DAILY CLIPS SUNDAY, MARCH 10, 2019

LOCAL NEWS: Sunday, March 10, 2019

Star Tribune

NFL free agency preview: Vikings have plenty of decisions to make By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/nfl-free-agency-preview-vikings-have-plenty-of-decisions-to-make/506935462/

VIKING Update

Sunday slant: Anticipating the slow roll By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Anticipating-Minnesota-Vikings-slow-roll-in-free-agency-129893374/

Skor North

How many impact offensive linemen remain in free agency? By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/03/how-many-impact-offensive-linemen-remain-in-free-agency/

MULTIMEDIA LINKS: Sunday, March 10, 2019

Can the Vikings Keep Anthony Barr? KMSP-FOX 9 http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=0ba5b5b7-4f1b-4d49-b7c3-bc157f64361d

Full Show: Vikings Combine Review / Free Agency Preview Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/full-show-vikings-combine-review-free-agency-preview

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Sunday, March 10, 2019

Prospect Profile: Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/prospect-profile-ohio-state-dt-dre-mont-jones

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 3/10/19

NFL free agency preview: Vikings have plenty of decisions to make

By Ben Goessling

As the Vikings mark the anniversary this week of the three-year, $84 million deal they gave — a move designed to solidify their status as championship contenders — they find themselves facing a pressing set of tasks, and an unusual set of financial constraints within which to accomplish them.

The Vikings are projected to have just $5.24 million in salary cap space when free agency kicks off on Wednesday, meaning they’re headed toward some difficult decisions on veterans this week as they try to clear room for the rest of their needs following a disappointing 8-7-1 season. What remains to be seen, though, is how many new challenges the Vikings could face if they’re forced to jettison key contributors.

Here's a position-by-position look at the Vikings’ roster headed into free agency, and how it could change in the coming days.:

Quarterback (2019 salary cap figure in parentheses)

Current roster: Kirk Cousins ($29 million), Kyle Sloter ($645,000)

Pending free agent: Trevor Siemian

Big decision: Whether the team’s new offensive staff — filled with coaches who were in Denver when Siemian lost his job as the Broncos’ starter in 2016 — will want to bring Siemian back on a new deal. It could depend on whether the Vikings see Sloter as being ready to assume the No. 2 job behind Cousins.

Running back

Current roster: ($1.732 million), C.J. Ham ($645,000) Mike Boone ($572,500), Roc Thomas ($570,000)

Pending free agents: Latavius Murray,

Big decision: With little security behind Cook, who has played only 15 games in two years, the Vikings could look to add here. It’s tough to see Murray returning unless there’s not an offer he likes on the open market, but a reliable, affordable veteran, such as Eagan native Zach Zenner, could make sense.

Wide receiver

Current roster: Stefon Diggs ($12.468 million), ($8.1M), Laquon Treadwell ($3.161M), ($570,000), Brandon Zylstra ($570,000), Jeff Badet ($532,500)

Pending free agent: Aldrick Robinson

Big decision: There’s little depth behind Diggs and Thielen (who could be in line for a raise after back-to-back Pro Bowls). It’d make sense to bring back Robinson, who played with Cousins in Washington and clicked with him last year. Though the Vikings would save $654,770 by cutting Treadwell, coach Mike Zimmer said new assistant head coach Gary Kubiak has “big plans” for the former first-round pick.

Tight end

Current roster: Kyle Rudolph ($7.625 million), David Morgan ($753,864), ($640,258), Cole Hikutini ($570,000)

Pending free agents: None

Big decision: It’s believed the Vikings are in talks with Rudolph — who turns 30 in November — about a salary reduction in the final year of his deal, but it remains to be seen if the tight end would accept a restructuring or look to play elsewhere. Nonetheless, the Vikings, who pursued Jared Cook in free agency two years ago and talked with the Rams about a trade for Tyler Higbee last year, could be in the market for a tight end who can run.

