Well, given the salary cap situation...I'l contribute...lessee, what've I got cash-wise...
...$28.57 CASH MONEY, plus the Vikings give a 4th rounder or lower.
Just looking at how things might shake out its appearing more and more likely there is going to be a run on the top 4 WR's. NFL Network just did a live mock where the top 4 were gone by Denver picking at 15. This was from todays GBN report:
We are also hearing that nobody should be surprised if there is a run on WRs in the bottom half of this year’s top ten once the top overall 6-7 prospects get sorted out. As we noted before Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, in particular, appears to be getting a lot of top ten interest. And one of the things potentially that earlyish run on WRs is that there are several teams with mid-rounds pick that reportedly are very interested in moving up to acquire a top big-play receiver. Philadelphia and Denver, which pick 15th and 21st respectively, for example, have been talked about for several days in that regard, but it is possible they could be joined by others including Atlanta, which pick immediately after the Broncos at #16.
I'm guessing the Vikings have forseen this and thats why they are exploring other options like OBJ instead of sifting through the likes of Aiyuk, Mims, etc at the tail end of the first round.
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
Just looking at how things might shake out its appearing more and more likely there is going to be a run on the top 4 WR's. NFL Network just did a live mock where the top 4 were gone by Denver picking at 15. This was from todays GBN report:
We are also hearing that nobody should be surprised if there is a run on WRs in the bottom half of this year’s top ten once the top overall 6-7 prospects get sorted out. As we noted before Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, in particular, appears to be getting a lot of top ten interest. And one of the things potentially that earlyish run on WRs is that there are several teams with mid-rounds pick that reportedly are very interested in moving up to acquire a top big-play receiver. Philadelphia and Denver, which pick 15th and 21st respectively, for example, have been talked about for several days in that regard, but it is possible they could be joined by others including Atlanta, which pick immediately after the Broncos at #16.
I'm guessing the Vikings have forseen this and thats why they are exploring other options like OBJ instead of sifting through the likes of Aiyuk, Mims, etc at the tail end of the first round.
i think they need to just let the draft come to them, unless a real blue chip is sitting there in the early to mid teens and is at a position of need then maybe, but we WANT another good receiver, but its hardly a true top tier NEED that would necessitate a move up IMO.
Quote: @JimmyinSD said:
@ supafreak84 said:
Just looking at how things might shake out its appearing more and more likely there is going to be a run on the top 4 WR's. NFL Network just did a live mock where the top 4 were gone by Denver picking at 15. This was from todays GBN report:
We are also hearing that nobody should be surprised if there is a run on WRs in the bottom half of this year’s top ten once the top overall 6-7 prospects get sorted out. As we noted before Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, in particular, appears to be getting a lot of top ten interest. And one of the things potentially that earlyish run on WRs is that there are several teams with mid-rounds pick that reportedly are very interested in moving up to acquire a top big-play receiver. Philadelphia and Denver, which pick 15th and 21st respectively, for example, have been talked about for several days in that regard, but it is possible they could be joined by others including Atlanta, which pick immediately after the Broncos at #16.
I'm guessing the Vikings have forseen this and thats why they are exploring other options like OBJ instead of sifting through the likes of Aiyuk, Mims, etc at the tail end of the first round.
i think they need to just let the draft come to them, unless a real blue chip is sitting there in the early to mid teens and is at a position of need then maybe, but we WANT another good receiver, but its hardly a true top tier NEED that would necessitate a move up IMO.
I actually think the Vikings need to be aggressive in landing the players they target and have the ammo to do so. The problem in our draft position currently is we are just outside of being able to land some of the elite prospects at positions of need or else we are reaching for players that could likely be had in the early to mid second round. We are kind of almost in no mans land. I'm going to be pretty damn disappointed if we sit back and end up with say Jaylon Johnson and Denzel Mims while some really good players are getting picked ahead of us. Not saying those guys are not good players but they are not considered to be in that elite group at their positions. The Vikings need to come out of this draft with impact starters.
I dont know who said it - but "go blue chip" to fill at least one of the many holes on this roster. RS has the ammo to do it and do it responsibly too.
Quote: @supafreak84 said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ supafreak84 said:
Just looking at how things might shake out its appearing more and more likely there is going to be a run on the top 4 WR's. NFL Network just did a live mock where the top 4 were gone by Denver picking at 15. This was from todays GBN report:
We are also hearing that nobody should be surprised if there is a run on WRs in the bottom half of this year’s top ten once the top overall 6-7 prospects get sorted out. As we noted before Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, in particular, appears to be getting a lot of top ten interest. And one of the things potentially that earlyish run on WRs is that there are several teams with mid-rounds pick that reportedly are very interested in moving up to acquire a top big-play receiver. Philadelphia and Denver, which pick 15th and 21st respectively, for example, have been talked about for several days in that regard, but it is possible they could be joined by others including Atlanta, which pick immediately after the Broncos at #16.
