***Official 2024 NFL Free Agency***

[hategreenticemase]

Mel's latest updated mock doesn't use trades so he has JJ coming to us at 11. At 23, Cooper Dejean Iowa CB. Isn't he a S?

It would be so sweet to get him for no trade up.

But I have a hard time believing they will just sit there and watch all those teams pass him up and hope he gets to them. I suppose that could happen if they really arent 100% sold on him as their guy worth trading up for, which is also not the best.

Permutations are endless! Sports pundit paradise!

Yeah it's unrealistic, that ain't happening. But I guess they mandated his premise be for his latest mock that he doesn't do any trades...

[hategreenticemase]

Mel's latest updated mock doesn't use trades so he has JJ coming to us at 11. At 23, Cooper Dejean Iowa CB. Isn't he a S?

No. He’s a CB

Thank you sir.

[Mplsfonz]

Question: Do we have a 3rd round pick this year? If not, where'd it go?
Also, a friend of mine said we are sniffing around Sneed. He says KC doesn't want to pay him.
Just asking.

[Mplsfonz]

Mel's latest updated mock doesn't use trades so he has JJ coming to us at 11. At 23, Cooper Dejean Iowa CB. Isn't he a S?

Does he explain why JJ dropped to #11? Seem like everyone else has him going top 5. If he drops to us do we want him? Why did everyone else pass on him? Or is Mel getting senile? I truly don't know.

[Señor Trumpo]

Question: Do we have a 3rd round pick this year? If not, where'd it go?
Also, a friend of mine said we are sniffing around Sneed. He says KC doesn't want to pay him.
Just asking.

They do not have a 3rd this year. It was part of the TJ Hockinson deal.

[Mplsfonz]

Question: Do we have a 3rd round pick this year? If not, where'd it go?
Also, a friend of mine said we are sniffing around Sneed. He says KC doesn't want to pay him.
Just asking.

They do not have a 3rd this year. It was part of the TJ Hockinson deal.

That's right. Forgot about that.
Maybe we could be like Wimpy, I'll gladly give you a 3rd rounder next year for a 3rd rounder today.

[Oriole81]

Question: Do we have a 3rd round pick this year? If not, where'd it go?
Also, a friend of mine said we are sniffing around Sneed. He says KC doesn't want to pay him.
Just asking.

They do not have a 3rd this year. It was part of the TJ Hockinson deal.

Technically they don’t, but they also got Det’s 4th, so that’s why we have two 4ths.
It was just a small pick swap this year.

[Señor Trumpo]

[hategreenticemase]

Mel's latest updated mock doesn't use trades so he has JJ coming to us at 11. At 23, Cooper Dejean Iowa CB. Isn't he a S?

Does he explain why JJ dropped to #11? Seem like everyone else has him going top 5. If he drops to us do we want him? Why did everyone else pass on him? Or is Mel getting senile? I truly don't know.

It's based mostly on (I am guessing) that he isn't allowed to do trades. So under that premise, it's really only giants passing on him. With Atlanta now set at QB no one else needs one between 4-10. So, yeah, not realistic.

[Slap Shot]

Is there a reason Y1 is so much lower than Y2-4? Is that a fixed result or by design? Pros and cons?

I don't know dick about NFL contracts so treat me like a 2nd grader/Caleb.

[Beef Supreme]

Is there a reason Y1 is so much lower than Y2-4? Is that a fixed result or by design? Pros and cons?

I don't know dick about NFL contracts so treat me like a 2nd grader/Caleb.

We had some, but not a lot, of cap space this year, so this structure helps get him in cheap year 1. We have a TON of space next year and in the future, so this structure allows a hit next year. The extra years with a low signing bonus allow us to restructure the guaranteed base salary next year into a bonus to reduce next year’s cap too.

All these tricks eventually catch up with you, but as the cap keeps rising, those penalties become less and less severe as a percentage of the cap as you move forward.


The way I read this contract from a cap standpoint is:

2024: $5.47M
2025: $8.05M

Then in 2026 he will either be released with a $24.15M hit or more likely restructured/extended. This could be by giving him a whole new deal if he’s playing great or guaranteeing some of his unguaranteed ‘26 base salary into a bonus and spreading it too down the road to get the number down. Otherwise, he plays at a $27.05M cap number, which seems high for him, but if he plays really well maybe by then it will not.

