DAILY CLIPS

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2020

LOCAL NEWS: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Pioneer Press

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer: You can never have too many pass rushers By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/01/vikings-coach-mike-zimmer-you-can-never-have-too-many-pass-rushers/

Tackle agrees to restructure contract and remain with Vikings By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/09/01/tackle-riley-reiff-agrees-to-restructure-contract-and-remain-with-vikings/

Star Tribune

Riley Reiff reworks contract to remain with the Vikings By Ben Goessling https://www.startribune.com/reiff-remains-with-the-vikings-under-a-reworked-deal/572286562/

Beyond virus, Vikings managing an array of on-field crises By Jim Souhan https://www.startribune.com/beyond-virus-vikings-managing-an-array-of-on-field-crises/572290622/

Yannick Ngakoue likely to be on right side of Vikings' defensive line By Andrew Krammer https://www.startribune.com/yannick-ngakoue-likely-to-be-on-right-side-of-vikings-defensive-line/572290742/

The Athletic

Vikings Mailbag: Yannick Ngakoue’s arrival, state of the O-line and more By Arif Hasan https://theathletic.com/2036108/2020/09/01/vikings-mailbag-yannick-ngakoue-riley-reiff-ifeadi-odenigbo-offensive- line/

SKOR North

Change of heart: Riley Reiff reportedly will agree to restructured deal with Vikings By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/2020/09/change-of-heart-riley-reiff-reportedly-will-agree-to-restructured-deal-with-vikings/

Purple Insider

Harrison Smith is on a Hall of Fame path By Matthew Coller https://purpleinsider.substack.com/p/harrison-smith-is-on-a-hall-of-fame

NATIONAL NEWS: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

ESPN

Source: Riley Reiff to stay with , starts working on restructured deal By Courtney Cronin https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29787500/source-riley-reiff-stay-minnesota-vikings-starts-working-restructured- deal

Associated Press

What’s the rush? QB pressure has been priority in NFC North By Dave Campbell https://apnews.com/4efa4a3e78cc8fc5ee8c9abdc0d71849

Maven Media

Riley Reiff Staying With Vikings on Restructured Contract By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/riley-reiff-staying-with-vikings-restructured-contract

Vikings Land Seven Players on ESPN's Top 100 Ranking By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/vikings-land-seven-players-espn-top-100-ranking

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Training Camp Highlights | Tuesday, September 1 By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/training-camp-highlights-tuesday-september-1

Rapoport: Vikings Finalizing New Deal With Riley Reiff By VEN https://www.vikings.com/video/rapoport-vikings-finalizing-new-deal-with-riley-reiff

Vikings Preparing for Week 1 By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=a8a7abb3-382a-4839-a04b-724b4abc1632

Reiff will Stay By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=e3e1ed3e-4559-44ea-a45c-db45ccba4155

O-Line Looks to Improve By WCCO http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=114d98ef-e8dc-420f-8007-ee3a97a1d414

Reiff Restructured Deal to Stay with Vikings By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=7529ce17-7331-4ae1-9eee-e4e8b7225ccb

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK NEWS: Wednesday, September 2, 2020

Camp Rewind: Vikings Corners Leave Solid Impression By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/camp-rewind-vikings-corners-leave-solid-impression

Presser Points: Zimmer on Evaluations During 'Different' Preseason By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/mike-zimmer-on-evaluations-during-different-preseason

Lunchbreak: Vikings Defense 'Trending Up' After Yannick Ngakoue Trade By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-vikings-defense-trending-up-after-yannick-ngakoue-trade

10 Vikings Potential X-Factors in 2020: Mike Hughes By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/10-vikings-potential-x-factors-in-2020-mike-hughes

Tune Into 'U.S. Bank Stadium Vikings Replays' This Sunday on FOX 9 By Vikings Digital https://www.vikings.com/news/us-bank-stadium-replays-fox-9

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/2/20

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer: You can never have too many pass rushers

By Dane Mizutani

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer has become a meme of sorts on NFL Twitter thanks to his go-to phrase, “You can never have too many cornerbacks.”

That apparently applies to pass rushers, too, something the Vikings proved this week by trading for the uber-talented Yannick Ngakoue.

“Our philosophy defensively has always been, ‘We want guys who can cover and guys who can rush,’ ” Zimmer said. “The way the league is right now with the spread offenses, and throwing the football, and things like that, I think those things are important.”

That’s been a calling card for Zimmer throughout his tenure in the Twin Cities as his defenses have always been equipped with multiple players who can wreak havoc off the edge. What started with Everson Griffen and Brian Robison got taken to another level with the emergence of over the past few seasons.

“It makes both sides account for them,” Zimmer said. “If you have one guy there, they chip him and use a to block, or a running back to block. If you’ve got two guys there, they keep a little bit more in protection. It ends up singling guys and then we get more favorable match-ups.”

In that sense, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that the Vikings were so motivated to add Ngakoue to the roster. Especially after Griffen signed with the Dallas Cowboys last month.

“He’s a guy that has had a lot of statistics as far as forced fumbles and sacks,” Zimmer said. “He’s another pass rusher to add to our group, so we’re excited to have him.”

It remains to be seen where Ngakoue will play on the defensive line. Asked that exact question on Tuesday, Zimmer quipped, “Is it OK if I just see him at practice for a day?”

DECISIONS, DECISIONS As cut day looms over the weekend, the Vikings will be forced to make some tough decisions without the benefit of game film.

It’s a tough situation with no preseason games. That usually gives players a chance to make a name for themselves and the coaching staff a chance to make assessments in an actual game setting.

Instead, the Vikings will be forced to trim their roster with nothing more than a dozen or so practices and a few instrasquad scrimmages.

“We have 15 draft picks, so that factors into the equation, as well,” Zimmer said. “You don’t want to give up on a guy too soon.”

PACKERS PREPARATION With the season opener looming in a couple of weeks, the Vikings have yet to start preparation for the rival Green Bay Packers, their Sept. 13 foe. They will continue to focus on some of the fundamentals this week and build up to an actual game plan next week.

“It’s important that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves,” Zimmer said. “Let’s focus on us right now and then we can start worrying about Green Bay as we get closer to next week. There’s a fine line of getting (players) the game plan and them getting a little stale with it too early. We want to be prepared, so we’ll work a little extra on it. Not too much more than normal.” PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/2/20

Tackle Riley Reiff agrees to restructure contract and remain with Vikings

By Chris Tomasson

After missing three practices, Vikings left tackle Riley Reiff is expected to be back on the field soon with a restructured contract.

A source confirmed that the Vikings reached a deal Tuesday to keep Reiff with the team. Reiff had been told early this week he would be released if he did not agree to take a pay cut, and was given a deadline of Tuesday to make a decision.

The Vikings excused Reiff from practices Sunday and Monday to give him time to think about it. His deal was not finalized in time for him to practice Tuesday.

Terms of the restructured contract were not available for Reiff, who had been on the books to make a base salary of $10.9 million in 2020. Reiff had a salary-cap number of $13.2 million, and the Vikings would have created $10.9 million space had he been released.

The Vikings needed to clear cap room to sign defensive end Yannick Ngakoue and have enough space to start the season Sept. 13 against Green Bay.

Ngakoue was acquired Monday from Jacksonville after he agreed to sign a one-year, $12 million deal, a significant cut from the one-year, $17.778 million franchise tag the Jaguars had placed on him.

The Vikings have a roster exemption on Ngakoue while he goes through coronavirus protocols. Salary-cap analyst Jason Fitzgerald had estimated the Vikings, who entered the week with $12.2 million of cap room, needed to clear about $4 million.

The Vikings won’t practice Wednesday. Ngakoue is expected to practice Thursday for the first time with Minnesota, and Reiff also is expected to be on the field.

“(Reiff’s) a good team guy,” said former Vikings head coach Mike Tice, a longtime offensive line coach. “And that’s a credit to the team because he sees they can have a really good season. I’m sure he wasn’t 100 percent happy. Who is when you have to take a pay cut? But he gets what it’s all about.”

Reiff, entering his ninth season, signed a five-year, $58.75 million contract with Minnesota in 2017. He has been a captain each of the past three yeas.

“(He’s) a key part of the team, to this offense, to that offensive line room,’’ said Vikings receiver . “Honestly, I was talking to some of the younger guys the other day about when he first came here, he kind of changed the culture of that offensive line room, and it just kind of just trickled down from there. (The linemen are) such great leaders and hard workers, and it really started with him when he first got here, so I’ve got so much respect for that guy.”

Tuesday’s move keeps intact an offensive line that also features Dakota Dozer at left guard, at center, Pat Elflein at right guard and Brian O’Neill at right tackle. Had Reiff been released, the Vikings would have faced the challenge, 1 1/2 weeks before the opener, of moving O’Neill to left tackle and inserting at right tackle.

