Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 28 November 2023

Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use.

Well, that was a disappointing loss last night. It was always going to be hard for Dobbs to get in synch with the receivers and really just to play a little better. Despite being in (or around) the league for 7 years (including this one), he has only started 13 games. Yes, there is a reason for that but anyone thinking he would be really good with minimal actual playing experience is fooling themselves.

This brings us back to reality and the fact that we now must ponder where we are at and where we are headed in this “competitive rebuild”. I wonder if Ryan Poles did not like the permissions he was going to be allowed if he took the Vikings GM job?

The team finishes up with the Raiders, Bengals, Lions, Packers, and Lions. The Raiders are playing a lot better without McDaniels. It is possible to lose out especially if the QB play does not improve. I think 8-9 might be the final tally. That would be a mid teen first round pick. Would Kwesi trade up for a QB? Would he take a QB at all?

It is looking more and more like he is going to have to re-sign Cousins and his GM career will be tied to Cousins. He is going to have to maneuver around to make the most of it because the offensive line looked bad last night. O’Neill did not look good at all. The interior is a hot mess still.

When you think about Kwesi’s first draft, it is looking worse and worse every game. Cine and Booth have not been available but even when available they have not grabbed a starting spot. Blackmon is playing better than Booth. Asamoah could not even beat out an UDFA (Pace). Ingram continues to get starts and continues to get whupped. Risner is not looking all that good besides running over to help everyone up. He does that very well.

Kwesi has Evans, Chandler, and Nailor remaining to make his first draft OK. But if your top four picks flame out then you really did not do good.

The second draft has Addison who I really did not want to be honest. He is proving to be more durable then at USC but did the team really need to get a WR that early? I wanted Will Levis who might look good with the Vikings right now. Joey Porter Jr and Deonte Banks would have looked good too.

How would you redraft the 2023 draft?

Since yore last open thread …

Chicago Bears 12, Minnesota Vikings 10: Ugliest loss of the O’Connell era

Other Vikings News

Winners and Losers From Vikings’ Sloppy Loss to Bears on MNF

Losers

Josh Dobbs

Kevin O’Connell

Jordan Addison

Winners

Danielle Hunter

Josh Metellus

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell non-committal to Josh Dobbs remaining starter

After Dobbs threw four interceptions in the Vikings’ 12-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, Minnesota head coach Kevin O’Connell was non-committal to Dobbs remaining his starter while pledging to an evaluation ahead at the position.

“We’re going to take a look, you know really evaluate the inventory of plays now we have of Josh,” O’Connell answered when asked if he would consider a quarterback change.

Dobbs said he was not focusing on whether the takeaways will result in him heading back to the bench.

“Honestly, I think that’s a coaching decision, but, no I don’t,” Dobbs said. “I just focus on myself, focus on how I can help this team win, focus on how I can be a better teammate, a better quarterback and focus on how I can make sure the offense is in the right play based on the scenario to go out and execute and play at a high level.”

NFL News

NFL Power Rankings, Week 13: Steelers crack top 10, while Lions tumble out of top five

Rank 16

Minnesota Vikings 6-6

For three and a half quarters, Josh Dobbs almost undid all the goodwill he’d earned since arriving in Minnesota. It wasn’t all his fault, but Dobbs made some horrendous decisions in key moments. The first pick never had a chance. The second went off Jordan Addison ‘s hands but could have been thrown better. The third hit K.J. Osborn ‘s hands — and it came on fourth down, so no harm, no foul. The fourth one , Dobbs needed to eat it. It was a screen, and the Bears had it read. These were the kinds of plays Dobbs started making more often in his more recent starts in Arizona. There was some magic early in the desert, but it petered out. Is that playing out all over again in Minneapolis? Despite Minnesota finally putting together a touchdown drive to take the lead in the fourth quarter, Chicago marched back down the field for the game-winning field goal. Now the Vikings’ strange season has careened into the bye, with the five-game win streak feeling strangely distant now.

NFL Team Needs: Prioritizing Every Roster’s Biggest Weaknesses Entering Week 13

It certainly feels like the clock has struck, or is at least approaching, midnight on the Minnesota Vikings’ Cinderella story. Monday night’s loss to the Bears makes it two in a row for Minnesota as the turnover bug has returned with seven in the last two weeks. They’re also clinging onto the last NFC wild-card spot by just a half-game.

Biggest Weaknesses:

Interior Pass Rush

Running Back

2nd Edge-Rusher

Cornerback

Quarterback

Add Now: DL Matt Ioannidis

The Vikings placed Dean Lowry on injured reserve this week, leaving them thin on the interior defensive line. Ioannidis is probably their best option to replace Lowry as Ioannidis is a quality run defender. He could help improve their interior pass rush as well with 25.5 career sacks.

2024 Free Agency: LB Patrick Queen, Baltimore Ravens

With Jordan Hicks’ and Troy Dye’s contracts about to expire, Minnesota will likely be looking for a new linebacker in free agency. Queen will be one of the front office’s top options this offseason as he ranks 22nd overall and as the No. 2 linebacker on B/R’s NFL free agency big board.

“In May, the Baltimore Ravens declined linebacker Patrick Queen’s fifth-year option,” B/R’s Kristopher Knox explained on Nov. 2. “The 24-year-old has responded with a hot start to what could be a career year.

“Through eight games, Queen has tallied 69 tackles, six tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, six quarterback pressures and three passes defended. He finished the 2022 season with 117 tackles, five sacks and two interceptions.”

Heading into this weekend, the Raven was up to 94 total tackles, seven tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and seven pressures, per Pro Football Reference.

2024 NFL Draft: EDGE Dallas Turner, Alabama

If the Vikings don’t re-sign Danielle Hunter, finding another edge-rusher will be one of their top draft needs this April. Turner would be a good option to replace Hunter as the Alabama product is an impressive athlete who started to put it all together in the second half of the season, racking up seven sacks and 10.5 TFL heading into this weekend.

While Turner is a few pounds lighter than Hunter was coming out of college, they have similar profiles as prospects. Coming out of LSU, the latter was a high-level athlete with a good motor who needed to refine his technique, and similar statements could be made about Turner.

Raiders release veteran CB Marcus Peters after 12 games

Yore Mock

Trade Partner: Browns

Sent: Pick 161

Received: Pick 178, Pick 191

…

20. Jer’Zhan Newton DT Illinois 6’2” 295

52. Troy Fautanu OG Washington 6’4” 317

116. Jordan Burch EDGE Oregon 6’6” 290

124. Danny Stutsman LB Oklahoma 6’4” 236

152. Beaux Limmer OC Arkansas 6’5” 307

157. Ray Davis RB Kentucky 5’10” 216

178. Mike Sainristil CB Michigan 5’10” 182

191. Lathan Ransom S Ohio State 6’1” 210

211. Ainias Smith WR Texas A&M 5’10” 200

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