Derwin James with #1 pick?

Its pretty safe to say we can go with BPA @#30...I also think its pretty safe to say James will be gone a good 10-15 spots earlier...Marcus Allen Day #2 might be more likely if we want a potential upgrade to Sendejo...I'm holding out hope we can go OL or 3T at #30...

Lots to like,  but one thing I see is his tendency to go high on his tackles.  Makes for really good tape when you make the play,  but you get shrugged off a lot more also.  I would like to see him hitting a bit lower.  I like that he shows he will wrap up and drive through at times,  he has that part which is getting rarer and rarer.

One of my favorite players in the draft but he should be gone way before we pick.

James is a freak show. You watch some of his all-22 and the ground he is able to cover on some plays in unreal. He is inconsistent at time though, which will push him down the board a bit. Physically assuming his knee checks out "ok" he is a top 10 talent. But the demand at safety doesn't always mesh with the draft board. Anywhere from 5-20 seems to be his current range.  

I like the idea of getting a better safety than Sendejo, but James could be a top 10 pick. Also, I think we would better complement Smith's skills by pairing him with a safety who excels in coverage and ranging deep when needed - a fast safety with some hybrid CB traits. (Notice Zimmer keeps drafting CB-to-S conversion projects.) In round 2, see if Jessie Bates or Armani Watts make sense - or possibly Carlton Davis if he slides.

He's as good in coverage if not better than Smith. The hitting needs cleaned up but he's coachable, just didn't have any coaches worth a crap at FSU.

But i go back to opportunity vs. cost. It will likely cost passing on a Day 1 Starter at RT or OG to pick James. That is too high a cost for me for no other reason than Derwin won't be able to improve the Defense as much as a Starting O-Lineman would improve the Offense.

The Defense is already #1. In my opinion to improve it significantly you need a 3T that can really rush the passer, more CBs for Dime Packages and more DE depth to go along with Derwin to make it that much better.

But adding an RT also provides opportunity to improve the RG as well as depth and will have a greater impact on the Offense.

This is why pure BPA is actually pure BS.  If a RB or WR that was a Top 10 Talent fell to Rick would he pull the trigger? Nope. With Cook, Thielen and Diggs adding another weapon instead of improving the Line makes no sense.

Having said that, if Rick doesn't see an O-Lineman he feels has a First or early Second Round grade then by all means you take James. He's not getting past Seattle, though.

BPA is bull shit? I'm glad you weren't in charge when Moss slid while we had a future HOF WR on one side and another guy who'd put up a couple 1,000 seasons...drafting for need is the bull shit move...   

@"BarrNone55" said: BPA is bull shit? I'm glad you weren't in charge when Moss slid while we had a future HOF WR on one side and another guy who'd put up a couple 1,000 seasons...drafting for need is the bull shit move...   

So you want Barkley if he falls? Top 5 Talent.  

I agree that the tendency will be for OL in 1st Round, but like I said, there will be a stud LB and a stud CB falling to #30 on draft day, and that's when The Decision will be made.
I won't complain if they nab a guy they feel can be an impact defender.  
I did not appreciate the way Philly tore up the mid-levels of The D with their RPO.
Everybody will copy that against The Vikes this year if they don't upgrade LB and Nickel coverage.  They still have one or two weaknesses on D which could be improved.
As deep as this draft appears to be, I would be fine with trading back with 1st pick, too.
How about a RB like Nick Chubb or Sony Michel around #40-#45?  Hard to pass up impact talent like that.

Teams almost never draft BPA. They say they do, but they don't. Not literally anyway. I think teams look at their list of needs now and in the short-term future and draft the best player available among those needs, without regard to the DEGREE or immediacy of need. 

@"FSUVike" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: BPA is bull shit? I'm glad you weren't in charge when Moss slid while we had a future HOF WR on one side and another guy who'd put up a couple 1,000 seasons...drafting for need is the bull shit move...   

So you want Barkley if he falls? Top 5 Talent.  

@"FSUVike" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: BPA is bull shit? I'm glad you weren't in charge when Moss slid while we had a future HOF WR on one side and another guy who'd put up a couple 1,000 seasons...drafting for need is the bull shit move...   

