The Minnesota Vikings traded a 2020 fifth round pick to the Baltimore Ravens for Kaare Vedvik. Props are in order for the Vikings for realizing his value.
If there’s one thing that NFL teams should’ve learned by now it’s that the value of a quality kicker cannot be overlooked. While some may say that kickers are “a dime a dozen,” there’s simply no replacing someone who you can trust when it matters most. This is what made Baltimore Ravens backup kicker Kaare Vedvik such a hot commodity over the last week.
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Ravens fans are surely familiar with Vedvik by now. After missing his rookie season due to a vicious attack in the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, Vedvik returned stronger than ever this off-season and looked like a high-end kicker in the first week of the 2019 preseason. Naturally, a player that already had interested teams was suddenly the talk of the town.
Kaare Vedvik was suddenly that best sweepstakes of the last month, and he had many suitors. The Chicago Bears seemed to be the front runners to land Vedvik, especially after the heartbreaking loss the suffered in the 2018 season playoffs due to kicking woes. However, it was their division rivals, the Minnesota Vikings, who would swoop in and land Vedvik. It wasn’t cheap either, as the Vikings forked over a 2020 fifth round draft choice.
This is certainly a large investment in a kicker who remains unproven. Considering Minnesota recently resigned kicker Dan Bailey, it seemed odd that they’d go all-in on Kaare Vedvik. But you know what? Good for them.
Like the Bears the Vikings have also had kicker problems for quite some time. This dates all the way back to the late-90s when Gary Andersen choked a Super Bowl berth for the team. Even as recently as 2014 Blair Walsh missed what should’ve been a chip-shot field goal to beat the Seattle Seahawks. If any team in NFL history knows how devastating it is too lose because of a missed kick, it’s the Minnesota Vikings.
That’s exactly why props should be handed over to the Vikings for addressing this incredibly overlooked need. There are so few “clutch” kickers in the NFL today, and the team’s always contending for championships have those guys. The Minnesota Vikings are a very talented team, both offensively and defensively.
Now, thanks to the addition of Kaare Vedvik, they don’t have to stress out over getting into close games. With his addition to the team, Minnesota now has a weapon to score all over the field. Vedvik has a powerful leg and can easily boot 50+ yard field goals. If he can prove to be clutch when it matters, this is easily a fantastic move by the Vikings front office.
If anyone is worried about giving up a fifth round draft choice in a talented draft class for a kicker, rest assured that they bet their money on the right horse. Kaare Vedvik could be something special, and I firmly believe he is already the best kicker in the NFC North. Congratulations to the Minnesota Vikings for landing Kaare Vedvik, and major props for not being afraid to address an important need.