Operation: Dez Bryant

   The Vikings’ offseason could go any number of ways, as always. For the most 

part though, it hinges on what the team does with Adrian Peterson and his massive cap hit. Purple 

Jesus’s hit is a whopping $15.4 million dollars. That is by far the highest on the team. As 

a running back in the new NFL, about to hit 30, that number is just not going to fly. He 

would have to restructure that deal, but has already been adamant against doing so. 

Conversely, the Vikings could release Peterson from his contract and save themselves a 

healthy $13 million dollars, which they could spend in free agency. While it seems like a 

simple business decision, Peterson has been the face of the franchise since his rookie 

season in 2007. Peterson has also been for the most part the best running back in football 

during that time. While some fans view him as a monster and a fiend, a large percentage 

of fans still see him as the key to unlocking the promise land. In most situations, common 

knowledge would say take the money and run, but its not that simple in this case. Enter 

this scenario. Why not trade All Day for another player the fans can latch onto. 

     Dez Bryant has emerged into one of the top wide receivers in all of professional 

football. He has built a home in the end zone, and lives there all year long. In the four years since his rookie season, he has caught 50 touchdown passes. That is the most of anyone 

in that stretch by a considerable margin. His size (he’s listed at 6’2”-220) and his strength 

allow him to win 50-50 balls all over the field, he has developed a complete route tree 

and he’s extremely creative after the catch. Jerry Jones has already said Dez is not 

leaving the Cowboys. Threatening to use the franchise tag if he will not re-sign. This 

offers up an interesting idea. Why not try and trade Peterson, who already has a well 

documented interest in playing in Dallas, for Bryant, who is clearly not satisfied by 

Dallas’ lowball contracts. 

     This trade would not be just one for one. As I said before, Peterson is almost 30, 

and even then, running backs in the modern NFL are becoming less and less valuable. 

Bryant is only 26, 27 in November, and clearly in the prime of his career. Vikings GM 

Rick Spielman would have to hammer out the exact details, more than likely giving up a 

high draft pick, but we’ll visit that later. On paper, this trade is a grand slam home run for 

both teams. 

     For Dallas, they are trading a free agent to be, who has not shown a willingness to 

negotiate, for a player who has wanted to play with their team for years. Where Peterson 

will not take a pay cut to play for the Vikings, my money says he will to play for his 

hometown Cowboys. They save millions on what they would’ve given Dez, and can save 

even more money that they would’ve had to give to DeMarco Murray. The high draft 

pick that I mentioned earlier would also give Dallas a chance to draft another wide 

receiver in a draft that is very deep at the position. Jerry World gets to put up big banners 

of AP with a star on his helmet, they sell a lot of jerseys, and they don’t skip a beat in 

their powerful running attack from last year. 

     For the Vikings, the first day would be bitter sweet, and the second day would be 

filled with pure football happiness. Trading Adrian Peterson away from the purple and 

gold would be very hard, but if you can trade one franchise player for another, the fan 

base would readjust rather quickly. Especially when the player they’re getting is in the 

form of a go to target for rising star Teddy Bridgewater, the new face of the franchise. 

The money works out as well. As I said earlier, the Vikings would save $13 million 

dollars from moving on from Peterson. That is $13 million dollars that you can put 

towards Dez’s new contract. From a football standpoint, Teddy now gets to throw to one 

of the best wide receivers in the league, which would do wonders for his development as 

a quarterback. Dez Bryant could also mentor Cordarrelle Patterson, who is just oozing 

talent but hasn’t been able to put it all together. The running game was pretty mediocre 

last year, but Jerick McKinnon showed flashed of brilliance in his small body of work. 

The Vikings could choose to draft a more powerful back in this May’s draft to 

compliment McKinnon’s burst, in an attempt to create their own version of the Bengals’ 

lightning and thunder backfield of Gio Bernard and Jeremy Hill. They would more than 

likely lose an early draft pick, a first or second rounder would be my guess. This seems 

less than desirable, but the Vikings have had seven first round picks in the past three 

years. They are going to have to pay up some big money very soon. Future monetary 

obligations aside, the chances of the Vikings drafting a player who is better than Dez 

Bryant will be this year, are pretty slim. This trade would also come at the perfect time 

for the Vikings’ new stadium. The plan was to use Peterson as the poster child for the 

stadium, opening before the 2016 season, but now they can plaster Teddy and Dez 

everywhere. 

     This trade, while highly unlikely, would definitely take the Vikings one step 

closer to playoffs. Mike Zimmer has transformed the defense, and it stands to reason it 

will get better through the draft and free agency. The offense would take a large step 

forward with a true number one wide receiver and another year under center for Teddy.

