We do love the idea of shiny things, splashy free agency moves. They're not always practical, but the make for good conversation.
But when it comes to the notion of the Vikings making a play for Brandon Marshall — the talented WR whom the Bears are reportedly seeking to trade — let's please just shut it down. Just say no.
Esteemed colleague Matt Vensel took a swing at this already in his mailbag today, and we'd like to pile onto what he wrote.
For as good as Marshall is/can be, this is not the time for the Vikings to make a play for a costly impact player. This is a year in which they need to draft another wide receiver in one of the first three rounds and hope that that player, Cordarrelle Patterson or Charles Johnson develops into a No. 1 receiver.
As nice as it would be for Teddy Bridgewater to have another sure-thing veteran, Greg Jennings is already filling that role. His production does not match Marshall's production, and his $11 million cap number is hefty. But even if the Vikings cut Jennings to make a play for Marshall, the price to pay in a trade wouldn't make sense for a rebuilding team.
Marshall — if he's traded at all — should go to a team that is a wide receiver away from true contention, not an improving team that figures to be at least a year or two away from being a serious threat.
And the Vikings should set their sites on patience and minor upgrades in more important areas.
