Draft Weekend Thoughts
Just a few thoughts on the draft;
Banks was a reach, but it's not often you reach and could legitimately have picked the best defensive player in the draft. Physical tools off the charts. You just hope he kicks the injury bug and can stay healthy going forward. Usually feet problems with large people don't go away. Defensive line was our biggest need heading into the draft and we took a big swing in addressing it. On paper, Orange on the nose flanked by Banks and Redmond looks pretty damn good. We'll see how it actually plays out.
I thought there were better players on the board when they took Golday, but linebacker was a need. Big and versatile. Have no idea where they are going to play him but can move him around. Likely will be a special teams guy initially who gives us injury insurance for the annual Cashman injured reserve tour
I liked the Orange pick, but outside of that, it was a really "meh" draft for me. Not sure why we took the short armed tackle so early, or the fullback when we've shown no commitment to running the football in four years. I went into this draft knowing it wasn't particularly talented or deep, but there were definately some "huh" picks by the Vikings.
Really surprised we went so heavy on defense. O'Connell is really putting all his eggs into the Kyler Murray basket to generate plays for an offense that ranked 28th last year. We'll see if that ends up being a wise decision.
Initially thought the Greenard comp was low, but getting the additional 3rd next year in a deeper draft is appealing. Just happy they were able to get a decent return and can turn that position over to Turner full time now.
The Wilfs need to stop f'n around and bring in a real GM with relevant football experience for what the position requires. No more trying to reinvent the wheel. You are some of the worst owners in football in terms of playoff success in the last 20 years. Start making better decisions and that starts with who you hire to run the ship while you nap in Jersey. This organization, fans, and the state deserve better.
Is it September yet?
Me being a fan for 50 years now and just grading the draft on the sniff test I couldn't agree more. I dont have the expertise that many on this board have just a feeling that the decision making on draft day has been, "look how smart I am" approach for many many years with the occasional no brainer pick being made. Injury aside they finally attempted to legitimately address the interior line and I'm glad for that. Then they ignore traditional institutions that put out legitimate pro players in hopes that the Goldays, Tiernan, and Gearhardts of the draft pan out. Hoping our second round pick can contribute on special teams?! Bunk in my book. After the third than go-ahead and look for upside all around the college ranks. Especially the further you get away from the line of scrimmage IMO. I'm hopeful on some of the picks developing due to athleticism and character traits the team seems to value. Not sure if they measure being a proven contributor at certain position groups with colleges that demonstratre thei abilityto churn them out with the same weight.
Eric Wilson is 31
Cashman is 29 (and hurt too often)
AVG is 30 years old
I have warmed to the Golday pick a bunch since Saturday. It's taken 4 years of poor drafting to get into this position with the team, one draft wont turn it all around.
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
supafreak84 wrote:
Really surprised we went so heavy on defense. O'Connell is really putting all his eggs into the Kyler Murray basket to generate plays for an offense that ranked 28th last year. We'll see if that ends up being a wise decision.
Why do you think we ranked so low on offense last year?
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
MaroonBells wrote:
Why do you think we ranked so low on offense last year?
You can say quarterback play, and yes, but you also can't point out quarterback play without pointing out O'Connell's lack of commitment to running a more balanced offense and putting whoever he had at quarterback in better positions to be successful. That was a major part in the failure last season
supafreak84 wrote:
You can say quarterback play, and yes, but you also can't point out quarterback play without pointing out O'Connell's lack of commitment to running a more balanced offense and putting whoever he had at quarterback in better positions to be successful. That was a major part in the failure last season
I just mean in terms of the draft. It sounds like you think we should've upgraded the offense more than we did. Maybe a WR in the middle rounds to compete with Felton would've been nice, maybe a higher ranked RB. But the biggest problem, and why we ranked 28th, was our QB room, and we addressed that before the draft.
Personally, I'm jacked that we spent the first three picks on defense. Our defense ranked very high, but we lost several hundred starting snaps from the DL when we released Hargrave and Allen. We lost an edge rusher in Greenard, Wilson is 31, Cashman and Gink are in contract years and Harry seems to be leaning toward retirement. This is where our focus should've been and it was.
DL: Banks, Orange, Redmond - Depth: the hyphens (all five under 27)
LB: Turner, Cashman, Wilson, Gink - Depth: Golday, who can play all four positions
Vikings injected a massive shot of youth and talent to this front seven, while resetting a problematic cap picture.
“A gentleman is someone who can play the accordion, but doesn't." - Tom Waits
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