Last spring, the NFC coaches filled a ballroom inside the Arizona Biltmore Hotel. Matt LaFleur strutted in, and reporters at a circular table hounded him about Aaron Rodgers. Nick Sirianni entered the room and was surrounded by a massive media contingent.
Kevin O’Connell arrived last. The other coaches were holding court when O’Connell nestled into a chair before a handful of writers. At one point, one of them brought up roster building. “What challenges arise when paying a quarterback a premium contract?” one asked.
He’s the Minnesota Vikings’ head coach, focused primarily on preparing the team to win each week, but O’Connell understood the premise. Over the years, he has spent a not insignificant amount of time engrossed in the dynamics of the salary cap and trying to make the most of the team’s resources.
On Friday morning, the Vikings announced that they had acquired the Houston Texans’ first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, along with a seventh-rounder, in exchange for three other draft picks, including both this year’s and next season’s second-round selections. Houston also received a 2024 sixth-round pick in the deal.Minnesota, owner of the No. 11 overall selection, now holds two of the top 23 picks in the draft. The Texans, barring a trade back up the board, will not pick until day two of the draft. They currently boast two second-round picks (No. 42 and No. 59) and one third-round selection (No. 86).
Leave a Reply