NFL Draft Talk

@"MaroonBells" said: In DJ's latest mock, the Vikings take Hooker in the 1st. 

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2023-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-bucs-colts-panthers-texans-vikings-pick-

@"AGRforever" said:

@"supafreak84" said: I think the problem with taking Hooker for the Vikings in the first round is our limited pick supply with huge areas of need still to fill on the roster. You can take Hooker who is recovering from a knee injury, and plant him on IR for the year, or you can take a player that hopefully pays immediate dividends. There would have to be real conviction to use our first round pick on him. 

We don't take players that pay immediate dividends.  Thats not the Kwesi way!!!

@"jargomcfargo" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: In DJ's latest mock, the Vikings take Hooker in the 1st. 

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2023-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-bucs-colts-panthers-texans-vikings-pick-

Vikings need to trade back and get another pick. If Hooker is still there fine. If not there are plenty of other needs this year. If they really like Hooker and take him at the end of the first to get the fifth year option, I could understand that. But to take him outright at 23 doesn't make sense to me.

@"jargomcfargo" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: In DJ's latest mock, the Vikings take Hooker in the 1st. 

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2023-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-bucs-colts-panthers-texans-vikings-pick-

Vikings need to trade back and get another pick. If Hooker is still there fine. If not there are plenty of other needs this year. If they really like Hooker and take him at the end of the first to get the fifth year option, I could understand that. But to take him outright at 23 doesn't make sense to me.

It’s difficult to contemplate with the 2023 NFL Draft five weeks away because Hooker is recovering from a torn ACL suffered last November and is an “old” rookie quarterback at age 25. 
By the time he’s ready to play for the Vikings — or any team — he’ll be 26 years old and 27 if he reaches the playoffs in 2024.
But put those reservations away, as NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah envisions Hooker to Minnesota with the Vikings 23rd pick. Jeremiah explained in his latest mock draft, “The Vikings have been doing their homework on this quarterback class. Hooker is well-liked around the league and he could sit for a year behind Kirk Cousins before taking over and ushering in a new era for Kevin O’Connell.”
Cousins has led the Vikings for five seasons, reached the postseason twice, won one playoff game, and ranks fourth leaguewide in touchdown passes since 2018. He’ll get at least one more shot in Minnesota with head coach Kevin O’Connell in charge (barring a shocking trade). And when it’s time to move on, Hooker could apparently be the Vikings solution, albeit at an incredibly high draft price. 

If Hooker were 21 with healthy knees, he’d fly off the board in Round 1 — undoubtedly. Yet, he fits neither criterion, age nor health, and accordingly is sourced by most NFL draft brains as a 3rd-Round pick, with a team possibly reaching into Round 2 for his services. 
Vikings general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah routinely preaches “value” every time he steps in front of a microphone, and Hooker in Round 1 emphatically does not spell value. However, if he and head coach Kevin O’Connell absolutely adore Hooker, then the 23rd overall pick is a reasonable price to pay. 
Jeremiah did this last year, too, sneaking a would-be 3rd Rounder in the 1st Round of a mock draft. One day before the 2022 NFL Draft commenced, Jeremiah plopped Malik Willis into Round 1 with the 32nd pick to the Detroit Lions and wrote, “I could see Willis going in the top 10 or he could land all the way down here at No. 32. His draft range is a great example of what we can be certain about in this draft: absolutely nothing.”
Almost every team in the NFL draft passed on Wilis, the Tennessee Titans took a flyer, and then Willis played horribly as a rookie. He wasn’t even trusted to start a meaningless regular season game down the stretch of the season when Ryan Tannehill was hurt. 
Overall, Hooker has all the tools to become a franchise quarterback, rest assured. His list of weaknesses is microscopic. But the age and injuries have frightened general managers and draft pundits to date — until Jeremiah went bold on Tuesday
https://vikingsterritory.com/2023/draft/draft-2023/drops-mock-draft

I couldn't care less about the knee or the age. He's either an NFL QB or he's not. Three, four years from now nobody's going to give a shit about his college knee injury, or the fact that he's 30 with ONLY 6, 7 more years left to play. They will only care if he's a good NFL QB or not. 

