Purple Q&A: Big Free Agent, Trading Back, Coaching Carousel

Today, on January 29th, with the offseason in full swing, PurplePTSD’s Janik Eckardt answers a trio of questions about the Minnesota Vikings. If you have questions for future editions of the Purple Q&A, please email them to [email protected].
Purple Q&A: Big Free Agent, Trading Back, Coaching Carousel
Let’s get right to it.
Q: The Vikings enter free agency with some cap space for the first time in a while. Which top players should they pursue?

A: Indeed, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has some money to spend, but it is important to remember that he has to keep some in-house free agents, and filling out the roster to get to 90 players is another hurdle. Regardless, the Vikings should be in the market for a couple of big-name players.
Skol Nation has gotten pretty excited about Chiefs offensive guard Trey Smith, who is likely the top interior lineman on the free agent market. Jets cornerback D.J. Reed could bolster another position of need.
One guy who doesn’t seem to get the same traction but definitely should is Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa. A 2021 third-rounder, Odighizuwa has quietly been one of the better pass rushers from the defensive tackle spot in the last few years.

His 13.5 sacks through four campaigns might not reveal his full potential, but he is coming off a season with 60 quarterback pressures and 38 QB hurries. Both would’ve ranked him ahead of Andrew Van Ginkel among Vikings defenders.
Minnesota hasn’t had a pass-rushing threat on the interior of the defensive line since Kevin Williams retired more than a decade ago and at the age of 26, Odighizuwa could be the long-term option if the Vikings are willing to spend.
Q: When the Vikings traded back in the 2022 draft, it didn’t work out. Will they do it again?
A: There’s no doubt about it: the 2022 draft was a disaster. The Vikings traded the 12th overall pick for the 32nd and 34th picks (alongside a couple of other picks being swapped). They then traded the latter of those for a pair of day two picks and ended up with Lewis Cine and Andrew Booth as their first two players selected.

However, it should be noted that neither Cine nor Booth was seen as a bad pick at the time; they just didn’t work out, and adding extra draft capital was not a bad move in a vacuum. The problem was that the Vikings simply didn’t pick the right players, and that can happen in the draft.
In this year’s draft, the Vikings only have three draft picks plus the likely awarded third-round compensatory pick for Kirk Cousins’ exit. Because of that, trading the 24th overall pick for more draft picks makes sense if there is a suitor.
The good news is that it might be the right year for that strategy.

Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah posted on Tuesday, “This is an interesting draft class. The strength is the middle class. Picks 20-60 are pretty much the same.”
Considering the limited draft capital and the depth of the class, it would be more surprising if the Vikings selected a player with the 24th pick.
Q: Are Brian Flores and the remaining coaching staff returning for another season?
There are still jobs to be filled, but here’s the latest update.
Brian Flores interviewed for three head coaching jobs (Jets, Bears, Jaguars), and all three franchises hired someone else. His only chance at this point is if the New Orleans Saints invite him, but they haven’t shown any interest so far, and Kellen Moore appears to be the favorite candidate to land the job after the Super Bowl.

Defensive backs coach Daronte Jones was interviewed twice (Bears and Jaguars) for defensive coordinator jobs. The Bears have hired Dennis Allen, leaving the Jaguars as his other option. He’s one of at least four candidates.
Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown was a contender for the Jets’ head coaching job but didn’t win that lottery against a bunch of other choices. He hasn’t shown any interest in offensive coordinator gigs.
Assistant QB coach Grant Udinski interviewed for the then-vacant offensive coordinator spot of the Seahawks and the currently open position of the Buccaneers. The Seahawks hired former Vikings OC Klint Kubiak. Tampa Bay is still looking for Liam Coen’s successor. The last two Buccaneers offensive coordinators went on to become head coaches after only one season.
Editor’s Note: Information from PFF, Over The Cap, and Pro Football Reference helped with this article.

These 5 Vikings Had Breakout Seasons
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt