2026 Free Agency and Draft: ILB

[MaroonBells]

Leo Chenal, Kansas City. 6-3, 250, 25 years old, and according to this guy, better suited to a 3-4 ILB position. Youtube shorts don't embed so you'll have to click the link. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/wwJvobQ5_Jk?s...1bmpOI7Szn

[supafreak84]

If I'm the Vikings (and playing this smart), this is one of the better linebacking draft crops in a while and I'd take advantage of that and not continue dipping into free agency to try filling a need. My guy is still Anthony Hill Jr from Texas. Covers, blitzes, tackles sideline to sideline...really does it all at 6'3"/240 pounds. If we took him at #18 there would be zero complaints from me.

https://youtu.be/3CtJip4m8g8?si=dbA7_ae9ObxchFbz

[MaroonBells]

If I'm the Vikings (and playing this smart), this is one of the better linebacking draft crops in a while and I'd take advantage of that and not continue dipping into free agency to try filling a need. My guy is still Anthony Hill Jr from Texas. Covers, blitzes, tackles sideline to sideline...really does it all at 6'3"/240 pounds. If we took him at #18 there would be zero complaints from me.

https://youtu.be/3CtJip4m8g8?si=dbA7_ae9ObxchFbz

Regardless, we're going to be adding at least a couple free agents, and if you can get a starter at a couple positions, you're probably better off just doing that regardless of where the strength of the draft lies. I agree it's a good year for ILBs, but we could always miss on the one we want, and then it's too late. 

That said, one of my draft crushes right now is LB Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. He's a turnover machine and that continued at the Senior Bowl, where he took the ball away several times. Probable day-two guy, but his stock is rising. I like Hill too. Sounds like he's likely going to be a 2nd rounder. 

[supafreak84]

Regardless, we're going to be adding at least a couple free agents, and if you can get a starter at a couple positions, you're probably better off just doing that regardless of where the strength of the draft lies. I agree it's a good year for ILBs, but we could always miss on the one we want, and then it's too late. 

That said, one of my draft crushes right now is LB Jacob Rodriguez from Texas Tech. He's a turnover machine and that continued at the Senior Bowl, where he took the ball away several times. Probable day-two guy, but his stock is rising. I like Hill too. Sounds like he's likely going to be a 2nd rounder. 

Maybe. I still think you have to read the strengths of a draft and map out free agency accordingly. I think this was one of many areas the Kwes-meister struggled with. I'm sure Flores would love to have Wilson back, but at what cost on a guy who is 32? When you can dip into a position where there's depth in a draft and pull a guy like the guy you mentioned (Rodriguez) in the 3rd or 4th rounds, that's a better and more cost effective way to address a position of need. 

This is great though. Love getting into the draft stuff already. Such a huge draft for the Vikings to pull some starters and contributors

[MaroonBells]

Maybe. I still think you have to read the strengths of a draft and map out free agency accordingly. I think this was one of many areas the Kwes-meister struggled with. I'm sure Flores would love to have Wilson back, but at what cost on a guy who is 32? When you can dip into a position where there's depth in a draft and pull a guy like the guy you mentioned (Rodriguez) in the 3rd or 4th rounds, that's a better and more cost effective way to address a position of need. 

This is great though. Love getting into the draft stuff already. Such a huge draft for the Vikings to pull some starters and contributors

I don’t think teams think that way. So you ignore need X in free agency because it’s a good year for position X in the draft? Man, that’s dangerous. The draft is WAY too unpredictable to use that approach.

I think the decision to use free agency or the draft depends mostly on two things: 1. the amount of money already devoted to that position. (why we're unlikely to sign a free agent center) 2. The immediacy of the need (why we'll likely use free agency for a RB). The draft is executed with an eye two or three years down the road; free agents are ready now.

Running back is a good example. If we don’t bring back Jones, we need a RB1 who’s ready to start on opening day 2026. So that’s a position they should try to fill in free agency. Last year was a different story. That was the year to draft a RB. Not as much because it was a good year for RBs; more because we didn’t need him to start right away. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a ’25 4th rounder like Tuten or Skattebo waiting in the wings to take over this year?

[JimmyinSD]

I don’t think teams think that way. So you ignore need X in free agency because it’s a good year for position X in the draft? Man, that’s dangerous. The draft is WAY too unpredictable to use that approach.

I think the decision to use free agency or the draft depends mostly on two things: 1. the amount of money already devoted to that position. (why we're unlikely to sign a free agent center) 2. The immediacy of the need (why we'll likely use free agency for a RB). The draft is executed with an eye two or three years down the road; free agents are ready now.

