2025 NFL Mock Drafts

[supafreak84]

I'm having a hard time sorting through what it is you're trying to say. Would it be fair to say you're against taking a safety with our first pick?

I would not draft a 1st round safety 99% of the time, but now I suffer from PTCS (Post Traumatic Cine Syndrome) on top of all that, so yes that would be fair to say..

Let's be honest though, elite safety play is a luxury and not a prime component when it comes to winning football games. You can literally find safety help anywhere (look at the teams in the conference championship games). If you have a strong front seven on defense and good corners, that's what's going to win you games and those are the positions you use first round picks on because they are most impactful.

[MaroonBells]

I would not draft a 1st round safety 99% of the time, but now I suffer from PTCS (Post Traumatic Cine Syndrome) on top of all that, so yes that would be fair to say..

Let's be honest though, elite safety play is a luxury and not a prime component when it comes to winning football games. You can literally find safety help anywhere (look at the teams in the conference championship games). If you have a strong front seven on defense and good corners, that's what's going to win you games and those are the positions you use first round picks on because they are most impactful.

I don't fully disagree. I'm a big believer in paying players by positional impact. In other words, I don't think you should invest more in your safeties than your corners, more in your IOLs more than your tackles, etc. I think that's part of the reason we signed Murphy but did not sign Bynum. 

But I think of the draft differently, especially when drafting in the back half of the round. IOLs don't have a big impact compared to other positions, but I'm OK taking a left guard if we need one. Same with safety. I think sometimes people forget that our strong safety is 36 years old, and our free safety has never started an NFL game. There's a real need there.

[JustInTime]

Unfortunately the only possible outcome is drafting Lewis Cine again.

[supafreak84]

I don't fully disagree. I'm a big believer in paying players by positional impact. In other words, I don't think you should invest more in your safeties than your corners, more in your IOLs more than your tackles, etc. I think that's part of the reason we signed Murphy but did not sign Bynum. 

But I think of the draft differently, especially when drafting in the back half of the round. IOLs don't have a big impact compared to other positions, but I'm OK taking a left guard if we need one. Same with safety. I think sometimes people forget that our strong safety is 36 years old, and our free safety has never started an NFL game. There's a real need there.

I think the perception of guard play has changed though over the years to where they are now getting paid big contracts, franchise tagged, and drafted higher in droves. Offensive line play hugely impacts team success and you start five of them, so draft the position that equates higher to your team winning football games. 

The only way (IMO) you could justify taking a safety with that top pick is if the plan is to move Mattelus off that rover position he plays so well and start him next to Harrison. I don't really see Jackson playing it like Mattelus does, however, based on the contract we gave Jackson, I'm guessing he'll be the one starting next to Harrison and they keep Mattelus as that "do it all" rover. I also know the team likes Jay Ward. So I don't see the need for a safety this year. Next year, sure, but we really need to get some impact for this season and Kwesi needs that win badly.

[MaroonBells]

I think the perception of guard play has changed though over the years to where they are now getting paid big contracts, franchise tagged, and drafted higher in droves. Offensive line play hugely impacts team success and you start five of them, so draft the position that equates higher to your team winning football games. 

The only way (IMO) you could justify taking a safety with that top pick is if the plan is to move Mattelus off that rover position he plays so well and start him next to Harrison. I don't really see Jackson playing it like Mattelus does, however, based on the contract we gave Jackson, I'm guessing he'll be the one starting next to Harrison and they keep Mattelus as that "do it all" rover. I also know the team likes Jay Ward. So I don't see the need for a safety this year. Next year, sure, but we really need to get some impact for this season and Kwesi needs that win badly.

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

I also agree that IOL salaries do appear to be rising recently in comparison to tackles, but they're still among the lowest paid in the NFL on average. Money never lies. Still, Super Bowls have been won with league average interior players. Much harder to do with league average wides, corners, tackles and edges, no matter what is said about "the trenches."

[supafreak84]

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

From an SI article in January. I think Flores still thinks Harrison is pretty awesome;

The Vikings’ defensive coordinator, who has taken them from 28th in points against two years ago to fifth this season, views Smith as an extension of himself on the field. He sends in the play calls but gives Smith the freedom to make adjustments as he sees fit based on the opponent’s formation and tendencies.

“I put a lot on him as far as, if we're going to be able to get into that defense, I'm not going to be able to do it, you're going to have to do it on the field,” Flores said. “Because I don't know what formation the offense is going to come out in. He's the one that sees it, and he's the one that can get us into a different call. So giving him that freedom, that autonomy, I think he feels trust from me to him.”

[JustInTime]

[purplefaithful]

I agree with you that Metellus isn't moving. Our starting safeties are Harrison Smith and Theo Jackson. That's a little scary to me. And I'm not sure which starter is the scariest. So many seem to just be whistling past the graveyard on Harry. Guys, I hate to say it, but he's just not that awesome anymore. 

I also agree that IOL salaries do appear to be rising recently in comparison to tackles, but they're still among the lowest paid in the NFL on average. Money never lies. Still, Super Bowls have been won with league average interior players. Much harder to do with league average wides, corners, tackles and edges, no matter what is said about "the trenches."

I still dont think they'll go S with 24, maybe in a trade-down. 

There's got to be a S prospect we can pick-up later who has some upside? 

Someone who can curate behind Harry for a year.

[supafreak84]

I still dont think they'll go S with 24, maybe in a trade-down. 

There's got to be a S prospect we can pick-up later who has some upside? 

Someone who can curate behind Harry for a year.

I think if Derrick Harmon is on the board at #24, he's a Viking. The question is though.. will he make it that far?

[purplefaithful]

I think if Derrick Harmon is on the board at #24, he's a Viking. The question is though.. will he make it that far?

I think so too...Alsmost as sure on that as Colts will draft a TE.

Harmon is most probably 1 of their stick/pick's. 

BUT! I also think they'll try like hell to move down and pick-up a few more day 2/ day 3 slots. 

Very tricky to peg how this will all go down.