Offensive line

Current roster: ($11.7 million), ($6.35M), ($1.043M), Brian O’Neill ($1.001M), Danny Isidora ($695,487), ($650,000), Cornelius Edison ($570,000), Adam Bisnowaty ($495,000), Storm Norton ($495,000)

Pending free agents: Nick Easton, Brett Jones, , , Cedrick Lang

Big decision: There are a few of them here: Whether to bring Remmers back, or free up $4.55 million by cutting him; how much to bet on Easton’s healthy return from a herniated disk; whether Reiff needs to stay at left tackle, or if there’s another option available; and whether to look for help on the free-agent market or in the draft. If such free agents as the Rams’ Roger Saffold or the Broncos’ Matt Paradis get too expensive for the Vikings, one name to keep in mind is Jets center Jonathan Harrison, who played for offensive line coach Rick Dennison last year and could potentially move to guard.

Defensive line

Current roster: ($13.5 million), Everson Griffen ($11.743M), Linval Joseph ($10.668M), ($814,590), , ($752,849), ($720,000), Tashawn Bower ($650,000), ($632,500), Ade Aruna ($524,602), Curtis Cothran ($495,000)

Pending free agents: , Tom Johnson

Big decision: Richardson has expressed interest in returning after a strong season, but that might not happen if agent Ben Dogra is looking for top-of-the-market money. There’s been chatter in NFL circles for months about the possibility of Griffen moving on. If the Vikings decide they need to either release the 31-year-old defensive end — or potentially force his hand by seeking a salary reduction — they could turn to Weatherly, who could be a candidate for a sensible long-term deal before he hits free agency next year. Johnson, a solid contributor for the Vikings, wants to return; he’ll be 35 before the season.

Linebacker

Current roster: ($6.568 million), ($803,132), Kentrell Brothers ($778,170), Eric Wilson ($648,333), Devante Downs ($593,600), Reshard Cliett ($495,000)

Pending free agent: Anthony Barr

Big decision: It seems as if Barr — the No. 9 pick in the 2014 draft — might be moving on, especially if there’s a fit closer to the West Coast, or a team that wants to pay him to rush the in a 3-4 defense. If Barr leaves, the Vikings will have to decide whether they can turn to Wilson to replace him full-time, or whether they’ll need another dynamic player in the draft.

Defensive back

Current roster: Xavier Rhodes ($13.337 million), Harrison Smith ($10.75M), Trae Waynes ($9.069M), Mike Hughes ($2.242M), ($1.373M), Jayron Kearse ($736,056), Holton Hill ($575,000), Jalen Myrick ($570,000), Craig James ($570,000)

Pending free agents: Andrew Sendejo, Marcus Sherels, George Iloka, Anthony Harris

Big decision: The Vikings figure to place a restricted free-agent tender on Harris that ensures them compensation if he leaves. If he received a second-round tender, he’d make more than $3 million next season. It seems unlikely the Vikings would pick up a $5.5 million option on Sendejo, and they could have competition for Sherels, especially with Mike Priefer now the special teams coordinator in Cleveland. Waynes’ fifth-year option becomes guaranteed on Wednesday, and if the Vikings are confident in their depth with Hill and Hughes (returning from a torn ACL), they could look to deal Waynes to create cap space.

Specialists

Current roster: Long snapper Kevin McDermott ($960,000), punter Matt Wile ($645,000)

Pending free agent: Kicker Dan Bailey

Big decision: New special teams coordinator Marwan Maalouf will quickly have to evaluate Bailey, who missed seven field goals after signing with the Vikings last year. The Vikings met with rookie kickers at the NFL combine, but given Zimmer’s checkered history with young kickers, a veteran might be the better option. In that case, the Vikings could opt for consistency with Bailey and explore options for holders other than Wile, who struggled at times last season. PUBLICATION: Viking Update DATE: 3/10/19

Sunday slant: Anticipating the slow roll

By Tim Yotter

Last year, the exploded into free agency for what was termed an “all-in” move in the local media. This year, another poker term, the “slow roll,” could be applicable to this week’s pending free-agent period.

We’ve often termed free agency as a “frenzy,” but this year it’s likely to be a value-laden proposition after the Vikings cashed in their chips at the window with last year’s moves. They bet big on quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson but weren’t able to realize return on investment with even a playoff appearance, much less a deep run.

The easy reaction is to say that those moves didn’t work, but the team’s issues in 2018 had as much to do with other shortcomings as it did the play of Cousins and Richardson.