[Slap Shot]

Is there a reason Y1 is so much lower than Y2-4? Is that a fixed result or by design? Pros and cons?

I don't know dick about NFL contracts so treat me like a 2nd grader/Caleb.

We had some, but not a lot, of cap space this year, so this structure helps get him in cheap year 1. We have a TON of space next year and in the future, so this structure allows a hit next year. The extra years with a low signing bonus allow us to restructure the guaranteed base salary next year into a bonus to reduce next year’s cap too.

All these tricks eventually catch up with you, but as the cap keeps rising, those penalties become less and less severe as a percentage of the cap as you move forward.


The way I read this contract from a cap standpoint is:

2024: $5.47M
2025: $8.05M

Then in 2026 he will either be released with a $24.15M hit or more likely restructured/extended. This could be by giving him a whole new deal if he’s playing great or guaranteeing some of his unguaranteed ‘26 base salary into a bonus and spreading it too down the road to get the number down. Otherwise, he plays at a $27.05M cap number, which seems high for him, but if he plays really well maybe by then it will not.

Ok thanks.

[edit] I understand why they want to push some of that out further knowing that the cap will increase, but imho this isn't a team that should be looking for playoff wins in 2024. So why not put a little bit more into the first year which gives even more room to sign FAs starting in 2025 when hopefully their prospects for the playoffs have improved? Just feels like a repetitive methodology of always having to play catch-up.

[Mplsfonz]

Is there a reason Y1 is so much lower than Y2-4? Is that a fixed result or by design? Pros and cons?

I don't know dick about NFL contracts so treat me like a 2nd grader/Caleb.

[Beef Supreme]

Is there a reason Y1 is so much lower than Y2-4? Is that a fixed result or by design? Pros and cons?

I don't know dick about NFL contracts so treat me like a 2nd grader/Caleb.

We had some, but not a lot, of cap space this year, so this structure helps get him in cheap year 1. We have a TON of space next year and in the future, so this structure allows a hit next year. The extra years with a low signing bonus allow us to restructure the guaranteed base salary next year into a bonus to reduce next year’s cap too.

All these tricks eventually catch up with you, but as the cap keeps rising, those penalties become less and less severe as a percentage of the cap as you move forward.


The way I read this contract from a cap standpoint is:

2024: $5.47M
2025: $8.05M

Then in 2026 he will either be released with a $24.15M hit or more likely restructured/extended. This could be by giving him a whole new deal if he’s playing great or guaranteeing some of his unguaranteed ‘26 base salary into a bonus and spreading it too down the road to get the number down. Otherwise, he plays at a $27.05M cap number, which seems high for him, but if he plays really well maybe by then it will not.

Ok thanks.

[edit] I understand why they want to push some of that out further knowing that the cap will increase, but imho this isn't a team that should be looking for playoff wins in 2024. So why not put a little bit more into the first year which gives even more room to sign FAs starting in 2025 when hopefully their prospects for the playoffs have improved? Just feels like a repetitive methodology of always having to play catch-up.

Because we have such little cap space this year. We’ve made quite a few moves this year, and this is how.


They could have signed a lesser guy for one year and kept their cap clean moving forward, but they obviously like Greenard and want him on the roster moving forward. My guess is they’re going to land a rookie QB and don’t want that guy to go to a shitty, run-down roster that will fail him. We still have plenty of room to sign guys next year.

Also, I think there’s a least a chance they move their 2025 first round pick for a Quarterback, so looking for success this year has no downside, even though significant playoff success is likely a pipe dream.

[Beef Supreme]

This contract restructure created a little more space than most of us thought.

[SKOLTROL]

This contract restructure created a little more space than most of us thought.

I like this restructure. He’s one of those players that should retire a vike.

[mlhouse]

This contract restructure created a little more space than most of us thought.

They did this at a cost, however. His 2024 contract was all non-guaranteed. His restructure was done by blasting his original $14.450 million 2024 base salary down to $1.490 million but they gave Smith a fully guaranteed $7 million signing bonus.

The Vikings could have released him and reduced his cap hit in 2024 to $7.831 million without having to pay him anything.

