DAILY CLIPS

SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Sunday, March 29, 2020

Star Tribune

Compressed NFL season would hinder relocated By Jim Souhan https://www.startribune.com/compressed-nfl-season-would-hinder-relocated-quarterbacks/569193122/

Terry Tausch goofed around with his Vikings teammates but was dependable on the field By Patrick Reusse https://www.startribune.com/terry-tausch-goofed-around-with-his-vikings-teammates-but-was-dependable-n-the- field/569195952/

Pioneer Press

Against backdrop of coronavirus challenges, pressure on Vikings’ Rick Spielman to have quality draft By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/28/against-backdrop-of-challenges-related-to-coronavirus-pressure-on-vikings- rick-spielman-to-have-quality-draft/

With re-signing of three reserve offensive linemen, Vikings at least maintain some depth there By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/03/28/with-re-signing-of-three-reserve-offensive-linemen-vikings-at-least-maintain- some-depth-there/

SKOR North

Vikings have free agent options to replace Griffen with veteran rusher By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2020/03/vikings-have-free-agent-options-to-replace-griffen-with-veteran-rusher/

NATIONAL NEWS: Sunday, March 29, 2020

USA Today

Minnesota Vikings re-sign veteran guard Dakota Dozier By the AP https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2020/03/28/minnesota-vikings-re-sign-veteran-guard-dakota- dozier/111469080/

Maven Media

The Cases For and Against the Vikings Trading For Trent Williams By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/nfl-rumors-vikings-redskins-trent-williams-trade

Yahoo Sports

How Vikings' is staying in shape: 250 push-ups a day, some with kids on his back By Terez Paylor https://sports.yahoo.com/how-vikings-kyle-rudolph-is-staying-in-shape-250-pushups-a-day-some-with-kids-on-his- back-235530532.html

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Sunday, March 29, 2020

Guard Dakota Dozier Returning to Vikings By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/dakota-dozier-re-signs-guard-returning-to-vikings

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 3/29/20

Compressed NFL season would hinder relocated quarterbacks

By Jim Souhan

If the NFL resumes this fall, the league might do so without the usual official offseason workouts and practices, and without the informal work that so many players do at team facilities and with each other during the summer.

One possible schedule, if American sports can get back on its feet in time, would feature a shortened training camp and a normal regular season. If that or anything like it becomes reality, the Vikings could benefit.

Bud Grant always said that durability was the greatest ability.

This NFL season, stability might become the greatest ability.

Is it possible that the Vikings’ signing of will pay off in 2020 because of his durability and stability? While seemingly half the league is changing quarterbacks, the Vikings have one who will remain in the same offensive system and who hasn’t missed a game because of injury since he became a full-time starter in 2015.

By opening day, it’s likely that seven quarterbacks who have taken teams to the playoffs will be wearing new helmets. Those changing ZIP codes already include perhaps the greatest of all time (Tom Brady), one of the most prolific passers of all time (Philip Rivers), the MVP of Super Bowl LII (Nick Foles) and former Viking . The 2015 league MVP (), longtime starter Andy Dalton and last year’s NFL passing yardage leader (Jameis Winston) are still on the market.

This is remarkable turnover at the most important and celebrated position in American sports, and it will test the long- held theory inside the NFL that continuity and repetitions are key to winning teams.

Can Brady, who turns 43 in August, adapt to a new team on a short schedule well enough to produce what the Bucs signed him to do, which is to at least make the playoffs and hopefully win a Super Bowl?

As improbable as that sounds, the Vikings might provide the best argument that Brady could succeed.

During the season he turned 40, Brett Favre played perhaps his most efficient season in the NFL in his first year with the Vikings. And he did so without an offseason of acclimation.

The Vikings signed Favre on Aug. 18. On Sept. 13, he started the season opener at Cleveland and led the Vikings to a 12-4 record and within one play of the Super Bowl.

Given that there is no way modern NFL officials would let an opponent brutalize Brady the way the officials in the NFC Championship Game allowed the Saints to brutalize Favre, the 2009 Vikings provide a template for what Brady could accomplish, if the Bucs can build a strong enough team around him.