Even with Reiff, Minnesota’s line has faced scrutiny. Pro Football Focus ranks it as just the 23rd-best line in the NFL after rating it No. 19 in 2019. Tice said last week the line is well suited for the run game but he has concerns about it in pass blocking.

“Dalvin (Cook) helps a lot in the run game,’’ said Vikings offensive line coach Rick Dennison “Obviously, a great player. But I think we do a good job in both. We’re learning. We’re trying to keep developing our skills both in run and pass, and I think guys have taken great strides toward getting better.’’

The Vikings last March released starting right guard Josh Kline in a salary-related move. But they drafted Boise State’s in the second round and moved him from tackle to guard because Dennison said the Vikings want to utilize his length inside.

Put it all together, and Dennison believes the Vikings will have a better offensive line than in 2019.

“I think a year underneath (their belts), everybody’s trained hard, they know what to expect,” Dennison said. “Obviously, we have to go out and perform, but I think we’ll take a good step.’’ PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/2/20

Riley Reiff reworks contract to remain with the Vikings

By Ben Goessling

After a tense 24 hours where it appeared the Vikings might be remaking their offensive line again, they will head into the season with their starting left tackle still on the roster.

Riley Reiff agreed to a restructured contract that will keep him in Minnesota, NFL sources confirmed on Tuesday afternoon, a day after Reiff took time away from the team to consider his options. The terms of the contract have not been announced.

The Vikings, who had just over $200,000 in salary cap space after Sunday’s trade for defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, approached Reiff with a reworked contract that would help the team clear cap room. It’s believed the new deal will have some guaranteed money for Reiff, who had none in 2020 while initially scheduled to count $13.2 million against the cap.

The 31-year-old tackle begins his fourth season in Minnesota, after signing a five-year, $58.5 million deal in 2017 to replace at left tackle. He’s been a team captain who, according to wide receiver Adam Thielen, has helped set a tone in the Vikings’ locker room.

“A key part to this team, to this offense, to that offensive line room,” Thielen said via videoconference Tuesday. “Honestly, I was talking to some of the younger guys the other day about when he first came here, he kind of changed the culture of that offensive line room, and it kind of just trickled down from there. Those guys are so fun to be around. They’re such great leaders and hard workers, and it really started with him when he first got here, so I’ve got so much respect for that guy.”

Until the deal was completed early Tuesday afternoon, the Vikings were preparing for the possibility they’d start the season without Reiff. He was one of several veterans to sit out practice on Sunday. Brian O’Neill worked at left tackle then and practiced in Reiff’s normal spot again on Monday, when Reiff reportedly told teammates he expected he would be released.

When asked about Reiff possibly leaving two hours before news of the deal leaked to national media, offensive line coach Rick Dennison said: “Well, I think certainly it’s a challenge I think we can meet. We have a lot of talented players. We’ll just have to see what happens.”

He added that he was sure head coach Mike Zimmer and general manager Rick Spielman would “put us in the best possible situation we can.”

In the end, continuity won out for Reiff, whose search for a new team less than a week before the season starts would have been complicated by the fact players have to pass a series of COVID-19 tests before entering a club’s practice facility.

Ngakoue, who was traded from Jacksonville to Minnesota on Sunday and agreed to a one-year, $12 million deal, won’t practice with the team for the first time until Thursday. The Vikings gave players a day off on Wednesday.

Keeping Reiff also means the Vikings, who already have one new starting guard (likely ) and another starter (Pat Elflein) switching sides of the line, won’t have to reshuffle their starting five any further.

They drafted Ezra Cleveland with the 58th overall pick in April, with Spielman saying at the time Reiff would “hold down the fort” at left tackle until the Vikings saw what they had. Cleveland, though, has worked as a guard during training camp.

Dennison said Cleveland’s work at Boise State shows “he’s got great feet, great balance, but he likes smaller spaces.” He didn’t say Cleveland would necessarily stay at guard all year, but admitted playing left tackle could be a tall order for a rookie without a full offseason to get ready.

Dennison noted he had a left tackle out of Boise State, Ryan Clady, step in a rookie in 2008 with the Broncos, but Dennison had all the usual OTAs and minicamps to work with him.

“He was a special athlete with great length,” Dennison said of Clady. “So I think that is a lot. We felt very comfortable having Ezra working outside and then he may develop and do different things. I know he’ll develop and he’ll be a great player at some point.”

The Vikings will likely go into the season with Reiff, Dozier, Garrett Bradbury, Pat Elflein and O’Neill, from left to right, with veteran swing tackle Rashod Hill sticking around. Hill traded first-team snaps at right tackle this week with second-year man , as the Vikings worked through their options in the event Reiff decided not to accept a restructured deal.

Reiff was not present during the open portion of practice on Tuesday, as his deal was finalized about an hour before the Vikings took the field. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/2/20

Beyond virus, Vikings managing an array of on-field crises

By Jim Souhan

The Vikings are a good team. They have been for years.

They haven’t had a losing record since 2014, Mike Zimmer’s first season as head coach, and even then they went 7- 9 while breaking in a rookie quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater, who was forced into action by an injury to Matt Cassel.

The Vikings should be good again in 2020. And if they are, they will deserve some kind of award for crisis management. The trophy could be a gold statue of Stefon Diggs faking a cough.

Tuesday, the Vikings restructured the contract of left tackle Riley Reiff after reportedly threatening to release him. That news broke after Zimmer proclaimed that his team would be fine without Reiff, because backup tackle Rashod Hill is 10-5 as a starter.

By this logic, we should go back to 1998 and give Chuck Evans more credit. He went 8-0 as a starter for the Vikings that year, yet received zero votes for NFL MVP.

In March, the Vikings traded Diggs, the star receiver, to the Buffalo Bills for draft picks.

In April, the Vikings drafted a slew of players they expect to contribute immediately, including Diggs’ replacement, , not fully knowing that the youngsters would prepare for their first NFL season without benefit of a typical offseason or training camp.

In July, nose tackle Michael Pierce, the Vikings’ most important free agent signing, opted out of the 2020 season because of health concerns.

In late August, the Vikings traded two draft picks for Jacksonville pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, then forced Reiff to take a pay cut to create wiggle room under the salary cap. When they acquired Ngakoue, Ifeadi Odenigbo, whose starting job Ngakoue took, tweeted “Fools gold.”

The Vikings also spent August failing to reach agreement on a contract extension with star running back , around whom they have built their offense despite making the second-highest paid quarterback (by some metrics) in the NFL.

The Vikings also lost talented offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski, who became head coach of the Cleveland Browns, and defensive coordinator George Edwards, who joined the Dallas Cowboys. Edwards is not considered much of a loss; Stefanski is, but is being replaced by veteran coach Gary Kubiak.

This is the timeline of a football crisis within a national health crisis. Without a normal offseason or training camp, and without preseason games, the Vikings will be trying to douse fires at a handful of key positions, including:

• Defensive end: The great Danielle Hunter hasn’t practiced in full since Aug. 16. Ngakoue is just arriving. Concern level on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the highest: 2. The Vikings have had any number of defensive coaches, from Floyd Peters to John Teerlinck, who pretty much told their ends to “meet at the quarterback.” Hunter, Ngakoue and Odenigbo will be fine, presuming Hunter is healthy.

• Running back: Cook can’t be happy about his contract situation. He also can’t afford to hold out. Concern level: 2.

• Offensive line: Reiff’s new contract means concerns for this unit shifts to the guard position. Can Pat Elflein rebound? Can Dakota Dozier do the job? Concern level: 8.

• Cornerback: Mike Hughes, , and Holton Hill are young and talented and could get torched early in the season. But a strong pass rush, excellent safeties and Zimmer’s coaching could help them adapt. Concern level: 6 — they may not be ready, but they’ll be better than a worn-down Xavier Rhodes was last year.

• Defensive tackle: Pierce was supposed to replace Linval Joseph. Now the Vikings hope Shamar Stephen, Jaleel Johnson, and can fill the hole. Concern level: 6.

• Receiver: Adam Thielen is a star and Jefferson should eventually become one, and , Alexander Hollins and could bridge the gap, with Irv Smith becoming a bigger part of the offense at tight end. Concern level: 4.

• Coordinator: Zimmer and Andre Patterson should continue to work well together and Kubiak is one of the game’s most highly-respected coaches. Concern level: 1. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/2/20

Yannick Ngakoue likely to be on right side of Vikings' defensive line

By Andrew Krammer

During his first public comments about his new defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer declined to say where Ngakoue will line him up, but the answer might be obvious.

Putting Ngakoue in Everson Griffen’s old spot on the right side would let one of the NFL’s best strip-sack artists keep rushing passer’s blindsides.

