04-22-2022, 03:03 PM
Six days out from showtime and its time for another mock. With teams now setting their draft boards and strategizing their plans a little bit more is coming into light regarding the Vikings and others teams plans. Here is a mock combining my own opinions along with some of what I am hearing.
TRADE 1(9) via SEA - Derrick Stingley Jr. / CB LSU: While I don't necessarily believe the Vikings will prioritize moving up the board in the 1st round, they understand positional value their own needs, and the potential of both Sauce Gardner and Derrick Stingley. The Vikings end up biting the bullet moving 1(12), 3(77), and 6(184) for 1(9) and 4(109). This is basically equal to the trade chart and in a weak class you shouldn't need to pay a premium to move up. Stingley when healthy (his medicals are good to go) is an immediate starter at CB with the upside of a #1 CB capable of shadowing a teams best receiver in the NFL. On film there are not many players who play the ball better in the air and Stingley's 2019 and 2020 (when on the field) film is by the best of an CB in the past few years. The question is his consistency and ability to improve on in-breaking routes. With P2 as a mentor this is just a good situation for everyone and the Vikings add the talent they sorely are lacking on the outside. You need to bet on upside at premium positions and that is the right play here in my opinion.
2(46) - Logan Hall / DE Houston: A personal favorite of mine, Hall seems to be graded highly in the eyes of NFL teams and may not end up making it to pick #46. Regardless, I think the Vikings are going to have an opportunity to grab a high-end pass rusher in this spot and are unlikely to move back. Hall is a front 4 disruptor and has the size to line up at 5T in the base defense. He is explosive and knows how to get after the QB. With NFL coaching he can even be better since he had a tendency to play high in college which should be correctable. Currently the Vikings lack explosiveness in their front-3 in the base. Hall brings a different element to the group and should be able to play regular snaps immediately. In the nickel he can easily line up at either DE spot or 3T. The flexibility there is an added bonus.
4 (109) via SEA - Calvin Austin III / WR Memphis: If the 1st round falls a bit differently I could envision the Vikings considering a WR early, but this value just feels a bit better. The Vikings WR room is already in good shape with Jefferson, Thielen, and Osbourne holding down 11 personnel. They also still think highly of ISM as a depth player and deep threat. What they lack is a gadget player who can succeed with manufactured touches. Austin is a small yet explosive player who still has the ability to line up around the field. The Rams liked to challenge defenses horizontally and using a player like Austin on end-arounds, mesh concepts, and crossers brings a new element to the group. Think of recent Rams pick Tutu Atwell. Austin also can slot in at PR which will allow Osbourne to focus on being the primary slot receiver.
5 (156) - DeAngelo Malone / EDGE Western Kentucky: As noted above the Vikings could easily take an EDGE rusher in round 2 or even in the 1st if they stick at pick #12. This late there is still value with the depth at the position although you get limited versatility. Malone is a thinner guy who is more of a situational 3-4 OLB but can bring value in a rotation early. He does a good job in the base getting to the ball carrier and has surprising explosiveness when closing on the QB. Everyone this late in the draft has flaws and Malone's are questions around if he can really add much weight and his odd rush execution plans. He should be able to make the 53-man roster but will end up being a rotational piece with Wonnum. Maybe he develops into more.
6 (191) - Malcolm Rodriguez / ILB Oklahoma State: Draft crush of mine right here. Teams like the Rams and Broncos have found a not often talked about inefficiency in the later rounds of drafts. Undersized players with good tape and undervalued positions. Rodriguez one tape is one of the best ILBs in this draft class, he is just extremely undersized by NFL standards. When you watch him on film he has not speed or movement limitations and finds the ball carrier extremely well. In a 3-4 defense size at the ILB spots can often be hidden. The Vikings lack depth behind Kendricks & Hicks and I believe enough in Rodriguez that I believe he may be an eventual NFL starter. His skillset is also extremely valuable on special teams.
6 (192) - Zach Tom / C Wake Forest: At some point the Vikings will add more competition along the O-line. Tom has lined up across the line at Wake Forest and actually was their LT this past year. He doesn't have the length nor size to play OT in the NFL but he projects well for center. His testing numbers and explosiveness suggest he is a good bet to develop on an NFL roster. The Vikings lack center depth behind Bradbury and although Tom won't be able to start in the near-term, he does have some traits that suggest he could be better in the NFL when put in a zone scheme where he'll be more natural.
7 (251) - Damarion Williams / CB Houston: Draft fans will be more familiar with all-around Houston CB Marcus Jones, but Damarion Williams has an opportunity to compete in camp as nickel CB depth. He is a smaller player and lacks length, but that can be hidden on the inside. With Stingley in the 1st the Vikings have strong depth on the outside between Stingley, P2, Dantzler, and Kris Boyd. Behind Chandon Sullivan they lack depth at nickel and Williams would provide solid competition for Perry Nickerson.