The downside of the Brady Plan is there aren’t many precedents besides Favre to provide optimism. Joe Montana was just 36 when he went to the Chiefs and took them to an AFC title game. Most quarterbacks who change teams late in their careers just play like old, broken-down quarterbacks. The image of Johnny Unitas as a Charger is as sad as that of Willie Mays as a Met.

There is another Vikings angle to this year’s quarterback shuffle, and he is the subject of the nostalgic question, “How’s Teddy looking?’’

Turns out, about five years after suffering the catastrophic knee injury that would eventually lead to the Vikings signing Cousins, Bridgewater is looking pretty good.

He went 5-0 as a starter in relief of last year with the Saints, and recently signed with the .

The NFC South next year will feature these starting quarterbacks: Brady, Bridgewater, Brees and Matt Ryan.

Years after a missed 27-yard field goal cost Bridgewater his first playoff victory, he will wage home-and-away duels with two of the greatest passers in NFL history, while trying to prevent Brady from becoming a latter-day Favre. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 3/29/20

Terry Tausch goofed around with his Vikings teammates but was dependable on the field

By Patrick Reusse

Tim Irwin was a second-year right tackle from Tennessee trying to replace Hall of Famer Ron Yary in the Vikings lineup. Wade Wilson was a second-year quarterback from East Texas State trying not to get cut. Robin Sendlein and guard Terry Tausch, both from Texas, were backups to established standouts.

"What we had in common for a couple of months in 1982 is that we were on strike and none of us had any money,'' Irwin said. "We were living in the Shadow Green apartments in Eden Prairie. For entertainment, we would buy a case of beer, put it on the shore of this little lake, and throw hooks in the water.

"Never caught anything, but we told tales and finished off the beer.''

On Wednesday, Tausch died suddenly at 61 while doing yardwork at his home in suburban Dallas. A year ago, on Feb. 1, 2019, Wilson died at age 60 from diabetes complications, also in suburban Dallas.

Irwin, now a juvenile court judge in Knoxville, Tenn., said: "Wade was my roommate for 11 years. Terry was my left arm on the line for a long time. We lost another teammate, Chris [Doleman], recently … losing good men at these ages is tough.''

Irwin was pleased to have missed one escapade with the Texas Longhorns — a hunt that produced a deer for Tausch and Sendlein.

"They brought the deer back to the apartment building, pulled it up the side with a rope, and cleaned it in Sendlein's bathtub,'' Irwin said.

Tausch, a second-round draft choice in 1982, spent two years waiting for Wes Hamilton to vacate right guard. He took over in 1984 and started 70 games next to Irwin. A broken ankle caused him to miss out on the strong finish to the 1987 season.

In 1988, all-time great Randall McDaniel came in as a rookie left guard. Hall of Famer was the left tackle, Kirk Lowdermilk was the center, and Tausch and Irwin were the reliable right side on a superb offensive line.

Tausch was replaced by Todd Kalis after the season. He signed with San Francisco for 1989 and collected a Super Bowl ring.

"He wasn't an All-Pro, but he was a good player,'' Irwin said. "There were some guys he liked to play against, and some he didn't, just like the rest of us, but I can guarantee this:

"Terry Tausch never backed down from anybody, never gave it anything but his best effort.''

Irwin laughed to himself and said:

"You know Burnsie [], he was an offensive genius, but he would get rolling and tangle up his words. One day we're watching film, and Burnsie sputters to our line coach, Johnny Michels, 'What is that big guy doing there?'

"Johnny says, 'Which big guy?' And Burnsie says, 'Terry, Terry … Terry, er, LaTouche?'

"I called him LaTouche for about the next three years.'' PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 3/29/20

Against backdrop of coronavirus challenges, pressure on Vikings’ Rick Spielman to have quality draft

By Chris Tomasson

No pro days. No opportunities for prospects to visit team facilities. A lack of physicals on players who did not attend the scouting combine.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be challenges for every team in the April 23-25 NFL draft. However, an argument could be made that there might be more of an immediate impact on the Vikings than most teams.

