The Minnesota Vikings’ season ended early. Again. No playoff fun. There’s no real down time in the NFL. There’s always a next game. Without the playoffs, it’s on to the 2021 season for the Vikings and they’ve done some things since they played their final game. That was only a week ago.
The 2021 to-do list started with the signing of players that finished the 2020 season on the practice squad to future/reserve contracts.
Zack Bailey, OL
Jake Bargas, FB
Blake Brandel, OT
Jake Browning, QB
Brandon Dillon, TE
Tae Hayes, CB
Luther Kirk, S
Nate Stanley, QB
Cordrea Tankersley, CB
Despite knowing better, I annually pause a bit when I see these future/reserve signings include players that were just drafted. Weren’t they just signed to multi-year rookie deals? They were but they were released from those contracts before they were added to the practice squad. So, 2021 draftees Blake Brandel and Nate Stanley had to be re-signed.
Before the start of the new league year on March 17, and resulting free agency, the Vikings will be forced to make some tough/interesting roster decisions due to significant salary cap issues. Until then, the most significant team moves will involve the coaches. That starts with the offensive coordinator. Gary Kubiak revealed last week that he’s contemplating his NFL future. He’s spent four decades in the league as a player and coach. He’s had some serious health issues. He may decide that he’s done. Then again, he may decide that he’s not done. Despite not being in the loop, my guess is that it’s 50-50. The reports that he’s done were premature. My primary preference is for Kubiak to return as offensive coordinator. My secondary preference is for him to return to the adviser role that he had in 2019 while Kevin Stefanski coordinated the offense and called the plays. Kubiak really seemed to enjoy that remove from the gameday stress and responsibilities. That year and that role may have renewed his passion for the game. I’d like to see him advise new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak in his first year as an offensive coordinator. If Gary Kubiak does retire, his son is at the top of my list to replace him.
While Gary Kubiak decides his coaching future, the Vikings did make some decisions on some other coaches. The following did not have their contracts renewed:
Marwan Maalouf, Special Teams Coordinator
Mark Uyeyama, Director of Competition Development
Don Capers, Senior Defensive Assistant
The Vikings’ special teams were horrible. Changes had to be made. A lot of the problems were with execution. That isn’t necessarily on the coaches. A lot of the problems were blindingly stupid mistakes. That does reflect coaching. A change had to be made. I believe that current assistant special teams coach Ryan Ficken deserves a shot at the job. I’ve seen Brayden Coombs mentioned as a possibility. He has a Cincinnati Bengals connection with Mike Zimmer. Perhaps former Vikings receiver coach George Stewart returns to Minnesota. However, his Chargers’ special teams may have been worse than the Vikings.
I always thought of Mark Uyeyama as the head strength and conditioning coach. Director of Competition Development feels like a ridiculously descriptive term for strength and conditioning coach. Whenever a person with strength and conditioning responsibilities is let go it seems to come after a season of injuries. The Vikings had a load of injuries this season.
That Senior Defensive Assistant position was created for Dom Capers. That position probably leaves with him.
So, here we are. With no playoff fun, the Vikings have taken the initial steps toward the 2021 NFL Season. The heavy work is yet to come. Until then, just for fun, here’s a knee-jerk, too-early look at a potential starting lineup for next year’s version of the Minnesota Vikings.
Offense
|
WR |
Justin Jefferson |
|
TE |
Irv Smith Jr. |
|
LT |
Ezra Cleveland |
|
LG |
Draft pick |
|
C |
Garrett Bradbury |
|
RG |
Kyle Hinton |
|
RT |
Brian O’Neill |
|
WR |
Adam Thielen |
|
QB |
Kirk Cousins |
|
RB |
Dalvin Cook |
|
FB |
C.J. Ham |
I’m running with the thinking that left tackle Riley Reiff is a salary cap casualty. It’s a tough call as he is coming off one of his best seasons. The Vikings simply can’t afford his scheduled contract. If Reiff is gone, Ezra Cleveland moves to the position that he played in college. Despite not seeing him play as a professional, I like the potential of 2020 sixth-round pick Kyle Hinton. I have him as a surprise starter in 2021. It’s January. It’s easy to make such a declaration in January.
Defense
|
DE |
Danielle Hunter |
|
3T |
Draft pick |
|
NT |
Michael Pierce |
|
DE |
D.J. Wonnum |
|
LB |
Anthony Barr |
|
LB |
Eric Kendricks |
|
LB |
Troy Dye |
|
CB |
Jeff Gladney |
|
CB |
Cam Dantzler |
|
S |
Harrison Smith |
|
S |
Josh Metellus |
The Vikings must find a player that can be a disruptive presence from the three-technique position. If only Sharrif Floyd hadn’t had his career ripped from him by a surgical mishap. From inside and outside the Vikings must improve their pass rush. Getting Danielle Hunter back will help tremendously. Right now, defensive end or offensive line are my top picks for the Vikings’ first round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. A first-round rookie could compete with 2020 draftee D.J. Wonnum to start opposite Hunter. I don’t think that they Vikings will be able to afford to re-sign linebacker Eric Wilson and safety Anthony Harris. 2020 draftees Troy Dye and Josh Metellus are next in line to replace them. Cameron Smith will also be in the linebacker competition.
There’ll be a lot of fun and speculation over the coming months.
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