So you want Barkley if he falls? Top 5 Talent.  

This is like asking me if I want Kate Upton to join me in my Jacuzzi...

I'm sure BPA will be in play big time when Minnesota selects in round 1, but I'd prefer a pick other than defense.

You guys are nuts. No RT, no 3T, need more CBs but let's take a guy at the same position we already had potentially the ROY. Drafting like that will net you one incredibly talented position or unit at the expense of another.

Look at the Cowboys. Loaded up on 1st Round O-Linemen at the expense of their Defense. Which got them nowhere.

BPA@PON. WR and RB are not positions of need to the extent that you burn your first rounder on them. Yes, Jet needs replacing. Did Kamara or Hunt go in the 1st? 

You can make a legit argument for virtually every other position though. James is a massive upgrade from Sendejo. A LB to hedge against Barr backsliding on the field or not willing to sign long-term for what the Vikings want to pay him. DE because of its importance to Zimmer's scheme, Griffs age/health, Hunter's sort of down year. Center because you can kick Elf to OG. QB because, well, it's the Vikings. TE for sure.

But hell no to WR, RB and NT. It's a deep draft again this year. Value will be there at those positions in later rounds.

Really going to be fun to see what Rick does this year. Will he go for his Ten Picks? With a loaded Roster does he juke us and move up to get certain guys and only wind up with 6 or 7 players total or even less? Does he move a pick or multiple picks to acquire a veteran? ,

The Draft is in two weeks, right? 

@"FSUVike" said: You guys are nuts. No RT, no 3T, need more CBs but let's take a guy at the same position we already had potentially the ROY. Drafting like that will net you one incredibly talented position or unit at the expense of another.

Look at the Cowboys. Loaded up on 1st Round O-Linemen at the expense of their Defense. Which got them nowhere.

BPA@PON. WR and RB are not positions of need to the extent that you burn your first rounder on them. Yes, Jet needs replacing. Did Kamara or Hunt go in the 1st? 

You can make a legit argument for virtually every other position though. James is a massive upgrade from Sendejo. A LB to hedge against Barr backsliding on the field or not willing to sign long-term for what the Vikings want to pay him. DE because of its importance to Zimmer's scheme, Griffs age/health, Hunter's sort of down year. Center because you can kick Elf to OG. QB because, well, it's the Vikings. TE for sure.

But hell no to WR, RB and NT. It's a deep draft again this year. Value will be there at those positions in later rounds.

Really going to be fun to see what Rick does this year. Will he go for his Ten Picks? With a loaded Roster does he juke us and move up to get certain guys and only wind up with 6 or 7 players total or even less? Does he move a pick or multiple picks to acquire a veteran? ,

The Draft is in two weeks, right? 

to the point of the cowboys.... they are stacked at OL and that is why a mediocre cheap QB is able to look like a world beater back there.  I would love for the Vikes to take a similar approach and realize that a great OL will cover up a lot of skill position weaknesses.   average RB look like all pros, average QBs look great, and the extra time allows average WRs time to get free.   I know this isnt where you were attacking,  but since you pointed out the boys I had to say I think its one of the rare smart moves done by jerruh.

And yet where exactly has it gotten them? Despite that Line they can't get any kind of consistent passing attack. They haven't invested in WR early in ages and it shows. The Defense isn't going to win them any games in the Playoffs.

Roster construction needs to be balanced. The Vikings spent years pouring high round picks into the Defense at the expense of the Offense. Yet that Defense failed to carry the team to a win in the most important game of the year.

That's why the notion of going 'cheap" at QB to save room to snag Richardson and retain Kendricks, Barr, Hunter and Diggs has me shaking my head.

The NFL has quietly morphed into an up and down product Offensively on the field...until you get to the Elite 8 in the Playoffs. Then you start to see Offenses and Playcallers that just can't be completely shut down.

Look at the Jags. Terrific Defense. Gave up big plays to Pittsburgh left and right and couldn't stop Brady when it mattered most. They're not going to spend the offseason worrying about saving money so they can continue to improve the Defense. They're going to figure out how to fix the QB spot.