With the salary cap-challenged team having lost so many key players since free agency got underway, that increases the pressure on Rick Spielman and the Vikings to find guys who end up contributing immediately.

Minnesota will have two picks in the first round and 12 overall. That ties New England for the second-most selections in the draft, trailing only Miami, which has 14. Whether having so many picks increases the pressure on the Vikings or gives them more room to have some misses remains to be seen.

“They’re going to have to get at least three rookies in this draft class that really do have to make an impact, if you’re going to stay on the same trajectory that you have been on, which is getting to the postseason, winning divisions and potentially going to a Super Bowl,’’ said Solomon Wilcots, an analyst for Pro Football Focus and SiriusXM NFL Radio and a former Minnesota safety.

The Vikings have come up very big in the draft before under Spielman, most notably in 2015. They got cornerback Trae Waynes in the first round, linebacker in the second, in the third and wide receiver in the fifth. While Waynes didn’t make an immediate impact, the other three did.

But then there was the 2016 draft, when the Vikings didn’t select any players who would become regular starters. If free-agent reserve linebacker Kentrell Brothers doesn’t end up re-signing, all eight players from that draft will be gone from Minnesota.

That draft featured wide receiver Laquon Treadwell, taken No. 23 in the first round, becoming a colossal bust. The Vikings also took receiver Moritz Bohringer in the fifth round, and he’s never played in a regular-season game for any team.

That draft had depth at receiver but three players taken at that position in first round became busts (No. 15 Corey Coleman, No. 22 Josh Doctson and Treadwell). No. 21 Will Fuller turned out OK for Houston. The best receiver by far selected in the 2016 draft was New Orleans’ Michael Thomas, who was the sixth one taken at that position, going No. 47 in the second round.

Next month’s draft is considered extremely deep at wide receiver. But the Vikings, who traded Stefon Diggs to Buffalo, will face plenty of pressure to land one who makes an immediate impact. More than likely, they will select multiple receivers.

The Diggs trade brought back multiple draft picks, including No. 22 in the first round. The Vikings could use that selection or their No. 25 selection in the first round on a receiver.

“They let Diggs go and now they have to stick the landing,’’ Wilcots said. “There are some phenomenal receivers in this draft.’’

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said there are “30 to 35 receivers with second- or third-round grades.’’ Because there is such depth at the position, Kiper said “that’s always a possibility” the Vikings might not take a receiver in the first round and instead go with players at positions that don’t have as much depth.

Many observers believe three position groups are most in play for Minnesota’s first-round picks: wide receiver, cornerback and defensive end. The Vikings also need help on the offensive line, and it’s possible they could address that in the first round. But tackles with first-round grades they really like could be gone by No. 22 and it would be a surprise if they took a guard in the first round. The Vikings have had 12 players from last year’s team depart in March, including six starters. Starters gone include Diggs, guard Josh Kline (released), defensive end Everson Griffen (free agent), nose tackle (released) and cornerbacks (released) and Waynes (free agent). Also gone of note are defensive end (free agent) and cornerback , who was their primary nickelback.

Minnesota has brought in just four outside free agents. Among them, Michael Pierce will step in for Joseph at nose tackle and wide receiver Tajae Sharpe and defensive end Anthony Zettel could challenge to start.

The Vikings have about $12 million of cap room, and will need about $4.5 million of that to sign their draft picks. They still could land an impact cornerback in free agency but most of their key remaining offseason roster additions will come in the draft.

Against the backdrop of all the players who have departed, the Vikings signed quarterback Kirk Cousins to a two- year, $66 million contract extension, taking him through the 2022 season. They were able to drop Cousins’ cap number from $31 million to $21 million for 2020, but he is on the books for cap numbers of $31 million in 2021 and $45 million in 2022.

In other words, the Vikings are trying to rebuild while at the same time remaining competitive.

“That’s always a difficult proposition, but I don’t think the Vikings have any choice,’’ said Charles Davis, a Fox game and NFL Network draft analyst. “They re-signed Kirk Cousins for a reason. He was supposed to get them to the Super Bowl in the beginning and now they have gotten older and have to change some pieces.’’

Cousins initially signed a three-year, $84 million contract in 2018, a year after the Vikings made the NFC Championship Game. They failed to earn a postseason berth in 2018 but did go 10-6 last season and won a playoff game as a wild-card team.

“(Cousins) still has got to be that guy and you’re still building around him,’’ Davis said. “I think they’re still a very good team. … There’s no reason they can’t compete (to make the playoffs) again. I think the offensive side of the ball is still essentially the same as last year, although you don’t have Diggs. But the defensive side, which has been their bread and butter, has some parts that have to be filled.’’

One is at defensive end. Ifeadi Odenigbo, who had seven sacks last season, is a candidate to replace Griffen, as is Zettel, who had 6 1/2 sacks as a starter for Detroit in 2017. If the Vikings are looking for a potential starting defensive end in the draft, they might want to use a first-round pick on one.

It’s not a deep draft for edge rushers. Ohio State’s Chase Young will be one of the top few picks and LSU’s K’Lavon Chaisson likely also will be gone by No. 22. Candidates at No. 22 or No. 25 could be Penn State’s Yetur Gross- Matos or Iowa’s A.J. Epenesa.

At cornerback, there is more depth in the draft. Ohio State’s Jeff Okudah will be long gone when the Vikings pick and so should Florida’s C.J. Henderson. But possibilities still around in the first round could be Clemson’s A.J. Terrell, LSU’s Kristian Fulton and Ohio State’s Damon Arnette.

But what about Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs, the brother of receiver who was disgruntled and wanted out of Minnesota before being granted his wish? He’s expected to be selected in the range of where the Vikings pick in the first round.

“Likely, Minnesota is going to go, ‘I don’t think we’re going to do that,’ ’’ Davis said. “More than likely, he’s not under consideration for Minnesota.’’

If the Vikings want to replace Stefon Diggs with a first-round pick, they should have some intriguing options. The top three receivers — Alabama’s Jerry Jeudy, Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb and Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III — also should be gone. But receivers who could be available include Clemson’s Tee Higgins, LSU’s and Baylor’s Denzel Mims.

Regardless of whether the Vikings take a receiver in the first round, they could gobble up some in later rounds. They have a pick in the second round, two in the third, one in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and three in the seventh.

Minnesota’s Tyler Johnson should be among the many talented receivers available after the first round.

“They’re going to be some fifth-round receivers out of this group,’’ Kiper said of the nearly three dozen receivers with second- or third-round grades. “And you’re going to see some really good players drop to points where you never thought was possible.’’

Speaking of the fifth round, that’s where the Vikings got Stefon Diggs in 2015. He became a starter as a rookie and ended up being a key piece in perhaps the best Minnesota class Spielman has had since overseeing his first draft in 2007. Now, Spielman, despite challenges faced during the coronavirus pandemic, will be looking for a repeat of the 2015 draft. He certainly doesn’t want a repeat of 2016, perhaps the worst draft he has had. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 3/29/20

With re-signing of three reserve offensive linemen, Vikings at least maintain some depth there

By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings have lost a lot of players since the start of free agency. The list hasn’t included reserve offensive linemen.

The Vikings announced Saturday the re-signing of reserve guard Dakota Dozier. A source said Friday that Dozier had agreed to terms on a one-year contract for the veteran minimum of $910,000 with a signing bonus of $90,000. He will count $840,000 against the salary cap.

The Vikings on Friday re-signed reserve center Brett Jones, who also got a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $910,000. And last week they re-signed reserve tackle .

The only offensive lineman to have departed the Vikings since the end of last season has been starting right guard Josh Kline, who was released March 18. Overall, Minnesota has had 12 players from last season depart in March and have signed just four outside free agents.

Minnesota got a bargain with Hill, who made $2.025 million last season and had his salary cut approximately in half. Hill also got a one-year deal for the veteran minimum of $910,000. But at least $750,000 of that was guaranteed and he got a $137,500 signing bonus to make his total 2019 take $1.0475 million. He counts $887,500 against the cap.

