Tagged Players

Yesterday was the deadline for teams to slap a franchise tag (or transition tag) on one of their soon-to-be free agents. The tag is meant to restrict player movement and the slapping teams, for the moment, hope the move did the trick. 

Tagged Players:

George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts

All but Daniel Jones were slapped with the franchise tag. For whatever reason, the Indianapolis Colts decided to get cheap with the little-used transition tag. The last time a quarterback received the transition tag was in 1996 when the Atlanta Falcons used it to keep Jeff George. For a savings of only $6 million, the Colts only get the opportunity to match any contract offered to Jones. If he was to sign with another team, the Colts would receive no draft-pick compensation. I’ve never understood why a team uses the transition tag. It seems that the potential for draft-pick compensation alone is worth the difference in savings. There’s a reason the transition tag isn’t offered used. It’s been 30 years since it was last used on a quarterback. The professionals with the Colts obviously see the right to match any contract Jones might be offered as reason for the cheaper tagging route. 

George Pickens, Kyle Pitts, and Breece Hall were all slapped with the non-exclusive franchise tag. So, the other teams can negotiate with the tagged players. However, it’s highly unlikely that any team would be willing to pay the two first-round draft picks it would cost to sign any of the three players. 

The Colts had a tagging decision to make as both Daniel Jones and receiver Alec Pierce are a week away from free agency. They hoped to get Pierce signed before the deadline. One of the holdups in the deal was Pierce wanting certainties as to his quarterback. I wonder if Jones receiving the transition tag provides that certainty. For $6 million more, the Colts could’ve provided more certainty. I’m guessing that both Jones and Pierce will be in Indianapolis next season. 

With the tagging deadline in the books, the next thing on the NFL Calendar is biggie. NFL Free Agency is a week away with the Monday opening of the “legal” tampering window. 

Franchise Tag Deadline Day

The deadline is today for NFL teams to use the franchise tag (or transition tag) to restrict the movement of one of their impending free agents. The tags have been around since free agency was born in 1993. Teams used to rely more heavily on this tool to retain players than they have in recent years. Are teams better at securing deals for most-prized players in advance of free agency? Are teams simply less willing to use the tags? Who knows? What is known is that the franchise tag has gotten pretty pricey. 

Franchise Tag Numbers:

QB - $47.4 million

WR - $28.0 million

OL - $27.8 million

LB - $27.6 million

DT - $27.4 million

DE - $26.7 million

CB - $20.8 million

S - $20.8 million

TE - $16.0 million

RB - $14.2 million

K/P - $6.8 million

The tags are pretty pricey but they are a reflection of the booming NFL economy. Most teams can easily afford those numbers. It’s really just a question of whether they want to spend it. The best option for teams and players is always to get a long-term deal done. 

In advance of tagging deadline day, only three teams have slapped one of the their players with the franchise tag. 

Tagged Players:

George Pickens, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Kyle Pitts, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets

Some of the teams that have tagging decisions to make before today’s 1pm PT deadline.

Potentially Tagged Players:

Daniel Jones, QB, Indianapolis Colts

Alec Pierce, WR, Indianapolis Colts

Kenneth Walker III, RB, Seattle Seahawks

Trey Hendrickson, DE, Cincinnati Bengals 

Odafe Oweh, Edge, Los Angeles Chargers

A team can use only one tag so the Indianapolis Colts might have a decision to make. I believe that the Colts will get a long-term deal done with one of Daniel Jones or Alec Pierce and tag the other. Today should be a furious day in Indianapolis.  It’s been reported that it’s unlikely that the Seattle Seahawks and Cincinnati Bengals use a tag on Kenneth Walker III and Trey Hendrickson, respectively. Whether it’s through tagging or a long-term deal, the Los Angeles Chargers should find a way to keep Odadfe Oweh. He was a pass-rushing revelation when he joined the Chargers through trade during last season. 