I'd take Hooker over Richardson.

But I think a bigger story to watch is Levis dropping. If he drops into the middle teens, that is a gift the Vikings should not pass up. Moving from 23 to, say, 15 is not an expensive move and it could pay off huge. 

One player I haven't seen discussed much here is Bijan Robinson.
Any chance the Vikings shock the world and take him if he's there at 23? Mattison is making backup money so I don't think his new deal would preclude a Bijan pick and the guys behind AM are unproven at best.
Our defense has holes everywhere so this would be the definition of a luxury pick, but so was AD at the time and that worked out okay. Moving on from Dalvin and his contract would be one way of saving money.
Just a wild thought and maybe it's just me being a fan and thinking of some kind of "splash".

@"AGRforever" said:

@"supafreak84" said: I think the problem with taking Hooker for the Vikings in the first round is our limited pick supply with huge areas of need still to fill on the roster. You can take Hooker who is recovering from a knee injury, and plant him on IR for the year, or you can take a player that hopefully pays immediate dividends. There would have to be real conviction to use our first round pick on him. 

We don't take players that pay immediate dividends.  Thats not the Kwesi way!!!

I really like Hooker and would love seeing him in purple 

@"pattersaur" said:

One player I haven't seen discussed much here is Bijan Robinson. Any chance the Vikings shock the world and take him if he's there at 23? Mattison is making backup money so I don't think his new deal would preclude a Bijan pick and the guys behind AM are unproven at best. Our defense has holes everywhere so this would be the definition of a luxury pick, but so was AD at the time and that worked out okay. Moving on from Dalvin and his contract would be one way of saving money. Just a wild thought and maybe it's just me being a fan and thinking of some kind of "splash".

Have to admit I was much more enamored with Hooker until I watched the tape breakdown with Kurt Warner. It wasn't so much a slam on Hooker, but opened my eyes to what a weird and simplistic offense Tennessee plays. Hooker almost never had to look past his initial read, and was always keyed in to a small section of the field. Have to wonder how well he would do if he had to process more information, and can he look off defenders?

The tape left me with a lot more questions than his stats initially lead me to believe.

@"MaroonBells" said: I couldn't care less about the knee or the age. He's either an NFL QB or he's not. Three, four years from now nobody's going to give a shit about his college knee injury, or the fact that he's 30 with ONLY 6, 7 more years left to play. They will only care if he's a good NFL QB or not. 

I'd take Hooker over Richardson.

But I think a bigger story to watch is Levis dropping. If he drops into the middle teens, that is a gift the Vikings should not pass up. Moving from 23 to, say, 15 is not an expensive move and it could pay off huge. 

I just found this move-up scenario for Levi - fwiw

A reputable mock draft has the Vikings trading up for Will Levis (msn.com)

"And now The Athletic's second of three beat writer mock drafts has the Vikings trading into the top 10 to take Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. Is the mock draft just cheap entertainment? Or is there some inside knowledge about the Vikings and interest in Levis?
Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic, made a trade in the mock draft to acquire the No. 7 overall pick from the Raiders for the 23rd and 87th picks in this year's draft and their first-round pick in 2024. 
In Lewis's explanation of the move, there were some juicy tidbits regarding the links between Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and Levis's coach at Kentucky, Liam Coen. 

"Levis, a strong-armed passer, played for Liam Coen in 2021 at Kentucky. Coen spent three years on the Rams staff with O’Connell from 2018 to 2020, then replaced him as L.A.’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Leaping to No. 7 would take some heavy lifting, but the time comes for every team to shoot its shot."

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I couldn't care less about the knee or the age. He's either an NFL QB or he's not. Three, four years from now nobody's going to give a shit about his college knee injury, or the fact that he's 30 with ONLY 6, 7 more years left to play. They will only care if he's a good NFL QB or not. 

