Questions Answered: The Next Free Agent Signing, Giants in the Way, Patrick Surtain II
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the April 8th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: The Next Free Agent Signing, Giants in the Way, Patrick Surtain II
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: I know the Vikings still have plenty of cap space left to sign free agents, so who will they get before or after the draft?
Answer: Probably an obscure player most people have never heard of.
However, we have a list of free agents Minnesota could or might target. And you are correct — the Vikings have about $16.8 million available before signing a draft class. They can also clear more space by tweaking Brian O’Neill’s or T.J. Hockenson’s contract.
If their subsequent signing isn’t some no-name, here’s our list that blends recommendation and prediction:
- Calais Campbell (DT)
- Michael Gallup (WR)
- Stephon Gilmore (CB)
- Xavien Howard (CB)
- Emmanuel Ogbah (EDGE)
- Laken Tomlinson (OG)
Q: Is the draft smoke about the New York Giants jumping ahead of Minnesota on the draftboard real?
Answer: No, probably not.
New York already has too much invested in Daniel Jones to quit now. Meanwhile, the team’s leadership is on the hot seat and may not have the luxury of drafting a quarterback to watch and learn behind Jones for a year.
Put simply, the Giants willfully re-signed Jones to a large contract, and it’s too soon to trade up the board for his replacement. New York needs an impact player to help empower Jones — not heat his semi-warm seat.
Any Giants steam about trading up ahead of Minnesota might be a way to drive Ohio State’s Marvin Harrison, a wide receiver, all the way to New York’s sixth pick.
Q: Do you think the Vikings could make a deal in the draft to trade for Patrick Surtain II of the Denver Broncos?
A: No.
Let’s be clear: Surtain II is awesome. Finagling a trade for him would be sweet. However, Minnesota and Denver need QB1s, which means any trade between the two during the draft — at least in Round 1 — is unlikely.
In fact, they could be rival trade forces, especially if the Broncos are enthralled by J.J. McCarthy. There could be some universe where Minnesota makes a deal to acquire Surtain II, but we don’t see it.
The Vikings need a quarterback, and all high-round draft capital will probably be spent on that, not stellar CBs like Surtain. Maybe next year.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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