Honestly, we should have known this would be a boring Draft....

@"StickyBun" said:   

 . 2nd rounder for Hockenson, good move.  

Just sayin'  that deal isn't done, the Vikings still owe a 3rd in 2024 to the Lions for Hockenson.

@"StickyBun" said: I mean, what is Minnesota supposed to do with 5 picks? And no 2nd rounder? Can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. I see that fans are putting the organization in a no win situation. Why didn't they move up?? Then, why did they pick Addison? Why did they move down? lol. Tough crowd. But I see this in every fanbase on Draft day. Weird expectations. 

Needed a WR to replace our old #2 (Thielen). Done. 2nd rounder for Hockenson, good move. Need a corner, done. Yet nobody seems very happy with it. I think Viking's fans think this season is going to be a complete shit show, which I don't get either. I'm not saying go homer pollyanna on things, but Jesus....

Old frustrations from long timers cause some to be hyper critical today. I get it. We're a long suffering fanbase. No guarantees the Vikings will ever win it all. But every season truly is a new year, with various degrees of optimism. I know my patience level is very, very short. My mindset is until they show me at whatever point in the season that they are bad or otherwise, I'll tend to be cautiously optimistic. But I'm completely fair-weather now. 100%. I'm not wasting my entertainment time watching a shit show. 

The biggest off-season move was Flores...

I had a lot of fun in a 13 win season and I'm able to remember that more vs 1 and done as time goes on. 

Already looking forward to this year. I like the coaching staff more now than b4. I dont expect 13 wins again, I do expect a competitive team that might do more in a post season game (s) 

What has put the team in the hole was some bad luck and major misses in the drafts of 2020 and 2021.   While in 2020 the Vikings hit the jackpot with Justin Jefferson and a nice starter in Cleveland, and KJ Osbornem Wonnum as a backup and Josh Metellus as a 3rd WR and special teams, solid Safety back up the rest was awful.   Wasted 1st rounder in Gladney, the rest were just AWFUL.   2021 was worse, Darrisaw was a no brainer, but Mond, Surratt, and Davis were complete whiffs.  Bynum and Nwangwu are solid contributors but the rest were a complete fail.  2022 migh still ring the bell we will see, but its unfortunate when you don't get ANY production out of your first and second rounders in their rookie year.   This is NOT on Kwesi yet.

I am curious if anyone could explain why the Vikings took Blackmon (5'11", 182 lbs., runs a 4.4 range) from USC over Mingo (6' 1", 207 lbs., runs a 4.3 range) from Georgia)?  Then goes to Philly of all places.

@"Chuckf" said: What has put the team in the hole was some bad luck and major misses in the drafts of 2020 and 2021.   While in 2020 the Vikings hit the jackpot with Justin Jefferson and a nice starter in Cleveland, and KJ Osbornem Wonnum as a backup and Josh Metellus as a 3rd WR and special teams, solid Safety back up the rest was awful.   Wasted 1st rounder in Gladney, the rest were just AWFUL.   2021 was worse, Darrisaw was a no brainer, but Mond, Surratt, and Davis were complete whiffs.  Bynum and Nwangwu are solid contributors but the rest were a complete fail.  2022 migh still ring the bell we will see, but its unfortunate when you don't get ANY production out of your first and second rounders in their rookie year.   This is NOT on Kwesi yet.

2 starters from each draft is the target.  If you get +3 thats a home run draft.  The years where you can hit on 1 of your 2 top picks and 2 of your other picks are the years you see growth on teams in terms of wins.  The jury is still out on '22 but '20 was a home run.  '21 isn't terrible?  We got a probowler out of it.  We'll see what happens with Bynum and Nwangwu this year. 

Everyone should be happy to be reminded we currently have 5 picks in next years draft too!  :p

@"ArizonaViking" said: I am curious if anyone could explain why the Vikings took Blackmon (5'11", 182 lbs., runs a 4.4 range) from USC over Mingo (6' 1", 207 lbs., runs a 4.3 range) from Georgia)?  Then goes to Philly of all places.

Because that what people who do this for a living decided to go with?  Flores signed here to make our defense great again and decided he liked Blackmon over Mingo.  In fact you could say he liked Blackmon over lots of other CB targets and lots of other positions on D where we've got all kinds of holes to fill.  They took him earlier then most thought he'd go, so they must have had him very high on their list. 

Who knows how it'll turn out?
The geniuses in Philly took Reagor over Jefferson so it's not like they get it right all the time. 

