BarrNone55™ Swing For The Fences Mock Draft

@"BarrNone55" said: Trades

Send #22, 58, and 89 to Las Vegas
Receive #12

Send #25 to Indy
Receive #34 and 75

Send Ant Harris to Cleveland
Receive #74

Send Reiff and 2021 3rd to Washington
Receive Trent Williams

1. Javon Kinlaw 3T
2. Cesar Ruiz G
3a. Van Jefferson WR
3b. Jeremy Chinn S
3c. Amik Robertson NB
4. Alton Robinson DE
5. Isaiah Hodgins WR
6a. Dane Jackson CB
6b. Shyheim Carter S
7a. Jon Runyan G
7b. Cole McDonald QB 
7c. DeeJay Dallas RB/WR

Day 1 Starters

Kinlaw 
Ruiz 
Chinn
Robertson

Package/Rotational Pieces
Jefferson
Robinson
Hodgins

Impact

Key interior line issues addressed
Defense becomes younger
WR depth improved

The impact Kinlaw makes covers up the youth of the back 4, makes Hunter even more deadly, and upgrades the run D. Outside of Chase Young, he's the biggest impact prospect on the D side of the ball. Robinson provides an explosive first step as a rotational DE. Dre gets a talented athlete to mold.

Cruz takes over LG and provides an immediate upgrade. Runyan pushes Samia or at least provides depth at 4 spots.

Robertson gives us a pit bull at the slot and Chinn gives us great size and play-making next to Harry. Carter came in when Georgia pulled their third LB and played nickel. Jackson had a good week in Mobile.

WR room adds size, route running ability in Jefferson, and size and great hands in Hodgins.

McDonald has prototypical size, a cannon arm, and has proven to be coachable. Dallas converted from WR to RB. The last time we took a converted WR from Miami, things turned out well.

Retool? Naw. Fixing the interior of both lines, upgrading LT, adding playmakers in the back 4, gives us the North. 

@"Bullazin" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: Trades

Send #22, 58, and 89 to Las Vegas
Receive #12

Send #25 to Indy
Receive #34 and 75

Send Ant Harris to Cleveland
Receive #74

Send Reiff and 2021 3rd to Washington
Receive Trent Williams

1. Javon Kinlaw 3T
2. Cesar Ruiz G
3a. Van Jefferson WR
3b. Jeremy Chinn S
3c. Amik Robertson NB
4. Alton Robinson DE
5. Isaiah Hodgins WR
6a. Dane Jackson CB
6b. Shyheim Carter S
7a. Jon Runyan G
7b. Cole McDonald QB 
7c. DeeJay Dallas RB/WR

Day 1 Starters

Kinlaw 
Ruiz 
Chinn
Robertson

Package/Rotational Pieces
Jefferson
Robinson
Hodgins

Impact

Key interior line issues addressed
Defense becomes younger
WR depth improved

The impact Kinlaw makes covers up the youth of the back 4, makes Hunter even more deadly, and upgrades the run D. Outside of Chase Young, he's the biggest impact prospect on the D side of the ball. Robinson provides an explosive first step as a rotational DE. Dre gets a talented athlete to mold.

Cruz takes over LG and provides an immediate upgrade. Runyan pushes Samia or at least provides depth at 4 spots.

Robertson gives us a pit bull at the slot and Chinn gives us great size and play-making next to Harry. Carter came in when Georgia pulled their third LB and played nickel. Jackson had a good week in Mobile.

WR room adds size, route running ability in Jefferson, and size and great hands in Hodgins.

McDonald has prototypical size, a cannon arm, and has proven to be coachable. Dallas converted from WR to RB. The last time we took a converted WR from Miami, things turned out well.

Retool? Naw. Fixing the interior of both lines, upgrading LT, adding playmakers in the back 4, gives us the North. 

Pretty bold i like it. Kinlaw would start. I havent watched Chinn yet, is he a centerfielder ballhawk type?  Seems thats what we need. Ruiz and Robertson day 1 might be rushing it, but lets be clear, not stopping the run was our demise last year, not offense

Bold is right!  And I really like it.  I’m not a draft guru guy.  I don’t know as much as you, MB, Bullazin and many others when it comes to the draft but I’ve always heard that it’s best to build out from the center of the team.  So drafting Kinlaw and Ruiz makes sense to me.  And even I know they are special.  I know one can argue that taking a guard as our second pick might be a bit high but the relief of not watching Elflein usher DLs to meet Cousins will be a great relief.  I’ve read a lot about van Jefferson and love what I read.  Same goes for Robertson.  I guess retool is for sissies!

Who's going to take the top off the defense? I don't see a deep threat. WR takes at least a year to develop. With AT's workload, and loss of Diggs, we're going to need a legit speed guy working his way in to form by the end of the year, no? 

@mgobluevikes Thielen had more 40+ yard receptions from 2016-2018. He also had more 20+ receptions in the same time period. So, I think we have a guy already.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ddct_JaqYwY

I also like this guy. He's a mid 4.4 guy who lit up Arky. There are a couple highlights here were he quickly eats up the cushion and gets deep. Plus, he's already got a year under his belt already.

OK, first of all, I love that you were able to move up 10 spots for Kinlaw AND acquire Trent Williams without losing a single damn 2020 pick. 

