Draft pick after Richardson signing.

Trade up and take the best OT possible.  We don't need alot of players (i.e. "depth").  We need great players at as many positions as possible.  And we have that.  Maybe I'm wrong- but where are we "thin"?  Not OL.  RBs are a dime a dozen.  WR?  Maybe.  But we had a couple on the bench last year that may be ready to contribute this year (or we can re-sign Wright).  Not DL.  Not LB.  Maybe at DB- but again, that's just for depth.  We already have our starters (with the possible exception of the Nickel CB).  Why worry about getting 7-10 players, when- at best- those draft picks are fighting for 2nd on the depth charts?  Might as well get the 1 or 2 players that we "need" to be great at all our positions.

Sure, Price can play guard.
But, if Remmers is staying at RG, which I believe he will, and Easton is back at LG - he played well last year and after he got hurt the line was not nearly as good, then I do not see us taking a guard.  Isidora looked pretty good, too. We did not even tender Sirles so I suspect he will leave.  Hill did not play very good at RT last season.  So . . . the OL line need is at tackle.
CB is always a possibility. I heard the same about looking at the CB position in FA. I like Callahan in Chicago but Chicago has the right to match any contract - like they did with Fuller. I doubt they will let the Vikings take him. May need to trade for him.

Here's what I'm thinking...

1. RT - Remmers and Hill competing there is OK, but I think we can potentially upgrade two positions by drafting the RT and moving Remmers inside to RG to compete with Isadora. And if we can keep Hill out of the starting lineup, we can keep his cost down next year when it comes time to pay him. Having him as tackle depth for both positions is huge. 

2. DE - We should have a really nice rotation inside with Joseph, Richardson and Jaleel. Now we need a better rotation outside. This would be slot corner, but we just drafted a 2nd round slot corner (Alexander) and if the Vikings don't think he's the answer, we should probably find a low-cost free agent to fill this. No hurry though. Maybe even after June 1st. 

3. LB - I'm intrigued by Eric Wilson, but outside of him we're woefully thin at LB and we were pretty lucky last year to go mostly injury free there. Plus, we may need to hedge our bets against the possibility of not being able to re-sign Barr. 

4. RB - You can almost bet on it. Rick will end up with a 4th. Maybe by trading down one of the above picks. But we need a new Jet. Recently heard there are 8 backs in this year's draft who were given higher grades than Christian McCaffrey, which is hard to believe, but whatever. Maybe one lands here. 

@"pumpf" said: Trade up and take the best OT possible.  We don't need alot of players (i.e. "depth").  We need great players at as many positions as possible.  And we have that.  Maybe I'm wrong- but where are we "thin"?  Not OL.  RBs are a dime a dozen.  WR?  Maybe.  But we had a couple on the bench last year that may be ready to contribute this year (or we can re-sign Wright).  Not DL.  Not LB.  Maybe at DB- but again, that's just for depth.  We already have our starters (with the possible exception of the Nickel CB).  Why worry about getting 7-10 players, when- at best- those draft picks are fighting for 2nd on the depth charts?  Might as well get the 1 or 2 players that we "need" to be great at all our positions.

@"PurplePastor" said:

@"pumpf" said: Trade up and take the best OT possible.  We don't need alot of players (i.e. "depth").  We need great players at as many positions as possible.  And we have that.  Maybe I'm wrong- but where are we "thin"?  Not OL.  RBs are a dime a dozen.  WR?  Maybe.  But we had a couple on the bench last year that may be ready to contribute this year (or we can re-sign Wright).  Not DL.  Not LB.  Maybe at DB- but again, that's just for depth.  We already have our starters (with the possible exception of the Nickel CB).  Why worry about getting 7-10 players, when- at best- those draft picks are fighting for 2nd on the depth charts?  Might as well get the 1 or 2 players that we "need" to be great at all our positions.

Agree wholeheartedly. My one caution would be that draft picks don't always pan out and sometimes those picked lower work out better. I'm all for being aggressive for the ones you've identified as a potential starter; especially given the team we are fielding. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"PurplePastor" said:

@"pumpf" said: Trade up and take the best OT possible.  We don't need alot of players (i.e. "depth").  We need great players at as many positions as possible.  And we have that.  Maybe I'm wrong- but where are we "thin"?  Not OL.  RBs are a dime a dozen.  WR?  Maybe.  But we had a couple on the bench last year that may be ready to contribute this year (or we can re-sign Wright).  Not DL.  Not LB.  Maybe at DB- but again, that's just for depth.  We already have our starters (with the possible exception of the Nickel CB).  Why worry about getting 7-10 players, when- at best- those draft picks are fighting for 2nd on the depth charts?  Might as well get the 1 or 2 players that we "need" to be great at all our positions.

Agree wholeheartedly. My one caution would be that draft picks don't always pan out and sometimes those picked lower work out better. I'm all for being aggressive for the ones you've identified as a potential starter; especially given the team we are fielding. 