Minnesota is in the same boat. Sign Cousins, draft McGlinchey and now this Offense can have the Defense's back once in a while. And a potent Offense helps the Defense by keeping them off the field more. Something the D-Line would greatly benefit from. 

The Vikings recognize what's happening. That's why they went and got a hot shot young guy to be their OC. It's why they won't make a huge run at Richardson, IMO. They know the Offense stepping up is what will take this team to the next level. Not the Defense making a modest improvement.

@"FSUVike" said: And yet where exactly has it gotten them? Despite that Line they can't get any kind of consistent passing attack. They haven't invested in WR early in ages and it shows. The Defense isn't going to win them any games in the Playoffs.

Roster construction needs to be balanced. The Vikings spent years pouring high round picks into the Defense at the expense of the Offense. Yet that Defense failed to carry the team to a win in the most important game of the year.

That's why the notion of going 'cheap" at QB to save room to snag Richardson and retain Kendricks, Barr, Hunter and Diggs has me shaking my head.

The NFL has quietly morphed into an up and down product Offensively on the field...until you get to the Elite 8 in the Playoffs. Then you start to see Offenses and Playcallers that just can't be completely shut down.

Look at the Jags. Terrific Defense. Gave up big plays to Pittsburgh left and right and couldn't stop Brady when it mattered most. They're not going to spend the offseason worrying about saving money so they can continue to improve the Defense. They're going to figure out how to fix the QB spot.

Minnesota is in the same boat. Sign Cousins, draft McGlinchey and now this Offense can have the Defense's back once in a while. And a potent Offense helps the Defense by keeping them off the field more. Something the D-Line would greatly benefit from. 

The Vikings recognize what's happening. That's why they went and got a hot shot young guy to be their OC. It's why they won't make a huge run at Richardson, IMO. They know the Offense stepping up is what will take this team to the next level. Not the Defense making a modest improvement.

you are putting cousins in the same ability level as brady or big ben?  i dont see how spending 30 million a year on him will elevate our team as much as spreading that money out on a few other free agents and running with a QB that is more affordable and maybe not quite as good.  cousins is far from a lock in terms of what he will bring to this offense.  we can disagree,  i will take a solid OL and DL over loading up on skill positions every time.  yes those positions need to be addressed,  but win the trenches first.

Points. As in Minnesota needs to score more and more consistently. Matty Ice got his team to a SB. He's a Tier 2 QB.

Sheldon Richardson is not going to pressure the QB on every play. Unless Minnesota has 4 Xavier Rhodes and 2 Harrison Smiths Playoff teams will get targets open, move the ball and score points.

This just isn't ever going to be the Bears, Ravens or Broncos level of Elite Defense.

I'd love nothing more then for Sam and Teddy to be fully healthy. Either could take this team all the way with improvement to the O-Line, which should come via the Draft.

As a fan I just can't feel good about that level of risk when there is a far less risky option out there.

I'd feel different if I thought Rick would spend big FA dollars on the O-Line again, snagged Richardson AND inked two CBs. At that point even Case would have a legit shot at taking this team all the way.

In lieu of that unlikely scenario give me the Tier 2 QB that doesn't have any health questions.

@"FSUVike" said: Points. As in Minnesota needs to score more and more consistently. Matty Ice got his team to a SB. He's a Tier 2 QB.

Sheldon Richardson is not going to pressure the QB on every play. Unless Minnesota has 4 Xavier Rhodes and 2 Harrison Smiths Playoff teams will get targets open, move the ball and score points.

This just isn't ever going to be the Bears, Ravens or Broncos level of Elite Defense.

I'd love nothing more then for Sam and Teddy to be fully healthy. Either could take this team all the way with improvement to the O-Line, which should come via the Draft.

As a fan I just can't feel good about that level of risk when there is a far less risky option out there.

I'd feel different if I thought Rick would spend big FA dollars on the O-Line again, snagged Richardson AND inked two CBs. At that point even Case would have a legit shot at taking this team all the way.

In lieu of that unlikely scenario give me the Tier 2 QB that doesn't have any health questions.

for 25 million a year I will give him to you every time you ask.   B)