Which big decisions backfired on the Minnesota Vikings in 2020?
If last year’s offseason period was an eventful one for the Minnesota Vikings, then what comes next throughout this spring is going to be even more dramatic.
The Vikings appear at a real crossroads after narrowly missing the playoffs this past season despite a significant turnaround in their fortunes after the bye week. Still, there is obvious trepidation surrounding the team’s long-term ambitions moving forward.
Minnesota is expected to be hit by the financial implications surrounding COVID-19 more than most. They are right up against it from a salary-cap perspective, and it is going to take a substantial amount of maneuvering from the powers that be to ensure they remain competitive without sacrificing much in the way of quality on their roster.
Vikings general manager Rick Spielman does have a bounty of NFL Draft picks to bolster the ranks. But much more than unproven college prospects will be needed to get Minnesota back into the Super Bowl conversation.
Looking back on the past few months, what were some of the biggest decisions made by the Vikings front office that backfired on them in 2020?
Decision No. 1
Not starting Cleveland sooner
Minnesota’s interior protection was not up to the required standard this season. It was a patchwork group coming in that had some serious questions to answer, which they failed to do in no uncertain terms.
One bright light to emerge from this was Ezra Cleveland, who finally earned a starting role during the campaign after the Vikings utilized the No. 58 overall selection in last year’s NFL Draft to secure the former Boise State standout.
He ended up playing 622 snaps during his rookie campaign, and although the lineman is credited for giving up five sacks, there was a lot to like about the way he handled himself.
His 66.2 grade from Pro Football Focus is a further indication of Cleveland’s high production level despite his lack of experience. If Minnesota had put him out on the field earlier, it could have made all the difference.
Releasing Joseph
Linval Joseph was a salary-cap casualty during the 2020 offseason, with the Vikings releasing him to free up some funds to be spent elsewhere. However, when one examines how the 2020 campaign played out, it’s probably a decision Minnesota would like to have back despite the financial implications involved.
The three-time Pro Bowler wasn’t without a home long after he was let go by the Vikings. Joseph signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Los Angeles Chargers that included an $8.5 million signing bonus and $9.5 million guaranteed. His arrival didn’t result in the Chargers reaching the postseason, but the veteran defensive tackle can be proud of his contribution from an individual standpoint.
His old position in the defense is an area where Minnesota struggled mightily in 2020. They weren’t exactly aided by free-agent signing Michael Pierce – who was the ready-made replacement for Joseph – opting out of the season due to COVID-19 health concerns. This eventually resulted in the Vikings giving up 134.4 rushing yards-per-game this past season.
A far cry from the rankings of proud Mike Zimmer teams of old.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have. Had Minnesota known this would happen, there would have been no disputing their need to keep Joseph around. His presence on the line of scrimmage was sorely missed, and improving this positional group is something that the Vikings need to make a top priority in the coming weeks.
Trading for Ngakoue
Expectations for the Vikings were extremely high when they made a bombshell trade for Yannick Ngakoue. The defensive end was set to fill the void left by Danielle Hunter after he was put on the injured reserve list with a neck injury. Ngakoue also had a big point to prove after an acrimonious departure from the Jacksonville Jaguars.
To say this move didn’t work out would be something of an understatement. Ngakoue did manage to record five sacks in six games. Still, with Minnesota quickly falling out of playoff contention due to a 1-5 start, the team’s decision-makers decided to cut their losses and ship the former third-round pick and ship him to the Baltimore Ravens.
Not only did this cost the Vikings a second-round selection in the 2021 NFL Draft, but they only got a third-rounder back in return. Ngakoue is now in the midst of a postseason challenge with John Harbaugh’s Ravens, while Minnesota is on the outside looking in and facing some enormous challenges this offseason.
Ngakoue’s time with the Vikings will always be tinged with sadness.
There is just no telling how much damage a potential partnership with Hunter would have caused opposing offensive lines. However, it would have cost a substantial amount to keep Ngakoue around beyond this season, and money is something Minnesota doesn’t exactly have an abundance of with the salary-cap expected to be coming down due to COVID-19 revenue losses.
Letting Alexander walk
The Vikings made a bold move to rid their roster of their three top cornerbacks before the 2020 campaign. Xavier Rhodes and Trae Waynes were underperforming and left Minnesota with no other alternative other than to go in a different direction. But this did not apply to Mackensie Alexander.
Despite head coach Mike Zimmer outlining his desire to keep the player before free agency, the Vikings couldn’t come up with the funds needed. Alexander ended up signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Cincinnati Bengals.
This forced Minnesota to rely on the injury-prone duo of Mike Hughes and Holton Hill – which didn’t exactly go according to plan – in addition to the rookie pairing of Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler, who showed signs of enormous promise with plenty of responsibility thrown their way.
There is little doubt that Alexander would have helped the Vikings in 2020. He thrived as a nickel corner during his time with the organization and although this is something he wanted to move away from, letting him walk was a decision that backfired considering how little Hughes and Hill contributed throughout the campaign.
4 Minnesota Vikings players who won’t be missed in 2021
Which Minnesota Vikings players will not be missed when they are inevitably moved on from the organization after the 2020 season?
Given the tight cap situation in 2021, Minnesota could make even more sacrifices in the coming months. But they can take some comfort from knowing that Gladney and Dantzler could be their starting cornerbacks for years to come.