Hill was a part-time starter in 2016 and 2017, getting the nod in 15 of the 27 games in which he played. As the swing tackle, he started just one game last year.

It’s not out of the question Hill could be back in the lineup in 2019. If the Vikings move starting right tackle Brian O’Neill to the left side and shift left tackle Riley Reiff to a guard spot, there could be an opening at right tackle. But that also likely would be dependent on the Vikings not drafting an offensive linemen who moves immediately into the lineup.

In addition to O’Neill, Reiff and Kline, Minnesota’s other starters on the offensive line in 2019 were center and left guard Pat Elflein.

Dru Samia, who was taken in the fourth round in 2019 and played in just two games as a rookie, also is a candidate to replace Kline. And the Vikings have not ruled out the possibility of re-signing Kline.

The Vikings are likely to select multiple offensive linemen in the draft and still could add to the line in free agency. At least for now, though, they have maintained depth on the line by re-signing a trio of reserves. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 3/29/20

Vikings have free agent options to replace Griffen with veteran rusher

By Matthew Coller

The have filled out some of the open depth spots on their roster by signing back players from the 2019 roster like , Dakota Dozier and Brett Jones while adding outside free agents Tajae Sharpe and Anthony Zettel.

But they still have open roles that will either need to be filled in the draft or via free agency. One area that has numerous quality veterans is defensive end, a spot vacated by Everson Griffen, who announced he will not be returning to Minnesota. Let’s have a look at players who could take his spot as a veteran pass rusher to combined with up-and-coming defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo in 2020.

Jabaal Sheard

The soon-to-be 31-year-old defensive end has been remarkably consistent during his nine-year career, playing at least 13 games in each season and producing between 4.5 and 8.0 sacks in each of the last five seasons. He has an impressive history of pressuring the quarterback, ranking in the top 20 in 2017 and 2018 and then registering a solid 42 pressures in 378 pass rush snaps last season (per PFF).

Cameron Wake

Wake’s agent announced on Twitter that he is still interested in playing at age 38. That might sound nutty but in nine games last season he was effective as a situational rusher, creating 31 pressures on 181 pass rush snaps and picking up 2.5 sacks. That’s more pressures than Stephen Weatherly with more than 100 fewer snaps. Naturally durability would be a concern but the upside of a third down rusher who can help show younger defensive ends the way could yield positive results.

Adrian Clayborn

Clayborn had as many QB pressures last season as Jadeveon Clowney in 99 fewer pass rush snaps. In the twilight of his career, the 31-year-old has become one of the league’s best situational rushers, creating 58 pressures for the Falcons in 2017, 48 for the Super Bowl-winning Patriots in 2018 and returning to Atlanta with 48 more last year. He also made just $2 million for his services in 2019.

Vinny Curry

In ’17 Curry was an absolute force for the Eagles, creating 62 pressures, including 21 QB hits. He hasn’t gotten back to that point in the last two seasons — one in which he spent with Tampa Bay and only pressured the QB 24 times. But last year he got back to normal with 44 pressures on 275 pass rush snaps and graded by PFF standards as the 15th best rusher in the league, just behind Calais Campbell. At 32, he still appears to have plenty in the tank.

Terrell Suggs

Credit: USA Today The 37-year-old Minnesota native got his second Super Bowl ring with the after being let go midseason by Arizona. Suggs continued to defy time with 46 pressures on 502 pass rush snaps and totaled 6.5 sacks. The seven-time Pro Bowler might be looking for more money to return than the Vikings can afford for the position but if he’s interested in coming back to his home state, the All-Pro would be a fit.

Michael Bennett

While there have been bumps along the road for the 34-year-old defensive end, he still continues to be very productive. The powerful rusher produced 42 pressures between the Patriots and Cowboys last season and is just one year removed from a 78-pressure, double-digit sack season in Philadelphia in 2018. His ability to play three downs if needed makes Bennett more valuable than other situational rushers. Last year he carried a cap hit of just $2.6 million.

