Diggin' It

In recent years the Minnesota Vikings have made it a tradition to sign their young, cornerstone players to contract extensions during the early days of training camp. They've collected a nice core of talented players mostly through the draft and they've done an efficient job of retaining them. It started with safety Harrison Smith two years ago and continued with receiver Adam Thielen, corner Xavier Rhodes and defensive linemen Everson Griffen and Linval Joseph last year. Linebacker Eric Kendricks and defensive end Danielle Hunter were signed to extensions earlier this offseason. That signing activity left the Vikings with receiver Stefon Diggs and linebacker Anthony Barr with contracts ending after the upcoming season. Those two players needed new deals. ESPN insider Adam Schefter was the first to report that Diggs is no longer looking for a new deal. He signed a five-year, $72 million deal. He gets $81 million max and $40 in guarantees. The deal keeps Diggs in Minnesota for the next seasons. It also give the Vikings an offensive playmaker core of Kirk Cousins, Dalvin Cook, Diggs, and Thielen through at least the 2020 season. That's a very good thing.

The only thing that's held Diggs back over his three years in the league has been some injuries of the annoying more than serious sort. He's missed at least a couple games each season. In three years he's played in forty games. He's also reached 200 receptions in those 40 games. That's two games faster than it took Randy Moss to hit that number. Diggs has earned his big payday. His route running, short area quickness, ability to track the ball, go up and get the ball, and hands are among the best in the league. He can play on the inside and on the outside. He plays bigger than his 6'0" 190 lb size. He can also play smaller than that size. He's a unique receiver. When he plays a full season his stats will reflect the elite receiver that he is. The receiving pair of Diggs and Thielen has few rivals. Each is a handful for defenses. As a pair they can be a nightmare. The Vikings have committed a lot of resources to keep their terrific defense together. There was some question as to whether there would be enough resources to keep the offense well stocked. The giant contract given to Cousins in March and the contract given to Diggs yesterday is an indication of the team's desire to keep both sides of the ball as strong as possible. Good teams retain the impact players that they develop and the Vikings have shown in recent years that it is their priority. 

Now, the contract attention is flipped back to the defense and Anthony Barr. And then back to the offense and guard Nick Easton. And then back to the defense and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson and/or corner Trae Waynes. The negotiation work never ends.