Today’s tagging deadline is the next step on the way to next week’s start of free agency. 

Mock Draft Monday

Following the completion of the Scouting Combine, here’s another swing at a mock draft of the first round. 

1.   Las Vegas Raiders: Fernando Mendoza, QB, Indiana

2.   New York Jets: Arvell Reese, Edge, Ohio State

3.   Arizona Cardinals: Francis Mauigoa, OT, Miami

4.   Tennessee Titans: David Bailey, Edge, Edge

5.   New York Giants: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State

6.   Cleveland Browns: Rueben Baine Jr., Edge, Miami

7.   Washington Commanders: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame

8.   New Orleans Saints: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State

9.   Kansas City Chiefs: Carnell Tate, WR, Ohio State

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Olaivavega Ioane, G, Penn State

11. Miami Dolphins: Mansoor Delane, CB, LSU

12. Dallas Cowboys: Akheem Mesidor, Edge, Miami

13. Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): Jermod McCoy, CB, Tennessee

14. Baltimore Ravens: Makai Lemon, WR, USC

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Cashius Howell, Edge, Texas A&M

16. New York Jets (from Colts): Jordan Tyson, WR, Arizona State

17. Detroit Lions: Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn

18. Minnesota Vikings: Dillon Thieneman, S, Oregon

19. Carolina Panthers: KC Concepcion, WR, Texas A&M

20. Dallas Cowboys (from Packers): Avieon Terrell, CB, Clemson

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Denzel Boston, WR, Washington

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenyon Sadiq, TE, Oregon

23. Philadelphia Eagles: T.J. Parker, Edge, Clemson

24. Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): Spencer Fano, OT, Utah

25. Chicago Bears: Caleb Banks, DL, Florida

26. Buffalo Bills: CJ Allen, LB, Georgia

27. San Francisco 49ers: Monroe Freeling, OT, Georgia

28. Houston Texans: Kadyn Proctor, OT, Alabama

29. Los Angeles Rams: Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

30. Denver Broncos: Peter Woods, DL, Clemson

31. New England Patriots: Caleb Lomu, OT, Utah

32. Seattle Seahawks: Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame

Until the next one. 

Another Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft

With the Scouting Combine coming to an end, it’s definitely NFL Draft season. Here’s another swing at a Minnesota Vikings Mock Draft.

1. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo

2. Chris Johnson, CB, San Diego State

3. Emmett Johnson, RB, Nebraska

3. Tim Keenan III, DL, Alabama

5. Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

6. Logan Jones, C, Iowa

7. Kage Casey, OT, Boise State

7. Eli Heidenreich, FB, Navy

7. Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State

I sure wish the Compensatory picks would be announced so that we know exactly how many and what picks the Vikings will have. Every 7-round mock draft seems to have a different accounting of the team’s picks. 

My initial thoughts on the first round were focused on the cornerbacks and maybe defensive line. The Vikings 18th pick seemed to fit nicely with the players at those positions. The more I familiarize myself with the players in this draft the more I see depth at corner and a drop-off at safety. Emmanuel McNeil-Warren and Chris Johnson would be excellent additions to the Vikings secondary. I really like the defensive lineman potentially available in the first round. It’s tough to pass on them for the secondary. Tim Keenan III in the third will immediately help the run defense. 

Center, running back, and receiver are the top offensive needs. Emmett Johnson, Ted Hurst, and Logan Jones nicely address those needs. 

While I really like the players in this mock, I don’t like that linebacker isn’t addressed. At the start of the draft process, I didn’t really think of linebacker as a first-round option. Now, I’m thinking a player like Georgia’s C.J. Allen as a legitimate option. Future mocks might include him. 

The Salary Cap Is In!

The NFL salary cap for the 2026 season will be $301.2 million. That’s a $22 million increase over last year. The cap has increased 40% since the pandemic-altered 2020 season. The NFL is doing just fine. 

