VIDEO: Rick Spielman Talks Draft Trades, Amassing Picks & Whether the Vikings Will Draft O-Line at 30

Defensive end Arden Key fits the profile Zimmer was talking about. Can be a role player this year and a more significant player down the road and doesn't play offensive line.

In terms of salary cap hitting a first rounder that plays DE is better than any other position. It gives us negotiation leverage with Hunter, a rotational player to keep Griffin healthy, a more active rotational player after Robison retires and if the pick pans out and Griffin's play doesn't continue at an elite level (anyone over 30 can drop off quickly seemingly out of nowhere) in the next few years or we get a good enough compensation we can choose to move on early and regain some more cap flexibility with a player who can fill in and replace him.

Given our decision to sign Cousins we may be tighter on the cap in the future and so having that potential cap flexibility is useful and will be important if a top free agent at a position of need that fits becomes available at some point in the next few years. Signing a free agent OL is way easier than a DE and less expensive than DE.