[OC] WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS AT QB?
There has been a lot of speculation about what the Vikings should/will do at QB going forward.With both Sam Bradford and Case Keenum due to hit free agency at the end of the current season,Kyle Sloter will be the only QB under contract.Teddy Bridgewater's status is a little clouded,as I will explain later.
The Options
Sam Bradford
There's no doubt that of the QBs currently on the roster,Bradford gives the Vikings the best chance to win.He has the OC who knows him best,a scheme designed to utilize his strengths,and an offensive line that while not brilliant is certainly much improved on last season and does enough to give the Quarterback time to go through his progressions,something he didn't have last season.
On the flip side is the issue of Bradford's troublesome knee.After two ACL injuries earlier in his career the last thing any Vikings fan wanted to see was the QB appearing on the injury report with a knee problem,but that is what happened leading in to the road game at Pittsburgh.Bradford has remained on the injury report in the ensuing weeks with what is a bone bruise,according to media reports.
The biggest problem with assessing Bradford for next season and beyond is that only the medical staff truly know the facts about his current injury,so I can only guesstimate on his health.That said,a bone bruise should not be a concern going forward,and as Bradford has visited with specialist Dr Andrews and been given the all clear on any structural damage then it is fair to assume his health should not be a major concern.
Case Keenum
Keenum is in the best situation he has ever had in his career to date.His previous stints with the Rams and Texans were on below average offences with poor OL play and a lack of offensive talent.
In Minnesota he finds himself with an average OL but better receiving options and play makers.
He was an undrafted free agent who could best be described as a battler who believes in his ability but lacks consistency.While not likely to ever be an NFL starter,he certainly is an acceptable backup option.
Kyle Sloter
Sloter is as raw as college free agents come.He only started 10 games at Northern Colorado,so to say he is inexperienced is an understatement.He signed on with the Broncos and was impressive in pre season games,but to project him as a possible future starter based on that is a big stretch.
On a more positive note,the Vikings had to battle hard to land the young QBs signature as he was well regarded by other teams.Sloter is certainly an intriguing development piece,but at this stage that is all he is.
Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is the real wildcard of the QB pack,and is the most difficult to predict because of his health and his contract status.
As far as his health is concerned there has been much speculation in the media about where Bridgewater is in regard to his rehab,however most reports suggest that he is well ahead of schedule and ready to return to practice.On the other hand,the Vikings have been very cautious when answering questions about the health and rehab progression that Bridgewater has made.
For now I will just assume that he is progressing well and see how things play out.
As far as contract status goes there has been speculation about what is required to cause the contract to toll.This is what the CBA says:
It seems straight forward that as it is the last year of Bridgewater's contract,and he is currently on the PUP list (where he must stay until week 6) that the contract would toll.
But this is where things get interesting.
In an article for PFT,Mike Florio posted this:
Earlier this year,the NFLPA stated that they would fight any move by the Vikings to have Bridgewater's contract toll.I wasn't sure how they could justify such a move,but after researching for this article I think the strategy will be twofold.
Firstly,the NFLPA will assert that Bridgewater was in fact able to perform his football services before the sixth regular season game,however he could not join the team because the PUP list designation prohibits that.
Secondly,the NFLPA will use the Management Council interpretation to strengthen their case.
This of course assumes that the NFLPA and Bridgewater can prove that he was medically able to perform.Either way,any move by the NFLPA to challenge the tolling of the contract will certainly lead to what I would expect will be a drawn out process that likely winds up in the courts.
Other Options
Of the other free agents to hit the market next year there are no real options apart from Kirk Cousins,however that would be an all out bidding war the Vikings would not likely win.I would be amazed if Cousins even made it to free agency,however Washington has completely mismanaged the entire situation around Cousins so anything is possible.
Drew Brees has been mentioned as a possible candidate but I would speculate that if he plays next year it will be in New Orleans.The Saints have managed Brees situation even worse than Washington has with Cousins,and if Brees walks away then the Saints are left with $16 million in dead money,so it is in their interests to figure something out.
Alex Smith and Andrew Luck are others who could possibly be traded for,but after not having a first round pick in 2017 I would not expect the Vikings to be in the QB trade market.
One thing the Vikings should seriously consider is drafting a QB in the mid rounds,although at this stage it is hard to assess who might be available.
Conclusion
There is no doubt in my mind that Mike Zimmer is craving for some continuity and consistency from his offensive unit,and for these reasons I expect that if Sam Bradford is healthy then the Vikings will look to re sign him to lead the unit.
Case Keenum is an adequate backup and Kyle Sloter will get a chance to compete at that spot also.
As previously stated,Teddy Bridgewater is the difficult one to assess at this point with both his health and contract status unknown,and until some clarity exists regarding those situations it is hard to offer an opinion about where he ends up.
