Vikings GM Rick Spielman recently discussed everything off-season with reporters. Minnesota has big decisions to make in 2021 free agency and the NFL concept is coming.
It will be difficult to choose who to keep and who to let go of. The team has already been released tight ending Kyle Rudolph, but with the way the salary cap likely looks, it will likely need to cut more.
Sometimes it is difficult to estimate what will actually happen in the off-season if you consider what front office people from the competition say during press conferences. That said, it can be interesting to analyze what general managers and others want to say in public.
Here are some key points Spielman made to the media on Wednesday:
Spielman spoke about Danielle Hunter’s situation
Minnesota Vikings de Danielle Hunter. Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn / USA TODAY Sports
During the 2020 season NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported that the Vikings have made a decision to make this off-season: make Hunter the highest paid defender in football or trade him in.
The GM of the Vikings did not want to discuss specific details of the Hunter situation, but acknowledged that the Hunter ultimatum had not been communicated to him, per Andrew Krammer of the Star Tribune.
Spielman is talking about the linebacker group
Minnesota Vikings LB Eric Wilson. Photo: Tim Fuller / USA TODAY Sports
The Vikings have a pretty big free agent in linebacker Eric Wilson, without a lot of cap room to keep him around for the future.
Spielman said the team cannot afford three well-paid linebackers Cuddle. With Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks already on major contracts, it looks like the team will have to part with one of those two to sign Wilson.
Spielman gives confidence in Barr
Minnesota Vikings LB Anthony Barr. Photo: Brace Hemmelgarn / USA TODAY Sports
Also a bad sign for Wilson coming back: Barr seems to be very highly regarded in the Vikings organization.
“Anthony is a crucial piece – I know Coach Zim has talked about it – of our defense,” said Spielman. Cuddle. “Only he on the field creates some attacking coaches, they have to make a plan for him … But it all depends … how the pieces will fit into place.”
Spielman has confidence in Cousins
Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins. Photo: Brad Rempel / USA TODAY Sports
There is plenty of quarterback speculation surrounding the league at this point. Asked if Cousins had received a vote of confidence this season about being the Vikings quarterback, Spielman provided a definitive answer, per Courtney Cronin from ESPN.
“I think Coach Zim put that to bed when he spoke after the season. Kirk Cousins is our quarterback, ”Spielman said.
You can read more about this here.
The team faces difficult decisions
Minnesota Vikings GM Rick Spielman. Photo: AP Photo / Bruce Kluckhohn
Spielman said the Vikings will have to make “a lot of tough business decisions” this off-season when it comes to roster, per Cronin.
It will be interesting to see what Minnesota does to free up cap space as the off-season progresses. Expect more veterans to restructure or move on to the team, especially if the base limit gets low.