I'd take Hooker over Richardson.

But I think a bigger story to watch is Levis dropping. If he drops into the middle teens, that is a gift the Vikings should not pass up. Moving from 23 to, say, 15 is not an expensive move and it could pay off huge. 

I like all of the above.

I just found this move-up scenario for Levi - fwiw

A reputable mock draft has the Vikings trading up for Will Levis (msn.com)

"And now The Athletic's second of three beat writer mock drafts has the Vikings trading into the top 10 to take Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. Is the mock draft just cheap entertainment? Or is there some inside knowledge about the Vikings and interest in Levis?
Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic, made a trade in the mock draft to acquire the No. 7 overall pick from the Raiders for the 23rd and 87th picks in this year's draft and their first-round pick in 2024. 
In Lewis's explanation of the move, there were some juicy tidbits regarding the links between Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and Levis's coach at Kentucky, Liam Coen. 

"Levis, a strong-armed passer, played for Liam Coen in 2021 at Kentucky. Coen spent three years on the Rams staff with O’Connell from 2018 to 2020, then replaced him as L.A.’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Leaping to No. 7 would take some heavy lifting, but the time comes for every team to shoot its shot."

Two firsts and a third-rounder to get their future franchise quarterback and a sixth-round pick? It's a no-brainer if it works out, but if Levis busts it would be a huge whiff that sets the Vikings back years. "

@"JimmyinSD" said:

@"jargomcfargo" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: In DJ's latest mock, the Vikings take Hooker in the 1st. 

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-2023-nfl-mock-draft-3-0-bucs-colts-panthers-texans-vikings-pick-

Vikings need to trade back and get another pick. If Hooker is still there fine. If not there are plenty of other needs this year. If they really like Hooker and take him at the end of the first to get the fifth year option, I could understand that. But to take him outright at 23 doesn't make sense to me.

I would rather they take him at 23 this year,  than piss away multiple first rounders to make a big move up for a guy that is just as likely to need at least a year sitting and watching and still has likely the same chance of making it as a pro.  I dont think Hooker is likely a very high ceiling guy, but I think he could be a fair QB in the right system,   not sure if thats KOCs system,  but he's got some good tools to work with until we find that high ceiling guy,  and the cap savings would allow for a better rebuild next offseason. 

1 more day two draft pick isn't going to fix much IMO in terms of helping make the 23 team a contender,  I think that ship has already sailed.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"MaroonBells" said: I couldn't care less about the knee or the age. He's either an NFL QB or he's not. Three, four years from now nobody's going to give a shit about his college knee injury, or the fact that he's 30 with ONLY 6, 7 more years left to play. They will only care if he's a good NFL QB or not. 

I'd take Hooker over Richardson.

But I think a bigger story to watch is Levis dropping. If he drops into the middle teens, that is a gift the Vikings should not pass up. Moving from 23 to, say, 15 is not an expensive move and it could pay off huge. 

I like all of the above.

I just found this move-up scenario for Levi - fwiw

A reputable mock draft has the Vikings trading up for Will Levis (msn.com)

"And now The Athletic's second of three beat writer mock drafts has the Vikings trading into the top 10 to take Kentucky quarterback Will Levis. Is the mock draft just cheap entertainment? Or is there some inside knowledge about the Vikings and interest in Levis?
Alec Lewis, who covers the Vikings for The Athletic, made a trade in the mock draft to acquire the No. 7 overall pick from the Raiders for the 23rd and 87th picks in this year's draft and their first-round pick in 2024. 
In Lewis's explanation of the move, there were some juicy tidbits regarding the links between Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell and Levis's coach at Kentucky, Liam Coen. 

"Levis, a strong-armed passer, played for Liam Coen in 2021 at Kentucky. Coen spent three years on the Rams staff with O’Connell from 2018 to 2020, then replaced him as L.A.’s offensive coordinator in 2022. Leaping to No. 7 would take some heavy lifting, but the time comes for every team to shoot its shot."

