2018 Disaster Draft: The Minnesota Vikings

The Minnesota Vikings stand on the precipice of NFL greatness. While it took a Minneapolis Miracle to get them to the NFC Championship Game this year, their performance was not fluky at all. They get the return of phenomenal sophomore running back Dalvin Cook next year, and there are rumors they may upgrade their quarterback position by snagging Kirk Cousins out of free agency. Yes, as of right now, they have no quarterback on their roster. However, they sit on the precipice of greatness. A disaster draft does not come at the best time for the Vikes, but just like everyone else in Earth B, they have to protect sixteen players and subject the rest to being drafted. Who makes the cut?

Lost to Free Agency: Sam Bradford, Case Keenum, Teddy “Teddy Two Gloves” Bridgewater, Jerick McKinnon

 

The No Doubters:

Player POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Xavier Rhodes CB $13,400,000 $13,400,000 $12,900,000 $14,150,000 $13,850,000
Andrew Sendejo SS $3,500,000 $5,500,000 UFA
Harrison Smith FS $10,000,000 $10,750,000 $10,750,000 $10,250,000 UFA
Linval Joseph DT $8,050,000 $10,700,000 $13,300,000 $12,450,000 $12,500,000
Everson Griffen DE $11,600,000 $11,900,000 $13,900,000 $14,400,000 $15,500,000
Stefon Diggs WR $1,961,929 UFA
Adam Thielen WR $5,000,000 $5,000,000 $6,500,000 UFA
Kyle Rudolph TE $7,675,000 $7,625,000 UFA
Dalvin Cook RB $1,443,939 $1,732,727 $2,021,518 UFA

The strength of the Vikings stout roster is the defense. It’s not surprising, then, that five of the nine no doubters reside on that side of the football, and are the absolute core of the roster. Rhodes, Sendejo and Smith create the core of the defense, with Joseph and Griffen acting as disruptive forces up front. Without a quarterback under contract, the Vikings then turn to securing the weapons for the next signal caller as the no doubters that will stay with the squad. Diggs and Thielen are not only extremely talented, but extremely underpaid. Dalvin Cook is returning from injury, and Kyle Rudolph will be the next QB’s preferred red zone target.

 

The More-Than-Likely Staying:

Player POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Trae Waynes CB $4,118,663 UFA
Anthony Barr OLB $12,306,000 UFA
Eric Kendricks ILB $1,640,520 UFA
Riley Reiff LT $11,400,000 $11,700,000 $13,200,000 $13,950,000 UFA
Danielle Hunter DE $2,061,806 UFA
Sharrif Floyd DT $6,757,000 UFA
Latavius Murray RB $6,350,000 $5,600,000 UFA

I pretty much had to make sure that there was a break up between the defenders I wanted to keep, though Waynes, Barr and Kendricks are as close to roster protection locks as you can get. Riley Reiff’s contract says all you need to know about his value to the Vikings. Danielle Hunter and Sharrif Floyd work with Joseph and Griffen to keep that Vikings front strong and are strong parts of that defense. Latavius Murray is absolutely overpaid but is also Dalvin Cook insurance. The Vikes stand on the precipice, and losing their running back again would be a terrible way to go out. Mike Remmers could also go in that slot, and he is 16b. It might come down to money, as Latavius Murray could end up an Earth Prime cap casualty in the upcoming weeks.

 

The Leftovers: The players below are not wanted, and have been discarded to the wolves. Well, not the Timberwolves, but you get the idea. The Conquistadors and Arches can try to build their roster from the players below.

Player POS. 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Jarius Wright WR $4,760,000 $4,760,000 UFA
Mike Remmers RT $4,600,000 $6,350,000 $6,700,000 $7,250,000 UFA
Brian Robison DE $3,487,500 UFA
Laquon Treadwell WR $2,709,539 $3,161,132 UFA
Mackensie Alexander CB $1,177,174 $1,373,370 UFA
Kevin McDermott LS $925,000 $960,000 $1,105,000 UFA
Pat Elflein C $871,210 $1,043,710 $1,133,710 UFA
Ryan Quigley P $790,000 UFA
Jaleel Johnson DT $724,588 $814,588 $904,591 UFA
Ben Gedeon ILB $713,286 $803,286 $893,289 UFA
Blake Bell TE $705,000 UFA
Kentrell Brothers OLB $688,170 $778,170 UFA
David Morgan TE $663,864 $753,864 UFA
Jayron Kearse S $646,056 $736,056 UFA
Rashod Hill T $630,000 RFA
Stephen Weatherly DE $630,000 $720,000 UFA
Danny Isidora G $605,484 $695,484 $785,485 UFA
Stacy Coley WR $579,170 $669,170 $759,170 UFA
Aviante Collins T $560,000 $650,000 RFA
Tashawn Bower DE $560,000 $650,000 RFA
Eric Wilson OLB $558,333 $648,334 RFA
Kyle Sloter QB $555,000 $645,000 RFA
C.J. Ham RB $555,000 ERFA
Cornelius Edison C $555,000 $645,000 RFA
Storm Norton T $555,000 ERFA
Antwione Williams OLB $555,000 ERFA
Jack Tocho CB $555,000 ERFA
Shaan Washington ILB $481,666 $646,668 RFA
Brandon Zylstra WR $480,000 ERFA
Cayleb Jones WR $480,000 ERFA
Cedrick Lang TE $480,000 ERFA
Dieugot Joseph T $480,000 ERFA
Caushaud Lyons DE $480,000 ERFA
Ifeadi Odenigbo DE $480,000 ERFA
Horace Richardson CB $480,000 ERFA

 

About Jeff Krisko

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