Ngakoue’s 14 forced fumbles trail only three NFL defenders — Arizona’s , Chicago’s Khalil Mack and Pittsburgh’s T.J. Watt — since he entered the league in 2016.

Asked about Ngakoue’s supreme ability to force fumbles Tuesday morning, Zimmer said co-defensive coordinator Andre Patterson can help Ngakoue “add to his game.”

“When that happens, guys are aware of where the quarterback is with the football,” Zimmer said via videoconference. “A lot of times, it’s coming from the [blindside], where you can reach around. He’s got some really good pass-rush moves, but we think we can add to his game a little bit with some of the other ones with Andre. Hopefully, that can help. But, obviously the more fumbles we create, the better it is.”

Off the field, Vikings leadership preaches the importance of “culture” in the locker room, and Zimmer turned to new senior defensive assistant Dom Capers for information on how Ngakoue would fit the team. Capers had the same role with Jacksonville last season.

“Not only as a football player, but as a person,” Zimmer said, “and if he would fit in right with the culture that we have here. So yeah, [Capers] was another factor.”

NFL nearing season’s testing plan

In a conference call with reporters on Tuesday, Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said the league is close to finalizing the testing protocols leading up to game day. The NFL season starts on Sept. 10, and the current NFL-NFLPA agreement on daily COVID-19 testing runs through this week.

The league is “very fortunate,” said NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, to have had relatively few positive COVID-19 cases among teams so far. According to Sills, four new confirmed positives among players and six among other personnel were recorded from Aug. 21 through Aug. 29.

Players with a “false” positive test on Saturday could now play on Sunday, as the NFL has changed protocols to allow players to return sooner than 24 hours if rerun and point-of-care tests both come back negative. Previously, a 24-hour wait for another test was required.

‘What we’re good at’

Zimmer canceled Wednesday’s practice, giving the players rest and the coaching staff time to evaluate how the offense, defense and special teams have come together during 15 practices in the last 19 days.

The game plan hasn’t yet been given to players for the Sept. 13 opener against Green Bay, according to Zimmer, who said the current priority, without a preseason, is self-evaluation.

“It is different, but I feel like we’ve had enough time to prepare,” Zimmer said. “What we need to start doing now is, after [Tuesday], just start figuring out exactly what we’re good at and then kind of go in that direction in all three phases.”

Defensive end Danielle Hunter remained sidelined Tuesday, going inside with strength coach Mark Uyeyama after warmups. Defensive end and linebacker (PUP) also did not practice.

Thielen, the ‘old guy’

Receiver Adam Thielen, 30, is the elder in the Vikings receiver room by about four years, which he said has been a “cool dynamic” as he shares his experiences on and off the field.

“It helps me stay young,” Thielen said. “So much of the talk is about football and what we do on the football field, but I think it’s so important when we’re together 24/7 that you’re able to shed life lessons [off the field].”

PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 9/2/20

Vikings Mailbag: Yannick Ngakoue’s arrival, state of the O-line and more

By Arif Hasan

We’re less than a week away from roster cutdown day, and there’s plenty going on with the Vikings. They made a big move over the weekend to trade for Jaguars defensive end Yannick Ngakoue, giving them a talented partner opposite Danielle Hunter on the line and answering one of the offseason’s biggest questions.

To afford Ngakoue, though, they have to clear cap space, which means that offensive tackle Riley Reiff will decide today whether to agree to a pay cut or be cut from the team altogether (UPDATE: Reiff is finalizing a deal to take a pay cut and stay, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero). Cutting him would save the Vikings more than $8 million against the cap but open up even more questions about the state of the offensive line.

So let’s get to your questions on all this.

Does the team intend to sign Ngakoue after this season? If so, does that make it likely Anthony Harris won’t be back? If not, will we get a compensatory 3rd in 2022?

— Skyler H.

Multiple media reports indicate that the Vikings intend to sign Ngakoue after the season, though if they agree to a deal, nothing can be signed until after the league year because of the rules surrounding players extended a franchise tender.

As for who they can retain and who needs to walk in free agency — that question depends a lot on what happens with Reiff. As it stands — assuming a cap of $215 million — the Vikings have $25 million in projected 2021 cap space, per Over The Cap. Because contracts don’t have to be evenly spaced or frontloaded, a $20-million-a-year contract could incur a much lower hit. Frank Clark’s $19-million contract only takes up $6.5 million in the first year and Aaron Donald’s $22.5-million contract only incurs an $8.9 million hit in the first year.

The reason I want to project a $20-million contract for Ngakoue is because any cap environment that hits $215 million will be one with rising salaries, and his previous offer of $19 million two years ago could turn into a $20- million-a-year contract in 2021 — especially if he plays as well as the Vikings expect him to.

If that’s the case, then there’s something like $15-19 million left to sign assorted free agents like Eric Wilson, Rashod Hill, Sean Mannion, Brett Jones, Dakota Dozier, Holton Hill and so on. That will consume a fair bit of space on its own — perhaps over half of it. That leaves the big names — Dalvin Cook and Anthony Harris. If Harris and Cook both command around $13-14 million a year, it’s impossible without moving on from Reiff.

Cutting Reiff now leads to another $11 million in space for 2021, which could be exclusively devoted to those two contracts along with Ngakoue’s contract. More needs to be done for other odds and ends, and a small amount will still need to be reserved for buffer space and rookies — perhaps by moving Kyle Rudolph and extending Harrison Smith.

That projects a fairly aggressive contract for Cook and not one I’d expect the Vikings to offer — but it’s worth checking out a worst-case-scenario for cap stress to see what’s possible. Realistically, I’d expect a contract offer under $10 million a year to be executed for the running back if they reach a deal at all, and that gives them a little bit of breathing room.

So in a normal cap environment, it’s possible. In a cap environment restricted by reduced incoming NFL revenue, everything is up in the air. Jonathan Jones at CBS Sports reported that the NFL was considering a potential floor of $175 million, though that’s the worst-case scenario. Any changes in the cap will naturally make that process much more difficult, and if there isn’t some kind of proration of cap space or salary by the league and NFLPA, then a lot of teams will be asking their stars to change the terms of their deals, Vikings included.

As for the third-round compensatory pick — yes, if Ngakoue has the market value we just estimated. Right now, contracts worth $14 million a year are estimated to be worth a third-round compensatory pick, so it seems likely.

That said, the Vikings do retain the right to franchise tag Ngakoue — the contract he signed with Minnesota does not contain a clause preventing it — and that would both complicate the cap scenario mentioned above and would forestall the need to figure out the value of a one-year rental.

In essence, a future without a long-term deal but with the franchise tag applied, would mean a two-year rental of a high-level player for a second-round pick in 2021 and a fifth-round pick in 2022 but getting a late third-round pick in 2022 back.

Would you trade a late third-round pick for two years of Yannick Ngakoue for an average of $14.5 million a year? That probably sounds fine, but that money would end up likely costing the Vikings a chance at keeping Reiff, Rudolph and Cook.

It’s a tough call. Given the fact that the Vikings have a lot of tackles on the roster, a good set of backup running backs and an emerging tight end, I think it’s probably worth it — especially because it makes sense to move on from Rudolph and Reiff soon anyway. But the deal looks a lot better if they secure Ngakoue long-term and lose a chance at a compensatory third-round pick.

Ifeadi Odenigbo Ifeadi Odenigbo (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Do we think this trade says less about Ifeadi Odenigbo and more about generating constant pressure for a largely unproven group of corners?

— Nick W.

You’re correct that their desire to add Ngakoue came from the young secondary, something head coach Mike Zimmer confirmed when he spoke to the media about the trade, but I think it also absolutely says something about how the Vikings felt about their ability to produce pressure with the options in-house. It’s not as if Ngakoue was a free agent — they moved something (draft assets) pretty precious to general manager Rick Spielman in order to shore up what they considered to be a potential weakness. Not only that, the need to create buffer room in cap space this season means Reiff could be on the chopping block as a result. And they wouldn’t need to worry about providing support to their corners if they felt they absolutely had that support — these are interrelated.

But that doesn’t mean Odenigbo isn’t a starting quality defensive end. Everything I’ve seen from last year and in training camp suggests he has that kind of talent and possibly more. Not only that, Zimmer has indicated a few times that he thinks that Odenigbo is of that caliber. But he also indicated that they’ve been attempting to add a premier pass-rusher all season, which they can’t trust him to be quite yet. They clearly checked in on Everson Griffen, but also considered Jadeveon Clowney, per The Athletic’s Chad Graff. And this move could actually improve two positions, with Odenigbo rushing from the inside from time to time.

There’s a difference between having confidence that Odenigbo can be pretty good and knowing that Ngakoue can be a game-changer. It might say more about the corners than it does Odenigbo, but emphasizing that fact undercuts how uncertain that position really was heading into camp.

