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https://theathletic.com/1773836/2020/04/25/vikings-nfl-draft-ezra-cleveland-cameron-dantzler-second-third-round/
This is a great article on how day two transpired for the Vikings. It's behind a pay wall, but an Athletic subscription is well worth it. Some highlights: while negotiating trade and contract details involving Trent Williams, the Vikings were also talking to teams at the top of round 2 in hopes of moving up for Ezra Cleveland, whom the Vikings loved, and many thought could be a late 1st rounder. But to the surprise of everyone, he kept falling. Rick looked at the needs of the teams ahead of them and thought it was possible that he could drop to them.
Vikings also tried to move up in round 3 to land a DT. Writer suspects they were targeting Neville Gallimore. But they couldn't find a trade partner. Gallimore went at 82 and Elliot right in front of them at 88. It was only then that the Vikings turned their attention to more corner depth.
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
It's said he lacks aggression, not much killer instinct...pump some of Samia's attitude into him and he would be fine.
Quote: @ArizonaViking said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
It's said he lacks aggression, not much killer instinct...pump some of Samia's attitude into him and he would be fine.
He looks like a naturally sized 315 lb kid, unlike O'Neill who seems like he needs to eat 6 times a day to keep weight on.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
@ ArizonaViking said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
It's said he lacks aggression, not much killer instinct...pump some of Samia's attitude into him and he would be fine.
He looks like a naturally sized 315 lb kid, unlike O'Neill who seems like he needs to eat 6 times a day to keep weight on.
I watched an interview with him. He said he was up to around 320 now and feels great. O'Neill is smart and knows what to do to keep his weight up. Two good-looking bookends.
3T imo was our biggest need going into the draft. Wasn't sure how/when it would be addressed. So far it hasn't.
Seems like it wasn't for lack of trying. Or avoiding drafting for need and not going BPA.
All that said, was this 3rd rd corner really that much better than the DL left? Or Gladney in the second?
I'm not a draftnik and cant answer that definitively.
Quote: @ArizonaViking said:
@ StickyBun said:
@ ArizonaViking said:
@ StickyBun said:
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
It's said he lacks aggression, not much killer instinct...pump some of Samia's attitude into him and he would be fine.
He looks like a naturally sized 315 lb kid, unlike O'Neill who seems like he needs to eat 6 times a day to keep weight on.
I watched an interview with him. He said he was up to around 320 now and feels great. O'Neill is smart and knows what to do to keep his weight up. Two good-looking bookends.
Cleveland is going to be given every chance to be the LT in 2021. They want to upgrade from Reiff and that salary can be dumped next season.
Quote: @purplefaithful said:
3T imo was our biggest need going into the draft. Wasn't sure how/when it would be addressed. So far it hasn't.
Seems like it wasn't for lack of trying. Or just plain drafting for need and not going BPA.
All that said, was this 3rd corner really that much better than the DL left? Or Gladney?
I'm not a draftnik and cant answer that definitively.
They could have traded up but rick covets his 7th round garbage too much. I bet they end up with even more 7th rounders before the day is over. I wanted no picks after round 5 and they had the ammo to move up into the 2 and at least the 3rd a few times. Quality over quantity.
Quote: @StickyBun said:
Good stuff. As with any team, you can't always get accomplished what you want to in the Draft regardless of even the best laid plans. And then sometimes somebody you want unexpectedly falls right to you. I didn't know Cleveland was such an athletic guy, he's a lot like O'Neill but maybe even a better athlete. Sounds like Ezra is a LT fit.
So: why did he slide? Or did he slide? Maybe this is where he should have gone? BTW, the Athletic is awesome.
Just one of those things I guess where teams are filling other needs. A lot of DBs, WRs and RBs went in round two. And not a single tackle before Ezra. One of the biggest myths about the draft is that teams take the best players available. They don't. They fill needs. That's why Rick could so easily look at the teams ahead of him and project a slide.
But Cleveland was definitely getting 1st round buzz. Brandt, who doesn't bother with scouting anymore, but who has a ton of connections in front offices, and ranks based on what he hears, had Cleveland at #23. McGinn, equally connected to GMs and scouts, had him going just after that top tier of tackles. So borderline 1st/2nd. So this was a legit steal at 58.
Dantzler is a question mark because who knows how fast he is, but those first three picks were goddam gold.
Quote: @kmillard said:
@ purplefaithful said:
3T imo was our biggest need going into the draft. Wasn't sure how/when it would be addressed. So far it hasn't.
Seems like it wasn't for lack of trying. Or just plain drafting for need and not going BPA.
All that said, was this 3rd corner really that much better than the DL left? Or Gladney?
I'm not a draftnik and cant answer that definitively.
They could have traded up but rick covets his 7th round garbage too much. I bet they end up with even more 7th rounders before the day is over. I wanted no picks after round 5 and they had the ammo to move up into the 2 and at least the 3rd a few times. Quality over quantity.
This is going to sound harsh and I love the Cleveland and Jefferson picks, but 50% of our 1st 4 picks were DB's?
WTF?
OK, done now...I know, I know - we just lost all 3 starters so I get it. Kinda sour cough medicine though for me for some reason.
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