I'm guessing the Vikings have forseen this and thats why they are exploring other options like OBJ instead of sifting through the likes of Aiyuk, Mims, etc at the tail end of the first round.
i think they need to just let the draft come to them, unless a real blue chip is sitting there in the early to mid teens and is at a position of need then maybe, but we WANT another good receiver, but its hardly a true top tier NEED that would necessitate a move up IMO.
I actually think the Vikings need to be aggressive in landing the players they target and have the ammo to do so. The problem in our draft position currently is we are just outside of being able to land some of the elite prospects at positions of need or else we are reaching for players that could likely be had in the early to mid second round. We are kind of almost in no mans land. I'm going to be pretty damn disappointed if we sit back and end up with say Jaylon Johnson and Denzel Mims while some really good players are getting picked ahead of us. Not saying those guys are not good players but they are not considered to be in that elite group at their positions. The Vikings need to come out of this draft with impact starters.
The problem is two of the biggest positions of need, CB and WR, take a long time to develop, especially with the Vikings staff, which is why I would prefer to take an OT like Jones, G/C in Ruiz, DE Gross-Matos, DT/DE Epenesa vs reaching in the 1st round for the 2nd tier of corners and receivers who will struggle to contribute immediately. We need to fix our lines with some talent and can find players at WR and Corner with similar skill set and upside in rounds 2-3-4 than what will be left over if this run on the top 4 WR's happens as predicted. We don't need to panic, but Rick has me a little worried that our 1st round targets will all be off the board when we pick. Watching Cleveland's tape at Boise St, and how many holes he opened for Mattison, has changed my mind on him as a late first round pick. He would be a great fit in our scheme. Even if we can't trade down, I would take him at 25 before Aiyuk, Mims, Johnson, Gladney, etc. He and Brian O'Neil would solidify the edges of our line for years to come.
Quote: @TBro said:
@ supafreak84 said:
@ JimmyinSD said:
@ supafreak84 said:
Just looking at how things might shake out its appearing more and more likely there is going to be a run on the top 4 WR's. NFL Network just did a live mock where the top 4 were gone by Denver picking at 15. This was from todays GBN report:
We are also hearing that nobody should be surprised if there is a run on WRs in the bottom half of this year’s top ten once the top overall 6-7 prospects get sorted out. As we noted before Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, in particular, appears to be getting a lot of top ten interest. And one of the things potentially that earlyish run on WRs is that there are several teams with mid-rounds pick that reportedly are very interested in moving up to acquire a top big-play receiver. Philadelphia and Denver, which pick 15th and 21st respectively, for example, have been talked about for several days in that regard, but it is possible they could be joined by others including Atlanta, which pick immediately after the Broncos at #16.
I'm guessing the Vikings have forseen this and thats why they are exploring other options like OBJ instead of sifting through the likes of Aiyuk, Mims, etc at the tail end of the first round.
i think they need to just let the draft come to them, unless a real blue chip is sitting there in the early to mid teens and is at a position of need then maybe, but we WANT another good receiver, but its hardly a true top tier NEED that would necessitate a move up IMO.
I actually think the Vikings need to be aggressive in landing the players they target and have the ammo to do so. The problem in our draft position currently is we are just outside of being able to land some of the elite prospects at positions of need or else we are reaching for players that could likely be had in the early to mid second round. We are kind of almost in no mans land. I'm going to be pretty damn disappointed if we sit back and end up with say Jaylon Johnson and Denzel Mims while some really good players are getting picked ahead of us. Not saying those guys are not good players but they are not considered to be in that elite group at their positions. The Vikings need to come out of this draft with impact starters.
The problem is two of the biggest positions of need, CB and WR, take a long time to develop, especially with the Vikings staff, which is why I would prefer to take an OT like Jones, G/C in Ruiz, DE Gross-Matos, DT/DE Epenesa vs reaching in the 1st round for the 2nd tier of corners and receivers who will struggle to contribute immediately. We need to fix our lines with some talent and can find players at WR and Corner with similar skill set and upside in rounds 2-3-4 than what will be left over if this run on the top 4 WR's happens as predicted. We don't need to panic, but Rick has me a little worried that our 1st round targets will all be off the board when we pick. Watching Cleveland's tape at Boise St, and how many holes he opened for Mattison, has changed my mind on him as a late first round pick. He would be a great fit in our scheme. Even if we can't trade down, I would take him at 25 before Aiyuk, Mims, Johnson, Gladney, etc. He and Brian O'Neil would solidify the edges of our line for years to come.