Hey Arif, extremely excited about the Ngakoue signing and the depth it adds. Do you see Ifeadi bumping into the 3- tech regularly, on passing downs, or not much at all?

— Charles R.

Zimmer downplayed that possibility when talking to the media, but mentioned that his role might look a lot like last year. Only 30 percent of his snaps were at defensive tackle, though more than half of his pressure and sack production came from that alignment.

If I were to guess, I’d say that snap percentage on the inside will increase unless we see substantial improvement at defensive tackle — and though Jaleel Johnson looks better and Hercules Mata’afa looks more capable against the run, there’s a lot of uncertainty and a lot of room for that to happen.

I always love how Spielman is active in the trade market and looking for ways to improve the squad. With that said, have you heard of anything involving upgrades at the OG position? They can’t be serious about Pat Elflein and Dakota Dozier can they?

— Steve B.

Honestly, in March, when more players were available, I think they expected to have more time in the offseason to acclimate Ezra Cleveland or Reiff to the position. By the time the draft rolled around in late April, they didn’t have an enormous number of options — their first four picks were at immediate needs, including along the offensive line — and the picks they had after that weren’t great trade fodder. If they had traded a pick worthy of a starting guard, they wouldn’t have been able to take a receiver or cornerback with those picks.

So after the draft, did they have opportunities to acquire a guard through a trade? Possibly, but only three offensive linemen were traded this offseason and one was an offensive lineman the Vikings tried to trade for and couldn’t because he objected. The other two were traded for each other — if the Vikings had a Pro Bowl tackle they’d be willing to trade for Trai Turner, it might be possible but would probably just be hustling backwards.

It’s still possible that they bring in a guard, but he’d be unlikely to start anytime soon — unless it was someone like Josh Kline or if they could, say, convince Kyle Long to come out of retirement and hope he’s in playing shape.

The Vikings certainly miscalculated, but part of that miscalculation involved bringing in an offensive lineman through the draft and hoping to upgrade two positions at once. It hasn’t paid off so far, but they weren’t completely blind to the circumstances. If there’s a Day 1 starting guard on the trade market, I’m sure the Vikings are interested. But they don’t have a ton of ammo.

Riley Reiff Riley Reiff (Brace Hemmelgarn / USA Today) Is Ngakoue going to be ready to play a full complement of snaps at the beginning of the season? I’m a little concerned about his conditioning after his holdout and ability to quickly learn the Vikes’ scheme.

— Grayson K.

I don’t think the Vikings would have made the trade if they weren’t ready for him to play early in the season. When they traded for right before the 2016 season, he played in Week 2. There are ways to make this manageable from a fit perspective, especially along the defensive line.

It might be fair to worry about conditioning, but Ngakoue expected to be traded all offseason and he’s developed a reputation as a serious, hard worker. Players clamoring for trades — and he wasn’t alone in that in Jacksonville — aren’t averse to work.

There is more reason than not to believe that he’ll be ready for a full load soon.

Everson Griffen voided his contract, rather than the Vikes releasing him. Does his signing with Dallas bring a compensatory pick?

— Mike T.

In some cases, voided contracts can still be eligible for compensatory picks — but not if a contract is restructured to include that void when it wasn’t there in the first place. That’s what happened with Griffen, who agreed to a new deal with the Vikings in 2017 that included a player void. Not only that, contracts signed after the second Tuesday following the NFL Draft do not qualify for the compensatory pick formula.

In short, no compensatory picks for the Vikings for this one.

Do the Vikes have a deep threat at WR? Adam Thielen is sneaky fast when he gets open deep, but losing Stefon Diggs might be a bigger loss than we might think?

— Steve B.

I don’t think people will truly appreciate how big a loss Diggs is until the season starts, but I wouldn’t shortchange Thielen as a deep threat. Thielen ran a 4.45- and a 4.49-second 40-yard dash at the super regional combine. Diggs ran an official 4.46-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. And the Vikings have treated Thielen like he can be a deep threat, giving him 1.2 targets over 20 yards per game, while giving Diggs 1.6 such targets per game. Those numbers might seem low, but the Vikings scheme — and their quarterbacks — have been conservative more than aggressive over that period. I’d expect Thielen’s deep numbers to go up. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 9/2/20

Change of heart: Riley Reiff reportedly will agree to restructured deal with Vikings

By Judd Zulgad

Riley Reiff reportedly was saying his goodbyes to Vikings teammates on Monday because he wasn’t going to accept a restructured contract from the team for 2020. On Tuesday, the left tackle changed his mind.

The Vikings were finalizing a restructured contract with Reiff, according to reports, including the one below from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. That will enable the Vikings to create room under the salary cap after they traded with Jacksonville for Yannick Ngakoue and came to an agreement on a one-year, $12 million contract with the defensive end.

That move left the Vikings with approximately $500,000 under the cap and looking for somewhere to cut. Reiff taking a lesser deal — he was scheduled to make a base salary of $10.9 million this season — will free up more room for the team. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported that Reiff’s agent made calls to check on potential trades before his client agreed to the reduced salary.

Reiff staying with the Vikings keeps continuity on the offensive line. That’s important considering the season is only two weeks away. If Reiff had decided to turn down the Vikings offer and was released, it was expected right tackle Brian O’Neill would have moved to the left side and backup Rashod Hill would have taken over at right tackle.

PUBLICATION: Purple Insider 9/2/20

Harrison Smith is on a Hall of Fame path

By Matthew Coller

As the Minnesota Vikings get set to enter a season with new starters at defensive end, three-technique, nose tackle and cornerback, cornerback, cornerback, they still have the sense that everyone can get on the same page, in large part because of Harrison Smith.

“The thing that enables you to do that is your personnel and their ability to rush and drop and do different things, handle things mentally like Harrison Smith or Anthony Harris, guys who can make adjustments and understand the concept of what you’re trying to get done,” long-time defensive coordinator and current Vikings assistant Dom Capers said.

Smith’s teammates may be different for the first time in a long time but he brings into 2020 a long history of elite safety play. If it continues throughout this season and over the next few years, his track record of excellence at his position could someday land him in the Hall of Fame. And this season of change could bolster his case.

Earlier this offseason, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell wrote about the top players from each team and their shot at landing in the Hall of Fame. He put Smith’s odds at somewhere between a 40%-69% chance. Barnwell joined the Purple Insider podcast to discuss Smith’s case.

“If you ask me on first glance without looking closer at the thing, is Harrison Smith a Hall of Fame-caliber player? I would say so,” Barnwell said. “He has been consistently one of the three or four best safeties in football for the past four or five years and that’s where you start. Could you credibly have a case as a superstar at your position? And the answer with Harrison Smith is yes.”

Pro-Football Reference’s Hall of Fame Monitor isn’t quite as sold. By their metrics, his career score is currently 35.5, which is comparable to former Viking Robert Griffith, and nowhere close to the average HOF defensive back at 107. The HOF Monitor uses PFR’s Approximate Value statistic, Pro Bowls, All-Pros, championships and “various stat milestones.”

Common sense might suggest that Pro Bowls and championships aren’t the best measures but Barnwell says there is validity to an awards-based approach because of HOF voters’ past histories.

“You look a little bit closer at the numbers, five consecutive Pro Bowls, that’s a great start, but only one first-team All- Pro appearance,” Barnwell said. “I know, you know, fans know, the Pro Bowl is not necessarily a great judge of performance. Xavier Rhodes made the Pro Bowl last year…I bring this up because Pro Bowls and first-team All-Pro appearances are pretty good indicators of whether you have a good shot at going to Canton…I don’t know that he’s had the years where he’s gotten the recognition that he’s deserved.”

The question is whether advanced numbers by Pro Football Focus will play a bigger role in HOF voting by the time Smith’s time comes. By PFF grading, Smith is the only safety since 2016 to rank in the top three in both run defense and coverage and he is the No. 1 overall graded safety from 2017-2019. Plus in 2017, he set a PFF record for highest graded season by a safety.

Over his career, opposing quarterbacks have targeted Smith 264 times. They have completed 61.4% with an average of just 6.3 yards per attempt, 13 touchdowns and 23 interceptions. That’s good for a 59.7 QB rating against.

To put that in context, there are only two quarterbacks since 2012 with more than 250 attempts and a lower rating (Ryan Lindley and DeShone Kizer). Basically throwing at Harrison Smith turns you into the worst quarterback in the NFL.

Eric Eager, data scientist at PFF, pointed out on the Purple Insider podcast another important element of Smith’s game: He has been a trailblazer. Every team is now looking for the next Smith or learning to use their players like him. We saw it in the form of Tyrann Mathieu for the Chiefs last year and in the trade for Jamal Adams. At the NFL Combine, numerous players said they want to play a role like Mathieu. They just as easily could have said Smith.

“When you look at the way the league is trending, he’s sort of the first guy to do all that. I think being one of the first guys to do something, being able to change the league that way, is immensely valuable,” Eager said.