“As far as Kirk, one of the things – and I think he had a good year – I think because he signed the big contract, everybody’s on his rear end about that and we didn’t win enough games,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “Same with me, I guess, but the big thing is every free agent I’ve had in my 25 or 26 years, however many years I’ve been coaching, they’ve always played better the second year.”

Zimmer listed Cousins’ stats, 4,298 yards, 30 touchdowns and 10 interceptions, saying those were good. But head coach also admitted there were too many turnovers and missed kicks that contributed to the Vikings’ 2018 downturn that placed them outside the playoffs.

At the NFL Scouting Combine last month, Zimmer often referenced the missed kicks in 2018, especially against the Packers in Week 2, saying that could have been a win, which likely would have put the Vikings in the postseason. Then, who knows?

That’s true, but a questionable call that went in the Vikings’ favor in the Packers game also could have resulted in a loss instead of a tie, meaning an 8-8 record. Cousins could be blamed, too, for a horrendous start against the , who pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NFL in the last decade when they took advantage of Cousins’ fumbles and coasted to an early and improbable 17-0 lead. Of course, Everson Griffen’s breakdown before that game was likely a bigger factor than anyone admitted.

But, overall, it wasn’t Cousins’ fault that the offensive line turned leaky in 2018 and caused him to be one of the most pressured in the league. It wasn’t his fault that Dalvin Cook couldn’t contribute for five games in the first half of the season. Certainly, Cousins should shoulder some blame, but if the Vikings are able to adequately address their offensive line this offseason, then a more informed judgment can be made on whether or not Cousins’ $84 million, fully guaranteed contract was worth it.

For now, though, overhauling the offensive line, or adding multiple surefire starters at any position, shouldn’t be expected with quick and lucrative strikes in free agency.

First, the Vikings are tight against the cap, with only $4.94 million left to spend, about the price it will take to sign their draft picks. Second, the free agent market isn’t loaded with quality offensive linemen, which could drive the price higher on those at the top of available food chain.

The Vikings know that spending lavishly in free agency isn’t always a great idea and now hope that Cousins can improve his play, believing that a more familiar offense will contribute to that goal.

“Second-year free agents, we can go back through the list and it’s always been like that for some reason. I’m not sure why,” Zimmer said. “I guess each guy is different that way, too. … I do think when [Cousins] doesn’t have to drop back 46 times, it’s going to help. Hopefully we don’t have to.”

While Zimmer listed several defensive free agents that had better second seasons, left tackle Riley Reiff’s performance in 2018 would fly in the face of a better second season. And, of course, free agents don’t always work out.

As one league source pointed out, the Vikings’ top 10 cap hits eat up more than $130 million of the teams $188.8 million cap. They knew their roster was trending towards the rich and the fill-ins, with less of a middle class.

But the breakdown of positional spending is telling. The Vikings have more money committed to their defense than any team in the league. While they are 14th in spending on offense, they are 27th on the offensive line.

Zimmer is a defensive coach and their allocated spending there shows it. What he has to realize is that more resources are needed on the offensive line and his defense may have sacrifice to allow that spending.

The “slow roll” in poker refers to not showing a winning hand in a timely fashion, thereby causing undue anguish or tension by making the opponent wait for the results. In free agency, the Vikings may have to wait the market out for inevitable bargain shopping that occurs several days, something even a week or more, into the process. But more than anything, they have to make sure they have a winning hand at the of free agency and the draft if they are going to prove they are as good as they think they are. PUBLICATION: Skor North DATE: 3/10/19

How many impact offensive linemen remain in free agency?

By Matthew Coller

When it comes to improving the offensive line in 2019, the Minnesota Vikings have all sorts of options. When it comes to free agency, which opens on Wednesday, recent history has proven that buyers should beware.

In 2016, the Vikings signed Alex Boone to fix the O-line. One year later he was released. Mike Remmers was signed as a right tackle, but was moved inside to guard last year. Starting left tackle Riley Reiff will reportedly be considered for a move from left tackle to guard.

Around the league the trend is similar with free agent linemen. Houston signed Zach Fulton to a four-year, $28 million contract last offseason only to see him rank 47th of 55 by Pro Football Focus’s grades. Miami’s deal with Josh Sitton, two years for $15 million, went belly up and he was released this offseason. The Giants added Patrick Omameh last year in free agency on a three-year, $15 million deal. They cut him midway through the year.