Pernell McPhee

Once upon a time McPhee gave the Vikings nightmares as a Chicago Bear but recently he’s struggled to play a full season. Still when healthy McPhee can cause problems for opposing quarterbacks, picking up 14 pressures and three sacks on 174 pass rush snaps last year in seven games.

Ezekiel Ansah

Another oft-injured defensive end who has given the Vikings problems in the past, Ansah picked up 22 pressures on 253 snaps as a Seahawk in ’19. PUBLICATION: USA Today DATE: 3/29/20

Minnesota Vikings re-sign veteran guard Dakota Dozier

By the AP

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have signed veteran guard Dakota Dozier.

The team announced the re-signing of the Furman product, who played in 16 games last season with a career-high four starts. He originally joined Minnesota as a free agent last April 4.

Dozier was drafted by the in the fourth round (137th overall) of the 2014 NFL draft. He has appeared in 54 career games with 11 starts. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 3/29/20

The Cases For and Against the Vikings Trading For Trent Williams

By Will Ragatz

With COVID-19 shutting down every other sports league in America, the NFL offseason has had little competition for the spotlight. That has led to an endless supply of rumors, discussions, and hypothetical moves circulating the internet, whether they're backed by any credible reporting or not. What else is there to do while social distancing than speculate on trades and do simulated mock drafts?

When it comes to the Vikings, the central discussion point right now is Trent Williams. Specifically, what it would take for Rick Spielman and Minnesota to acquire the seven-time Pro Bowler who is widely regarded as one of the best offensive tackles in football.

This isn't just some fun, baseless rumor. The pieces make sense, and there's legitimate reason to believe discussions have been had. Williams wants the Redskins to trade him; that has been made very clear by his agent. He has seemingly wanted out of that organization for some time, having sat out all of 2019 due to contract disputes and frustration over the team's handling of a major medical issue. Meanwhile, the Vikings are in perpetual need of more talent on their offensive line. Most importantly, several credible sources – including ESPN's John Keim and KSTP's Darren Wolfson – have reported that the Vikings have shown interest in acquiring Williams.

There's no question that a trade for Williams would make the Vikings' offensive line better in 2020 and beyond. In the end, whether or not a deal happens will come down to the compensation needed to pry him from the Redskins and the cost of signing him to a long-term deal. There are a ton of factors in play: the Vikings' lack of cap space, decisions on and Riley Reiff, Williams' contract demands, and the Redskins' leverage (or lack thereof).

For now, let's just approach this from Minnesota's perspective. We'll examine the case for the Vikings going all-in on making a Williams trade happen, and the case for steering clear.

Why the Vikings should pursue a trade for Trent Williams

Simply put, Williams would be the best tackle the Vikings have had since Gary Zimmerman left for the Broncos in 1993. He'd be a massive, immediate upgrade over Reiff, who would likely have to be cut or included in the trade (creating $8.8 million in cap space) in order for the Vikings to afford Williams. Before sitting out last season, Williams was a Pro Bowler for seven straight years, three of those with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback.

When he's healthy and playing at his best, one can make the argument that Williams is the best offensive lineman in the NFL. At 6'5", 320 pounds, with a decade of experience perfecting his craft, he's an immovable object in pass protection and a wrecking ball as a run-blocker. Williams could easily fit in the Vikings' zone-blocking scheme with his off-the-charts athleticism; he ran a 4.88 40-yard dash and jumped out of the gym at the 2010 combine. Williams' 40 time ranks in the 98th percentile among offensive linemen, his vertical jump is in the 97th percentile, and his broad jump is in the 94th percentile.

Read: Could Cesar Ruiz Be a Surprise First-Round Option for the Vikings?

Concerns about his age also shouldn't be a reason for the Vikings not to push for a trade. Williams turns 32 in June, but he plays a position where plenty of players have been successful deep into their 30s, with Jason Peters and Andrew Whitworth being two recent examples. Williams could hold down the left side of the Vikings' line for the next five-plus years, forming one of the league's best duos with right tackle Brian O'Neill. He'd give Cousins the time in the pocket he needs to be at his best, and would be a dominant force in the running game.