There is definitely some validity to that but the Vikings two biggest glaring needs are CB and WR. The offensive line needs help but that's on the interior where we can get upgrades in the second, third, and fourth rounds.
I think we can "get by" (for one season, which I think will be our re-load for a SB run in 2021) with mediocre receivers + Thielen. But, somehow, we've got to get at least one "ready-to-go" CB. If we can't get one in the draft, there are plenty of them available in FA (if, somehow, we gain more cap room... or their price comes down).
Get Williams for our latter 3rd and offer the Pats our 2nd for Thuney. OL fixed. I know, I'm dreaming. Use the draft for CB, DT, WR, S, IOL and whatever else falls into our lap.
CB is simply not one of the Vikings biggest needs. They played Zone what, over 60% of the time last year. And they hired a new DB Coach that's a Cover 3 guys as well as Capers, who's also Cover 3 guy.
Didn't Zimmer once say he could get Cover 2 Corners at the 711? Well, he's got much better than that. Especially in Cover 3 where you ask your CBs to play off and defend their Zone from deep shots by keeping the WR in front of them and closing once the balls in the air, which they can see since their backs aren't turned in trail position ala Man.
Hughes can play better in Zone because it helps mitigate his height issue in Man. Shit, it's perfect for speedy guys like Waynes that never can get their heads around in time to make a play on the ball in Man. And Hughes played some Zone in College.
Hill can provide the Man assignments that are part of Cover 3. He's rangy and shows some ability to stick with guys. Really should have been a 3rd Round pick without the off field stuff.
That's not enough, of course. But I'm not blowing a 1st or 2nd on a CB who's going to play Zone more often than not. A 3rd like Arnette, who also played Cover 3 at Ohio State helps address the injury and off field concerns that come with Hughes and Hill.
The bigger need is Slot CB. Hughes is a candidate if say Arnette comes in and plays well. There are also FAs available as well as that kid Amik in the Draft that looks taylormade to play that role in the NFL.
And before people start complaining about Cover 3 stop and think about the fact that San Fran ran it last year. Seattle's always run it under Carroll. The Ravens Elite Defense ran it. So have other good, great and elite Defenses.
What makes it work is a great pass rush and great Safeties. Virtually every great team that relied on any form of Zone had excellent pass rushers, who could also stuff the run, and 2 really good Safeties.
Minnesota has arguably the best 2 Safeties in the League. Tagging Harris just might have a lot to do with knowing they are committed to playing as much or more Zone next year with more Cover 3 looks. Trading him for a 3rd and plugging in a Rookie will really hurt the performance of the Secondary in general. It may be necessary since they grossly overpaid for a less than Elite Defense based on Man schemes.
But a robust pass rush is more important than 711 CBs and really good Safeties. Minnesota doesn't have one. Pierce has done less from the NT as a pass rusher than Joseph. That's a fact. So it's up to the other 3 Line spots plus creativity from blitzes, stunts, alignment looks that Capers will bring, etc.
I see exactly 1 proven pass rusher on this Roster. And while Hunter is Elite, the 3T is not good. Shamar is terrible. Below Replacement Level at getting after the QB. Watts is a 6th Round experiment. If you're fine with him you truly are committed to a full Rebuild, cuz expecting him to break out in year 2 to the extent that the position requires is just unrealistic. Odenigbo profiles well.
What happens is Ifeadi or Hunter get hurt? Zettel becomes a Starter? Think about that for a minute. It took several seasons for both Weatherly and Odenigbo to develop. Any response about filling the depth issue with a late round or UDFA is homerism because I just pointed out that not a single one of them was remotely ready to contribute as a Rookie. Hell, Hunter wasn't ready. Neither was Everson.
The need for a Blue Chip Player is on the D-Line. 3T is by far the most pressing, but given how effective Odenigbo has been inside DE also makes sense. The problem is there are only 2 Blue Chip 3Ts and none at DE. A Blue Chip Corner, and again there are only 2, does far less in a predominantly Zone scheme than a 3T.
On Offense it's much simpler. No Rookie can replace Diggs' production. That's nearly impossible to do historically. But you can find a kid to challenge Defenses deep and make them pay for doubling Thielen and stacking the box to stop Cook. And that kid can be found in the 2nd Round. Maybe later.
If you're trading up for a Blue Chipper on Offense it has to be for LT. Unless you're admitting it's time to stop thinking about competing next year and are ready to start grooming a Thielen replacement now.
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