As with all drafts teams face an immediate situation, as well as future considerations, and since the Minnesota Vikings are my favorite team, who were just one less turnover (if you will) away from heading to the Super Bowl, we (fans) gather together to feel the excitement of this year’s draft.
Now, as I said earlier, teams look to the immediate and to the future, and with the Vikings here are my thoughts on the direction the Vikings should draft. Bear in mind that unless you are in the locker room or in the so-called war room, we have no idea as to what their (draft player) board looks like or what their thoughts are on given players they have evaluated. In other words, this is one big guessing game, so let’s have some fun. I always judge a draft this way and it’s pretty simple. A first round pick is someone you expect to start year one. A second round pick can start year one, but most likely year two. A third rounder, year three and Rounds 4-7 fall into the three year expectation. Now that does not figure into special teams because some guys are strictly special teams players and can start year one. I didn’t say it was a scientific formula, just my take on it.
First, let’s look at some immediate needs for the Vikings. One area is in the defensive backfield area. With Winfield getting up there in years and Griffin coming off ACL surgery, and the question marks behind whether Johnson or Williams can handle the safety duties remains to be seen, this area is a MUST need. Need scale from 1-10: 8
Second, middle linebacker: With the loss of Henderson to a horrific injury and with football now in doubt, one would have to ask whether Brinkley can fill in to the point of the Vikings not immediately addressing this area. There doesn’t seem to be any real depth here because it is apparent that Farwell is basically a special teams star and the jury is out on Onatolu, who seems too light at 227 lbs. I am going to take a stab at this, Leber moves to the middle and the Vikings draft an OLB because there are more choices and the position is deeper. Need scale from 1-10: 6
Third, the Vikings could use some reassurance along the offensive line. It’s a solid unit, but it had some really shaky moments, and a great defense will exploit that. McKinnie for all of his issues is still a solid LT, although a trade would not surprise me if they could land a pick in that area, or where they can move Loadholt to LT and move someone out to RT, or draft a RT a little later in the 3rd or 4th round. Need scale from 1-10: 7
Fourth, running back: I think the Vikings are pretty happy with what they have here because they could have easily signed LT or Westbrook, but they chose not to, so my take is that, yes they might address this sometime in the draft, but unless some unbelievable opportunity presents itself they feel pretty good with Peterson, Young, Johnson and now Reynaud. Plus, don’t forget about Harvin as an added dimension to the running game. I loved Taylor though. Man, losing him was like losing one of your best dogs on a sled team, no disrespect intended. Need scale from 1-10: 3
Lastly, quarterback: I have to say that I am a believer in Favre. In the past I saw him play maybe four or five times a year, but this past year I saw him play about seventeen times and the legend is reality, too bad we couldn’t get him about four years ago, I know we’d be toting some Super Bowl bling. Anyhow, I am hopeful that he returns and if the Vikings have an opportunity to draft a QB they should do it, but again, more on that later. This is looking to the future, for now, he’s as good as there is. With him we are a perennial 12-4 team, without him 10-6 or 9-7. He’s worth at least 3 more victories a year. Need scale from 1-10: 8 (if they can get the right guy)
Okay, so here we go it’s draft day and as of today (Friday, April 16) the Vikings draft at #’s 30, 62, 93, 128, 161, 167, 199, 237. Here is my dream draft with a few other possibilities thrown in for each round.
Quarterback: Colt McCoy, Texas. Here’s why: Yeah, he’s only 6’1” but he is the most accurate QB coming out of the draft. He is a winner. He is smart and athletic. Realistically: Will he be there at #30? If he is and the Vikings pass then their interest in a franchise QB is not there and if they do draft a QB it will be 3rd or 4th round perhaps.
Possibility: Tim Tebow, Florida. This is an intriguing pick because everyone knows Tim is not ready for NFL play yet, but Lord knows his leadership is without equal and he will outwork everybody else. Again, I say intriguing because you are going to have to wait on him at least 2 years. Can the Vikings afford that? If so, don’t be surprised.
Earlier I had Dan LeFevour, Central Michigan, but there seems to be problems with arm strength, and Childress seems to desire really strong arms. I don’t know, maybe because it sounded like Favre.
Offensive Line: Rodger Saffold, T, Indiana. There is a lot of good stuff written about this kid, but since he plays at Indiana you don’t see a lot of press on him. Could be a sleeper pick, and could definitely be there in round 2, maybe.
Vladimir Ducasse, T, UMass. Another intriguing pick that could be a sleeper or a bust. Book on him says great upside, but UMASS is not known for its NFL lineage.