“I think from an explosive playmaker standpoint, that’s Jalen Reagor,”
Zierlein said. “If you want to ask me higher ceiling, lower floor,
Reagor’s got a higher ceiling, lower floor. But if you’re looking to hit
a double, Justin Jefferson’s the double.”
https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/2020-nfl-draft-jalen-reagor-justin-jefferson-lance-zierlein

@"ArizonaViking" said: I am curious if anyone could explain why the Vikings took Blackmon (5'11", 182 lbs., runs a 4.4 range) from USC over Mingo (6' 1", 207 lbs., runs a 4.3 range) from Georgia)?  Then goes to Philly of all places.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"ArizonaViking" said: I am curious if anyone could explain why the Vikings took Blackmon (5'11", 182 lbs., runs a 4.4 range) from USC over Mingo (6' 1", 207 lbs., runs a 4.3 range) from Georgia)?  Then goes to Philly of all places.

Hard to say, but the Vikings obviously have their rationale. Putting up measurables doesn't guarantee success at the NFL level, never has. 

@"StickyBun" said:

@"ArizonaViking" said: I am curious if anyone could explain why the Vikings took Blackmon (5'11", 182 lbs., runs a 4.4 range) from USC over Mingo (6' 1", 207 lbs., runs a 4.3 range) from Georgia)?  Then goes to Philly of all places.

Hard to say, but the Vikings obviously have their rationale. Putting up measurables doesn't guarantee success at the NFL level, never has. 

Thanks Guys for the clarification...

@"PurpleCrush" said: I think many, including me, fell in love with the notion of the team identifying a possible QBOTF to eventually succeed Kirk. Granted it would have been tough to do with the lack of picks, but that mentality of a new staff finding their guy for the next 10-15 years was intriguing.

With that being said, I liked the two picks so far, especially Addison. I can see this offense really taking a huge step next season, with a year's experience under their belts and a new weapon to help keep defenses honest. As for Blackmon, I knew the team had an interest in him during the draft process, but I didn't think they would take him over other hyped prospects like Ringo or even Phillips. But he seems like a good player and I'll trust that Flores wanted him so I'm cool with it.

Honestly, there's no reason this team shouldn't compete for the Division or at least a playoff spot. I mean, there's only a couple of teams in the NFC that I think are clearly better, and as far as QB's go the only one in the NFC I'd take over Kirk is Hurts.

But they did really find some players who fill needs on the roster. Addison is a day 1 starter and will take the offense to yet another level. Blackmon will play early on in a rotational role and I think even Ward has a chance to contribute early in the secondary as well in the slot with Metelleus. So they were "efficient" with their lack of picks which was really the goal. 

Long-term they sacrificed some of this draft class for Hockenson. But I think its hard to have any regrets whatsoever with that deal with the assumption they'll extend him this summer. He provided an immediate impact last year and is under 26 years old. Looking at the Vikings 2nd round draft slot, all of the high-end TEs were off the board anyways. So the "TE Draft" argument doesn't really hold up either. 

In the end the Vikings still have a question at QB. But on the offensive side of the ball they have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and TJ Hockenson all under the age of 26. Then you have Brian O'Neill who is under 28. That is a heck of a core outside of the QB position. Doesn't even account for some of the other pieces in Osbourne, Mattison and Cleveland who have upside as well.  

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said: I think many, including me, fell in love with the notion of the team identifying a possible QBOTF to eventually succeed Kirk. Granted it would have been tough to do with the lack of picks, but that mentality of a new staff finding their guy for the next 10-15 years was intriguing.

With that being said, I liked the two picks so far, especially Addison. I can see this offense really taking a huge step next season, with a year's experience under their belts and a new weapon to help keep defenses honest. As for Blackmon, I knew the team had an interest in him during the draft process, but I didn't think they would take him over other hyped prospects like Ringo or even Phillips. But he seems like a good player and I'll trust that Flores wanted him so I'm cool with it.

Honestly, there's no reason this team shouldn't compete for the Division or at least a playoff spot. I mean, there's only a couple of teams in the NFC that I think are clearly better, and as far as QB's go the only one in the NFC I'd take over Kirk is Hurts.

I think this sums is up nicely. There was the potential for them going in to make this a high-upside draft with a QBOTF trade-up in the first. It just ended up never getting to that point with Stroud & Richardson going so high. Maybe it was naïve to think they would fall to begin with. 

But they did really find some players who fill needs on the roster. Addison is a day 1 starter and will take the offense to yet another level. Blackmon will play early on in a rotational role and I think even Ward has a chance to contribute early in the secondary as well in the slot with Metelleus. So they were "efficient" with their lack of picks which was really the goal. 

Long-term they sacrificed some of this draft class for Hockenson. But I think its hard to have any regrets whatsoever with that deal with the assumption they'll extend him this summer. He provided an immediate impact last year and is under 26 years old. Looking at the Vikings 2nd round draft slot, all of the high-end TEs were off the board anyways. So the "TE Draft" argument doesn't really hold up either. 

In the end the Vikings still have a question at QB. But on the offensive side of the ball they have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and TJ Hockenson all under the age of 26. Then you have Brian O'Neill who is under 28. That is a heck of a core outside of the QB position. Doesn't even account for some of the other pieces in Osbourne, Mattison and Cleveland who have upside as well.  

