ESPN Analyst Offers 2022 Cautionary Tale on Rebuilding
When the Minnesota Vikings finished 2020 and 2021 with back-to-back losing, playoff-less seasons, some onlookers of the team called for a full rebuild of the roster and coaching staff.
Those folks will get their wish in 2022 – regarding the front office and coaching staff. But the roster part is less clear.
The Vikings exist in a strange spot for tear-it-down versus tweak-and-enhance. The franchise employs players like Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen, Dalvin Cook, Kirk Cousins, Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith, and Eric Kendricks – why on earth would a competent general manager opt to torch that nucleus? That’s the argument from the anti-rebuild crowd.
Conversely, some prefer a totally fresh start, frustrated by the recency of losing football. The plan would involve trading Cousins, Thielen, Kendricks, and Smith – all players not considered young. Cap space would be obtained, and the Vikings would be well on their way to temporary futility with eyes on the prize for the future.
Well, according to ESPN analyst Matt Miller, now is not a particularly good time to rebuild.
A cynical Vikings fan would say something like, “Of course. The one time Minnesota actually seeks to rebuild – the climate for it is lousy.”
And the anger there is real. The Vikings have never really rebuilt with a new identity, instead choosing a shiny new veteran quarterback – often a washed-up passer – in hopes of finding lightning in a bottle for a single season. In fact, when the Vikings have reached NFC Championships a few times in the last 25 years, a veteran quarterback with one last hurrah led the charge – Randall Cunningham, Brett Favre, and Case Keenum. Moral of the story: Minnesota never tears it down.
Ergo, the new general manager must survey the landscape of the NFL, determining if now is actually a wise time to nuke the thing. Probably not.
If there is no rebuild – meaning Adofo-Mensah was telling the truth in his introductory press conference about a great current player nucleus – Minnesota will have to re-fortify the roster with free agency and draft on a condensed budget. That’s certainly doable, but it’s a slap in the face to folks who wanted to start over.
For better or worse, Vikings enthusiasts yearning to rebuild for the sake of rebuilding aren’t in charge of the franchise. Whether Minnesota rebuilds or tweaks the roster is up to Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell.
But, hey, at least neutral eyes examined the current state of affairs. It is unlikely former general manager Rick Spielman would ever press the rebuild button. He didn’t from 2006 to 2021.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”928532″ player=”26279″ title=”4%20ideal%20offseason%20Kirk%20Cousins%20trade%20destinations” duration=”81″ description=”It’s time for the Minnesota Vikings to start making plans for the future, one that includes a 2022 offseason with a Kirk Cousins trade and an organizational reset after another disappointing season.Cousins will enter 2022 in a contract year, a position he and the Vikings are very familiar with. While the 33-year-old quarterback is playing at a high level, it’s evident he and the Vikings aren’t close to competing for the NFC North title or a Super Bowl.With that in mind, we examine the best Kirk Cousins trades that would benefit both the star quarterback and his teams.” uploaddate=”2021-12-22″ thumbnailurl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/snapshot/928494_s_1640136316410.jpg” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/928494/928494.m3u8″]
The major domino to monitor on rebuilding or not-rebuilding is Kirk Cousins. If he’s traded, the enterprise is headed for full-scale change. Should Cousins receive an extension, Adofo-Mensah is pursuing a re-tooling vision.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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