Also, I like the tone of the draft. I tend to favor safer players in the draft and most of the players you draft here are very safe, high floor players--Ruiz, Jefferson, Hodges, Robertson, Runyan. 

Love the idea of solving the line in one day. Williams, Ruiz, Bradbury would be one helluva left side.

What I don't like is that you're sending us into the season with Holton Hill as a starting CB. It's not crazy to think he could do that, but I don't think we can count on him. I'd feel much better drafting a starting outside corner. 

You have 4 players on this list I really, really want us to draft—Kinlaw (of course), Ruiz, Robertson, Jefferson. Not being the student of the game some of you guys are, I have been reading a lot of draft analysis and the only knock I have seen on Ruiz is that he carries a little extra weight that he should get rid of. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the consensus that he has potential to be a cornerstone of the team who drafts him. I would love to see us get him.

Amik Robertson has 2 qualities I love—he’s a hitter and he’s a little badass out there. Definitely love what he brings.

Your trade scenarios are awesome. Let’s hope Rick can pull off a couple miracles for us.

@MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

@"prairieghost" said: You have 4 players on this list I really, really want us to draft—Kinlaw (of course), Ruiz, Robertson, Jefferson. Not being the student of the game some of you guys are, I have been reading a lot of draft analysis and the only knock I have seen on Ruiz is that he carries a little extra weight that he should get rid of. Otherwise, it’s pretty much the consensus that he has potential to be a cornerstone of the team who drafts him. I would love to see us get him.

Amik Robertson has 2 qualities I love—he’s a hitter and he’s a little badass out there. Definitely love what he brings.

Your trade scenarios are awesome. Let’s hope Rick can pull off a couple miracles for us.

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

And I agree that we're probably going to see a different brand of defense that helps mitigate the loss of some experience. Whether that means more zone or not, I don't know, but something. 

Hard to bitch about Kinlaw, Ruiz and Williams...

But I would sleep better addressing CB earlier and not hoping they have to scheme to protect too much. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

The bold is an excellent point.

And I agree that we're probably going to see a different brand of defense that helps mitigate the loss of some experience. Whether that means more zone or not, I don't know, but something. 

@"purplefaithful" said: Hard to bitch about Kinlaw, Ruiz and Williams...

But I would sleep better addressing CB earlier and not hoping they have to scheme to protect too much. 

@"BarrNone55" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

The bold is an excellent point.

And I agree that we're probably going to see a different brand of defense that helps mitigate the loss of some experience. Whether that means more zone or not, I don't know, but something. 

I keep telling you guys I'm not just another pretty face.

Chinn was the only guy who really needs to be in a zone. New DB coach, New advisor in Dom And That Thing On His Head, and not even a dozen starts out of our top 3 CBs. I think we play a lot of field position ball, and maximize stopping big gains. Again, Kinlaw is the key to unlocking everything.

There’s this undertone this year that seems to be the elephant in the room, that being that we’re going to trade up. I would love for us to trade up for Kinlaw, but would anybody’s head blow up if they went up for an OT?? What about a WR?? (I say that only because I’ve seen rumors that they love Lamb).

IF they trade up with 22, then they have to trade down with 25. That would be great and I would be happy, assuming of course that they target and draft someone I want ;)

If they couldn’t get up far enough for Kinlaw, would anybody mind if we traded out of the first round completely? 

@"prairieghost" said: There’s this undertone this year that seems to be the elephant in the room, that being that we’re going to trade up. I would love for us to trade up for Kinlaw, but would anybody’s head blow up if they went up for an OT?? What about a WR?? (I say that only because I’ve seen rumors that they love Lamb).

IF they trade up with 22, then they have to trade down with 25. That would be great and I would be happy, assuming of course that they target and draft someone I want ;)

If they couldn’t get up far enough for Kinlaw, would anybody mind if we traded out of the first round completely? 

OT: meh

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

Just curious: If Kinlaw goes at 9 or whatever and the Vikings can't get him, how would you alter your draft strategy at that point? CB with the first pick and then everything else about the same? Or more drastic changes?

@"pattersaur" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: @MaroonBells thank you.

Hill is definitely a risk, but my thought is that 1) we have a CB whisperer in Zim 2) they hung on to Hill through 2 consecutive suspend 3) I think we go to more zone so CB play becomes simpler 4) Kinlaw is the deodorant for the back four

High floor guys was on purpose. No rookie camp. No OTAs. Lots of holes. Jefferson is the perfect example. Top 3 route runner...most pro ready...son of a WR coach...he'll be ready to play. Runyan is another guy...son of a NFL player...can play 4 spots...does Alex Taylor has better upside? Absolutely. Could Taylor compete without a full slate of OTAs? Nfw.

The key to the whole thing is Kinlaw. 

Just curious: If Kinlaw goes at 9 or whatever and the Vikings can't get him, how would you alter your draft strategy at that point? CB with the first pick and then everything else about the same? Or more drastic changes?

I think this draft may be as weird as this entire off-season. Kinlaw has (had?) a knee issue.  NFL team doctors have not been able to check him for themselves.  This might make teams far more reluctant to use a high draft pick on a player with medical concerns.  

I would not be too quick to move up. And for the same reasons it may not be worth it to move back - you may get very little in return, unless there is a QB there that another team wants. 

@dadevike I believe he tweaked it Senior Bowl week, maybe prior. I don't think it's anything degenerative or chronic. But, if he gets passed SF there could be something to that...