Thursday night is a special night. To say I enjoy the annual
NFL Draft is an understatement. Since 1982 I have watched virtually every draft
in its entirety. I don’t know what it is. Perhaps it is due to the fact that
each year I do my own research of these players by scouring website after
website, reading each scout’s assessment of players, and then classifying them
into a ranking system of my own. Also, there are a lot of players I get to
watch during the college football season and I make mental notes of players.
Either way, it’s a lot of fun to read about these kids; to explore another
aspect of something I enjoy and that is research.
This year; however, I have not done as thorough a job as I
would have liked, and so I have decided not to mock the First Round, as is
customary of me the last 10 years or so. So, I can only offer my assessment of
my favorite team, the Vikings.
I have been pretty happy about the Vikings drafts these last
few years. It is unfortunate they missed on Christian Ponder because I really
was a fan of the kid, but the Vikings panicked and picked him too early. I
thought they could have waited until the 2nd round to grab him, or
my other choice, Andy Dalton. Anyhow, it is what it is. I hope that Ponder is
able to catch on with another team and should make a viable back up, perhaps
being a starter someday.
So, onto the 2015 pick. I like several players for the Vikings
at #11, but I am leery about that spot. In the last 20 years, starting in 1995,
the Vikings have not had much success drafting between 11-20 in the first round.
In fact, the only two players who stand out are: Daunte Culpepper (pick #11,
1999), and Chad Greenway (pick #17, 2006). I am not sure the Vikings can trade
back farther than picks 14-16, but they could do the double drop. I have seen teams do
it in the past (see New England Patriots draft history). If the Vikings are
able to do two drops into the early 20-22, they could amass several mid-round
picks to either use on a deep draft or as trade bait.
Before I offer my suggestions, a quick analysis of the
so-called depth draft. Most of the experts have said this is a deep draft for
edge rushers, wide receivers, defensive linemen, and running backs. It’s weak
at the ILB, S, TE, and punters (just
kidding at that position). Given the Vikings needs, dropping down makes a lot
of sense. Unless they are looking at best available and cannot move out of the
#11 spot, then take a WR, CB or Edge Rusher, or maybe even a DT.
Now, let’s look at a few players that intrigue me that mesh
with what the Vikings need. First their needs. Most pundits have the following
positions as big needs for the Vikings: offensive line, cornerback, safety, and
inside linebacker. Other needs are defensive line, wide receiver, and perhaps
outside linebacker.
The players at each position and where the Vikings could get
them:
Offensive linemen,
Round One: Brandon Scherff, G//T, Iowa, and La’El Collins, G/T, LSU
Round Two: Laken Tomlinson, OG, Duke, Ali Marpet, G, Hobart
Cornerback, Round
One: Trae Waynes, Michigan State, Kevin Johnson, Wake Forest, or Byron Jones,
Connecticut (could be an early round two).
Round Two: Jalen Collins, LSU, P.J. Williams, FSU
Inside Linebacker,
Round One: Eric Kendricks, UCLA (only if Vikings drop to that 20-22 area would
he be worth that selection)
Round Two: Stephone Anthony, Clemson
Given their immediate needs, if one can classify that as such,
it looks as though the Vikings would be best served trading down and grabbing
some extra picks. However, if the Vikings stand pat at #11, here are a few
players they should consider.
Before I start let me make a very bold statement. Unless
someone trades up or the Jets or Falcons take him, Todd Gurley, RB, Georgia would
say a lot about what the Vikings have with Adrian Peterson. I want Adrian back. He’s got another 2-3
really good years left, but if there are rumblings in the Vikings organization,
or a pending trade going down, it would not surprise me to see the Vikings
select Gurley, should he be there, but my inclination is that he will not.
Sidebar over. Here are some other players to watch at
#11 should the Vikings not get any willing trade partners: Kevin White, WR,
West Virginia, Devonte Parker, WR, Louisville, Danny Shelton, DT, Washington,
Randy Gregory, DE, Nebraska, Shane Ray, DE, Missouri. I know the last two guys
have issues off the field, and the Vikings may not be interested in them at all
given their woes from the Adrian
Peterson deal and other situations in the recent past, but there is no denying these guys’ talent,
and both should be available at #11.
Of all the guys I had at the positions of need, the only
player, I feel is a solid sure thing is Scherff from Iowa. I don’t know
enough about the other positions to feel confident at #11, and that is why I
would like to see a trade down.
The Bottom Line here is, I am not a football GM or a draft
expert. I am a Vikings fan first and a football fan second. I take what I have
learned over the 40 plus years being a Vikings fan, considering trends, and
evaluating players. It is my hope the Vikings have a good draft. They have done
pretty well the last three years, and if they can parlay this one into another
solid draft, then the future is bright for the Vikings and their new stadium.
Final word: My choice is Scherff from Iowa. I predict a
trade down and then best available athlete regardless of position. My surprise
pick should Scherff be gone, is Danny Shelton, DT, Washington. I am not too
happy with the Vikings interior defensive line. We need some massive production
from Sharrif Floyd and Linval Joseph, especially Joseph, at 323, he should be
that run stopper they need, but Shelton could be an impact type right away. Also, don't be surprised if the Vikings go CB. Zimmer loves CBs.
One thing is for sure, Thursday night the focus will be the NFL Draft and pretty much nothing else, sorry honey! As for Friday and Saturday, I get just as excited because in many cases, this is where the team is really built and sustained. It's going to be an interesting weekend to say the least.
SKOL Vikes!
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