Two firsts and a third-rounder to get their future franchise quarterback and a sixth-round pick? It's a no-brainer if it works out, but if Levis busts it would be a huge whiff that sets the Vikings back years. "

I wouldn't go that high and I'm the president of the Will Levis fan club. But if he falls, a move from 23 to, say, 15 should only cost a '23 3rd and a '24 2nd. That I would do. But that's interesting about Coen. 

One of the drafts bigger questions was answered:

OSU WR Smith-Njigba runs okay; not elite … On of the big questions at today’s Ohio State pro day was whether WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would run, and if he did run how fast. Nothing has been announced officially but the consensus that he timed somewhere in the mid-4.5s. The NFL Network is reporting that his time was 4.53 which isn’t bad, but it isn’t elite either. By way of comparison, JSN’s former OSU teammates Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both ran under 4.40 last year. And this year USC’s Jordan Addison ran a 4.49 at the combine which was considered to be somewhat disappointing. At the same time, though, NFL teams probably don’t necessarily see Smith-Njigba as a speed burner as he is generally thought of as more quick than fast with great route-running skills.

@"minny65" said:

 

Do we need to worry about a Hooker being available when we call at 23?  

@"supafreak84" said: One of the drafts bigger questions was answered:

OSU WR Smith-Njigba runs okay; not elite … On of the big questions at today’s Ohio State pro day was whether WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would run, and if he did run how fast. Nothing has been announced officially but the consensus that he timed somewhere in the mid-4.5s. The NFL Network is reporting that his time was 4.53 which isn’t bad, but it isn’t elite either. By way of comparison, JSN’s former OSU teammates Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both ran under 4.40 last year. And this year USC’s Jordan Addison ran a 4.49 at the combine which was considered to be somewhat disappointing. At the same time, though, NFL teams probably don’t necessarily see Smith-Njigba as a speed burner as he is generally thought of as more quick than fast with great route-running skills.

@"supafreak84" said: One of the drafts bigger questions was answered:

OSU WR Smith-Njigba runs okay; not elite … On of the big questions at today’s Ohio State pro day was whether WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would run, and if he did run how fast. Nothing has been announced officially but the consensus that he timed somewhere in the mid-4.5s. The NFL Network is reporting that his time was 4.53 which isn’t bad, but it isn’t elite either. By way of comparison, JSN’s former OSU teammates Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both ran under 4.40 last year. And this year USC’s Jordan Addison ran a 4.49 at the combine which was considered to be somewhat disappointing. At the same time, though, NFL teams probably don’t necessarily see Smith-Njigba as a speed burner as he is generally thought of as more quick than fast with great route-running skills.

Forty time is okay but he crushed at the combine:
"He recorded a 3.93-second 20-yard shuttle, which is the fourth-best by a
receiver since 2007. As well, he put up a 6.57-second three-cone drill
which is 12th best at the position in the same time span."

I think JSN is gonna be very good very quickly in the NFL and will be the top WR taken in the draft almost certainly.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"supafreak84" said: One of the drafts bigger questions was answered:

OSU WR Smith-Njigba runs okay; not elite … On of the big questions at today’s Ohio State pro day was whether WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba would run, and if he did run how fast. Nothing has been announced officially but the consensus that he timed somewhere in the mid-4.5s. The NFL Network is reporting that his time was 4.53 which isn’t bad, but it isn’t elite either. By way of comparison, JSN’s former OSU teammates Chris Olave and Garrett Wilson both ran under 4.40 last year. And this year USC’s Jordan Addison ran a 4.49 at the combine which was considered to be somewhat disappointing. At the same time, though, NFL teams probably don’t necessarily see Smith-Njigba as a speed burner as he is generally thought of as more quick than fast with great route-running skills.

4.53 is better than I thought he'd run. I think this time actually improves his stock a little. Speed isn't his game. The more I see of this receiver class the less I like.