Running back is a good example. If we don’t bring back Jones, we need a RB1 who’s ready to start on opening day 2026. So that’s a position they should try to fill in free agency. Last year was a different story. That was the year to draft a RB. Not as much because it was a good year for RBs; more because we didn’t need him to start right away. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a ’25 4th rounder like Tuten or Skattebo waiting in the wings to take over this year?

Yes,  you use free agency to fill known needs,  you use the draft to cover future needs and as potential upgrades to areas of currently covered weaknesses.  The way the NFL offseason lays out it would be foolish to expect to fill immediate needs i the draft unless you are playing a multi-year rebuild.  If anybody actually thinks this roster is truly ready to compete,  you fill the needs in FA,   and not gamble on the draft to fall your way and find lightning in a bottle, very few rookies make a year one impact.

[IceRatz16]

I too am a big believer in Rodriguez.  He's truly a difference-maker and he could be an even bigger value if he's taken in the 2nd or later.  He changed the outcome of the KSU game this year and I was pissed at him.  lol.  I'd be thrilled to have him on the Vikings and think he would be a perfect fit for Flo's defense.  Hill is a great athlete as well and has good hands for a LB, but his speed through the gaps is what amazes me.


IMO, if we resign Wilson, I don't know that I see us targeting too many FA LBs, but I would expect the Vikings to bring at least one to MN.


Rodriguez reminds me of Harrison Smith, just as a LB.

[supafreak84]

I don’t think teams think that way. So you ignore need X in free agency because it’s a good year for position X in the draft? Man, that’s dangerous. The draft is WAY too unpredictable to use that approach.

I think the decision to use free agency or the draft depends mostly on two things: 1. the amount of money already devoted to that position. (why we're unlikely to sign a free agent center) 2. The immediacy of the need (why we'll likely use free agency for a RB). The draft is executed with an eye two or three years down the road; free agents are ready now.

Running back is a good example. If we don’t bring back Jones, we need a RB1 who’s ready to start on opening day 2026. So that’s a position they should try to fill in free agency. Last year was a different story. That was the year to draft a RB. Not as much because it was a good year for RBs; more because we didn’t need him to start right away. Wouldn't it be nice if we had a ’25 4th rounder like Tuten or Skattebo waiting in the wings to take over this year?

When you are up against the cap that's absolutely how teams should view the draft and free agency. If you only have so many pieces of the pie to dole out, you have to look (and project) the strengths of a draft. If I need a running back, and don't want to overspend on the position in free agency, BUT it's a talented and deep draft crop through probably 4 rounds...then yes, you bypass the position in free agency and look to the draft to fill that need. You can always go back to the free agent well after the draft and fill in leftover needs where you are likely to get better deals on guys looking to land on a roster. Evaluating the strengths of drafts these last four years has been one of numerous front office issues. Has to get better. Rosters are built through the draft, and supplemented in free agency. We've done it the opposite way with Kwesi and it's why the roster is what it is

[MaroonBells]

When you are up against the cap that's absolutely how teams should view the draft and free agency. If you only have so many pieces of the pie to dole out, you have to look (and project) the strengths of a draft. If I need a running back, and don't want to overspend on the position in free agency, BUT it's a talented and deep draft crop through probably 4 rounds...then yes, you bypass the position in free agency and look to the draft to fill that need. You can always go back to the free agent well after the draft and fill in leftover needs where you are likely to get better deals on guys looking to land on a roster. Evaluating the strengths of drafts these last four years has been one of numerous front office issues. Has to get better. Rosters are built through the draft, and supplemented in free agency. We've done it the opposite way with Kwesi and it's why the roster is what it is

You use free agency first because it happens first. You can't identify a handful of needs and then go "this guy is exactly what we need, he wants to sign here, but we're going to let him slide because it's a good year for that position in the draft." Really? Then the draft comes along, you eliminate half of those players because of fit, then you get jumped a couple times (like last year) and you're left sucking your thumb.

[supafreak84]

You use free agency first because it happens first. You can't identify a handful of needs and then go "this guy is exactly what we need, he wants to sign here, but we're going to let him slide because it's a good year for that position in the draft." Really? Then the draft comes along, you eliminate half of those players because of fit, then you get jumped a couple times (like last year) and you're left sucking your thumb.

Well of course free agency happens before the draft, but let's take your guy Chanel for instance. If you know (and you do) that this is a loaded linebacker draft crop where you are highly likely to land a quality player that you'll have under a rookie contract for 4 or 5 years, or pay Chanel nine million a year when you are up against the cap....which option are you taking? Without question I'm investing in the draft where I've identified linebacker as a position of strength and depth. You can't keep playing free agency roulette every offseason.