Should Minnesota Vikings Focus on Future After Falling to 0-3 vs Chargers

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NFL: Los Angeles Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings are 0-3 on Sunday afternoon, after losing another heartbreaker, this time a 28-24 stunner at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers. All three of the Vikings losses, so far this season, have been by six points or less. This, after going 11-0 in such contests last summer.

Minnesota’s offense turned the ball over, the defense allowed too many big plays and star players couldn’t make the game-winning play when it was required.

The Minnesota Vikings prove they are a mess vs Chargers

The interior of the Vikings’ offensive line is a mess, leaving QB Kirk Cousins’ life legitimately in danger, every time he drops back. Tight end, TJ Hockenson — who was rewarded a massive preseason contract extension for his training camp holdout — gave the football to a defender, inside the redzone, twice on Sunday.

Related: Vikings Continue To Take Kirk Cousins’ Durability For Granted

He had it literally taken out of his arms when the Minnesota Vikings were threatening on their first drive of the game. Then, he ended the contest by dropping the game-winning touchdown and subsequently popping it up in the air for a Chargers defender to intercept.

On the other side, new defensive coordinator, Brian Flores, is trying every blitz package and scheme he has ever buried under his bed. But the talent he has to work with is lacking and young players continue to miss opportunities at making momentum-changing plays. Plays that win close games.

The Vikings play two of their next four games vs Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs and the undefeated San Francisco 49ers. If the team is 2-6, entering the 2nd half of the season, it’ll be time to trade Kirk Cousins and look toward the future.

That means, tonight, it is time for Kwesi Adofo-Mensah to sit down with the Wilf family and seriously discuss the plan for this franchise’s future. Kirk Cousins is on the final year of his contract and, at 37 years old next season, it might be time for the Vikings to shit or get off the pot, when it comes to his future and that of the organization.

Time for Vikings to tank for a QB of the future?

So, if a garage sale at TCO Performance Center is the likely outcome anyway, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah would be smart to move sooner, rather than later. To land Caleb Williams (USC), Drake Maye (North Carolina) or Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), the Vikings will have to secure a top-5 pick, which means losing games now, not later.

If the Minnesota Vikings want to compete for the NFC North title next year, and in the immediate future, Cousins is their guy. He has proven that over the last couple of years. But it’s hard to see a playoff light at the end of the 2023 tunnell and the Vikings already have a head start at the #1 overall pick.

Remember, the Vikings young GM is Wall Street raised; he’s a percentages guy. Only SIX teams in NFL history have made the playoffs, after starting 0-3. Yes, there are more regular season games and more playoff teams than ever before but those factors only improve the statistical odds of a turnaround, which still isn’t likely, from that standpoint.

If selling, everyone should be on the block for the right price

Should the Vikings choose to sell, all players should be on the table. Obviously, that means Cousins, Hockenson, Garrett Bradbury, Danielle Hunter, Harrison Smith and Jordan Hicks, but also players who are worth their trade value in gold. They should take calls on everybody.

Related: O’Connell Reiterates Alexander Mattison is Vikings’ RB1; Cam Akers Likely Inactive

I’d imagine Justin Jefferson is mostly off limits. But even for him, if a desperate team calls offering a king’s ransom for JJ, like (3) 1st round picks + more… Kwesi & Co need to seriously consider trading him too.

If the Vikings decide to push forward, I’d imagine it’s the Wilfs making that decision, not the 2nd-year general manager.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

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