Oh Really?

Yeah, because that was a better choice than Jackson. GTFO

Nick Emmanwori is the #1 graded safety in the NFL by PFF

84.8 overall
83.5 run defense
71.1 pass rush
81.1 coverage

70+ = above average starter
80+ = pro bowl level pic.twitter.com/plgbpaEGvX

— Brian Nemhauser (@hawkblogger) October 13, 2025

First Kyle Hamilton, now Emmanwori.

I don't know what the mighty PFF has to say about our safeties, but I can't think of a single time this year where I cursed at the TV because the safeties blew a play that cost us. Certainly isn't the reason we've lost games. I'm more than good having taken Jackson over Emmonwori or Starks.

Casting pearls before swine. Pity. 

I’m sorry if being right bothers you all so much. Oh well. Not my problem.  :cool:

Not from PFF

Nick Emmanwori tied for the team lead in tackles yesterday with nine, including a TFL (video below).

Mike Macdonald likes the rookie's mentality: "There’s some really cool stuff on tape from the game where he’s trying to play like us, and I think he’s showing that’s who he is." pic.twitter.com/jnCQsFaLSY

— Brady Henderson (@BradyHenderson) October 13, 2025

One doesn't have to be a self-proclaimed genius to dunk on most of Kwesi's draft selections.  But Jackson isn't one of those.

This team has done so bad with early round dbs going back years through the prior regime that they're probably allergic to the idea of taking one now.

I'm cool with Jackson at 24...

Looking in the windshield (not the rear view mirror), this is the guy I want at S for the Vikings someday...

Remember the name Koi Perich; Kyle Hamilton type upside.

If Jackson is good then it was a good pick. If this Safety is good then that would’ve been a good pick too.

To come in and boast about a player, that was not as big of a need, over a LG that looks to be a fixture on our line is why people react. But you know that already and got exactly what you wanted. Solid o-line will give you a better chance to win a SB than neglecting the line, once again, and going with a S that we really didn't need over a LG. The Vikings made the right choice. But Congratulations, another pat on the back for ya.

I’ve been told that our D is too complex for a rookie. Perch would be unlikely to have much impact until 2028/29. Getting a replacement for the near dead Smith would have been prudent in hindsight.

Koi is a dream for the future, certainly not next season...

It’s amusing to me that several have taken this thread as DJ bashing. Comical. And more than a little sad. It’s a good reminder that 21% of the adult population is functionally illiterate. 

But…

I have to wonder if the short and long term interests of the team wouldn’t have been better addressed by a combination of Brandel( who was perfectly fine next to Darrisaw) or our latest UDFA gem Joe Huber and Emmanwori than Jackson? 

Smith is running on fumes. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he decided in season to hang them up. As previously mentioned I’ve been told ad infinitum BFlo’s D is too complex for a rookie. Maybe having a replacement in hand early would be a sound idea? Of course the same people are dying over passing on Kyle Hamilton who apparently entered the league as an established veteran.

Food for thought (for those who are capable)

JustInTime wrote:
It’s amusing to me that several have taken this thread as DJ bashing. Comical. And more than a little sad. It’s a good reminder that 21% of the adult population is functionally illiterate. 

But…

I have to wonder if the short and long term interests of the team wouldn’t have been better addressed by a combination of Brandel( who was perfectly fine next to Darrisaw) or our latest UDFA gem Joe Huber and Emmanwori than Jackson? 

Smith is running on fumes. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he decided in season to hang them up. As previously mentioned I’ve been told ad infinitum BFlo’s D is too complex for a rookie. Maybe having a replacement in hand early would be a sound idea? Of course the same people are dying over passing on Kyle Hamilton who apparently entered the league as an established veteran.

Food for thought (for those who are capable)

It's fair to wonder, but as mentioned, no rookie was going to play over Smith and Mattelus this season and we have Jay Ward and Theo Jackson already locked up for at least next season behind them. We drafted an immediate starter at guard who upgraded the position and completed our line overhaul which was thee priority for the organization this offseason. You also want to do everything you can to help a rookie quarterback (essentially) succeed and securing the offensive line does that ten fold over drafting a backup safety. This season is all about seeing if McCarthy is our quarterback moving forward and the Vikings drafted accordingly.

JustInTime wrote:
It’s amusing to me that several have taken this thread as DJ bashing. Comical. And more than a little sad. It’s a good reminder that 21% of the adult population is functionally illiterate. 

But…

I have to wonder if the short and long term interests of the team wouldn’t have been better addressed by a combination of Brandel( who was perfectly fine next to Darrisaw) or our latest UDFA gem Joe Huber and Emmanwori than Jackson? 

Smith is running on fumes. Wouldn’t surprise me in the least if he decided in season to hang them up. As previously mentioned I’ve been told ad infinitum BFlo’s D is too complex for a rookie. Maybe having a replacement in hand early would be a sound idea? Of course the same people are dying over passing on Kyle Hamilton who apparently entered the league as an established veteran.

