What should Vikings Prioritize in 1st Round?

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Carl Knowles" said: Hunter is my biggest question mark. Neck injuries can be tough to come back from, just ask Mike Hughes. If Hunter and Michael Pierce are back and at the top of their game in 2021,... I feel good Wonnum will take a step forward. And If that happens Shamar Stephen should only look better too.

I like DT Christian Barmore or OLineman like Rashawn Slater, Christain Darrisaw or Alijah Vera-Tucker.

However, if Hunter is questionable, than edge rusher could very well be the pick. 

The Vikings could fix a number of holes with the 14th pick.

I can't see any scenarios where Stephen is back.

We should be looking at edge whether Hunter is back or not. It's just such an important position and I'd be much more concerned about Wonnum becoming a full-time starter than Hunter's health. He had the surgery; no reason he shouldn't be fine.  

Wonnum is a good looking prospect, but if there's an elite edge rusher at 14 you have to consider that. 

Kendricks is one of the best linebackers in the NFL because Shamar knows how to keep him clean from blocks. Don't think Shamar has ever been in Zim's dog house? Zimmer wanted him back for a reason and it wasn't because of stats.

So much depth on DE after round 1 - IMO
Not much depth at all at DT but not sure how good the top few guys are.
Some depth at S but not a lot later and not sure it is a priority until 4rd and beyond

OL interesting depth at T but not really at Guard.  Some of these guys labeled as T are going inside like Cleveland.   Alijah Vera-Tucker is very interesting to me.  Listed as a Tackle but played some Guard?  Too high at 14 and maybe a drop back to pick up a second rounder.  Not sure how far to go down to get Tucker 25 - 32???

But if a stud at any position falls grab them,

@"Vikergirl" said: Cornerback of course.

Have to get the next Mike Hughes. The way the early mocks have fallen , looks like WR could be BPA. 

@"PSBLAKE" said: this team has to get the o-line fixed.  If there isnt just a sure fire pick at 14 trade down get a second rounder and grab the best Defensive Line player you can in the first then Oline in the second.  Also sign a freaking guard literally anyone that is just mediocre please rick sign a guard! 

That's been the theme through 9 years of Rick and 7 of Mike.  If they knew how to fix it, it would have happened by now.

No my friend, we are taking a db in round one.  And at least 2-3 more after that.  That is how you win championships in today's NFL, which is why we keep drafting them!  

After this passed draft class, people still whine about Rick. Unfucking believable. 

I'm planted in the BPA camp but I also feel the 1st round picks need to be "Special"  players that make splash plays... QB, WR, DE, DT3, etc.  The Vikings best picks have been when they drafted at other than "need" positions.  Look no farther than Randy Moss and Adrian Petterson as possible our best picks ever, certainly the best picks in the last 25 years.

BPA, preferably Barmore, Lance, Surtain, Davis

Guys I'm leery of:  Payne, Rousseau

@"Carl Knowles" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Carl Knowles" said: Hunter is my biggest question mark. Neck injuries can be tough to come back from, just ask Mike Hughes. If Hunter and Michael Pierce are back and at the top of their game in 2021,... I feel good Wonnum will take a step forward. And If that happens Shamar Stephen should only look better too.

I like DT Christian Barmore or OLineman like Rashawn Slater, Christain Darrisaw or Alijah Vera-Tucker.

However, if Hunter is questionable, than edge rusher could very well be the pick. 

The Vikings could fix a number of holes with the 14th pick.

I can't see any scenarios where Stephen is back.

We should be looking at edge whether Hunter is back or not. It's just such an important position and I'd be much more concerned about Wonnum becoming a full-time starter than Hunter's health. He had the surgery; no reason he shouldn't be fine.  

Wonnum is a good looking prospect, but if there's an elite edge rusher at 14 you have to consider that. 

Zimmer loves Stephan and so does Kendricks. His base salary is only 3.5 M next year. I think he is back... especially if the Vikings draft DE and OL before DT.

For those who ask why zim loves shemar. He eats double teams allowing Kendricks to free flow pic.twitter.com/T6QhtinjI2

— Deshawn Vaughan (@vikingsfans16) May 26, 2020

@"Carl Knowles" said: Kendricks is one of the best linebackers in the NFL because Shamar knows how to keep him clean from blocks. Don't think Shamar has ever been in Zim's dog house? Zimmer wanted him back for a reason and it wasn't because of stats.

Shamar is a smart and disciplined gap player, but he can't rush the passer. You bring in a guy like Pierce to be your run stopper so you can pair him with a 3T who can get inside pressure. That sure as hell ain't Shamar Stephen. He's had a good long career, one helluva run for a 7th rounder, but it's over in Minnesota. 

QB if you think there’s someone with the potential to be
elite, because elite QBs are the most sure path to a SB

BPA if there’s someone that’s head and shoulder above the
other available prospects

But for positional need, it’s purely in the trenches or
perhaps a replacement for Barr that spot opens up.  I would argue for a 3T over a DE if two equal
candidates were available.  I’m guessing
with our lack of a 2nd we might have to look at free agency for a
low priced but competent OG, and if we cut Reiff we need to bring in two guys
not just his replacement, which I feel like I shouldn’t have to say, but we
like to bring in one less guy than we need.

