Brent: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
There is something to be said about adding a top WR to the roster in hopes of helping Teddy Bridgewater and I would have a hard time arguing against that logic. However, adding Kuechly would be tremendous for this defense. Simply the best at his position, Kuechly is excellent against the pass and the run and would serve as a the leader of the defense. Filling a big hole on the Vikings defense, his consistency would allow Zimmer to be super creative and flexible with his other defensive studs and would give the Vikings two of the top young linebackers in the league.
Austin: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
The Minnesota Vikings have one gaping hole on the defensive side of the ball – middle linebacker. With Patrick Willis retired and Navarro Bowman returning from a gruesome knee injury, Kuechly begins 2015 as the league’s best middle linebacker. Since entering the NFL in 2012, Kuechly has racked up 473 tackles and is a constant presence around the football. He possesses a rare combination of speed and aggressiveness, and consistently uses his football IQ to diagnose plays in the backfield. He’d step in immediately and contribute on Mike Zimmer’s unit.
Andy: Earl Thomas, FS, Seattle Seahawks
Adding the NFL’s most elite centerfielder would really open things up for Mike Zimmer’s defense and — most importantly — Harrison Smith. Smith would then be free to take on a Kam Chancellor-type role where he spends most of his time in the box. Which is a position where we’ve seen him reek havoc during his first three seasons in the league and also allow him to freelance more ala Troy Polamalu. Additionally, having Thomas would allow Xavier Rhodes and the rest of the cornerback crew a larger margin of error than they currently have. So… Who’s gonna call John Schneider?
Lindsey: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Okay, I’ll go with the obvious choice here. I was going to attempt a creative and unique answer, but I’m too big of a J.J. Watt fan to NOT pick him. Watt is arguably the best all-around player in the league, and he’s solely responsible for making the Texans a respectable team. Practically speaking, I would love to see Watt on the Vikings roster as Brian Robison is not getting any younger and hasn’t had amazing numbers the past two years. Not to mention, Watt always finds ways to make both the defensive and the offensive plays. He immediately makes a team better.
Plus, Watt just released Ben Dogra as his agent, so that in itself wins him extra points.
Adam: J.J. Watt, DE, Houston Texans
Taking Aaron Rodgers away from the Packers would be so satisfying on so many levels. Andrew Luck is arguably the most valuable player in football due to his youth and talent. I think the honest answer to this question would realistically come down to these two guys if a real G.M. were faced with such a dilemma, but I know that isn’t in the spirit of this question and I don’t want to be the one to derail the Teddy hype train. So, if I eliminate quarterback from the equation and consider the current Vikings roster, I have to vote for J.J. Watt. And, you know what, I don’t think an explanation is really even needed for that. He’s everything any team would want in a player and as a person.
Brett: Rob Gronkowski, TE, New England Patriots
Though it was tempting to further bolster the Vikings developing defense, the prospect of adding Rob Gronkowski to this offense was ultimately too much to pass up. Picture this: Teddy Bridgewater, Adrian Peterson (potentially, but bear with me…), Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Kyle Rudolph and Rob Gronkowski. There isn’t a defense in the NFL that could match up with that sort of unit! It goes without saying that Gronkowski can single-handedly wreck a defense and cannot be defended. A generational talent at tight end could do wonders for the development of Teddy and put the Vikings offense over the edge.
Carl: Luke Kuechly, MLB, Carolina Panthers
Kuechly led the NFL in tackles as a rookie and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award in 2012. Yes, that’s right, the same year the Vikings selected Matt Kalil with the forth overall pick when they could have taken Kuechly instead.
Master Tesfatsion, Star Tribune: Khalil Mack, LB, Oakland Raiders
I’m basing this off what the Vikings need right now. Since someone already said Luke Keuchly, which was my first choice, I’m going with Raiders linebacker Khalil Mack. I loved him coming out of college (Buffalo) last year, and I feel like he flew under the radar last year because he played for Oakland. I watched every snap of the Raiders last year (what is wrong with me?) to get a better look at quarterback Derek Carr and Mack. Make no mistake, he had an excellent season and will turn into one of the best linebackers in the game very soon. Imagine pairing Mack with Anthony Barr and the Vikings’ front four? That’d be a huge upgrade over an aging Chad Greenway, and head coach Mike Zimmer would be scheming unique blitz packages for years to come with Mack and Barr.
Follow Master on Twitter: @MasterStrib
View Comments
JJ Watt. Kuechly would certainly fit our scheme and needs and is a great player, but Watt may be one of best ever at DE. I would argue that DE/pass rusher is more valuable than a MLB/ILB generally to bolster the selection of Watt. Watt could play anywhere on the line for us, making him more versatile.
I was considering a top corner like Sherman or Peterson.
