GM Spielman says Vikings are not ‘locked in’ on O-line in first round
Following the retirement of Joe Berger, the Minnesota Vikings are in serious need of a right guard or tackle. But in a draft where there are a number of quality interior O-line prospects, Vikings GM Rick Spielman isn’t ready to guarantee that he will select a lineman with the 30th overall pick.
“Everybody in the mock world and the experts out there are saying it’s O-line, O-line, O-line, but when you look at your roster, you have to look at where are the other holes that you’re going to have to fill,” Spielman said in his pre-draft press conference on Tuesday.
Depending on which analysts you read, there are quality prospects like Arkansas center Frank Ragnow, Ohio State’s Billy Price and Auburn’s Braden Smith who could be available in the second round. That could allow the Vikings the option of taking the best player on the board with No. 30.
“I’m looking at the 2019 roster as well, guys who are not under contract, what if there is a significant player who is there at 30 that could potentially fill a need – who may have a role this year but fill a need in the future,” Spielman said. “You have to weigh in what your needs are this year, but we are in a position at 30 where everyone thinks we are locked in on an offensive lineman, that’s absolutely not the case. The way our draft board has developed, we have five different positions that we can go any directions.”
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/04/gm-spielman-says-vikings-not-locked-o-line-first-round/
Hurry-up Vikings, we ain't getting any younger!
did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.
@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.
The most interesting part of his response is that he said the Vikings have five different positions they would feel comfortable drafting at #30. I would assume it's OT, OG, TE, CB, and the fifth one is a little harder... maybe S or DT?
@"Wetlander" said:@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.The most interesting part of his response is that he said the Vikings have five different positions they would feel comfortable drafting at #30. I would assume it's OT, OG, TE, CB, and the fifth one is a little harder... maybe S or DT?
But saying 5 positions doesn't cap him to anything. All he has to do is Thursday night/Friday morning is say "see this is who we wanted all along" and we'll never know if said draftee was one of those 5 position groups.Now logic might dictate that we're not likley to go QB, K or P but past that nothing would surprise me.
@"Wetlander" said:@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.The most interesting part of his response is that he said the Vikings have five different positions they would feel comfortable drafting at #30. I would assume it's OT, OG, TE, CB, and the fifth one is a little harder... maybe S or DT?
I think you have to factor in all the guys that could be out next year. Beyond Richardson, Diggs, Waynes, Barr, and Hunter who are potentially out next year, you could also see cap cuts like Sendejo or a replacement for Robison who will likely retire or Griffen who will be interesting to see how well he recovers from his injury. I think there's so many possible ways we could go that we'll probably go pretty convincingly BPA outside of a high OLine pick somewhere in the draft and who we get in the draft will dictate which guys we resign.
@"Wetlander" said:@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.The most interesting part of his response is that he said the Vikings have five different positions they would feel comfortable drafting at #30. I would assume it's OT, OG, TE, CB, and the fifth one is a little harder... maybe S or DT?
My 5 positions would be OL, DT, CB, LB,and DE. Protection for Barr or Hunter leaving and Griffen having issues with his foot. They dont seem too confident in the back up DEs.
@"Wetlander" said:@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.The most interesting part of his response is that he said the Vikings have five different positions they would feel comfortable drafting at #30. I would assume it's OT, OG, TE, CB, and the fifth one is a little harder... maybe S or DT?
I would say an edge rusher to add to the rotation. One of those Barr types who can project either at DE or OLB.
I said this in another thread: Spielman has drafted only 2 offensive linemen in the top 2 rounds over the last 11 years, despite needing to improve that unit throughout that time. He believes in getting OL later in the draft, and when he has picked linemen high, they have been OTs (Loadholt, Kalil). I think people hoping to see him pick Price, Wynn, Hernandez, Daniels, or Corbett are going to be disappointed.
@"Jor-El" said: I said this in another thread: Spielman has drafted only 2 offensive linemen in the top 2 rounds over the last 11 years, despite needing to improve that unit throughout that time. He believes in getting OL later in the draft, and when he has picked linemen high, they have been OTs (Loadholt, Kalil). I think people hoping to see him pick Price, Wynn, Hernandez, Daniels, or Corbett are going to be disappointed.
I think Wynn could be a possibility since I personally think he has the ability to play RT as well as OG. However, most of the pure C/OGs in this draft will likely come off the board early Day 2. I agree with your take... I think the only way the Vikings go OL with their pick is if an OT or G/T they like is there. If not, I would expect them to go a different direction with that first pick and grab an OG with their second pick. I would hate to draft a pure C/OG at 30 and bypass another position when most of the top C/OG will probably still be available in the 2nd/early 3rd round.
@"Jor-El" said: I said this in another thread: Spielman has drafted only 2 offensive linemen in the top 2 rounds over the last 11 years, despite needing to improve that unit throughout that time. He believes in getting OL later in the draft, and when he has picked linemen high, they have been OTs (Loadholt, Kalil). I think people hoping to see him pick Price, Wynn, Hernandez, Daniels, or Corbett are going to be disappointed.I wont be disappointed in the lack of a 1st on OL but if we get past the 3rd and we've not picked an OL then they damn well better have a plan in place to fill the openings and lack of depth with the unit.