So how do the Vikings avoid one of these horror stories? By focusing on the players who are the best bets to improve the offensive line significantly in 2019.

Unfortunately several of the best fits are already off the board. Pittsburgh re-signed Ramon Foster and traded Marcus Gilbert to Arizona. The Colts kept Mark Glowinski on a three-year deal. San Francisco re-signed Mike Person and the Jets convinced Jonothan Harrison to stick around. And the Browns traded Kevin Zeitler to the Giants.

Whether they can win a bidding war with only around $5 million in cap space is another story, but assuming the Vikings find a way to create space, here are the last remaining impact free agents.

In order to understand the difference a free agent could make, we have to use the Vikings’ 2018 O-line as a baseline. Here are the remaining free agents who could be an upgrade and how they compare to Vikings players…

Guard, Rodger Saffold The 31-year-old guard will be highly coveted on the free agent market because of his consistency and durability over the past three seasons. He’s ranked somewhere between above average and elite among guards between 2016 and 2018 and has excelled in both the run and pass game. Considering the Rams ran an outside zone scheme, which the Vikings plan on running in 2019, he should be Minnesota’s top target.

Compton was put in an unfair position being forced to start a full season for the first time. Putting a top-notch talent in for a replacement player would make a significant difference on the ground and in protecting Kirk Cousins.

Pass blocking: 72.6

Run blocking: 71.6

Pressures: 29 on 766 passing snaps

Comparison: Tom Compton

Pass blocking: 60.6

Run blocking: 60.2

Pressures: 34 on 560 snaps

Tackle, Ja’Wuan James Ironically James’ grades and numbers are worse than they appear because of a game against teh Vikings in which he gave up two sacks and graded a 38.8. Aside from that game, the 19th overall pick in 2014 has put together solid stretches over the last three seasons. He graded a strong 77.8 in pass blocking in 2017 but his season was shortened by injury. James has some of the explosive athletic traits (91st percentile in 3-cone drill) that the Vikings aim to find. Signing James would push 2018 second-round pick Brian O’Neill to left tackle and move Riley Reiff inside. The Vikings would be projecting O’Neill to be better than Reiff over the next season and beyond and expecting Reiff to be a left guard upgrade.

Pass blocking: 67.3

Run blocking: 69.1

Pressures: 26 on 491 passing snaps

Comparison: Brian O’Neill

Pass blocking: 65.5

Run blocking: 58.3

Pressures: 31 on 531 passing snaps

Center, Matt Paradis Paradis has been in the argument for the NFL’s best center since becoming a starter in 2015. While the team still appears to feel confident in Elflein, who faced extremely difficult circumstances in 2018, Paradis would instantly give the Vikings a better chance against the elite interior defensive linemen of the NFC North a la Snacks Harrison, Akiem Hicks and Kenny Clark. Signing a center would allow the Vikings to move Elflein over to guard, where he would likely be an upgrade.

Pass blocking: 78.6

Run blocking: 77.4

Pressures: five on 353 passing snaps

Comparison: 2018 Pat Elflein

Pass blocking: 44.3

Run blocking: 44.3

Pressures: 33 on 567 passing snaps

Center, Mitch Morse Morse is not of the caliber of Paradis, so we have to look at him through a different lens. Would he be better than what we expect a fully-healthy Elflein (in a better system fit) to be? In Morse’s case, it’s clear that he’s a better pass blocker, but might not be an upgrade in run blocking. Over the last two seasons he has graded out below average. In this case, the Vikings would have to decide that protecting Cousins against the interior D-line beasts of the NFC North was their top priority.

Pass blocking: 82.7

Run blocking: 61.3

Pressures: Five on 534 passing snaps

Comparison: 2017 Pat Elflein

Pass blocking: 66.1

Run blocking: 67.6

Pressures: 26 on 600 passing snaps

Guard, Andy Levitre Health is certainly a concern for the veteran guard, who missed most of the 2018 season and a chunk of 2017, but when he’s healthy, Levitre has been an above average guard for his entire career. He played a key role on the 2016 , who reached the and put together one of the most explosive offenses of the past decade. Levitre is a left guard, so the Vikings would still have to find an upgrade at right guard, but if he’s back to 100 percent, the former Bill/Titan/Falcon could instantly improve the Vikings pass and run blocking.