The NFL introduced the salary cap when they were forced to accept free agency. Seeing as the salary cap is a reflection of league profits, it’s an interesting evolution.

NFL Salary Cap Through The Years (in millions)

1994: $34.608 

1995: $37.100

1996: $40.753

1997: $41.454

1998: $52.388

1999: $57.288

2000: $62.172

2001: $67.405

2002: $71.101

2003: $75.007

2004: $80.582

2005: $85.582

2006: $102.000

2007: $109.000

2008: $116.000

2009: $123.000

2010: NA

2011: $120.375

2012: $120.600

2013: $123.000

2014: $133.000

2015: $143.280

2016: $155.270

2017: $167.000

2018: $177.200

2019: $188.200

2020: $198.200

2021: $182.500

2022: $208.200

2023: $224.800

2024: $255.400

2025: $279.200

2026: $301.200

The 2010 season cap was uncapped due to the expiration of the 2006 Collective Bargaining Agreement. 

Despite being well aware of the unrelenting growth of the NFL, it still amazes me that the salary cap has jumped nearly $100 million since 2022. 

It’s also amazing that there are current players with an annual salary equal to the salary cap for an entire team during the 1998 season. 

With the salary cap set at $301.2, the Minnesota Vikings are $45,506,353 over the cap. There’s some work to be done over the next two weeks just to get even. The Vikings need to get better than even. 

The Grades Are In!

Due to a handful of sensitive owners, the league hoped they’d put an end to the NFLPA’s report cards on the teams. The NFL succeeded in court to prevent the public release of the grades. The ruling couldn’t stop the NFLPA and the players from continuing to grade the teams. With so many involved in the process, leaks are inevitable. ESPN’s Kalyn Kahler has long been covering the NFLPA’s Report Cards and she collected those leaks. The grades are in!

The top three graded teams are the Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders. The bottom three teams are the Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Perhaps the most remarkable reveal in the four-year history of the NFLPA’s grades has been the rise of the Commanders. When Josh Harris purchased the team from idiot Daniel Snyder, the Commanders were at the bottom of the team grades. Now, they are a the top. If nothing else, Harris showed that a horribly run team can be flipped. He also showed that it can be done quickly. I can’t imagine Art and Dan Rooney being happy with the way the kids are currently running the Steelers. The senior Rooneys were a couple of the most player-centric owners to ever own an NFL team. They took care of their players from 1933 until Dan Rooney’s passing in 2017. Seeing the Steelers failing at taking care of their players doesn’t feel right. 

The Minnesota Vikings have been crushing these grades. They were at the top in the first year. They’ve been a touch behind the Miami Dolphins each of the last three years. It must be the weather. 

Minnesota Vikings Grades

Treatment of Families: A

Home Game Field: B

Food/Dining: B-

Nutritionist/Dietician: B+

Locker Room: A

Training Room: A-

Training Staff: A-

Weight Room: A-

Strength Coaches: A

Position Coaches: B+

Offensive Coordinator: A-

Defensive Coordinator: B+

Special Teams Coordinator: A-

Team Travel: B+

Head Coach: A

General Manager: A

Team Ownership: A+

Overall Rank: 2

Actually, the difference between the Dolphins might be the weather. Due to their northern location, the Vikings have to play indoors on turf. The Dolphins plush grass field will always grade higher than the Vikings turf. 

The Vikings have always scored in the “B” range in the food/dining and nutritionist/dietician categories. While those would be amazing grades for some teams (Bengals), they shouldn’t be acceptable for the Vikings. They recently changed their dietician and that brought a bit of a bump. A “B-“ in food/dining must be addressed. If a team gets a “B-“ in anything, some players gave it a “C,” or lower. In the amazing, beautiful TCO Performance Center, nothing should be getting lower than a “B.” 

Perhaps the most eye-catching of the Vikings grades is the “A” for general manager. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired after the season. While his drafts may have tilted towards unacceptable, it looks like his relationship was terrific with the players he drafted. 