Food for thought (for those who are capable)

Yabbut you can play that game every year with every single draft pick. Could've had Schwesinger too. Xavier Watts has actually been better than Emmanwori IMO and he went in the 3rd round. We're literally 6 weeks into the season. Far too early IMO to be playing the "this guy over that guy" game. But sure, if you want, Tuten or Skattebo over Felton. JCM over Bartholomew....the guy I wanted in the 3rd was Sai'vion Jones, whom the Broncos traded up one spot ahead of us to select. He's playing really well. If I had a dollar for every draft pick I didn't agree with I could retire...in Laos or somewhere cheap.  ;)

MaroonBells wrote:

Yabbut you can play that game every year with every single draft pick. Could've had Schwesinger too. Xavier Watts has actually been better than Emmanwori IMO and he went in the 3rd round. We're literally 6 weeks into the season. Far too early IMO to be playing the "this guy over that guy" game. But sure, if you want, Tuten or Skattebo over Felton. JCM over Bartholomew....the guy I wanted in the 3rd was Sai'vion Jones, whom the Broncos traded up one spot ahead of us to select. He's playing really well. If I had a dollar for every draft pick I didn't agree with I could retire...in Laos or somewhere cheap.  ;)

supafreak84 wrote:

It's fair to wonder, but as mentioned, no rookie was going to play over Smith and Mattelus this season and we have Jay Ward and Theo Jackson already locked up for at least next season behind them. We drafted an immediate starter at guard who upgraded the position and completed our line overhaul which was thee priority for the organization this offseason. You also want to do everything you can to help a rookie quarterback (essentially) succeed and securing the offensive line does that ten fold over drafting a backup safety. This season is all about seeing if McCarthy is our quarterback moving forward and the Vikings drafted accordingly.

Well, there’s several holes in your argument.

First, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but currently Smith isn’t starting. So, to say he wouldn’t start over someone who isn’t starting is comical and completely illogical. 

Second, Jay Ward has played a grand total of 55 snaps on D. Doesn’t sound much like a Smith replacement in my book. He’s a borderline ST guy at best. 

Third, where your argument really falls completely apart is that Mettelus and Jackson play different positions. 

Do you watch the games? Seriously. Maybe just the box scores?

Again, if your comment about the D being too complex for a rookie to play (depends on the rookie if you ask me) why wouldn’t you draft someone early so they could be mentored by Smith? You wouldn’t want Kyle Hamilton? Emmanwori is playing the big nickel role in McDonald’s D. He couldn’t do the same here?

Dubious.

JustInTime wrote:

Well, there’s several holes in your argument.

First, I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but currently Smith isn’t starting. So, to say he wouldn’t start over someone who isn’t starting is comical and completely illogical. 

Second, Jay Ward has played a grand total of 55 snaps on D. Doesn’t sound much like a Smith replacement in my book. He’s a borderline ST guy at best. 

Third, where your argument really falls completely apart is that Mettelus and Jackson play different positions. 

Do you watch the games? Seriously. Maybe just the box scores?

Again, if your comment about the D being too complex for a rookie to play (depends on the rookie if you ask me) why wouldn’t you draft someone early so they could be mentored by Smith? You wouldn’t want Kyle Hamilton? Emmanwori is playing the big nickel role in McDonald’s D. He couldn’t do the same here?

Dubious.

Do you watch the game or just scan the PFF stats afterwards? You know Emmonwori has only played a little over 100 snaps this year, right? It's a little premature to be beating your chest over him being PFF's top ranked safety based on such a small sample size. In contrast, our safety/big nickel Theo Jackson has played almost 200 more snaps this year and has played well. 

You are also a party of one here because nobody else on this board would take Emmonwori over Donovan Jackson, who very well might be part of the best left side in football alongside Darrisaw. We've had elite safety play for decades and how many Super Bowls have we been to in the last 40 years? It's a luxury. Elite line play is a necessity.

supafreak84 wrote:

Do you watch the game or just scan the PFF stats afterwards? You know Emmonwori has only played a little over 100 snaps this year, right? It's a little premature to be beating your chest over him being PFF's top ranked safety based on such a small sample size. In contrast, our safety/big nickel Theo Jackson has played almost 200 more snaps this year and has played well. 

You are also a party of one here because nobody else on this board would take Emmonwori over Donovan Jackson, who very well might be part of the best left side in football alongside Darrisaw. We've had elite safety play for decades and how many Super Bowls have we been to in the last 40 years? It's a luxury. Elite line play is a necessity.

You know who else had a small sample size?

Isiah Rodgers. 

How’s that working out for you?

As far as being an army of one, I’m cool with that. My track record on the draft and FA is pretty strong. Show me someone who has hit more often than me.

MaroonBells wrote:

Yabbut you can play that game every year with every single draft pick. Could've had Schwesinger too. Xavier Watts has actually been better than Emmanwori IMO and he went in the 3rd round. We're literally 6 weeks into the season. Far too early IMO to be playing the "this guy over that guy" game. But sure, if you want, Tuten or Skattebo over Felton. JCM over Bartholomew....the guy I wanted in the 3rd was Sai'vion Jones, whom the Broncos traded up one spot ahead of us to select. He's playing really well. If I had a dollar for every draft pick I didn't agree with I could retire...in Laos or somewhere cheap.  ;)

Wanted Watts bad. Soon as he was taken we traded down. We almost had a damn near perfect draft, with as little as we had, if Watts would have been there.

JustInTime wrote:

You know who else had a small sample size?

Isiah Rodgers. 

How’s that working out for you?

As far as being an army of one, I’m cool with that. My track record on the draft and FA is pretty strong. Show me someone who has hit more often than me.

Well that's hard to say because nobody knows just what your "track record" is lol. Maybe you could post it for us? I'm sure Maroon would vouch for its authenticity