I have been including plans in the news and links posts but figured I would do one separately the night before free agency tampering begins. I am going to jump right into it and explain a little after.
Note: None of this will come true.
Cap Stuff
Starting 2026 Cap Space : ($1,447,959)Starting 2027 Cap Space : $48,171,291
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Cuts: Hargrave, Allen, Jones
Trade Greenard to the Patriots for #61 and Anfernee Jennings
Extend Jalen Nailor 3 yr 30M
Extend Blake Brandel 3 yr 18M
Extend Ryan Wright 2 yr 6M
Extend Andrew DePaola 2 yr 3.5M
Extend Harrison Smith 1 yr 8M
Extend Eric Wilson 2 yr 10M
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Sign Kyler Murray or Geno Smith 1 yr 1.3M
Sign RB Travis Etienne 3 yr 39M
Sign OC Austin Corbett 2 yr 7M
Sign DT Tim Settle 2 yr 11M
Sign CB Asante Samuel 2 yr 11M
Sign LB Grant Stuard 3 yr 7.5M
Sign LB Christian Harris 1 yr 2.75M
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Starting 2026 Cap Space : $21,213,052Starting 2027 Cap Space : $54,737,959
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Still need to do the O’Neill extension which could create cap space in 2026 and will take away cap space in 2027
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Brian O’Neill extension/redo : 3 yr 69M
Starting 2026 Cap Space : $29,624,817Starting 2027 Cap Space :$33,237,959
Maybe this comes in at 24M per year which changes the number slightly.
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Yore Mock
Trade Partner: PatriotsSent: Jonathan GreenardReceived: 2.63, 2027 4th
…Trade Partner: BroncosSent: Pick 1.18Received: 1.30, 2.62…Trade Partner: EaglesSent: 2.49Received: 2.54, 4.137…Trade Partner: ChiefsSent: 2.62Received: 3.74, 4.109…Trade Partner: JetsSent: 5.162Received: 5.179, 6.208…
Pick 30. Caleb Banks DL Florida 6’6 1/4” 327
Pick 54. AJ Haulcy S LSU 5’11 5/8” 215
Pick 63. Keionte Scott CB Miami 5’11 1/4” 193
Pick 74. Dani Dennis-Sutton EDGE Penn State 6’6” 256
Pick 82. Keylan Rutledge IOL Georgia Tech 6’4” 316
Pick 97. Harold Perkins JR LB LSU 6’1” 223
Pick 109. Oscar Delp TE Georgia 6’5” 245
Pick 137. Zane Durant DT Penn State 6’1 1/8” 290
Pick 179. VJ Payne S Kansas 6’3 1/2” 206
Pick 196. J’Mari Taylor RB Virginias 5’10” 199
Pick 208. Jeff Caldwell WR Cincinnati 6’5” 216
Pick 233. Max Bredeson FB Michigan 6’2” 252
Pick 239. Andre Fuller CB Toledo 6’1 1/2” 200
Why should the Vikings extend Nailor?
I think that they have spent a lot of time and effort developing him and should keep him because it is not going to be that much. About 3.145M against the cap in 2026 and 10.855M against the cap in 2027. Of course, in 2027, they would have to do something about Addison’s 5th year option number which would be 18M minimum. I expect a new deal to lower that or perhaps a trade.
I do not think the team will go receiver early and a mid to late round receiver is going to take time to learn the offense and to learn how to play receiver in the NFL.
I think the team should keep Nailor and figure it out later.
Why should the Vikings extend Brandel early?
Brandel has proven to be a super sub who can play all the interior positions on the offensive line. He has played about 23 snaps at right tackle and 295 snaps at left tackle – 2022 (Darrisaw backup), 2025.
Finding versatile offensive linemen is hard to do.
He can also try to win the job at center this year.
I am hoping the Hitman comes back for one more ride. Wilson is a must since they are not going to tender Pace.
I like getting a top back since the team is unlikely to go with a back early in this draft. That is the top signing.
I think Austin Corbett could be the sneaky good signing although the team might have to bump that up to 2 yr 12-14M.
ai question: austin corbett center grades over his career
Austin Corbett
officially transitioned to center for the 2024 season with the Carolina Panthers after spending most of his career at right guard. His performance in this new role has been defined by high-level pass protection offset by injuries and lower run-blocking grades. PFF +2
PFF Center Grades by Season
Corbett’s career as a full-time center began in 2024, followed by a season of split duties in 2025. RotoWire +2
Season
Position
Overall Grade
Pass Block Grade
Run Block Grade
Key Notes
2025
C/G
65.4
60.9
66.7
Ranked 12th of 37 centers mid-season
2024
C
62.9
83.5*
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*Started season as #1 pass-blocking center
Center Performance Highlights
2024 Breakout: Early in the 2024 season, Corbett led all NFL centers in pass protection, recording an elite 83.5 pass-blocking grade through the first three weeks without allowing a single pressure. However, his season was cut short by a torn biceps after only five games.
