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Cody Ford that is...he might not be there at #18, but he'll get knocked for being a one year starter and a broken leg as a sophomore...would go a long way for passing on Will Hernandez last year, who was another big man with excellent mobility...
I'll follow up Ford with Michael Deiter from Wisconsin...Dieter has massive positional flexibility, great size and can also move...early on he'd outperform Ford due to his experience...like Ford, Deiter could be a ten year starter...Day 1 of camp Deiter starts at LG and Ford at RG...4/5 of the line is set for the next decade...
Assuming we don't 're-sign Murray, we need a solid back behind Cook...Damien Harris would be a good change of pace thumper...3 of the 4 teams playing today feature two or more backs and the way Zim wants to run I'd spend a Day 2 pick on a back...
Lastly, another attempt at an athletic TE, Mitchell Wilcox from USF...lined up mostly in the slot, a mismatch for LBs and DBs...the attempt to pry Tyler Higbee away from the Rams makes me believe TE could be a higher priority...after this draft, Zim will probably stop returning my calls..
There's a really good crop of TEs this year, so if the OL options aren't great at 18, then I could see the Vikings going that direction, since we need more receiving options to take advantage of teams keying in on Thielen and Diggs and because Rudolph is getting older and does not pose a threat after the catch. Under DeFilippo, there was all the talk about a move TE that never materialized, but maybe Stefanski can do something with that concept now.
I also agree that adding another runner is a priority. Murray seems like he is on the way out, though he's been productive. Cook finally started to show flashes of what he's capable of, but I think it makes sense for him to split the work load given his injury history. Then we have guys like Thomas, Boone, and Abdullah who are all fine, but the team should be able to find someone better. Getting the running game working needs to be a priority.
As for OL, Ford seems like the easiest guy to plug and play into the line, but I think he's likely to go a few picks ahead of us. Not sure about the other OL yet, but guard is an urgent need and it would be wise to draft a tackle as Reiff's eventual replacement. Curious to see if they move O'Neill to LT and Reiff to RT or try another LT.
I was >< close to going TE first...either kid from Iowa would be nice...Deiter is fast becoming a guy I really want to see us come out of the draft with...
By position, my preference in the 1st round would be:
- OL
- TE
- LB
- DT
- WR
It is a really nice group of TEs and adding more options in the passing game to open up Thielen and Diggs is needed.
something, something, something, about needing more F150’s...  B)
We definitely need to make teams paying for doubling both WRs...Not a great year to draft a WR...build out the interior, get Elf healthy and a full camp...we're right back in it...
Cody Ford is an exciting prospect. I agree with you that he's a little like Will Hernandez. I'd say Ford moves even better than Hernandez did. LIke Hernandez, Ford is probably more of a man guy, but moves well enough that zone teams can't overlook him. Oklahoma is a zone team and it's fun to watch Ford combo with Samia. Those two together are fun to watch. In case you haven't watched him yet, put on some Samia. Not sure if he can play in the NFL or not, but this kid is a bad ass mother fucker.
I don't want to draft a TE in the first two rounds. Not a fan of Noah Fant at all. But his teammate, Hockensen, is going to be an all pro.
Quote: @"BarrNone55" said:
We definitely need to make teams paying for doubling both WRs...Not a great year to draft a WR...build out the interior, get Elf healthy and a full camp...we're right back in it...
Yeah, that's why I have WR down on my list. We'll likely need to address finding a 3rd WR through FA or the mid rounds of the draft. Letting go of Jarius Wright was a low key move that hurt the passing game. Finding help at TE will be easier in the draft. Then there's the OL, which has been the elephant in the room. I think that we have bigger issues at guard than tackle, but both positions could be upgraded.
With Dalvin Cook being such a "do-everything" back, I can't decide if we should draft a shifty 3rd down guy, or a between the tackles thumper. I lean thumper but I also don't want to spend a pick on the next Toby Gerhart who barely plays behind the stud. Tough call.
I really hope we're able to draft OL at 18. If possible, worry about TE, RB, Defense after that.
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
I don't want to draft a TE in the first two rounds. Not a fan of Noah Fant at all. But his teammate, Hockensen, is going to be an all pro.
You'll need a miracle to get Hockensen at even our 2nd round pick... I've seen mocks with both him and Fant going in the first.
Fant's junior year wasn't exactly flattering. His family tweeting about snap counts and his not playing in the bowl game annoyed me. But it's also pretty trivial stuff. If he just concentrates on his game instead of his money, he's got the talent to be a walking mismatch vs. pretty much anybody.
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