TRADE 1(9) via SEA - Derrick Stingley Jr. / CB LSU: While I don't necessarily believe the Vikings will prioritize moving up the board in the 1st round, they understand positional value their own needs, and the potential of both Sauce Gardner and Derrick Stingley. The Vikings end up biting the bullet moving 1(12), 3(77), and 6(184) for 1(9) and 4(109). This is basically equal to the trade chart and in a weak class you shouldn't need to pay a premium to move up. Stingley when healthy (his medicals are good to go) is an immediate starter at CB with the upside of a #1 CB capable of shadowing a teams best receiver in the NFL. On film there are not many players who play the ball better in the air and Stingley's 2019 and 2020 (when on the field) film is by the best of an CB in the past few years. The question is his consistency and ability to improve on in-breaking routes. With P2 as a mentor this is just a good situation for everyone and the Vikings add the talent they sorely are lacking on the outside. You need to bet on upside at premium positions and that is the right play here in my opinion.
2(46) - Logan Hall / DE Houston: A personal favorite of mine, Hall seems to be graded highly in the eyes of NFL teams and may not end up making it to pick #46. Regardless, I think the Vikings are going to have an opportunity to grab a high-end pass rusher in this spot and are unlikely to move back. Hall is a front 4 disruptor and has the size to line up at 5T in the base defense. He is explosive and knows how to get after the QB. With NFL coaching he can even be better since he had a tendency to play high in college which should be correctable. Currently the Vikings lack explosiveness in their front-3 in the base. Hall brings a different element to the group and should be able to play regular snaps immediately. In the nickel he can easily line up at either DE spot or 3T. The flexibility there is an added bonus.
4 (109) via SEA - Calvin Austin III / WR Memphis: If the 1st round falls a bit differently I could envision the Vikings considering a WR early, but this value just feels a bit better. The Vikings WR room is already in good shape with Jefferson, Thielen, and Osbourne holding down 11 personnel. They also still think highly of ISM as a depth player and deep threat. What they lack is a gadget player who can succeed with manufactured touches. Austin is a small yet explosive player who still has the ability to line up around the field. The Rams liked to challenge defenses horizontally and using a player like Austin on end-arounds, mesh concepts, and crossers brings a new element to the group. Think of recent Rams pick Tutu Atwell. Austin also can slot in at PR which will allow Osbourne to focus on being the primary slot receiver.
5 (156) - DeAngelo Malone / EDGE Western Kentucky: As noted above the Vikings could easily take an EDGE rusher in round 2 or even in the 1st if they stick at pick #12. This late there is still value with the depth at the position although you get limited versatility. Malone is a thinner guy who is more of a situational 3-4 OLB but can bring value in a rotation early. He does a good job in the base getting to the ball carrier and has surprising explosiveness when closing on the QB. Everyone this late in the draft has flaws and Malone's are questions around if he can really add much weight and his odd rush execution plans. He should be able to make the 53-man roster but will end up being a rotational piece with Wonnum. Maybe he develops into more.
6 (191) - Malcolm Rodriguez / ILB Oklahoma State: Draft crush of mine right here. Teams like the Rams and Broncos have found a not often talked about inefficiency in the later rounds of drafts. Undersized players with good tape and undervalued positions. Rodriguez one tape is one of the best ILBs in this draft class, he is just extremely undersized by NFL standards. When you watch him on film he has not speed or movement limitations and finds the ball carrier extremely well. In a 3-4 defense size at the ILB spots can often be hidden. The Vikings lack depth behind Kendricks & Hicks and I believe enough in Rodriguez that I believe he may be an eventual NFL starter. His skillset is also extremely valuable on special teams.
6 (192) - Zach Tom / C Wake Forest: At some point the Vikings will add more competition along the O-line. Tom has lined up across the line at Wake Forest and actually was their LT this past year. He doesn't have the length nor size to play OT in the NFL but he projects well for center. His testing numbers and explosiveness suggest he is a good bet to develop on an NFL roster. The Vikings lack center depth behind Bradbury and although Tom won't be able to start in the near-term, he does have some traits that suggest he could be better in the NFL when put in a zone scheme where he'll be more natural.
7 (251) - Damarion Williams / CB Houston: Draft fans will be more familiar with all-around Houston CB Marcus Jones, but Damarion Williams has an opportunity to compete in camp as nickel CB depth. He is a smaller player and lacks length, but that can be hidden on the inside. With Stingley in the 1st the Vikings have strong depth on the outside between Stingley, P2, Dantzler, and Kris Boyd. Behind Chandon Sullivan they lack depth at nickel and Williams would provide solid competition for Perry Nickerson.