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2025 Versatility: Corbett entered 2025 in a competition for the starting center spot and finished the season with a 65.4 overall grade. While his pass-blocking grade dipped compared to his early 2024 peak, he remained a top-15 ranked center for much of the year.
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Historical Context: Although he played center in college at Nevada, Corbett was primarily a guard for the Cleveland Browns and Los Angeles Rams. He did not log significant regular-season NFL snaps at center until his 2024 transition in Carolina.
I like Tim Settle a lot.
Tim Settle is widely considered an underrated free agent entering the 2026 offseason, primarily because his high-level production with the Houston Texans was cut short by a season-ending foot injury in December 2025.
Before the injury, Settle was a “secret superstar” for Houston’s elite defensive front, excelling particularly as a pass-rusher.
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2025 Performance and “Under-the-Radar” Metrics
While his surface-level stats (15 tackles, 1 sack) seem modest, his advanced efficiency and reliability made him a top-tier rotational interior presence: Battle Red Blog +3
- Elite Pass-Rush Efficiency: PFF ranked Settle as the 10th-best interior defensive lineman for pass rushing in 2025. At one point mid-season, he held an elite 87.4 overall PFF grade, ranking 3rd among all defensive tackles.
- High-End Consistency: He finished the season with a solid 71.3 overall PFF grade, placing him 27th out of 134 qualified interior defenders.
- Usage and Role: Settle played approximately 42% of defensive snaps for the Texans before his injury, serving as a critical piece of their interior rotation alongside Sheldon Rankins.
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2026 Free Agency Outlook
Settle is expected to test the market, with several teams viewing him as a high-value “bargain” target.
- Market Value: Spotrac estimates his market value at roughly $3.7 million annually, making him a cost-effective option for teams needing interior pass-rush help.
- Injury Discount: Analysts note that his foot surgery will likely prevent him from landing a “hefty payday,” potentially allowing a smart team to sign him to a team-friendly one-year “prove it” deal (est. $5.5M) or a modest multi-year contract.
We already know the team brought in Samuel Jr for a visit last year at the trade deadline.
I like the two linebackers. Grant Stuard is an excellent special team player.
Grant Stuard has never been selected to a Pro Bowl in his five-year NFL career (2021–2025). Despite his status as a “special teams ace” and a team captain for the Detroit Lions in 2025, he has not yet earned that specific honor.
His value is primarily reflected in his consistently high PFF grades for special teams performance across multiple phases of the game.
Special Teams Grades & Performance
Stuard is widely regarded as one of the league’s top-tier special teams contributors, often ranking among the most efficient players with high snap counts.
- 2025 Season (Detroit Lions): Earned an elite 83.0 PFF special teams grade, which ranked 16th in the NFL among all players with at least 300 special teams snaps. He led the Lions with 375 special teams snaps and recorded 14 tackles in those phases.
- 2024 Season (Indianapolis Colts): While specific seasonal PFF grades for special teams are often proprietary, Stuard was the Colts’ “special teams ace,” playing 342 snaps (top 40 in the NFL). During a high-usage stretch that season, he maintained his reputation as a “relentless” contributor while also seeing increased defensive action.
- Career Consistency: Since being drafted as the final pick (“Mr. Irrelevant”) in 2021, Stuard has averaged over 325 special teams snaps per season.
- Specialty Skills: He is a five-phase contributor, seeing regular action on punt/kick coverage, punt/kick return, and field goal block units.
Christian Harris is a flyer signing. He has been battling a nagging calf injury the last couple of seasons but is only 25 years old. He ran a 4.44 at the combine.
Player Profile & Upside
- Athletic Ceiling: At 25 years old, Harris remains an athletic, high-upside prospect for teams looking for a young WILL linebacker.
- Coverage Specialist: During his healthy 2023 season, he excelled in coverage with a 72.2 PFF coverage grade.
Since the team signed Nailor, Etienne, and Corbett, they can focus on defense in the early part of the draft.
Well there you have it. A fool proof plan that is sure to not come true!
