Misc. Thoughts: Draft+
Not a watcher of college football, so take my thoughts with a grain of salt (as with all my miscellaneous thoughts).
- McCarthy: This is an instance of in KOC We Trust. To a certain extent the Vikings history of drafting QBs is remarkable in how little draft capital they have spent on QBs. Here is a good article on that: Vikings Draft History for QBs. It does seem like the Vikings have put a lot of thought into how to develop a rookie QB and let's hope that events don't derail this strategy.
- Turner: Just like QB, it is remarkable to me how little valuable draft capital the Vikings have invested in edge rushers the past few years. It has been nearly two decades since the Vikings spent a first or second round pick on an edge rusher. I am guessing this is largely due to their success in finding good edge rushers in the mid to late rounds such as Hunter (3rd), Griffen (4th) and Robison (4th). It is amazing to me how the success of past management seeps into the though process of current management regimes. Though I have reservations regarding Kwesi stemming from his first draft, it is really refreshing how he has re-written the Vikings script for drafting QBs and Edge through this first round.
- Jackson: This is one of the picks for which I have deep reservations. This is an instance of in Flores We Trust. I thought there were some very solid players at positions of high need (interior line play) available. I also hate drafting a player based on one outstanding season.
- Reichard: At first I hated this pick but I have grown to like it for one reason. In the recent past, the Vikings have selected kickers for teams that were expected to compete at a very high level -- that is not the case next season. Reichard will be able to play in a less stressful environment and hone his pro craft without worry of losing his job. It really is the best environment for bringing in a rookie kicker.
- Rodriguez: I am fascinated by this choice simply because it is a long line of picks and signings trying to capture the John Randle lighting in the bottle. The minute I looked at info on LDR, I thought of Hercules Mata-afa. There is enough info to make the pick intriguing and a storyline to follow during training camp (unlike Jurgens who seems to be a very vanilla pick).
- 2025 Draft: I am assuming the number of picks next year will be augmented by: (a) a compensatory pick; (b) a Cousins tampering pick; and/or (c) the Vikings offloading some excess talent for late round picks (most likely Mullens/Cine/Booth).
purplefaithful wrote:
I wont answer for @Sticky...My own opinion is that Darnold starts the regular regardless of TC, OTA, Pre-Season performance from the 21 year old.
Viking Nation needs to pray Darnold stays healthy.
How KOC handles his reps in August will be interesting to see. He will need reps being new to the system and all - KOC will need to strike a fine balance in how much he actually plays in the pre-season. It'll be more than KC would.
Yeah, I hope Darnold starts at LEAST the first half of the season. Would love to give JJM the Mahomes treatment and have him sit his rookie year with a token start in the final week when we have a playoff spot locked up.
One thing working in JJM's favor though is Michigan used some of the same passing concepts as KOC. He'll have a leg up learning the playbook and he seems like a bright, hard working kid.
Be nice to let him learn and be fully ready to hit the ground running in 2025 with an even more built up team around him.
MaroonBells wrote:
I keep wondering how the draft would've gone if JJ had played in a passing offense at Washington or LSU. I think he might've been seen as a Joe Burrow type and more of a consideration for #1 overall.
The fact that Washington "seriously considered" JJ at #2 suggests that NFL teams had this in mind as well.
Regardless of the rumors, the fact is he was the 5th QB selected. He's got weaknesses. I'm as high on the kid as anyone, but he needs some seasoning. My concern is Viking Nation starts the 'JJ McCarthy' chant at the stadium in Week 3.....KOC is going to have to stay firm and resolved if Darnold sucks ass early.
MAD GAINZ wrote:
Yeah, I hope Darnold starts at LEAST the first half of the season. Would love to give JJM the Mahomes treatment and have him sit his rookie year with a token start in the final week when we have a playoff spot locked up.
One thing working in JJM's favor though is Michigan used some of the same passing concepts as KOC. He'll have a leg up learning the playbook and he seems like a bright, hard working kid.
Be nice to let him learn and be fully ready to hit the ground running in 2025 with an even more built up team around him.
IF JJ has a great pre-season, you can rest assured many will be calling for him to start. Same thing will happen as soon as Darnold has a bad game.
But yah, see how Andy Reid and GB rear their QB's.
ITs the way to go with these rooks...
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
Johnny Manziel (yep) just said Sam Darnold can ball and he's in the perfect situation in Minnesota and watch out for Sammy McDarnold. So we have that.
StickierBuns wrote:
Johnny Manziel (yep) just said Sam Darnold can ball and he's in the perfect situation in Minnesota and watch out for Sammy McDarnold. So we have that.
I'm not ready to believe Johnny Football about anything, but I think he's right here. I think Darnold is going to surprise a lot of people.
MaroonBells wrote:
I'm not ready to believe Johnny Football about anything, but I think he's right here. I think Darnold is going to surprise a lot of people.
I gave this a "like"
Best thing for JJ is for Darnold to hold down the position for the entire season.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
PurplePastor wrote:
What if JJM is clearly the better QB in training camp and preseason? I don't know if that will be the case right away, but what if he learns the offense better and plays better and has more command? How do you not start him? And shouldn't you start him if that's the case?
I think if that's the case, we all crack open that bottle of Ripple we've been saving since the 70s and celebrate. But I still put him back in the box. Kansas City knew what they had in Mahomes his rookie year. His teammates raved about how he looked in practice. Still, they kept him on the bench. I hope the Vikings can show that kind of patience.
And Mahomes was a year older than JJM. JJ just turned 21.
MaroonBells wrote:
I think if that's the case, we all crack open that bottle of Ripple we've been saving since the 70s and celebrate. But I still put him back in the box. Kansas City knew what they had in Mahomes his rookie year. His teammates raved about how he looked in practice. Still, they kept him on the bench. I hope the Vikings can show that kind of patience.
And Mahomes was a year older than JJM. JJ just turned 21.
Its funny you mention that. I share our season tix seats with 3 others. We've had em since the Warren Moon days. Replicated the placement from the MEtrodome to USB.
Anyways, in 98 we got that special bottle of scotch that was going to be opened after we beat the Falcons.
That bottle is still in the cabinet waiting to get popped-open.
Hopefully one day b4 I meet my maker....
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
purplefaithful wrote:
I wont answer for @Sticky...My own opinion is that Darnold starts the regular regardless of TC, OTA, Pre-Season performance from the 21 year old.
Viking Nation needs to pray Darnold stays healthy.
How KOC handles his reps in August will be interesting to see. He will need reps being new to the system and all - KOC will need to strike a fine balance in how much he actually plays in the pre-season. It'll be more than KC would.
It’s going to be a juggling act for all the QB’s to get a little playing time in the preseason.
Definitely want to get them in with your better linemen.
purplefaithful wrote:
I wont answer for @Sticky...My own opinion is that Darnold starts the regular regardless of TC, OTA, Pre-Season performance from the 21 year old.
Viking Nation needs to pray Darnold stays healthy.
How KOC handles his reps in August will be interesting to see. He will need reps being new to the system and all - KOC will need to strike a fine balance in how much he actually plays in the pre-season. It'll be more than KC would.
I think when TC begins and into their early preseason games, you'll see JJM's inexperience. Fans need to get a grasp that he's super young and will be learning a ton so not to get disappointed when the media starts saying things like 'JJM had an up and down practice.....JJM at #3 in preseason....JJM still getting comfortable, etc.'.
Darnold is going to start the regular season, zero doubt about it.
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