Through the four years of these grades, “Treatment of Families” has emerged as the category that I value the most. It’s easy to focus on the grades for coaches, weight room, training staff, etc. as they might translate into on-the-field success the most. Those grades are certainly important. It shows how much ownership wants to win. How ownership treats the families of their players shows how much they care. When the Bengals get an F-, it shows that Mike Brown does not give a shit about the players or their families. Seriously, how does a free agent ever choose the Bengals? If the Vikings ever get below an “A” for how they treat the families, I’ll be very disappointed. 

Backup Quarterback Preferences

It’s just gotten started and this Minnesota Vikings offseason is already shaping up as a repeat of last offseason. It’s all about the quarterback. In the NFL, it’s always about the quarterback. Last offseason, the Vikings quarterback question started with Sam Darnold. After some casual negotiations, the Vikings “let” him walk. They “let” him walk because that was always the plan. The Vikings quarterback plan, hatched two years ago, was to pair Sam Darnold with first-round draft pick J.J. McCarthy. Play Darnold in 2024 and turn to McCarthy in 2025. It was a nice succession plan. I never understood why there were any other thoughts last offseason. Darnold playing well in his single season in Minnesota wasn’t a reason for the Vikings to deviate from the quarterback plan and break the bank for him. Why? Every quarterback that’s managed to stay upright has played well in Kevin O’Connell’s offense. Darnold playing well for the Vikings wasn’t a surprise. He was just the next quarterback to do so. The plan was for McCarthy to be the one after Darnold. It made sense to stick with that plan. The wrinkle in the plan was the unexpected availability of Daniel Jones late in the 2024 season. The Vikings signed him and had him in the building for a prolonged tryout as McCarthy’s backup in 2025. It seems pretty clear that the Vikings assumed that McCarthy and Jones would top their quarterback depth chart. When Jones opted for a starting opportunity with the Indianapolis Colts, it forced the Vikings to alter their quarterback plans. That resulted in a nauseating offseason with the persistent, and idiotic, reporting that Aaron Rodgers was in the mix. Nothing good would’ve come from that signing. Rodgers is a turd and the farther he is from Minnesota the better. If I could change one thing about the Vikings 2025 offseason, it would’ve been signing Carson Wentz soon after Jones signed with the Colts. The Sam Howell experiment was a failure and adding Wentz just days before the start of the season was desperate. 

When it comes to the all-important quarterback position, this offseason is shaping up a lot like last offseason for the Vikings. J.J. McCarthy is the starter. Hopefully, he sees all 20(!) starts in 2026. A reliable, competent backup is still needed. Here are my preferences.

Mac Jones 

Kirk Cousins

My preferences start with two oft-mentioned possibilities. Both come with big “ifs.” It would take a trade for the Vikings to pry Mac Jones from the 49ers. I don’t want the Vikings paying the draft pick price the 49ers are apparently asking. As for Kirk Cousins, he’s made a career of maximizing his contracts. Those demands have to come down if he wants to sit the bench in Minnesota. So, I don’t think either Jones or Cousins are realistic. Cousins is probably a bit more realistic than Jones.

After Jones and Cousins, my backup quarterback preferences are:

Carson Wentz

Geno Smith

Derek Carr

Marcus Mariota

Jimmy Garoppolo

Case Keenum

Jake Browning

It’s not a scintillating group. Then again, being forced to go with the #2 quarterback isn’t a scintillating situation for any team. My hope for the Vikings is that J.J. McCarthy misses zero games and the only snaps for the backup are victory snaps. He was able to stay healthy in high school and college. Hopefully, he can revert back to those healthy ways for the remainder of his NFL career. 

As long as I don’t have to hear any idiotic Aaron Rodgers rumors, this backup quarterback search shouldn’t be as tiresome as last season. That’s mostly because I don’t expect it to last as long. Deciding on the backup quarterback early in the process might be my greatest preference.