Honestly, Rick does a pretty exceptional job of drafting. Compared to other GM’s, I think he ranks right up there with the best. 
As most have said, 1st round BPA is the way to go and the way we usually go thankfully. In my opinion though, somehow, that pass rush must get fixed. Granted, no Pierce and no Hunter was a difficult circumstance. They are not players you easily replace. I actually like Shamar for his ability to do his role well. Like others though, I see the need for a penetrating DT as paramount. I see Stephen as a back up. 

@"BarrNone55" said: After this passed draft class, people still whine about Rick. Unfucking believable. 

Sigh.

Well, there are two sides to every argument, aren't there? Sometimes the "whiners" might be getting begged into a fight by someone who takes any opportunity, even a thread about the talent pool in the draft, to get up on a rock and loudly shout, "My beloved Rick Spielman walks on water and I dare anyone to say otherwise!!"

If you want to start a post about evaluating Spielman, let's go. But there are many things to rating how a GM builds a team: trades (e.g., Bradford and Ngakoue), free agents (Linvalle Joseph, Alex Boone), salary management (amazing magic or pushing a growing mountain of dead cap into a fast-approaching future), hiring coaches (yes dogma absolves Spielman of any responsibility before Zimmer and certainly of the OC carousel), finding a quarterback (and how many attempts he deserves), and...yes the draft. 

Because a person could be a good drafter but maybe he should be the head of scouting, not the GM.

And if you do want to turn this thread into a debate on his drafting, we have to ask if he will have another great draft next year - or if it's a once-every-five-years stroke of luck like 2015. Will he follow it up with something like his 2016 disaster (Treadwell, Alexander, Beavers, MoBo)? Will we have another stretch like 2016-19 which has given the team exactly 3 starters (O'Neill, Cook, Bradbury)? Will he add more of the round 1-3 picks where he has historically done best - or try again to exceed his own record for most picks in the crapshoot of rounds 4-7?

Personally, I can quit assessing Spielman for a while. Season ended, the Wilfs are keeping him...I'll let 2021 play out and see who is right. But I guess a few people made cracks about how this team loves to draft CBs, and that cannot be tolerated.

Results will judge Spielman better than any of us.

@Jor-El What is the title of the thread?  Did I say he was infallible? JFC.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Carl Knowles" said: Kendricks is one of the best linebackers in the NFL because Shamar knows how to keep him clean from blocks. Don't think Shamar has ever been in Zim's dog house? Zimmer wanted him back for a reason and it wasn't because of stats.

Shamar is a smart and disciplined gap player, but he can't rush the passer. You bring in a guy like Pierce to be your run stopper so you can pair him with a 3T who can get inside pressure. That sure as hell ain't Shamar Stephen. He's had a good long career, one helluva run for a 7th rounder, but it's over in Minnesota. 

If one of the top 4 QBs slides to #14, that's a no-brainer for me assuming that Minny thinks that player can be QBOTF. But, let me throw out a name not mentioned yet:

Alijah Vera Tucker from USC

He's a plug & play OG. I've seen him mocked in the 11 - 16 range, so not a huge reach, if at all.

@"Knucklehead" said: If one of the top 4 QBs slides to #14, that's a no-brainer for me assuming that Minny thinks that player can be QBOTF. But, let me throw out a name not mentioned yet:

Alijah Vera Tucker from USC

He's a plug & play OG. I've seen him mocked in the 11 - 16 range, so not a huge reach, if at all.

:)  another poster and myself brought up Tucker on this thread

@"Knucklehead" said: If one of the top 4 QBs slides to #14, that's a no-brainer for me assuming that Minny thinks that player can be QBOTF. But, let me throw out a name not mentioned yet:

Alijah Vera Tucker from USC

He's a plug & play OG. I've seen him mocked in the 11 - 16 range, so not a huge reach, if at all.

Along with Slater, I'm really interested in what he measures out at. Definitely a guy you plug in Day 1 at LG. 

@"minny65" said:

@"Knucklehead" said: If one of the top 4 QBs slides to #14, that's a no-brainer for me assuming that Minny thinks that player can be QBOTF. But, let me throw out a name not mentioned yet:

Alijah Vera Tucker from USC

He's a plug & play OG. I've seen him mocked in the 11 - 16 range, so not a huge reach, if at all.

:)  another poster and myself brought up Tucker on this thread

@"Carl Knowles" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Carl Knowles" said: Hunter is my biggest question mark. Neck injuries can be tough to come back from, just ask Mike Hughes. If Hunter and Michael Pierce are back and at the top of their game in 2021,... I feel good Wonnum will take a step forward. And If that happens Shamar Stephen should only look better too.

I like DT Christian Barmore or OLineman like Rashawn Slater, Christain Darrisaw or Alijah Vera-Tucker.

However, if Hunter is questionable, than edge rusher could very well be the pick. 

The Vikings could fix a number of holes with the 14th pick.

I can't see any scenarios where Stephen is back.

We should be looking at edge whether Hunter is back or not. It's just such an important position and I'd be much more concerned about Wonnum becoming a full-time starter than Hunter's health. He had the surgery; no reason he shouldn't be fine.  

Wonnum is a good looking prospect, but if there's an elite edge rusher at 14 you have to consider that. 

Zimmer loves Stephan and so does Kendricks. His base salary is only 3.5 M next year. I think he is back... especially if the Vikings draft DE and OL before DT.

For those who ask why zim loves shemar. He eats double teams allowing Kendricks to free flow pic.twitter.com/T6QhtinjI2

— Deshawn Vaughan (@vikingsfans16) May 26, 2020