Left tackle is one of the most important positions in football, and Williams has a long track record of playing at an elite level. If the Vikings can clear enough space to pay him, they should be pursuing every possible avenue to make a trade happen.

Why the Vikings shouldn't pursue a trade for Trent Williams

For as talented as Williams is, there are a plethora of reasons for Spielman to approach this situation cautiously.

First of all, here's an estimation of the minimum cost: Reiff, a third-round pick, and a late-round pick going to Washington in a trade, and $15 million per year going to Williams on a contract extension. Again, that's a conservative estimate. It might take a second-round pick to get the Redskins to budge, even if the discussion of how much leverage they hold against Williams is an interesting one. And Williams, who has one year left on a contract set to pay him $12.5 million in 2020, may want as much as $18 million annually in an extension, which would be a massive commitment for the Vikings given their financial situation.

Trading for Williams would be a clear win-now move for a team that has straddled the line between contending and rebuilding this offseason. Would it be worth it for the Vikings to make such a huge financial commitment to a player like Williams after losing Stefon Diggs, Trae Waynes, Everson Griffen, and several other key pieces over the past few weeks?

Then there's the Harris situation to consider. Trading their star safety and freeing up the $11.4 million he's currently owed on the franchise tag would be a big step towards creating space to sign Williams, but that would be another major loss on the defensive side of the ball with no clear replacement in waiting. There's really no imaginable scenario where the Vikings can pay both Harris – who is seeking a long-term deal – and Williams going forward. Trading Reiff and cutting a few other players could create the room for the Vikings to pay Williams and keep Harris on the tag, but that would just delay a decision on his long-term status for a year. Even though left tackle is an inherently more valuable position than safety, Spielman would have to grapple with the possibility of landing Williams but starting several rookies in the secondary in 2020.

Read: Assessing the Vikings' Receiver Group After Adding Tajae Sharpe

Lastly, it must be noted that there's some risk that would come with making a blockbuster move for Williams. He's almost 32, missed a full season last year, and before that missed 15 games in four years due to suspension and injury. Williams has also had a couple off-the-field incidents and received the lowest PFF grade of his career in 2018, his most recent season.

Spielman might wind up deciding that Williams' talent and positional value outweigh all of the costs and concerns. He also might not come to that conclusion. All we can do right now is stay home, wash our hands, and continue to imagine the possibilities. PUBLICATION: Yahoo Sports DATE: 3/29/20

How Vikings' Kyle Rudolph is staying in shape: 250 push-ups a day, some with kids on his back

By Terez Paylor

All things considered, this is typically a restful time of year for the Minnesota Vikings’ Kyle Rudolph.

It’s late March, which means he’s still smack dab in the middle of the NFL offseason, a time when players get a break from the game. Rudolph loves football, so he doesn’t want to be away too far.

“I go to the [team] facility and pretty much have the whole place to myself this time of year,” said the 30-year-old tight end and two-time Pro Bowler. “I'm able to get a really good run in, a really good lift in and it's kind of my time away from the house.”

The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted Rudolph’s training plan. Due to the ease with which the dangerous virus spreads, both NFL team facilities and local gyms all over the country have closed, complicating the training patterns for all NFL players and causing teammates in many cities to turn to each other for advice on how to stay in shape.

“Guys [are] just kind of bouncing ideas off each other like, ‘Hey what are you doing? This is what I have, this is what I have access to,’” said Rudolph, a Vikings team captain. “How can I make this work? How can I get the most out of this? What do you have access to? What are you able to do?’”

For Rudolph, the answer to the question has been, at least in part, a return to old-school methods he used over a decade ago, long before he became a millionaire pro athlete.

“I did a lot of pushups, a lot of sit-ups [then],” said Rudolph, who recently challenged himself to 250 pushups every day. “I ran around the neighborhood, I ran in the yard. You try to find a park or an open field. And that’s kind of what I resorted to.”