Last season Smith lined up as a free safety on 531 snaps, in the box on 321 plays, in the slot 113 times and on the D-line for 104 snaps.

What stands out to people who have been around Smith is that he keeps getting better — and that notion is backed up by the numbers. His two best seasons are in 2017 and 2019 by PFF grade.

“Now sitting in the meeting room and watching his participation in there, watching him on the practice field, he’s a rare guy that has a combination of not only athletic ability, but he’s a student of the game,” Capers said. “He understands concepts so you can make adjustments I think with Harrison that you probably can’t make with a lot of other players.”

New defensive backs coach Daronte Jones is also working with Smith for the first time. He’s made a similar observation about Smith’s desire to improve.

“He’s trying to take his game to the next level. ‘Coach, how can I get better?’ What do you see that I need to improve on?’ And to come from a veteran like that that’s had the career that’s he had that just shows growth,” Jones said. “That just shows [he isn’t] complacent and [has] more left in the tank…and this year taking on more of a leadership, taking on that mentor role of the young guys. I’ve been very impressed with Harry.’’

Linebacker Eric Wilson is one of the players who has tried to follow Smith’s path of continuing to reinvent himself year after year.

“Harry has been so great for so long because he takes that beginners mentality and always really focuses in on his techniques and executes them in practice and in games,” Wilson said. “That’s inspiring. I take that upon myself to do the same thing.”

Whether things like that inspire Hall of Fame voters or not may depend on how much longer Smith can play at his peak level. Defensive back has been a position of longevity for the elites. Of the top 25 players by the Hall of Fame Monitor, 22 of them played at least 10 years and eight of them played at least 14 seasons.

Entering his ninth season, Smith has a chance to get more credit with new starters and an inexperienced group of cornerbacks. But his unquantifiable contributions may probably still go underappreciated.

“For me, personally, [Smith and Harris] make everything so much easier,” rookie Cam Dantzler said. “I love being on the field with those guys. They communicate and they make me communicate. They make sure we’re on the same page.”

Whether things like his impact on teammates and versatility are included in his HOF case someday rather than just Pro Bowls and All-Pros, we’ll find out down the road. There’s plenty of time to advance the process. PUBLICATION: ESPN 9/2/20

Source: Riley Reiff to stay with Minnesota Vikings, starts working on restructured deal

By Courtney Cronin

EAGAN, Minn. -- Veteran left tackle Riley Reiff began the process of restructuring his deal Tuesday so he can stay in Minnesota, helping the Vikings avoided a major shake-up late in the preseason with their offensive line, a league source told ESPN's Field Yates.

Terms of the restructure have not been released, but it will create ample salary cap space for the Vikings, who had less than $1 million to work with after signing defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to a one-year deal worth $12 million upon executing a trade with the for the recently franchised Pro Bowler, who took nearly a $6 million dollar pay cut to join Minnesota's defense.

According to league sources, early this week the Vikings asked Reiff, who was set to earn $10.9 million in 2020, to agree to a restructured contract or he would be released. The 31-year-old tackle was given the day to consider his options and did not practice on Monday.

Reiff spent the first five years of his career with Detroit after the Lions drafted him 23rd overall in 2012. He then signed a five-year, $58.75 million deal with the Vikings as a free agent in 2017, when he made the move from right to left tackle. In three seasons with Minnesota, Reiff started 43 games at left tackle and made $36 million.

The Vikings drafted left tackle Ezra Cleveland in the second round in April, but the rookie has only taken snaps at left guard with the second- and third-team offenses throughout training camp.

Minnesota's offensive line ranked 23rd in 2019 in Pass Block Win Rate (the ability to sustain blocks for 2.5 seconds), according to ESPN Stats and Information. Pro Football Focus had Reiff 38th of 57, 23rd of 62 and 26th of 60 qualifying tackles throughout his three years in Minnesota. As a top-15 paid left tackle, Reiff allowed 25 pressures, gave up five sacks and committed eight penalties in 2019.

The subject of moving Reiff inside to left guard, where he started seven games as a redshirt freshman at Iowa in 2009, was a topic of conversation inside the organization during the last two offseasons. Reiff told reporters in August that he hadn't been approached by Minnesota about moving positions but that he would "play whatever as long as it helps the team."

The Vikings attempted to upgrade the left tackle position during this year's draft and were in heavy pursuit of Trent Williams before the Pro Bowler was traded to San Francisco.

A source told ESPN that the Vikings had been among the preferred destinations for Williams and that the teams had discussed a deal for more than a month. The teams did not come close to executing a trade until the second day of the draft when Minnesota increased its offer to include a second Day 3 draft pick, sources said, after previously offering one pick on the third day.

Minnesota ended up drafting Cleveland 58th overall with many anticipating that he will eventually take over for Reiff, who had two years left on his contract. PUBLICATION: Associated Press DATE: 9/2/20

What’s the rush? QB pressure has been priority in NFC North

By Dave Campbell

The pressure has clearly been on in the NFC North.

Oh, there’s the usual urgency around Super Bowl aspirations and on-field improvement. Aaron Rodgers has reached the final stretch of his time in Green Bay.

Minnesota is trying to keep a championship window open despite a wave of departures on defense. Chicago general manager Ryan Pace has a burning quarterback question to answer. Coach Matt Patricia has a lot to prove in order to remain in Detroit past this season.

There’s currently no more common a thread in this division, though, than prioritizing pressure on the quarterback. The league-wide value on having a viable pass rush, well, that’s not new, but this quartet has recently doubled down on such investments more than any other in the NFL.

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Two years ago, the Bears sent two first-round draft picks to the Raiders for outside linebacker Khalil Mack and gave him a $141 million contract. The Packers signed a pair of outside linebackers — Z’Darius Smith ($66 million) and Preston Smith ($52 million) — in 2019, when the Lions went after defensive end Trey Flowers ($90 million). The Bears found a complement for Mack this season by adding Robert Quinn on a $70 million deal. Just this week, the Vikings sent a second-round selection to the Jaguars for Yannick Ngakoue, who’ll make $12 million this season.

According to data compiled by Spotrac.com, eight of the 35 highest-paid edge rushers in the league in terms of average annual contract value are in the NFC North. The AFC North is next with six.

Chicago allowed the fourth-fewest points in the NFL last year, with Minnesota fifth and Green Bay ninth. Detroit was the outlier at 26th. In sacks, the Vikings were fifth, the Packers were 15th, the Bears were 24th and the Lions were 30th, but in 2018, the Bears and Vikings tied for third, the Packers were ninth and the Lions were 11th.

“We want guys who can cover and guys who can rush. Whether that be linebackers or defensive ends or defensive tackles, I think that’s kind of our philosophy all the way around,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “The way the league is right now with the spread offenses and throwing the football and things like that, I think those things are important.”

Here’s a quick tour around the division entering this strange season that will be played during a pandemic with few if any fans in attendance:

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LOVE FOR RODGERS?

The most jarring decision in the division this year was Green Bay drafting Utah State quarterback Jordan Love in the first round. The Packers went 13-3 to reclaim the NFC North after a two-year gap between titles and reached the conference championship game, but general manager Brian Gutekunst essentially started the countdown clock on Rodgers’ tenure by using his first pick on a developmental player.

Rodgers has limited his public expressions to surprise, not disappointment, but there’s no doubt he’ll use this as more motivational fuel during the season when he’ll turn 37. He’s counting on further progress from young wide receivers such as Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling in coach Matt LaFleur’s second year.

“As a whole on offense, our communication has gotten a lot better. I think we’ve really streamlined a lot of different calls we had into simple things that are efficient,” Rodgers said. “I think there’s a comfort level with everybody.”

BACKED INTO A CORNER

Ngakoue was acquired to replace Everson Griffen, who signed with Dallas after a decade in purple. Three of the five starters departed from Minnesota’s standard defensive lineup last year are cornerbacks, putting Zimmer’s teaching skills at his pet position to the test.

Mike Hughes, Holton Hill, Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler have emerged as the top four options. That means two 23-year-olds in their third seasons and two 2020 draft picks by a team that reached the divisional round of the 2019 playoffs.

“I’m trying to be hard on these rookies,” Zimmer said, “so when there’s a time they have to get chewed out, it’s like water off a duck’s back.”

STACKED FOR MACK

The last chance for quarterback Mitch Trubisky has been the top storyline in Chicago, which regressed to 8-8 in 2019 after a 12-4 record earned them the 2018 division title. Super Bowl 52 MVP Nick Foles was acquired to compete with Trubisky, the second pick in the 2017 draft that yielded Patrick Mahomes.

Quinn with his 80 1/2 sacks carries the potential for more impact, though, particularly after Mack’s production dropped off in 2019.