*Pass blocking: 81.3

*Run blocking: 71.9

*Pressures: 12 on 412 passing snaps

*injured in 2018, stats are from 2017

Comparison: Mike Remmers

Pass blocking: 61.1

Run blocking: 58.2

Pressures: 42 on 705 passing snaps

Tackle, Trent Brown The massive left tackle does not fit the mold of athletic offensive linemen the Vikings will be looking for, but he was extremely effective for the Patriots in pass protection, especially during their playoff run. His success doesn’t appear to be only based on playing in New England. During his final year in San Francisco the 6-foot-8 tackle scored a 79.2 PFF grade in pass protection and gave up 16 pressures in 240 snaps. If the Vikings were willing to pay and could work around his lack of mobility in the zone scheme, Brown would protect Cousins’ backside as well or better than Reiff. It would be especially attractive to the Vikings that one of his best games (88.3 grade) came against Chicago. Brown also gave up zero sacks from Week 10 through the Super Bowl.

Pass blocking: 71.6

Run blocking: 65.4

Pressures: 39 on 744 passing snaps

Comparison: Riley Reiff

Pass blocking: 71.3

Run blocking: 68.3

Pressures: 42 on 541 passing snaps PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 3/10/19

Prospect Profile: Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones

By Lindsey Young

Defensive Tackle | Ohio State | Junior

Height: 6-foot-3 | Weight: 281 pounds

College Stats

2018: Started all 14 games for the Buckeyes; totaled 43 tackles (26 solo), 13 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble, three fumble recoveries and two passes broken up; became the first Ohio State defensive lineman in program history to score two touchdowns in one season, returning his interception 28 yards for a score against TCU and later recovering a fumble in the end zone against Michigan State; his three fumble recoveries on the season ranked sixth in FBS; named First-Team All-American by News and to the All-Big Ten First Team

Career: Started 37 of 39 games at Ohio State; finished his four-season career with 115 total tackles (58 solo), 22 tackles for loss, 9.5 sacks, one interception, one forced fumble and four passes broken up; in 2017, was named Third-Team All-Big Ten; in 2016 was named to the Freshman All-American team by the Football Writers Association of America; named an OSU Scholar-Athlete in 2016 and 2017

Photos: Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones View photos of Ohio State DT Dre’Mont Jones.

Profile

Summary: Jones stood out on the court before transitioning to the gridiron. The young athlete played basketball at St. Ignatius High School (Cleveland) and didn’t start playing football until his junior season. In just his second year of playing the sport, Jones was named First-Team A-Division I as a senior in 2014.

At Ohio State, Jones redshirted in 2015 and in 2016 started 12 of 13 games played, during which he totaled 52 tackles. According to his NFL.com draft profile, Jones numbers “improved dramatically” from his sophomore to his junior season. In 2018, he was named First-Team All-Big Ten in recognition of a performance that included 13 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

NFL analyst Lance Zierlein mentioned among Jones’ strengths that he has “a boxer’s stick-and-move hand quickness,” has “bouncy feet” that enable him to quickly change direction, has short-area quickness that becomes “legit pursuit speed” and that his hands and feet work well together.

“Jones is an extremely athletic, one-gapping 3-technique with the ability to play a disruptive brand of football on all three downs,” said Zierlein, who compared the Buckeye to Nick Fairley. “His potential has never been in doubt, but in 2018 the production finally matched the talent. His body type and playing style will open him up to more feast-or- famine snaps than some of the other defensive tackles in this draft, but in the right scheme, he can become part of a swarm unit that plays on the other side of the ball.”

Stacking up: Jones was ranked as the fifth-best defensive tackle in this year’s draft class by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler. NFL Media’s Bucky Brooks did not include Jones in his pre-combine top five.

Cleveland native: Jones grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and called himself a “crazy Browns fan.” When Jones spoke to members of the media at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, he told reporters that his love for football – and specifically the Browns and Buckeyes – started at a young age.

“I watched the Browns every Sunday with my dad,” Jones said. “It was like our thing: watch the game, get some food, chill, relax, watch Ohio State on Saturdays. So I mean, kind of how it really started."