Jon Asamoah, G, Illinois. Pretty solid all around. This does not seem to be a deep position in this year’s draft, so it’s likely that the top 2 or 3 guards will go fast, and Asamoah is top 2. Is he worth a #30 pick if a better positioned athlete is there remains to be seen, but if he’s thereat the end of round 2 (doubtful), it would be a bounty type pick for the Vikings. My guess if he is not there at all the Vikings will wait until round 3 or 4 to grab a backup G/C type, but even the Center position does not look deep, unless you think that a guy like Eric Olsen, C, Notre Dame could switch to Guard, but at 6’4” that seems unlikely. Other considerations are: Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas, or Mike Johnson, G, Alabama.
Linebackers: Rolando McClain, Alabama will be gone by #30, and again, not a real deep position to draft high here, so the other viable choice is Dan Conner, ILB, Penn State. Need I say more about most PSU linebackers? He’s a solid 2nd round pick, but at #30, I don’t know if the Vikings take that chance. Is he a Chad Greenway type pick? Chad was a #16 pick but incredibly athletic and plays outside. Dan could be a great stopper in the middle, intelligence, leadership, and tackling are his high marks.
If ILB is a later round pick there are some possibilities: Brandon Spikes, Florida, Pat Angerer, Iowa. With a name like Angerer you know he’s tough and mean.
OLB: Here the field is deeper, which makes me believe the Vikings could switch Leber to middle if they get the right young flyer outside. My guess that the top 3 of Kindle, Weatherspoon and Graham are gone by #30, but if one is there they might grab him. Most likely Weatherspoon seems to be the one that might drop to 30. Again, this is contingent that my overall first round favorite, McCoy is not there. However, there are about 4 guys who are very intriguing and could be solid number 2 picks: Navarro Bowman, Penn State, Jerry Hughes, TCU, Eric Norwood, South Carolina, and Darryl Washington, TCU.
Defensive Backs: Now, I know that I gave this an immediate need of 8, but this is a deep field. The Vikings can definitely get pretty much the guy they want here at 30 because the field is relatively deep, but overall blue chippers, there are only about 3: Joe Haden, Florida, Earl Thomas, Texas, and Kyle Wilson, Boise State. There are some marginal blue chippers in Kareem Jackson, Alabama, and Kevin McCourty from Rutgers. However, one of these will be there for them if they so choose. Deeper in the draft you could see names like Kevin Thomas, USC, or Walter McFadden, Auburn, Jerome Murphy, South Florida.
Safety: Well, we know for sure that Eric Berry, Tennessee will NOT be there at 30 but there is a possibility that Taylor Mays, USC may be there, but now the word on Mays is that he is more of an OLB type; that he has problems in coverage, and with today’s offenses you cannot have someone guessing back there. If they take Mays I will be disappointed, let Dallas have him. He could turn out to be an Ed Reed type, or a bust. I don’t think this is a #30 type pick they need, so if it is a 2nd round or 3rd round type pick my money is on Morgan Burnett, Georgia Tech or Major Wright, Florida.
Finally, Defensive Line: Looking to the future because this is most likely Pat Williams last year and Kevin Williams turns 30. I feel pretty confident in the back ups with Guion, Kennedy and Evans, but if there is a bull built stud that can plug and disrupt by all means, draft one. Drafting at 30 is a good position because a DT taken at 30 doesn’t have the same pressure as one in the upper or middle of the round. It’s safe to say that Suh, Nebraska, McCoy, Oklahoma, and Dan Williams, Tennessee will most likely be gone, so that leaves a couple of interesting guys like, Jared Odrick, Penn State, although I think he’s too tall, and shorter guards can get leverage under the 6’5” Odrick. Also, there’s Lamarr Houston, Texas. Had DWI in 2008, but clean since. This guy is an interesting pick because he has good size, strength and speed. He’s no Kevin Williams, but the problem for the Vikings is that he may be too much like Williams, build wise; whereas a Cam Thomas from North Carolina is 330 lbs. If you have a typical 4-3 defense most of the times you want the heavyweight and the light-heavyweight in the middle; one being the big run stuffer, occupy two blockers, while the light-heavyweight scoots through for the glory.
Well, there you have it, but here is my final, final, ultimate results draft; well, call it a dream draft of number one’s. I will only project out to pick number 128 though. They have 4 more picks beyond that.
At pick 30: Colt McCoy, QB, Texas
62: Major Wright, S, Florida
93: Pat Angerer, ILB, Iowa, or Darryl Washington, OLB, TCU
128: Mitch Petrus, G, Arkansas
Finally, pick 237: Best athlete available regardless of position.
The Vikings will look for DB’s, another LB position for special teams, maybe even a TE. Don’t be surprised if they take a position that is not necessarily a need because of the best athlete factor. Also, with 8 picks they could package a two picks for one to move up if they see someone they like, but feel like they will be gone soon. That would be a good move to give up maybe your 161 and 199 to move up to a late 140 to mid 150’s choice. Feel free to call me insane, out of my mind, illogical, genius, on the mark, whatever, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye, but I am willing to take my chances here. Have a great one!
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