“It’s just going to be fun being out there with a guy that’s going 110 miles per hour on the other side, and I can’t wait,” Mack said.

RESTORING THE ROAR

The Lions have won only nine games in Patricia’s two seasons. They were bitten badly last year by the injury bug that didn’t spare quarterback , who missed half of the season with a broken back.

Rookie running back D’Andre Swift was the most prominent addition to the offense that will be led for a 12th year by Stafford.

“He’s been awesome,” Patricia said. “He’s dialed in, locked into the coaching, the teaching, practice, meetings. His leadership has been outstanding. I think he’s fired up every day out there.” PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 9/2/20

Riley Reiff Staying With Vikings on Restructured Contract

By Will Ragatz

Riley Reiff isn't going anywhere.

The Vikings have finalized a restructured contract with their starting left tackle that will keep him in Minnesota for at least the 2020 season, according to multiple reports. This is a somewhat surprising end to a saga that played out over the past couple days, as everything was pointing to Reiff being released by the team.

Details of the renegotiated deal aren't yet known, but it will come with a significant pay cut. Reiff's original 2020 cap hit of $13.2 million was second-highest on the team and paid him like a top-15 tackle in the league, even though he has been just average to slightly above-average on the field.

After trading for star pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue this weekend and committing virtually all of their remaining cap space to him on a one-year deal, the Vikings needed to free up some room to operate. So they approached Reiff and essentially told him he could either take a significant pay cut to stay in Minnesota, or refuse the pay cut and be released.

On Monday, ProFootballTalk reported that Reiff told teammates he was expecting to be released, meaning he had chosen not to accept the pay cut. Reiff apparently said an emotional goodbye to his fellow offensive linemen, and multiple coaches and players spoke about him on Tuesday morning as if he was heading out the door.

Reiff's agent called several teams to explore a potential trade, but no one wanted to take on the $11 million in base salary he was set to make on his former contract. He could've chosen to decline the pay cut and hit the open market, but it's unclear how much he would've received from another team this late in the offseason. That also would've come with a move and the need to get familiar with a new situation with less than two weeks remaining before the season starts.

In the end, Reiff and his camp decided to accept the pay cut to stay in Minnesota. According to Adam Schefter, "wanted to remain with OC Gary Kubiak, OL coach Rick Dennison and assistant O-line coach Phil Rauscher."

This is great news for the Vikings, who would've been in a tough spot if they had been forced to cut Reiff for cap savings. Now they can keep stud right tackle Brian O'Neill at that spot instead of moving him over to the left side, and they retain their solid starting LT at a more reasonable price.

With the extra cap room created by Reiff's pay cut, the Vikings have a few options. They could try to resume negotiations with Dalvin Cook's agent about a contract extension; talks broke off in recent weeks due to the two sides reaching an impasse. They could potentially look to add another veteran in free agency. They could also save the money to roll over to the 2021 offseason, when Ngakoue, Cook, and safety Anthony Harris will all be set to hit free agency.

This is a big-time win for Rick Spielman, Rob Brzezinski, and the Vikings' front offic PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 9/2/20

Vikings Land Seven Players on ESPN's Top 100 Ranking

By Will Ragatz

It's still the offseason, so that means we aren't done with rankings content just yet.

ESPN released its top 100 players for the 2020 NFL season on Tuesday, and a whopping seven Vikings made the list. That's tied for the most in the league with a pair of Super Bowl contenders in the Saints and Chiefs. The rankings come from 46 ESPN NFL writers and analysts and are focused on the upcoming season, not past performance.

Let's take a look at where each Vikings player is ranked and what ESPN's Courtney Cronin had to say about them. I'll give my analysis on the list at the end.

No. 41: Dalvin Cook Cronin: "The Vikings are 12-3 when Cook has at least 100 scrimmage yards in a game, versus 6-9-1 when he has fewer than that. If he plays his first full NFL season, expect 350 touches at minimum and an increased role in the passing game."

2020 projection: 1,041 rushing yards, 538 receiving yards, 11 scrimmage TDs

Rank among RBs: 5th

Other rankings: 44 (Prisco), 21 (NFL Top 100)

No. 55: Danielle Hunter Cronin: "At 25, Hunter became the youngest player in NFL history to reach 50 career sacks. He has strung together back-to-back seasons of 14.5 sacks (along with consecutive Pro Bowls) and is barely on the cusp of entering his prime. The elite pass-rusher made his way into the Defensive Player of the Year conversation in 2019, and this year he may finally get that recognition."

2020 projection: 70 tackles, 10 sacks, 3 forced fumbles

Rank among edge rushers: 10th

Other rankings: 25 (Prisco), 40 (NFL Top 100)

No. 62: Harrison Smith Cronin: "Coming off his fifth straight Pro Bowl, Smith remains one of the most complete safeties in the game. He covers, blitzes, calls the defense and is a major part of the Vikings' success against the run. Since 2017, Smith has allowed a 54.3% completion rate as the nearest defender (fourth in the NFL) and was second in ball-hawk rate (percentage of targets where the nearest defender made a play on the football) at 22.5%."

2020 projection: 94 tackles, 2 INTs

Rank among safeties: 4th

Other rankings: 37 (Prisco), 64 (NFL Top 100)

No. 68: Yannick Ngakoue Cronin: "Minnesota's defense regained its elite status when Ngakoue was traded to the Vikings. Early results from Ngakoue's first four years foreshadow a surge as he enters the very early part of his prime. Since the start of 2016, Ngakoue is one of just five players with at least 35 sacks and 10 forced fumbles in that span, according to ESPN Stats & Information."

2020 projection: 41 tackles, 10 sacks, 4 forced fumbles

Rank among edge rushers: 13th

Other rankings: NR (Prisco, NFL Top 100)

No. 80: Adam Thielen Cronin: "Thielen has never had to bounce back from an injury-riddled season before, a source of motivation in 2020. He's now the clear-cut No. 1 receiver in an offense that relies heavily on 2-WR sets. A healthy year means his targets will spike and should put him in line for his third 1,200-yard season."

2020 projection: 78 catches, 1,110 yards, 6 TDs

Rank among wide receivers: 13th

Other rankings: NR (Prisco, NFL Top 100)

No. 82: Kirk Cousins Cronin: "Cousins hopes to be the biggest benefactor of Minnesota's offensive continuity. For the first time since becoming a starter six years ago, Cousins will execute the same system he did the year before. One season after finishing top-five in completion percentage (69.1%) and passer rating (107.4), the Vikings QB aims to take his team back to the playoffs with a host of dynamic weapons at his disposal."

2020 projection: 3,758 passing yards, 21 TDs, 9 INTs

Rank among quarterbacks: 14th

Other rankings: 86 (Prisco), 58 (NFL Top 100)

No. 96: Cronin: "Kendricks cemented himself as one of the league's top linebackers in a season where he had a career-high in run stops (35), pass deflections (12) and forced fumbles (2). He led the team in tackles for a fifth straight year and is a critical piece for the Vikings in maintaining a top-five run defense."

2020 projection: 116 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 2 INTs

Rank among inside linebackers: 4th

Other rankings: 61 (Prisco), 83 (NFL Top 100)

Three Takeaways 1. Several players are way too low

It's pretty cool that the Vikings got seven players onto this list, don't me wrong. But there are several guys who are just entirely too low. I'm thinking specifically about Hunter, Smith, and Kendricks.

For starters, there's simply no way Hunter is the 10th-best edge rusher in the league. The dude is second in the league with 48.5 sacks over the past four seasons, trailing only Chandler Jones. And he's just entering his prime. Hunter is a top-40 player in the league, at worst.

As for Smith and Kendricks, each one has a strong argument as the best player in the NFL at their respective position. Yet time and time again, they're ranked behind flashier names like Tyrann Mathieu, Minkah Fitzpatrick, Bobby Wagner, and Demario Davis.

To their credit, ESPN insiders mentioned each of these three guys in the "underrated" section of this follow-up article.

2. What does Anthony Harris have to do to get some recognition around here?

Another top 100 players ranking, another egregious snub for Anthony Harris. Pete Prisco, the NFL players, and now ESPN have all left him off their lists.

Despite being one of the best safeties in the NFL over the last two seasons by every conceivable metric – interceptions, PFF coverage grade, opponent passer rating – Harris never gets any love. I understand that he started as an undrafted free agent and has only been a full-time starter for two years, but I still don't get why he's not more of a household name.

Harris led the NFL with seven interceptions last year across the regular season and playoffs. It's time to start giving him some recognition.

3. Ngakoue and Thielen make surprise appearances

Five Vikings players went 3-for-3 in the most prestigious top 100 lists: Cook, Hunter, Smith, Cousins, and Kendricks. Two new guys cracked the ESPN edition to give the Vikings seven players: Ngakoue and Thielen.

