Sports
Vikings Territory: Report: Extension Talks With Prominent Vikings Heat Up
Interestingly, neither man plays running back, thus making the public opinion about deals less contentious.
July 3, 2021
The calendar indicates it’s the time of year for the Minnesota Vikings front office to enter contraction extension talks. The franchise notoriously avoids in-season extension talks, so between now and the commencement of the 2021 season is prime territory for veterans to receive extensions.
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Now, it’s the summer of 2021 — a more optimistic one worldwide than last year — and two more high-profile players on the docket for extensions. Interestingly, neither man plays running back, thus making the public opinion about deals less contentious.
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Smith is an absolute stalwart for the Vikings defense, spanning nine seasons that started when the Vikings defense was the butt of jokes. The Notre Dame alumnus was drafted in 2012, spurring a coming of age in 2013 during a season in which the Vikings showcased a historically bad defense. In fact, the defensive faceplant by the team in Smith’s sophomore season was the precipitous event that led to the hire of current head coach, Mike Zimmer. He dragged the team to an era of defense, maintaining a 58% win percentage in seven seasons — eighth-best in the NFL during the timeframe.
Extending Brian O’Neill would also be delightful. The Vikings offensive line inside that same Zimmer tenure — arguably aside from the kicker spot on the depth chart — is the most frustrating aspect of Minnesota football. Like clockwork each season, the Vikings offensive trenches struggle to protect quarterbacks while showing some run-blocking competence.
Thankfully for O’Neill, his new contract will be juicier than thought as little as a week ago. Why? Well, New Orleans Saints right tackle Ryan Ramczyk was handed a gargantuan deal this week, level-setting the market for likeminded players such as O’Neill.
This contract alone made O’Neill a richer man. His price tag skyrocketed by a few million per season with one tweet.
That’s probably because Wolfson, SKOR North, and Sean Borman are correct that general manager Rick Spielman is investing the funds in-house.
This press release was produced by Vikings Territory. The views expressed here are the author’s own.