@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.
@"MaroonBells" said:I would say an edge rusher to add to the rotation. One of those Barr types who can project either at DE or OLB.
Could be a possibility... however, I'm not seeing a 4-3 DE worthy of our pick at #30. It's a pretty poor draft for DEs in my opinion. There are some intriguing EDGE guys that fit the mold of a pass rushing OLB, but most will probably go at some point Day 2. I'm intrigued by Lorenzo Carter and then you have guys like Sweat, Turay, Armstrong, and Key who would fit that mold of a Barr-type OLB that could project to DE if they put on some additional muscle mass and fix their flaws.
I would bet the Vikings draft a guy like this at some point, but I'm not seeing the value at #30.
Killing me waiting to see who we target in the first. Do we go Db, wr, or oline? Immediate player or depth.
@"Akvike" said: Killing me waiting to see who we target in the first. Do we go Db, wr, or oline? Immediate player or depth.
I'm hoping for an offensive lineman that can be plugged in as a Day One starter...
@"Akvike" said: Killing me waiting to see who we target in the first. Do we go Db, wr, or oline? Immediate player or depth.
Interesting you suggest WR - I haven't heard that projected to the Vikings anywhere else (in round 1). But this team has been fascinated with deep speed, and DJ Chark might be a dark horse.
I don't see much depth on our roster at wr---we've got starters but then the cupboard looks a little bare
no way should they go WR that early unless they really have doubts about Diggs. Cousins already has 2 of the best WR at his disposal, a soild pass catching TE in Rudy, and a pretty dynamic RB who catches the ball well out of the back field. We often talk about wanting to find early round guys that will contribute early on, with 4 solid targets already in the lineup, and a QB who is known to spread the ball around, what kind of value are we going to get out of a receiver at 30? we talk about paying 2 LBs top tier money, how would be be able to justify paying Diggs and Theilen close to 25 a year combined and be taking a WR in the first round? If they were to take a receiver early I would have to say that really would speak to me about AT or Diggs not being in the long term plans.
@"Maple Surple" said:I put the odds at less the 20% that they take a guard round 1. Again we better have at least one OL in the first three.@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.
@"AGRforever" said:But is that really saying anything? I don't think there's any position I'd put at over 20%.@"Maple Surple" said:I put the odds at less the 20% that they take a guard round 1. Again we better have at least one OL in the first three.@"AGRforever" said: did anyone expect him to tip his hand? lol. no kidding???!! you arent locked into a position yet.
I think we are going to wait in the second round for an interior lineman. I can see us taking Price/Williams in the second with a move up like we did for Cook and Elflein last year.
First round pick I see CB - Isiah Oliver - whom guru projected as our pick with his first mock a couple weeks ago. Oliver is over 6'0 200lbs and has 33" arms. I can see him lined-up across from Rhodes by midseason and Waynes maybe in the slot.
We have to decide on the fifth year option for Waynes (around 9 million) a couple weeks after the draft and I think we will and then try and renegotiate/extend at a cheaper rate then 9 mill per. Oliver would be a good bargaining chip and we need a CB with the retirement of newman pending, I think.
@"JimmyinSD" said: no way should they go WR that early unless they really have doubts about Diggs. Cousins already has 2 of the best WR at his disposal, a soild pass catching TE in Rudy, and a pretty dynamic RB who catches the ball well out of the back field. We often talk about wanting to find early round guys that will contribute early on, with 4 solid targets already in the lineup, and a QB who is known to spread the ball around, what kind of value are we going to get out of a receiver at 30? we talk about paying 2 LBs top tier money, how would be be able to justify paying Diggs and Theilen close to 25 a year combined and be taking a WR in the first round? If they were to take a receiver early I would have to say that really would speak to me about AT or Diggs not being in the long term plans.
Nothing you say is wrong, but I'm thinking WR is a possibility just from history and the desires of our GM. Spielman has been trying to add speed for some time, at least back to Mike Wallace. I believe he wanted Will Fuller in 2016. Now we also have an OC who wants to stretch the field (as the Eagles did with Torrey Smith) and a QB who likes to throw some long bombs.
Imagine DJ Chark is still on the board at 30. He's got blow-the-top-off-the-defense speed, Will Fuller speed but in a 6'3", 200 frame - and he's from LSU, which some scouts now think is "WR U".
Can Diggs and Thielen and Wright get deep? Sure, sometimes - but they are all better in the medium range. Put a deep-ball threat on the field and all those guys get less coverage, too.
Then add in the possibility Diggs and his agent (Leveon Bell's agent) are telling the Vikings he needs a contract like Sammy Watkins.
I'm not predicting it, but I definitely think Spielman finds a fast WR far more appealing in the 1st round than a RG. I bet he picks a WR in the first 3 rounds.
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