With Ngakoue, I imagine that other rankings got hung up on the fact that he had just eight sacks last year. But he also had four forced fumbles and a pick-six, and has been one of the more consistent pass rushers in the league through his first four seasons. He belongs on this list.

It's especially nice to finally see some appreciation for Thielen, who I thought was a snub from the first two major rankings of this offseason. Far too many people are focusing on his injury-marred 2019 and forgetting that he was a top-5 receiver in the NFL between 2017 and 2018. Even without Stefon Diggs (who came in one spot above him at No. 79) on his team, Thielen is going to have a huge season this year. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/2/20

Camp Rewind: Vikings Corners Leave Solid Impression

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — We've officially reached September, which means the countdown is on to the Week 1 Border Battle between the Vikings and Packers.

Minnesota has been hard at work in recent weeks at Verizon Vikings Training Camp, as players looked to solidify starting roles and carve out playing time for themselves.

And while they are still practicing this week, those sessions are now closed to the media at the start of team drills.

So let's take a look at where four key positions are at after being able to watch 13 full practices, including one at U.S. Bank Stadium.

We'll start with Minnesota's cornerbacks for the first of four Camp Rewinds.

Pre-camp chatter

The Vikings endured plenty of roster turnover at cornerback, as the veteran trio of Xavier Rhodes, and all departed in the offseason.

Minnesota added three cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft — including first-rounder Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler in the third round — to pair with players such as Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Kris Boyd, who were roster holdovers from a season ago.

As the virtual offseason ended and training camp began, there was no question about the talent of that group.

But there was plenty of chatter about their inexperience. Hughes (20 games and five starts) and Hill (24 games and four starts) offered the entirety of starting NFL experience on the roster. Boyd played in all 16 games as a rookie, but his primary role was on special teams and not in the secondary.

Gladney and Dantzler offered plenty of upside, but many wondered how quickly they could get accustomed to the speed of the NFL, especially with a lack of on-field work in the spring.

Zimmer on What Ngakoue Can Bring To The Defense and His Skillset, Hill and Udoh's Development, When Focus Shifts To Green Bay, More Where are they now?

With less than two weeks to go until the 2020 regular season begins, Minnesota's cornerbacks group has been perhaps the biggest surprise of camp … in a good way.

Hughes and Hill have been reliable and consistent, as both have seemingly taken on leadership roles for their position group.

Boyd has been his usual self on special teams and has seemed to develop as a cornerback, too.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said the team has been cautious at times with Gladney, who underwent meniscus surgery in the offseason, but he has shown flashes of the skill set that made him a first-round pick.

Dantzler made plays early — including a heady interception on Kirk Cousins — and has used his 6-foot-2 frame to make an impact on the outside.

Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones, who is in his first season in Minnesota, recently said the group has been like "sponges" in how they have absorbed information and learned on the fly in camp.

"The one thing that you can always use to gauge that is the lack of mental errors or mistakes on the field," Jones said. "So things aren't really mental mistakes in terms of blown coverages and things of that nature. It's more so working and focusing on their technique.

"So for me, when I see the mistakes on the field aren't so much Xs and Os but technique, that shows me that these guys have the ability to listen to what's being told to them in the meeting rooms, carry that over to the field and they're grasping the concepts that we're trying to teach to them. That's a huge example," Jones said. "Usually if you have the offseason, you see a lot of mistakes because you don't have that much time to spend on the Xs and Os of the game. But in terms of our installs, in terms of grasping what we're trying to get done schematically, they have a good understanding of that. It's just cleaning up the footwork, technique and eyes."

Training Camp Highlights | Sunday, August 30 Standout player

There are a few options to chose from here, but we'll go with Hughes, who was a 2018 first-round pick.

As mentioned above, he has been consistent day-in and day-out at camp, which is a good sign for his progression — and the state of Minnesota's secondary.

If Hughes can be a reliable and steady cornerback every Sunday — along with showcasing his versatility at outside cornerback and also I the slot — the Vikings pass defense could be among the league's top units in 2020.

"He's kind of one of the veterans in the room at that position," Jones said of Hughes. "And so he has the experience from last year, playing inside and outside.

"So for Mike, it was just really cleaning up some things, really honing in on the details of the coverages," Jones added. "It was kind of a smoother transition because he has experience inside and outside, and we're doing the same scheme, so nothing changes for him, so we just wanted him to fine-tune some of the details."

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/2/20

Presser Points: Zimmer on Evaluations During 'Different' Preseason

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — The initial schedule for this week included a road game Sunday in Cleveland and a home preseason finale against Seattle on Thursday.

A Tuesday practice is usually the only session between the third and fourth preseason games in a normal year, but 2020 is anything but normal.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the cancelation of all preseason games and led to multiple operational changes.

The Vikings practiced Sunday, Monday and have another session today.

Head Coach Mike Zimmer changed a Wednesday session to a jog-through and then an off day for players. The team will return to action Thursday.

"Today we're going to play another fourth quarter, trying to get them some game-like experience as best as we can," Zimmer said. "It is different, but I feel like we've had enough time to prepare. I feel like what we need to start doing now is, after today, just start figuring out exactly what we're good at and then kind of go in that direction in all three phases."

Zimmer was asked the best positive of the unusual preseason and said continuing to see improvements.

"The first day you start out, and it looks like this. The second day, it looks a little bit better," Zimmer said. "I feel like we've continued to improve. I think both sides of the ball have improved. I guess that's the best positive out of it."

Training Camp Practice: August 31 View photos of Vikings players from Verizon Vikings Training Camp practice at TCO Performance Center.

Here are four other topics covered by Zimmer.

1. Difficult evaluations with cuts looming

The Vikings have 80 players on the roster, which was the maximum for the 2020 preseason that was agreed on by the NFL and NFL Players Association.

All teams are scheduled to reduce their rosters to the regular-season maximum of 53 players by 3 p.m. (CT) Saturday. They can form 16-player practice squads on Sunday.

In the absence of games, it is a little tougher on coaches to evaluate rookies, and Minnesota has no shortage of first- year players. The Vikings drafted an NFL Draft seven-round record of 15 picks back in April. Penultimate pick Brian Cole II has been released, but 14 members of the class remain.

"So that factors into the equation, as well," Zimmer said. "You don't want to give up on a guy too soon, but you don't want to hope that he's going to get better down the road and you release somebody that might be improving just as much, as well."

2. Assessing Ngakoue

Zimmer's session Tuesday was his first media session since the trade for Yannick Ngakoue has become official. The defensive end who recorded 37.5 sacks and 14 forced fumbles in four seasons with Jacksonville isn't set to hit the field for Minnesota until Thursday.

"He's a guy that has had a lot of statistics as far as forced fumbles, sacks," Zimmer said. "[He's] another pass rusher to add to our group, so we're excited to have him."

Zimmer was asked if the Vikings plan to play Ngakoue at right defensive end and countered by asking, "Is it OK if I just see him at practice one day?"

Vikings New DE Yannick Ngakoue in Photos View photos of new Vikings DE Yannick Ngakoue who was recently traded to the team.

The Vikings did have the benefit of 2018 joint practices against Jacksonville and a preseason game in which Ngakoue recorded four tackles and a sack on 28 defensive snaps.

"Well, we remember when he was with them," Zimmer said. "We did talk about that, yes."

The Vikings also talked with Dom Capers, a senior defensive assistant who spent 2019 in Jacksonville before joining Minnesota.

"Well, we obviously talked to Dom about him, not only as a football player, but as a person, and if he would fit in right with the culture that we have here," Zimmer said.

Yannick Ngakoue Highlights From The 2019 Season 3. Wait and see

Zimmer was asked about the status of Riley Reiff, who did not practice Sunday or Monday.

"Let's just see where things are today, OK? I don't want to speculate on anything right now," Zimmer said.

Reiff has been working at left tackle with the first team for most of camp.

Right tackle Brian O'Neill shifted to left tackle on Sunday during the final camp practice that was open to media members.

4. Down the line

Zimmer was asked about the progress of Rashod Hill, who has carved out a role as Minnesota's swing tackle/sub for the past four seasons and made 16 regular-season starts along the way, as well as second-year pro Olisaemeka Udoh.

"Rashod has improved an awful lot since he's been here," Zimmer said. "I think his record is [10-5-1] as a starting player, so we have a lot of confidence in Rashod. He's a big, strong guy that does a nice job in pass protection. He's played well when he's been in there."

As for Udoh, who first appeared in last year's Week 17 game against Chicago, Zimmer said, "He's a big, strong athlete."

"Obviously there's some things to clean up with him, but he has good feet, he's a smart guy, very athletic," Zimmer said. "Yeah, he's done well." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/2/20

Lunchbreak: Vikings Defense 'Trending Up' After Yannick Ngakoue Trade

By Lindsey Young

Minnesota's defense has gained another playmaker.

