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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