Instead, with the pay reduction they will have a cap hit of $7.315 million at the cost of writing checks to Smith that will total $9 million in 2024.

The restructure also did the same to his original 2025 base salary which was $17 million but is now reduced to $1.255 million. I doubt that Smith will play in 2025 for that amount (he will be 36 years old in 2025). This deal, however, created $9.5 million in dead cap in 2025 that will have to be accounted for.

[WayneVikes]

Sense we're going to have a ton of cash to spend next year, can someone find and post an early list of the 2025 free agency pool?

[SKOLTROL]

Sense we're going to have a ton of cash to spend next year, can someone find and post an early list of the 2025 free agency pool?

Jamar Chase

[Hoop Dreams]

[hategreenticemase]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

[SKOLTROL]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

[hategreenticemase]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

I don't get it. Everyone raves about how he is in lockerroom also. Baffling.

[minnemike]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

He does have a bit over the top bible banger thing going on. Wonder if he tries to convert locker rooms to some extremist religious group or something.

[Roadskol]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

He does have a bit over the top bible banger thing going on. Wonder if he tries to convert locker rooms to some extremist religious group or something.

I know PA was all giddy to have him on his bible thumper podcast.

[Hoop Dreams]

[Tuck ya in]

Someone explain this to me. Why is this hard? Pretty sure the guy isn't playing hardball for everything we read. All we saw was strong indication Bradbury was finally gone and now he is coming back and we sign some fn chump who has off scores below 50 the last couple years presumably to be a back up, and we are going to run off a starter?

Pssst, you are running off the wrong iol starter.

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

He does have a bit over the top bible banger thing going on. Wonder if he tries to convert locker rooms to some extremist religious group or something.

That doesn't add up, most of the league is religious to an extent. Unless he's an Allah extremist who hates America, I don't get why that would make a team shy away from him. Even if it was the comp pick thing, t doesn't add up to me. Dudes a dawg, hope we can bring him back.

[hategreenticemase]

Um, that seems pretty fn reasonable.

[Tuck ya in]

Um, that seems pretty fn reasonable.

It does so far, pending the new contract details. You would think a lot if teams would be in on a trade like that. Must be wanting decent coin too.

[mlhouse]

It’s weird. I thought he was legit. He might not have all his faculties.

He does have a bit over the top bible banger thing going on. Wonder if he tries to convert locker rooms to some extremist religious group or something.

That doesn't add up, most of the league is religious to an extent. Unless he's an Allah extremist who hates America, I don't get why that would make a team shy away from him. Even if it was the comp pick thing, t doesn't add up to me. Dudes a dawg, hope we can bring him back.

Risner is an interesting case for sure. The fact that he has spent two off seasons now begging NFL teams to sign him seems to indicate to me that his financial terms are not out of line. I think he played well enough to get a chance at earning another NFL job in 2024. I don't know anything about his religious beliefs but that isn't a huge thing in the NFL. His wife is a bit kooky, but reasonable enough good looking so he meets one of the froobs highest credential. BTW, the way the wife dresses and his religious beliefs seems to create a bit of a mixed message, not that I disapprove.



I do think that the movement of mid-level veteran free agent offensive linemen is about the slowest in the market. THis is probably due to the cap adjustments that teams make during the offseason and it really puts a premium on waiting until after the 6/1 cuts are made to make your move. If you sign Risner to even a reasonable contract that might eliminate an even better option later in free agency.

If you look at the free agent guards that have signed you have several at the top of the pyramid (Hunt an incredible 5 years $100 million, Onewnu 3 year $57, Damien Lewis 4 years $51 milliong, Runayn 3 years $30 million). Then you have a bunch of low level signings under $3 million/season. Only two guards have signed for under $30 million and over $10 million to date this offseason. This pattern suggests how the market for these linemen might be slow developing.

There are also some that are claiming that the Vikings want Risner to leave because they are playing the comp pick games and need a free agent loss like RIsner to cancel out the signing of Shaq Griffin, otherwise that signing would cancel out a 3rd round comp pick gain. If that is the case, the Vikings made a huge mistake signing Griffin.

IF I were running the team I think I would approach Risner with a low level multi-year contract offer. I think he showed enough last season that he is a solid average NFL guard. I would offer him the same contract we gave Blake Brandel. This would create a solid depth chart and continuity.