Yeah, but why trade up when you don't have to? Looks like the value at RT this year is between 30 and 40. We could feasibly trade DOWN and still get one of the top 3. Without a 4th, I don't see us trading up. 

I just want to go get some pro bowlers on OLine.  My ideal draft would be a OT in the first and a OG in the second, followed up by a DE in the 3rd.  I'm skeptical of just moving Remmers around.  Just get a stud at RG and RT and let the tackles battle it out and the guards battle it out.  I don't want us playing musical chairs whenever someone gets hurt.  You spend all season having Remmers get his feet down as a G, and then the rookie RT gets injured and now Remmers moves to RT and Isadora comes up at RG and you have changed two spots and one guy is relearning his feet on the fly.

I would be fine with them combining all of our 5th round and later picks to move down in the draft to get the O line guys that they feel can contribute.

It seems like many posters are putting Remmers at RG after having to fill in for injuries last year and get Hill on the field.  Hill did not play RT better then Remmers had all season.  Has the team indicated switching Remmers to Guard?  I may have missed a reference to that but it seems to have become a common thought on here.

I would not mess with the successful fix of multiple positions along the line last year.  Reiff, fixed the biggest weakness.  Then Remmers fixed the RT position and then drafting Elflein fixed the Center/line call position.  We need Guards.  Berger might be done and Easton was just OK even when healthy.

Their seems to be around 3 first round graded Guards this year which is not too common.  I just looked up Elflein's teammate:
Notable: Price, who played guard for three seasons and moved to center as a senior, started 55 consecutive games at Ohio State to top Luke Fickell’s school record for starts and consecutive starts of 50, set between 1993-96. Price (along with teammate Tyquan Lewis) tied Pat Elflein’s school record for most games played by an Ohio State football player: 55.

@"minny65" said: It seems like many posters are putting Remmers at RG after having to fill in for injuries last year and get Hill on the field.  Hill did not play RT better then Remmers had all season.  Has the team indicated switching Remmers to Guard?  I may have missed a reference to that but it seems to have become a common thought on here.

I would not mess with the successful fix of multiple positions along the line last year.  Reiff, fixed the biggest weakness.  Then Remmers fixed the RT position and then drafting Elflein fixed the Center/line call position.  We need Guards.  Berger might be done and Easton was just OK even when healthy.

Their seems to be around 3 first round graded Guards this year which is not too common.  I just looked up Elflein's teammate:
Notable: Price, who played guard for three seasons and moved to center as a senior, started 55 consecutive games at Ohio State to top Luke Fickell’s school record for starts and consecutive starts of 50, set between 1993-96. Price (along with teammate Tyquan Lewis) tied Pat Elflein’s school record for most games played by an Ohio State football player: 55.

From the Strib: Whether the Vikings draft a tackle or guard — potentially with pick No. 30 — could determine what position Remmers plays in 2018, according to Zimmer. There might be an opening at right guard, with Joe Berger set to hit free agency, too."It gives us more options," Zimmer said. "If we find a tackle in the draft or if we find a guard in the draft," it could determine Remmers' position. It's worth noting Vikings coaches chose to play Rashod Hill over Remmers at right tackle in both playoff games.
Now that last statement is a little misleading, since the calculation was probably more about Remmers>Sirles than Hill>Remmers.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said: It seems like many posters are putting Remmers at RG after having to fill in for injuries last year and get Hill on the field.  Hill did not play RT better then Remmers had all season.  Has the team indicated switching Remmers to Guard?  I may have missed a reference to that but it seems to have become a common thought on here.

I would not mess with the successful fix of multiple positions along the line last year.  Reiff, fixed the biggest weakness.  Then Remmers fixed the RT position and then drafting Elflein fixed the Center/line call position.  We need Guards.  Berger might be done and Easton was just OK even when healthy.

Their seems to be around 3 first round graded Guards this year which is not too common.  I just looked up Elflein's teammate:
Notable: Price, who played guard for three seasons and moved to center as a senior, started 55 consecutive games at Ohio State to top Luke Fickell’s school record for starts and consecutive starts of 50, set between 1993-96. Price (along with teammate Tyquan Lewis) tied Pat Elflein’s school record for most games played by an Ohio State football player: 55.

Its not just this board...

From the Strib: Whether the Vikings draft a tackle or guard — potentially with pick No. 30 — could determine what position Remmers plays in 2018, according to Zimmer. There might be an opening at right guard, with Joe Berger set to hit free agency, too."It gives us more options," Zimmer said. "If we find a tackle in the draft or if we find a guard in the draft," it could determine Remmers' position. It's worth noting Vikings coaches chose to play Rashod Hill over Remmers at right tackle in both playoff games.
Now that last statement is a little misleading, since the calculation was probably more about Remmers>Sirles than Hill>Remmers.

We have yet to re-sign Shamar Stephen, so if he signs elsewhere, then they could be in the market for more of a run stuffer. Hard to say what we should expect out of Jaleel Johnson. Maybe he materializes in his second year, but he didn't make much of an impact last season.