I have to say that I definitely considered Sherman as one of my possible answers!
seriously? not a one of you would pick andrew luck? interesting...
That was my choice too. No other player will impact any team more than him over the next 15 seasons. Teddy included, Luck is special.
Teddy is special too. This will probably be like debating Brees/Manning years from now. An argument can be made for either.
I would take JJ Watt and it's not even close. He's the Wayne Gretsky/Michael Jordan of the league.
I agree JJ watt is the most dominant player in the league right now but unlike hockey and basketball he's not impacting every play. I'd compare him more to Barry Bonds or Babe Ruth.
As for the Brees/Manning thing that could be accurate but I think there is quite the difference between the two. Manning will go down as one of the top three QBs of all time, Brees might be in the conversation of top 50? That's how I see Teddy vs Luck.
Luck is a great QB, but I think we have a good if not great long term QB as it is.
That's like turning down a 24 year old Peyton Manning because you've got Dante Culpepper...
QB is everything in today's nfl. The Packers aren't a good team but dominate because of Rodgers, same with indy. This question has a correct answer and it's Andrew Luck.
please please please never ever ever compare Bridgewater to Culpeper
Btw Payton manning wins lots of regular season games but hasn't been great in the post season I would take Brady over manning. Skoll Vikings drink from the skull cap of Rogers
Pretty sure in 2001 we though Dante was a superstar too. I'd say bridge and culp are actually pretty close at this stage in their careers (of course I was 7 when we got Culp so I may not have the greatest recollection).
I always saw Culpeper has a big guy small hands that fumbled a lotnever thought he was a superstar and to Teddy has to prove that he is a superstar defense wins championships ddon't forget it
That used to be the case but with how offense friendly the NFL is becoming I think it's the other way around now.
It has always tickled me that people are able to rationalize their personal opinions in order to turn them into facts. This is an incredibly difficult, subjective question, and to think that there is a single undeniable answer is quite ridiculous.
The thing is this could actually be proven. I personally don't have enough statistics but I'm sure luck world add more wins than any other player over the next 15 years. So yes this could be a fact I just don't have the means to lay it out.
then, in theory, we'd have absolutely no trouble trading him for a serious haul after acquiring luck.
Considered that too. Before Teddy that's the hands down answer.
I like Teddy but I still believe Luck will be a much better quarterback when their careers are done. QB is just so important that an opportunity to have the best can't be passed up, like the baseball statistic wins above replacement quarterback would be so much higher han any other position.
oops. kind of missed adam's explanation the first time around.
I think the best LT in the league would help us as a team the most.
Thewoods, me too. My "other" in the vote was Joe Thomas. One of the best o lineman in the league, high character guy, and still a bit of tread left on the tires. Vikes d finished top ten last year, and was certainly better the second half. Of course Kuechly or Watt or any great corner would be great, but I think that with only picking one player that I would have to go o line as that is the weakest link. Hopefully Fusco comes back full strength and continues to shine, but we still don't know if he is going to be a solid starter. That leaves Sully and Loadholt as the only o lineman that we know are going to be solid. I hope that Kalil returns to the consistent player that he was and makes me eat my words by week 2 of this season. STILL, JThom at LT would allow Kalil to move to L Guard. That would be a pretty good line.
Adrian Pederson or JJ Watt
JJ Watt is by far and away the best addition (in this fantasy world). Would Aaron Rodgers be an upgrade at QB? Sure...for a few years, but despite his undisputed talent, Watt has the youth, freakish skill, and intangibles to make one half of the team (defense) elite for several years. Adding Rodgers would be great, but his success relies on other factors like OL protection, RB success, and WR/TE talent. Teddy Two Gloves is a star in the making, but Watt could take an entire side of the field away from a RB perspective and add his rush to the great rush from LB Barr and RE Griffen and our defense would make for many sleepless nights for OCs going forward. Add Watt to what we have today and we enter Valhallah without breaking a sweat. A man can dream...
Easy, Chris Kluwe.
Not a current NFL player. But I suppose he could be considered a current player...none the less though, a poor choice.
Says you! Name ONE other player who can harness unicorn power. Just one! You can't, can you?
Check and mate.
D .......... U ............ G ............. A ................ N .....................!!!
I just flipped over that lame ass chess board
Damn you Ole! You found my Kryptonite. As an act of contrition, I will volunteer Adam's services to press and starch your purple thong.
You got me there! What about rainbow power? That has to rank up there with the unicorns...
Zack Martin. The biggest difference-maker would be to the O-line.
I think if we could get bud dupri in the first roundwe can have that all star linebacker combination of bar and Dupreethen I would take JJ Watt we could once again be the purple people eaters!!! Skoll Vikings drink from the skull cap of Rogers!!!