What are some things the Minnesota Vikings need to figure out prior to the 2021 NFL Draft.?
The Minnesota Vikings are in full offseason mode. They’ve already hired a few new coaches and they have scouted a number of draft prospects at the 2021 Senior Bowl. The Vikings should definitely know by now what needs they have to address this year and where the biggest holes on this roster lie.
Free agency is just over a month away and after that, the 2021 NFL Draft follows. Minnesota currently holds the 14th overall pick and they could look to bolster either their offensive or defensive line with that choice.
But before the draft hits, and even before free agency kicks off, the Vikings have some questions they need to answer. These decisions will be key in narrowing down which way Minnesota will ultimately go with the No. 14 choice in addition to what positions they’ll target in free agency and later on in the draft.
The Vikings really aren’t that far away from competing with the tops teams again and they need to get a clear plan in place to ensure they make the necessary moves to get back to being contenders in 2021. So what are some of the questions Minnesota must answer in the coming weeks?
Is Reiff returning for the 2021 season?
Riley Reiff was one of the biggest surprises of 2020 for the Vikings. He was almost cut prior to the start of the season. But instead, he restructured his contract and returned to the team with a more cap-friendly deal.
Reiff then played out of his head. He was a stalwart on the left side of Minnesota’s offensive line. He held his own in pass protection and he allowed just one sack the entire season.
Reiff was a beast in run blocking and he often sealed the edge so Dalvin Cook could get outside and turn on the jets for some big gainers. The Vikings’ offensive line did have their issues in 2020, but the problem wasn’t coming from the left tackle position, and Reiff made sure of that.
Reiff’s solid play creates a dilemma for Minnesota this offseason. He’s entering the final year of his deal and is set to have a $15.95 million cap hit in 2021. If anyone has earned that money it is Reiff, but the Vikings are expected to be in a tight cap situation this year and they have Ezra Cleveland on the roster, who was drafted to be the left tackle of the future.
The one thing that is heavily in Reiff’s favor of sticking around, is that Minnesota needs to get back to winning next season for Mike Zimmer to remain the team’s head coach past 2021.
With this in mind, the Vikings might decide to stick with Reiff at left tackle and keep Cleveland at right guard for one more season. Minnesota could then draft or sign a left guard in free agency and revamp their offensive line that way.
This is one solution, but the Vikings need to decide what they are going to do with their veteran left tackle before the draft in April.
Will Rudolph be cut or traded?
Kyle Rudolph is another aging veteran that the Vikings need to figure out what to do with this offseason.
The guy is 31-years-old and he is currently scheduled to have a $9.45 million cap hit in 2021. That is a large cap hit for an aging tight end who is coming off a season where he played in 12 games and only caught 28 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown.
The other factor that goes against Rudolph sticking with the team, besides his exorbitant cap hit, is the fact that both Irv Smith Jr. and Tyler Conklin stepped up in his absence during the 2020 campaign.
Conklin emerged as a solid option in the passing game as he made some tough grabs on his way to a career-best season of 19 receptions for 194 yards and a score. Smith took over Rudolph’s red-zone targets in 2020, hauling in five touchdowns in his second season with Minnesota.
The Vikings proved they can survive without Rudolph in the lineup in 2020 and they have two quality options on the roster. Rudolph remains one of the leaders on this team and he has had a major positive impact on the local Minnesota communities.
The veteran tight end has already stated that he doesn’t want to leave the Vikings, but he also said he’s not going to restructure his deal again. This could lead Minnesota to trade the tight end if they can find a suitor this year or cut him if they can’t.
Rudolph’s future with the team is in doubt, but the Vikings can’t let this linger into April when they have to fill out their roster with a plethora of young players.
What is Cleveland’s position moving forward?
The Vikings’ offensive line needs to improve this year, and before they add any new faces to the unit to ensure this happens, they need to figure out what they are going to do with the guys currently on their roster.
One big question that Minnesota has to address before the draft is figuring out where Ezra Cleveland is going to play in 2021 and beyond?
The Vikings drafted Cleveland in the second round last year and most expected he was added to be their left tackle of the future. But after injuries and poor play decimated Minnesota at the guard position this past season, they tried the rookie inside, and despite an up and down performance, he quickly became the team’s best guard.
So now the question is, will he stay at right guard for the upcoming season? The Vikings are going to be in win-now mode as the current regime needs results if they are going to keep their jobs.
Minnesota might opt to pay Riley Reiff and keep him on the left side for 2021 and this would likely keep Cleveland at guard for at least one more season. If the Vikings cut Reiff to save some money this year though, they’ll still need to decide what to do with their young, versatile blocker.
When Minnesota is on the clock at pick No. 14 in this year’s NFL Draft, there could be some very good offensive line prospects still on the board. They could see players like Rashawn Slater, Christian Darrisaw, and Alijah Vera-Tucker available.
Slater and Darrisaw are a couple of players who could play tackle, while Vera-Tucker is seen as a solid option at guard. If the Vikings know they want Cleveland to be the left tackle of the future, that would eliminate Darrisaw from being an option at No. 14, and it’s unclear if they’d take Slater just to move him inside.
Cleveland’s future role with the team will have a big impact on what they do with the 14th pick in this year’s draft. The Vikings just need to make sure they know what that future is prior to draft day.
Will Harris leave in free agency?
Anthony Harris has been a very good player for the Vikings and he has earned himself a big contract with his play on the field. The question is if that payday will come from Minnesota or not?
The Vikings are expected to be strapped for cash this offseason as they’ve elected to extend players like Kyle Rudolph, Kirk Cousins, and Anthony Barr in the recent past. The fact that Minnesota didn’t choose to give Harris more money a few years back is telling and it might signify that the team is ready to move on from their starting safety.
If that’s the case, Minnesota will probably need to use multiple picks at the safety position in the 2021 NFL Draft. Not only would they likely need to find a starter, but they’ll also need to fill out the depth chart.
Josh Metellus is expected to return to the Vikings in 2021 after a rookie season where he saw mostly special teams duty. Minnesota also has other young safeties like Myles Dorn and Luther Kirk, but they are both longshots to make the team this year, let alone see actual playing time.
The Vikings probably won’t find a safety worth taking with the 14th pick in the 2021 draft, but if they trade down to the backend of the first round, they might consider taking one then. Minnesota will likely use multiple mid-round picks on this position if Harris does indeed leave for another team.
5 players rising up the Vikings draft board after the 2021 Senior Bowl
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If the Vikings have already decided on Harris’ fate for 2021, hopefully, they have been heavily scouting the defensive back prospects who best fit into Mike Zimmer’s defensive system.