within the fourth quarter and had been on the cusp of enhancing to 4-4 on the season. After their victory, they slid into the seventh spot within the NFC standings, and if the playoffs started right this moment, they’d face a visit to the Pacific Northwest to tackle the Seattle Seahawks within the Wild Card Spherical.
Nevertheless, that win got here at a value. Sunday fears had been confirmed on Monday when an MRI confirmed that Cousins had suffered a torn Achilles, ending his season.
Accidents are a horrible factor, and Cousins was taking part in at a really excessive stage previous to happening. However the Vikings must press on, and as O’Connell mentioned himself on Monday, “no one feels sorry for anyone on this league.”
However this offers Minnesota an opportunity to maneuver ahead with the “rebuild” a part of their preseason plan. Look across the quarterback panorama in the meanwhile. Is there an possibility on the market — an obtainable one at that — that is smart for Minnesota, given what the fee is likely to be? Jameis Winston? Trey Lance? Does buying and selling for a type of gamers and taking the time to rise up to hurry make sense?
What about signing a road free agent? Carson Wentz? Colt McCoy? Nick Foles? There’s a cause these gamers are nonetheless obtainable.
The Vikings have a possibility right here to judge Jaren Corridor whereas exploring choices to set themselves up for subsequent 12 months’s draft. This doesn’t should be a full tank, but when the fitting supply got here in for a participant like Danielle Hunter, including one other decide in 2024 is likely to be an excellent factor.
Even when, as Counsel Dator outlines, the Vikings are slotted into the center of the primary spherical, that’s not a foul place to be given the depth of this incoming quarterback class. Sure, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye are anticipated to be picked inside the first 5 alternatives, however it is a deep group. Different potential first-round picks embrace J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., Riley Leonard, and Bo Nix. Even when they find yourself selecting in the course of the primary spherical, they’ll have choices at quarterback.
Minnesota must profit from this chance. Seeing Cousins go does in a kick to the intestine, for certain. However it might in impact power the group’s hand. As an alternative of constructing a dramatic transfer at quarterback to salvage the season, use this second to judge what you’ve got in Corridor, make strikes that add some extra draft capital in 2024, and set the group up for the following few years.
The Verdict—Decide JP Acosta
Each Counsel Dator and Schofield have made superb factors concerning the potential the Minnesota Vikings must tear down or proceed to compete for a spot within the playoffs. As of proper now, the Vikings are holding the final spot within the playoffs and have video games towards the Falcons, Saints, Broncos and Bears arising. With out QB Kirk Cousins these video games positively turn into harder, however every are nonetheless winnable and may also help them keep the course that they’re on for the playoffs. I believe it does additionally imply one thing to the gamers within the locker room that the entrance workplace stays aggressive even with out the veteran QB. The roster nonetheless has expertise, and if NFL sack chief Danielle Hunter doesn’t get traded, they will actually make one thing shake.
Nevertheless, I do additionally consider that the marketplace for competent QBs proper now could be…naked to say the least. You’re realistically taking a look at buying and selling for guys like Jameis Winston, or possibly a Case Keenum reunion is within the works. After all, Jaren Corridor is unproven, however how sensible is a Winston or Keenum QB at protecting the Vikings within the playoff image? The free agent QB market is way worse, with Carson Wentz being on the high of the pile. Given the present panorama of QB play within the NFL, when you don’t have a type of guys, you may not be a playoff caliber workforce. So I additionally perceive the concept of packing it in for the season and getting a headstart on the rebuild.
Finally, I’m selecting to rule in favor of Counsel Dator, and the primary cause is that this: when you get previous the highest groups within the NFC, the final spot within the playoffs is vast open. Proper now, the Vikings maintain the 7 spot, however the Saints, Bucs, Rams and Commanders are actually the one competitors for it. None of these groups are particularly intimidating, so the Vikings can nonetheless put collectively a stretch run and make the playoffs. As well as, this QB class is one the place you’ll be able to presumably discover a man in the course of the primary spherical, and when you pair them with the offensive expertise they bought you may make one thing occur. I do know GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs a “aggressive rebuild”, however I vote for them nonetheless being aggressive.
