Two Rumored Roster Moves that Vikings Fans Should not Be Interested in
Sam Richardson
|
With the playoffs chugging along and the offseason underway, it’s officially the time of year where hot takes reign supreme, particularly regarding roster moves.
I don’t know about you, but my Vikings/Bears/Packers group chats (I don’t have any Lions friends yet) are littered with arguments to why their team will take the North in 2024, with little validity to their claims. With plenty of these offseason stories and rumblings, there’s usually smoke to wherever there’s fire. However, here are two topics I have seen, pondered, and chosen not to engage any thought into. I suggest we all, as fans, respectfully do the same.
Russell Wilson to the Vikings
In an article from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, it has been reported that the Denver Broncos will be moving off of Russell Wilson this offseason. Due to the larger than life contract in which Russell inked in the fall of 2022, a trade is improbable as no team wants to bear that contract for a declining 35-year-old quarterback. This means, if cut, Wilson could be signed to any team that shows mutual interest. As Fowler reported, Wilson could show interest in signing with the Vikings, Fowler states below:
“Don’t be surprised if Wilson, should he become a free agent, is intrigued by Minnesota, assuming Kirk Cousins doesn’t re-sign with the Vikings (a big question). Kevin O’Connell comes from the Sean McVay passing tree that maximizes quarterback efficiency. Wilson would have plenty of weapons in a group that includes Justin Jefferson, T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison.”
To mirror Fowler’s report, why wouldn’t he show interest? He’d arguably be behind the best line he’s seen since his early Seattle days. KOC is a quarterback friendly, offensive-minded coach. Lastly, look at Minnesota’s weapons. Need I say more?
The question then becomes, do the Vikings share a mutual interest? Well, based on the title of this article, I think you know the answer to that should be no. First off, Wilson is an aging player who has shown a steep decline in his play the past two seasons with the Broncos. His inability to escape the pocket like he once could limits his tool box of circus throws that proved to once be effective.
On top of this, stories have leaked about Wilson’s character in the locker room as an ego-charged diva. While I have no legitimate claim to back this up, I do know that players within the Vikings locker room love Kirk Cousins. A swap from Cousins to Wilson could affect the culture continuity O’Connell has built within that room.
Trading Justin Jefferson
Anyone who entertains this theory is either a fan of 31 other NFL teams and would like to see Jefferson in a jersey that isn’t purple next year. Now I understand all the arguments behind a trade.
Yes, the NFC North is looking scarier by the day. Yes, he could bring in an absolute haul of draft assets. Yes, he is due for a massive deal. Yes, the quarterback position is more uncertain than it has ever been. But need I remind you of a few things. Look, for instance, at the Randy Moss trade:
Oakland Raiders Receive: Randy Moss
Minnesota Vikings Receive: 2005 7th Overall Pick, 2005 7th Round Pick, Napoleon Harris
How’d that work out? Or how about this one in a different Minnesota sport?
Boston Celtics Receive: Kevin Garnett
Minnesota Timberwolves Receive: Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Sebastian Telfair, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, cash considerations, Boston’s 2009 first-round draft pick (top 3 protected), and the 2009 first-round pick.
As us fans have seen over and over, trading a superstar for a haul usually does not work out for the team receiving the “haul”. Simply enough, if you have a generational talent in town, keep him in town. Justin Jefferson is a generational talent. He is the heart of the Vikings offense and the reason the Vikings have remained relevant in the nation’s eyes the past couple years.
Jefferson is the best wide receiver in the game and is not worth a couple first round rolls of the dice nor any promising young player. Good NFL team’s are constructed around star players. Don’t try to outsmart the system by loading up on maybe’s. In addition to this, Jets is a no “monkey business”, community-driven type of person. Someone you want to build your team around. Justin Jefferson will be a Viking, no ifs, ands, or buts.
Now, if the Vikings trot out a Jefferson-less team with Russell Wilson at the helm, I give you full permission to hit me with an ‘I told ya so.’ I know my aforementioned group chats will. But, until that day, let’s ease off these topics. Sometimes, if a roster move looks good in a video game, it usually isn’t in real life.
ESPN Predicts Kirk Cousins Will Land with a New Team in 2024