The Vikings announced Monday that they had acquired defensive end Yannick Ngakoue from the Jaguars via trade.

Vikings team reporter Eric Smith wrote that bringing Ngakoue to Minnesota could help the Vikings continue their edge-rushing success, and NFL.com's Gregg Rosenthal concurs. In his article evaluating training camp "winners and losers" across the NFL, Rosenthal said Minnesota's defense is "trending up" after the splash move. He wrote:

Pairing Ngakoue with Danielle Hunter on U.S. Bank Stadium's indoor track gives the Vikes one of the best QB- hunting duos in the league, same as it ever was. [Vikings Head Coach Mike] Zimmer made his name by coaching up cornerbacks, so I'm not too worried about how unproven the team looks there, especially with one of the best safety tandems in football (Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris) behind them.

As long as Hunter isn't seriously hurt – he's missed nearly all of camp – this Vikings team looks more balanced than any other in the NFC North.

Ngakoue will have a solid first test with the Vikings, who on Sept. 13 will open the season at U.S. Bank Stadium against the division-rival Packers led by Aaron Rodgers.

Cameron Dantzler: "My Confidence is My Best Trait" | Minnesota Vikings Podcast Cam Dantzler subject of PFF's 'bold prediction'

It's always difficult to know what to expect from first-year players, and the elimination of preseason games in 2020 seems to have increased the uncertainty.

But Minnesota's young cornerbacks have garnered attention so far at Verizon Vikings Training Camp, and it will be interesting to see how they do under bright lights of the regular season.

Analytics site Pro Football Focus recently made a series of "bold predictions" for rookies across the NFL entering the 2020 season, and Vikings corner Cam Dantzler made the list. PFF's Michael Renner predicted that Dantzler, whom Minnesota drafted in the third round in April, will be the second-highest graded rookie corner. Renner wrote:

Dantzler's tape was far better than his 89thoverall selection might suggest. His weight and 40-yard dash time obviously dropped him, but rave reviews from camp about the third-rounder abound. No corner in last year fared better against Ja'Marr Chase last season than Dantzler (2-of-4 targets for 13 yards with a PBU against LSU), so his NFL-readiness shouldn't be too much of a surprise. The only question here is whether he'll see the field enough with Mike Hughes, Holton Hill and Jeff Gladney all vying for playing time this fall.

Fighting Irish jersey swap

After first playing together at Notre Dame, tight end Kyle Rudolph and safety Harrison Smith are now entering their ninth season as Vikings teammates.

The perennial teammates have never played against each other on game day, but an in-practice scrimmage at U.S. Bank Stadium Friday came the closest to such a scenario. Following the training camp practice, Rudolph and Smith swapped practice jerseys and snapped a photo of the exchange.

Jersey swaps have become a common postgame gesture of respect between opponents, but COVID-19 protocols have outlawed the practice for the 2020 season. Rudolph wrote:

"Only time I've ever played against @harrismith22 and no swaps this year so had to do a socially distant swap!!"

Smith commented on the post, calling it an "all-time swap" and giving a shout-out to stand-in photographer, Vikings Football Communications Manager Sam Newton. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/2/20

10 Vikings Potential X-Factors in 2020: Mike Hughes

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — The rapidly approaching 2020 season will provide plenty of Vikings players with an opportunity to play key roles.

But some players will be in the spotlight more than others, whether it is because of roster turnover or their own progression in recent years.

Both of those scenarios could be true for cornerback Mike Hughes, who is the ninth player in this 10-part series of potential X-factors.

Rookies are excluded, as are veterans who have already cemented themselves as vital players on the Vikings.

Here's why the 2018 first-round pick could be an X-factor in 2020:

— Experience at two important positions

— Resiliency

— Boosted confidence

Zimmer on Impact Yannick Ngakoue Can Make On The Defense, Takeaways From Friday's Practice at U.S. Bank Stadium

2019 Recap

Stat line: 43 tackles (39 solo), one tackle for loss, two forced fumbles, one interception, 11 passes defended

With five career starts, Hughes is the clubhouse leader for a young cornerbacks group that has delivered more than a few impressive moments during training camp.

The 30th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft has shown promise as an outside cornerback and in covering the slot. He also has returned 16 punts for 117 yards (7.3 average) and four kickoffs for 107 yards (26.8 average). Additionally, Hughes has shown intensity when tasked with serving on Vikings coverage units.

Injuries have hindered Hughes, who tore his ACL against Arizona in his sixth pro game. Hughes worked his way back into the lineup in Week 3 of the 2019 season, but a neck injury in the regular-season finale kept him from participating in the playoffs.

Best Splash Play So Far

Hughes — and Vikings fans — didn't have to wait long to celebrate. The former UCF star recorded an interception in his first career game, picking off Jimmy Garoppolo and returning the ball 28 yards for a touchdown in Minnesota's 24- 16 victory over San Francisco in Week 1 of the 2018 season.

Garoppolo attempted to unload the pass quickly to avoid pressure, but Hughes read the play and easily nabbed the football, becoming the first Vikings rookie to record a pick-six in his NFL debut.

Hughes Takes The Garoppolo To The House For Six 2020 Outlook

Hughes is entering his third pro season healthy after recovering from the neck injury he suffered while making a tackle against the Bears in Week 17. He recently explained that scans revealed a "little crack in the bone."

"Over the offseason, I saw a couple different doctors just to get some opinions, and we heard nothing but good news," Hughes said. "We didn't think it was that serious from that point on. Got cleared to do everything, so I'm ready to go."

Rather than requiring surgery, Hughes said the injury just needed time to heal.

The Vikings have built on the experience that Hughes gained in his first two seasons on the outside and in the slot.

Although the nickel is under the cornerbacks umbrella, there are numerous differences for covering players on the outside, compared to in the slot. Outside defenders can use the sideline to help reduce coverage area, and they have more time to react because of the greater distance the ball has to travel to get from a quarterback to the receiver.

Slot defenders, meanwhile, have to be ready for more options of routes by receivers, must react more quickly and interact well with each level of the defense.

The positions are important in a league where passing has become paramount, and the players in the two outside spots and the slot are expected to be tested by Green Bay in Week 1.

"I anticipate playing both positions," Hughes said. "I've been playing both since I stepped into this league, so whatever the coaches feel like I do best, I'll roll with that and do whatever I can to help my team."

New Vikings defensive backs coach Daronte Jones said Minnesota is trying to "fine-tune some of the details" in a scheme that Hughes has played and learned for two seasons.

"He's kind of one of the veterans in the room at that position," Jones said. "So for Mike, it was just really cleaning up some things, really honing in on the details of the coverages, and so it was kind of a smoother transition because he has experience inside and outside."

Hughes has been resilient, to say the least. He has shown a definitive passion for playing football since arriving in Minnesota and hasn't been shy in run support.

The native of New Bern, North Carolina, is hoping to "tap into some new levels" he was unable to reach in his first two seasons.

"I'm coming into this year 100-percent confident in my body and how I feel and the work I've put in this offseason," Hughes said. "I'm pretty confident."

Head Coach Mike Zimmer described Hughes as "very talented" and a "good conscientious person" who can further boost his confidence in his ability.

"He needs to continue to have more confidence in himself. He needs to have more belief that when he goes out there he can cover anybody," Zimmer said. "I think that's the biggest thing with Mike. If Mike will just say, 'Hey I got this guy. It's me. Let's go, you and me.' I think that part will help him mature faster and be a better player quicker."

Hughes said he has spoken with Zimmer about that and wants to channel a chip on his shoulder to "kind of let loose and be who I am as a football player and person."

"He's brought it up. I don't take it as a negative," Hughes said. "Just put your head down and work hard, and that confidence will build, however long it takes. For me, I feel pretty confident in everything I'm doing and everything they're doing with me, so hopefully we can keep building on that."

While much attention has been placed on Minnesota's cornerbacks group being virtually unproven at the NFL level, Hughes said he believes the group has a lot to prove and can silence critics.

He's ready to apply what he's learned so far and continue to develop.

"It's a little different [to be the most experienced player at the position], but like I said, at the end of the day, it's just football," Hughes said. "I'm learning every day. Even our vets are still learning every day, just taking bits and pieces from every little game, from the coach's brain. I think it'll all help us out in the long run. We'll be all right." PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 9/2/20

Tune Into 'U.S. Bank Stadium Vikings Replays' This Sunday on FOX 9

By Vikings Digital

Tune in to FOX 9 on Sundays at 5:30 p.m. (CT) for "Vikings Preseason Primetime" and then after, watch "U.S. Bank Stadium Vikings Replays" at 6 p.m. (CT) which will feature a classic regular season Vikings game that happened inside U.S. Bank Stadium.

Remaining Schedule

Sunday: Sept. 6: Vikings vs. Saints (2017 NFC Divisional Playoff Game, January 14)