As for the draft, I think that DE is a fairly big need. Griffen and Robison are getting older, our pass rush clearly slowed down as the season wore on, and now would be a good time to replenish. We can't build our depth up to Philly's level, but it needs to be better than what it is. LB depth is also a concern since both Barr and Kendricks are nearing FA and we don't have anyone else near their level.

One offense, TE and depth at receiver are needs that have yet to be addressed. The OL still needs to be upgraded, especially since Cousins isn't as mobile as Keenum. I'd love an upgrade at G, but RT feels like a big need that is unresolved. We have options in Remmers and Hill, but feels like an area that can still be upgraded.

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said: It seems like many posters are putting Remmers at RG after having to fill in for injuries last year and get Hill on the field.  Hill did not play RT better then Remmers had all season.  Has the team indicated switching Remmers to Guard?  I may have missed a reference to that but it seems to have become a common thought on here.

I would not mess with the successful fix of multiple positions along the line last year.  Reiff, fixed the biggest weakness.  Then Remmers fixed the RT position and then drafting Elflein fixed the Center/line call position.  We need Guards.  Berger might be done and Easton was just OK even when healthy.

Their seems to be around 3 first round graded Guards this year which is not too common.  I just looked up Elflein's teammate:
Notable: Price, who played guard for three seasons and moved to center as a senior, started 55 consecutive games at Ohio State to top Luke Fickell’s school record for starts and consecutive starts of 50, set between 1993-96. Price (along with teammate Tyquan Lewis) tied Pat Elflein’s school record for most games played by an Ohio State football player: 55.

Its not just this board...

From the Strib: Whether the Vikings draft a tackle or guard — potentially with pick No. 30 — could determine what position Remmers plays in 2018, according to Zimmer. There might be an opening at right guard, with Joe Berger set to hit free agency, too."It gives us more options," Zimmer said. "If we find a tackle in the draft or if we find a guard in the draft," it could determine Remmers' position. It's worth noting Vikings coaches chose to play Rashod Hill over Remmers at right tackle in both playoff games.
Now that last statement is a little misleading, since the calculation was probably more about Remmers>Sirles than Hill>Remmers.

I'm hoping for a guard, corner and linebacker in that order with Minnesota's first 3 picks....then more linemen (either offensive or defensive) for depth and receivers with the last 4 picks.

Before we signed Richardson, I was intrigued with the idea of drafting DT Da'Shawn Hand from Alabama. He's 6'4", 297, ran a 4.83 at the combine - talent of a top 10 pick but was never more than a rotational player with sporadic impact in college, so he might be around at our #2 pick. If Zimmer and Patterson could motivate him, he could be a DT version of Danielle Hunter. Less likely now, but as Tyr noted, Shamar Stephen has not yet been re-signed, and Richardson is only on a one-year deal.
I think S is a dark horse possibility for round 1 - our secondary got exposed a bit in the NFCC. Justin Reid, Stanford,is Eric Reid's younger brother and a very smart player who might be able to step in as quickly as Kendricks did at MLB.
The love for Billy Price seems really strong on this board, and a lot of comments refer to "chemistry with Elflein" or such. Do Pro players really need that? Most seem to find their place without having a pal from the same college team. Price is good, but I wouldn't overvalue the Ohio State connection.

@"Jor-El" said: Before we signed Richardson, I was intrigued with the idea of drafting DT Da'Shawn Hand from Alabama. He's 6'4", 297, ran a 4.83 at the combine - talent of a top 10 pick but was never more than a rotational player with sporadic impact in college, so he might be around at our #2 pick. If Zimmer and Patterson could motivate him, he could be a DT version of Danielle Hunter. Less likely now, but as Tyr noted, Shamar Stephen has not yet been re-signed, and Richardson is only on a one-year deal. I think S is a dark horse possibility for round 1 - our secondary got exposed a bit in the NFCC. Justin Reid, Stanford,is Eric Reid's younger brother and a very smart player who might be able to step in as quickly as Kendricks did at MLB. The love for Billy Price seems really strong on this board, and a lot of comments refer to "chemistry with Elflein" or such. Do Pro players really need that? Most seem to find their place without having a pal from the same college team. Price is good, but I wouldn't overvalue the Ohio State connection.

I say we should turn our draft card in on time and draft somebody.  :)    Or not....last time it yielded us K Williams???

@"Wetlander" said:

@"GeorgiaVike" said: Wow! VF.com is still alive....Trade up for Roquan Smith. I know he’s got a medical red flag... but that kid is a stud.

He’d replace Barr when we cut ties or trade him and he’d slide in to a leadership role. 

Still alive and kickin'...  Glad to see you drop by GV.  Miss you around these parts, bro.

BOOM

@"AGRforever" said: I say we should turn our draft card in on time and draft somebody.  :)    Or not....last time it yielded us K Williams???

@"StickyBun" said: Would love to see them go offensive line with their first 2 picks. Get talent in the O-line pipeline and on the cheap too for the next 4-5 years.