Vikings Draft Options

   

1.  Amari Cooper – WR – Alabama

PROS
     Cooper is a prototypical deep threat. He is fast, a tremendous route runner, and has a knack for getting open. He has excellent body control. His speed and strong arms allow him to punish corners that try to press him. He can beat the press and immediately kick it into second gear, leaving him wide open for a big gain. He is creative when he has the ball in space, where he can flash his athleticism. Most importantly, he has excellent hands.

CONS
     What’s keeping Cooper out of the top ten picks, are his lack of elite measurables. At 6’1”-200, he doesn’t have the size of a Calvin Johnson or a Demaryius Thomas. He plays the game very fast, but his 40-yard dash time is not elite. In todays measurable based draft system, that will drop him.

Overview

     Amari Cooper is arguably the best wide receiver in an extremely deep class. He would add a potential number one receiver to an offense needing skilled position talent. Allows us to cut Greg Jennings to save us $5 million. Fun fact: Teddy Bridgewater is already familiar with Cooper. Teddy and Cooper played football together at the same high school, Miami Northwestern HS in Miami.

       2.     Brandon Scherff – OL – Iowa

PROS

     Brandon Scherff played left tackle at Iowa, and did so at a very high level. He has good size, at 6’6”-310, he looks the part of a blind side protector. Quick off the snap, which is essential for slowing down today’s speed rushing defensive ends. He is an outstanding downfield blocker, plowing over linebackers and defensive backs consistently. Very strong hands, able to latch onto rushers pads and not allow them to disengage.

CONS

     Needs to start loosening his hips when protecting the pocket. Tends to try too hard to keep defenders in front of him, instead of using their momentum to carry them past the quarterback.

Overview

     Scherff is a very exciting line prospect, we could start him out at left guard, giving Matt Kalil one last chance to prove to us he can be a left tackle in the league. May not be the flashy pick that everyone wants out of the first round, but as the Cowboys showed everyone last year, a great offensive line will take you a long way (remember our offensive line in 2009? Lets get back to those days).

       3.     Trade Down

PROS

     The Vikes could trade down deeper into the first round, acquire more picks and use them to further the depth we are starting to build up. On paper, this draft looks very deep at positions of need. As I said before, this class is very deep at wide receiver. Running back and offensive line are also deep.

CONS

     The Vikings will not get a top ten talent with their first pick. That’s about the only drawback.

Overview

     This may end up being the Vikings best option come draft time. Unless Cooper or Scherff are available when we pick at 11, I’d say we find a partner in the early to mid-20s and add more picks.

      4.     Vic Beasley – OLB – Clemson

PROS

     Beasley is very, very fast. He can blow past offensive tackles, inside them, or outside. His repertoire of pass rushing moves is extremely advanced. He looks like a Von Miller clone. Put him at weak side linebacker in our 4-3 system and he should thrive. This guy is the best pure pass rusher in this class.

CONS

     For as good as Beasley is at rushing the passer, he is inversely as good at defending the run. He often gets overpowered at the line. He also takes poor angles on running back on off tackle runs. If Beasley was even a little bit better against the run, he would be a top five pick.

Overview

     Beasley would be a terrific compliment to Anthony Barr on the other side of our defense. He would give us two potentially elite pass rushers. It would also give us that much more pass rush, which is becoming more and more important especially in the pass happy NFC North. Drafting Beasley would also allow the Vikings to release Chad Greenway and save the team $7.1 million.

      5.     Shaq Thompson – OLB – Washington

PROS

     Thompson is easily the most versatile player in the entire draft class. Thompson played linebacker, safety and running back for the Huskies. He has the size of a prototypical NFL safety (6’1”-230) but has the most experience playing outside linebacker. He will test out well measurable-wise. His time on offense has helped his ability to quickly diagnose plays on defense. He also has a knack for making big plays. He showed this off against Illinois, returning both a fumble and an interception for touchdowns. He finished 2014 with four defensive touchdowns.

CONS

     He will have to bulk up if he wants to play linebacker. This is also an issue in his tackling. He has to make a large percentage of his tackles by diving for the lower body. While he is good at it, he will struggle taking down players that play low to the ground.

Overview

     If the Vikings drafted Thompson, I could see him playing safety, but I’m sure Zimmer could find a way to use his versatility. He would essentially be the Cordarrelle Patterson of the defense, capable of being moved all over. His athleticism and ball skills at safety would complement Harrison Smith’s smash mouth style perfectly.