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said: I think many, including me, fell in love with the notion of the team identifying a possible QBOTF to eventually succeed Kirk. Granted it would have been tough to do with the lack of picks, but that mentality of a new staff finding their guy for the next 10-15 years was intriguing.

With that being said, I liked the two picks so far, especially Addison. I can see this offense really taking a huge step next season, with a year's experience under their belts and a new weapon to help keep defenses honest. As for Blackmon, I knew the team had an interest in him during the draft process, but I didn't think they would take him over other hyped prospects like Ringo or even Phillips. But he seems like a good player and I'll trust that Flores wanted him so I'm cool with it.

Honestly, there's no reason this team shouldn't compete for the Division or at least a playoff spot. I mean, there's only a couple of teams in the NFC that I think are clearly better, and as far as QB's go the only one in the NFC I'd take over Kirk is Hurts.

I think this sums is up nicely. There was the potential for them going in to make this a high-upside draft with a QBOTF trade-up in the first. It just ended up never getting to that point with Stroud & Richardson going so high. Maybe it was naïve to think they would fall to begin with. 

But they did really find some players who fill needs on the roster. Addison is a day 1 starter and will take the offense to yet another level. Blackmon will play early on in a rotational role and I think even Ward has a chance to contribute early in the secondary as well in the slot with Metelleus. So they were "efficient" with their lack of picks which was really the goal. 

Long-term they sacrificed some of this draft class for Hockenson. But I think its hard to have any regrets whatsoever with that deal with the assumption they'll extend him this summer. He provided an immediate impact last year and is under 26 years old. Looking at the Vikings 2nd round draft slot, all of the high-end TEs were off the board anyways. So the "TE Draft" argument doesn't really hold up either. 

In the end the Vikings still have a question at QB. But on the offensive side of the ball they have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and TJ Hockenson all under the age of 26. Then you have Brian O'Neill who is under 28. That is a heck of a core outside of the QB position. Doesn't even account for some of the other pieces in Osbourne, Mattison and Cleveland who have upside as well.  

....and to piggyback, too many fans already giving up on Booth and Cine. 

I'm getting over my first round hissy fit of not taking Levis :)

Like everyone has been pointing out no team probably knows as much as us about him and we decided to pass.  

When you hate something or someone, there's nothing you can say or do to change their minds....

@"comet52" said:

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Geoff Nichols" said:

@"PurpleCrush" said: I think many, including me, fell in love with the notion of the team identifying a possible QBOTF to eventually succeed Kirk. Granted it would have been tough to do with the lack of picks, but that mentality of a new staff finding their guy for the next 10-15 years was intriguing.

With that being said, I liked the two picks so far, especially Addison. I can see this offense really taking a huge step next season, with a year's experience under their belts and a new weapon to help keep defenses honest. As for Blackmon, I knew the team had an interest in him during the draft process, but I didn't think they would take him over other hyped prospects like Ringo or even Phillips. But he seems like a good player and I'll trust that Flores wanted him so I'm cool with it.

Honestly, there's no reason this team shouldn't compete for the Division or at least a playoff spot. I mean, there's only a couple of teams in the NFC that I think are clearly better, and as far as QB's go the only one in the NFC I'd take over Kirk is Hurts.

I think this sums is up nicely. There was the potential for them going in to make this a high-upside draft with a QBOTF trade-up in the first. It just ended up never getting to that point with Stroud & Richardson going so high. Maybe it was naïve to think they would fall to begin with. 

But they did really find some players who fill needs on the roster. Addison is a day 1 starter and will take the offense to yet another level. Blackmon will play early on in a rotational role and I think even Ward has a chance to contribute early in the secondary as well in the slot with Metelleus. So they were "efficient" with their lack of picks which was really the goal. 

Long-term they sacrificed some of this draft class for Hockenson. But I think its hard to have any regrets whatsoever with that deal with the assumption they'll extend him this summer. He provided an immediate impact last year and is under 26 years old. Looking at the Vikings 2nd round draft slot, all of the high-end TEs were off the board anyways. So the "TE Draft" argument doesn't really hold up either. 

In the end the Vikings still have a question at QB. But on the offensive side of the ball they have Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, Christian Darrisaw and TJ Hockenson all under the age of 26. Then you have Brian O'Neill who is under 28. That is a heck of a core outside of the QB position. Doesn't even account for some of the other pieces in Osbourne, Mattison and Cleveland who have upside as well.  

....and to piggyback, too many fans already giving up on Booth and Cine. 

Well dammit Sticky you need to wave those pom-poms harder then!  Just don't sprain your arm.  :p

To Geoff: Everything seems to point to Dalvin leaving, but with draft now over have you heard anything about Danielle and Za’Darius? Is there some magical cap workings that can be performed to keep them both and prevent them from potentially holding out? I sure like how our D sits 1000x better with those 2 on the field…