Training with the kids Rudolph noted that he is fortunate enough to be in a different financial situation than he was before the pros. For that reason, Rudolph and his wife Jordan, who live in the Twin Cities year round, recently made a donation to Second Harvest Heartland that will provide 82,000 meals to needy Minnesotans who are struggling due to the coronavirus.

The Rudolphs’ good fortune also allows them to own home fitness equipment, and soon they’ll add Tonal — a wall- mounted weight-lifting system with multiple workouts — to their home gym.

“My wife and I are super fired up — we’re getting that installed today,” Rudolph said. “Then I’ll be able to do more strength training than just my pushups and sit-ups that I’ve been doing for the last week or so.”

The Rudolphs also have a Peloton — Kyle described Tonal as the Peloton of weightlifting, by the way — but noted his wife uses it way more than he does.

“My butt always hurts after doing those rides, so we have an Arc that I do my cardio on,” Rudolph said with a laugh.

Between Tonal, Peloton, pilates, and his old-school training methods that include resistance bands and at least 30 minutes of daily cardio, Rudolph should be set from a workout perspective, especially since he has remained in direct communication via email with Mark Uyeyama, the Vikings’ head strength coach, and Eric Sugarman, the team’s head athletic trainer.

“You have some guys that have some fitness equipment and you have some guys that have whole gyms in their house,” Rudolph said. “The variance is severe, but the common denominator is that guys are adapting and guys are still making sure [that] when the time comes, when we get back together, hey, I’m going to be physically ready.”

While there are some challenging aspects of having his training disrupted, there are some benefits to working out from home, with the biggest one simply being more quality time around his loved ones.

“In such an uncertain time for so many families, we’re fortunate that the only uncertainty I have right now is, you know, entertaining my three kids under 4 on a daily basis — now I know why teachers of that age get paid so much money,” Rudolph joked.

All in all, Rudolph said, it has been fun having them near his workouts, many of which they even tag along for.

“They run around a bit and make it seem like they're training,” Rudolph said. “My [twin] girls are trying to learn how to do push-ups. It's hilarious trying to watch them do pushups as 3-year-olds.

“But it's been fun, in a way, to try to adapt and embrace that here at the house, whether it's having the kids running around when I'm trying to do cardio downstairs in our little fitness room, or having the kids out in the front yard watching me run up and down the slight incline we have in the street, [or] having the kids come over and sit on my back when I'm trying to do some push-ups ... It's been fun because oftentimes as a dad in the NFL, you get so lost in dedicating all your time and energy to football and training falls under that umbrella to where, when I'm training, it's all about training. So to have them around, it's kind of made it fun.”

Like everyone else, Rudolph doesn’t know how long this routine will last. All he and other NFL players can do is make the most of the situation until the pandemic comes to an end.

“It's definitely one of the most uncertain times, definitely, in my career and I would say for most people,” Rudolph said. “If anyone was to sit on here and tell you guys, 'Well I'm extremely confident that we're not going to have any issues come late July, August, September, when things are supposed to be really rolling for us,’ I wouldn't know how they're able to say that.

“Obviously, I'm confident in the NFL and the decisions that each organization will make moving forward. I can just say that I hope it doesn't come to that. I hope this is something that, come midsummer time, we're all looking back and it's in the rearview mirror and we're on the other side of this.” PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 3/29/20

Guard Dakota Dozier Returning to Vikings

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings on Saturday announced they have re-signed with guard Dakota Dozier.

Dozier initially signed with the Vikings as a free agent in 2019 after spending the first five seasons of his career with the Jets.

In 2019, Dozier started a total of four games (one at left guard, three at right guard), playing 362 offensive snaps (35.6 percent of total offensive snaps) in 2019.

He fared well in his starts, building on previous experience with Vikings offensive line coach , who coached Dennison in New York in 2018.

Dozier could challenge for the starting right guard spot after the release of Josh Kline, but can also be counted on to provide strong depth for Minnesota's offensive line in 2020.

The 28-year-old Dozier has appeared in 53 career games with 11 total starts.