Trade Diggs for a top-five choose
There was masses of talk approximately the future of wide receiver Stefon Diggs in the dual cities this offseason. Cryptic tweets from the player and Minnesota’s desire to transport huge earners which can be contributing to their profits cap regulations only delivered fuel to the fireplace.
Buying and selling Diggs may not be the wisest flow given his high level of play on the field, but it is a move that might deliver the Vikings a higher chance of taking Tua Tagovailoa within the first spherical of the 2020 NFL Draft.
A group like the New York Giants, who has the 4th ordinary pick out this year, might be a willing alternate accomplice. There is no telling what the Giants offense could be like with Diggs, Daniel Jones, Saquon Barkley, and Evan Engram going ahead.
Whether or not they might be inclined to element with their No. 4 selection in 2020 and probable other belongings remains to be seen. ny does have extreme deficiencies on the shielding aspect of the ball and they may determine to maintain the receivers they have and improve their secondary with a person like former Ohio country cornerback Jeff Okudah.
Every other stumbling block for Minnesota is that they nevertheless may not get the threat to draft Tagovailoa although they acquire the fourth typical choose from the Giants. The Detroit Lions currently have the No. three choice and they’ll no longer need the Vikings to get their hands on a player that would do their playoff and NFC North title chances extreme damage for the next decade.
Trading away Diggs has its execs and cons, but it would take away Minnesota’s fine downfield danger that might abate modern-day gunslinger Kirk Cousins and his possible inheritor obvious in Tagovailoa. It represents a huge threat, but one the Vikings might be inclined to take.
Bet the house
Assuming the Cincinnati Bengals take Joe Burrow with the primary choose this spring and the Washington Redskins pick arguably the first-rate participant in the 2020 NFL Draft in former Ohio kingdom shielding give up Chase young, then Tua Tagovailoa is going to be in play from selection No. 3 onward.
This indicates the Vikings are going to have to make a big provide to move up from the 25th pick. It can even bring about them transferring their pinnacle three selections this 12 months, their pinnacle from next year, and their first from the 12 months after.
It won’t be the Lions Minnesota could be handling and Detroit may even have aspirations of drafting Matthew Stafford’s lengthy-time period substitute at the location with the No. three pick out. this will all rely on who they pick out at three before a large scramble starts at pick out No. four.
If Tagovailoa passes the Lions, then the Vikings providing a king’s ransom would possibly trap the Giants to make a deal and save you the Alabama standout from touchdown with the Miami Dolphins on the fifth usual choice.
This might seem incredible, however it’s miles some thing Minnesota has completed before. The Vikings received the services of strolling again Hershel Walker from the Dallas Cowboys in 1989 for 6 draft alternatives and 5 gamers; Jesse Solomon, Isaac Holt, Darrin Nelson, David Howard, and Alex Stewart.
The notorious trade enabled the Cowboys to draft Emmitt Smith, Russell Maryland, Kevin Smith, and Darren Woodson. This become a catastrophe for Minnesota and one they might be cautious of repeating.
If the Vikings are going to double down on Tagovailoa, it’d be out of man or woman and jaw-losing. particularly thinking about his injury issues and the sacrifice they’ll must make.
Trade Cousins and selections
Some other alternative that may at ease the offerings of Tua Tagovailoa for the Vikings is identifying a manner to transport contemporary quarterback Kirk Cousins to the Dolphins.
Cousins is heading into the final yr of his $eighty four million deal and he’s coming off the first-rate season of his profession that resulted in a journey to the seasoned Bowl. His inventory has by no means been better despite the fact that a few nevertheless doubt his capacity to get his team over the hump.
A likely contract extension seems to be a protracted way off as Minnesota adopts a be patient method before making some other full-size monetary investment in Cousins. imparting Miami a demonstrated beginning quarterback, their first and 2d-spherical alternatives this 12 months, and a first-round selection from next yr could really warrant attention.
This is a huge commitment for a player coming out of university, however Tagovailoa might be special. If the Dolphins have doubts about his longevity, then they can tackle a quarterback like Cousins for a year earlier than trying to the 2021 NFL Draft for their lengthy-time period substitute and get extra excessive-give up alternatives to aid their rebuild.
One aspect Minnesota will now not need to do need to this situation manifest is throw Tagovailoa into the deep give up. They could need to herald a veteran quarterback who can preserve down the fortress for a bit and permit him to return to complete fitness in the course of the 2020 season. Then Tagovailoa can make a actual go of things all through his 2d year inside the wake of Cousins’ absence.