The Options
Sam Bradford
There's no doubt that of the QBs currently on the roster,Bradford gives the Vikings the best chance to win.He has the OC who knows him best,a scheme designed to utilize his strengths,and an offensive line that while not brilliant is certainly much improved on last season and does enough to give the Quarterback time to go through his progressions,something he didn't have last season.
On the flip side is the issue of Bradford's troublesome knee.After two ACL injuries earlier in his career the last thing any Vikings fan wanted to see was the QB appearing on the injury report with a knee problem,but that is what happened leading in to the road game at Pittsburgh.Bradford has remained on the injury report in the ensuing weeks with what is a bone bruise,according to media reports.
The biggest problem with assessing Bradford for next season and beyond is that only the medical staff truly know the facts about his current injury,so I can only guesstimate on his health.That said,a bone bruise should not be a concern going forward,and as Bradford has visited with specialist Dr Andrews and been given the all clear on any structural damage then it is fair to assume his health should not be a major concern.
Case Keenum
Keenum is in the best situation he has ever had in his career to date.His previous stints with the Rams and Texans were on below average offences with poor OL play and a lack of offensive talent.
In Minnesota he finds himself with an average OL but better receiving options and play makers.
He was an undrafted free agent who could best be described as a battler who believes in his ability but lacks consistency.While not likely to ever be an NFL starter,he certainly is an acceptable backup option.
Kyle Sloter
Sloter is as raw as college free agents come.He only started 10 games at Northern Colorado,so to say he is inexperienced is an understatement.He signed on with the Broncos and was impressive in pre season games,but to project him as a possible future starter based on that is a big stretch.
On a more positive note,the Vikings had to battle hard to land the young QBs signature as he was well regarded by other teams.Sloter is certainly an intriguing development piece,but at this stage that is all he is.
Teddy Bridgewater
Bridgewater is the real wildcard of the QB pack,and is the most difficult to predict because of his health and his contract status.
As far as his health is concerned there has been much speculation in the media about where Bridgewater is in regard to his rehab,however most reports suggest that he is well ahead of schedule and ready to return to practice.On the other hand,the Vikings have been very cautious when answering questions about the health and rehab progression that Bridgewater has made.
For now I will just assume that he is progressing well and see how things play out.
As far as contract status goes there has been speculation about what is required to cause the contract to toll.This is what the CBA says:
Any player placed on a Physically Unable to Perform list (“PUP”) will be paid his full Paragraph 5 Salary while on such list. His contract will not be tolled for the period he is on PUP, except in the last year of his contract, when the player’s contract will be tolled if he is still physically unable to perform his football services as of the sixth regular season game.
But this is where things get interesting.
In an article for PFT,Mike Florio posted this:
A league source tells PFT that the NFL’s Management Council has interpreted the relevant language of the CBA in past cases to require the player to spend the entire year on the PUP list in order to toll the contract. PFT has asked both the NFL (multiple times) and the Vikings whether that contention is accurate, and there has been no response from either the league or the team.
Firstly,the NFLPA will assert that Bridgewater was in fact able to perform his football services before the sixth regular season game,however he could not join the team because the PUP list designation prohibits that.
Secondly,the NFLPA will use the Management Council interpretation to strengthen their case.
This of course assumes that the NFLPA and Bridgewater can prove that he was medically able to perform.Either way,any move by the NFLPA to challenge the tolling of the contract will certainly lead to what I would expect will be a drawn out process that likely winds up in the courts.
Other Options
Of the other free agents to hit the market next year there are no real options apart from Kirk Cousins,however that would be an all out bidding war the Vikings would not likely win.I would be amazed if Cousins even made it to free agency,however Washington has completely mismanaged the entire situation around Cousins so anything is possible.
Drew Brees has been mentioned as a possible candidate but I would speculate that if he plays next year it will be in New Orleans.The Saints have managed Brees situation even worse than Washington has with Cousins,and if Brees walks away then the Saints are left with $16 million in dead money,so it is in their interests to figure something out.
Alex Smith and Andrew Luck are others who could possibly be traded for,but after not having a first round pick in 2017 I would not expect the Vikings to be in the QB trade market.
One thing the Vikings should seriously consider is drafting a QB in the mid rounds,although at this stage it is hard to assess who might be available.
Conclusion
There is no doubt in my mind that Mike Zimmer is craving for some continuity and consistency from his offensive unit,and for these reasons I expect that if Sam Bradford is healthy then the Vikings will look to re sign him to lead the unit.
Case Keenum is an adequate backup and Kyle Sloter will get a chance to compete at that spot also.
As previously stated,Teddy Bridgewater is the difficult one to assess at this point with both his health and contract status unknown,and until some clarity exists regarding those situations it is hard to offer an opinion about where he ends up.
