Latest Mock From The Draft Network

I think I would feel the same with this pick as I did last year with our first round pick... at first I would be like WTF... how can we overlook OL once again,  but then when I start looking at the player its easy to get excited about their future in purple.

I think if we can resign Easton, 1 other free agent interior lineman, and get Collins back in the mix that will take a lot of pressure off the need to draft OL early,  but the team still needs to add at least 2 early round OL in this draft and by passing in the first that just puts more pressure on hitting in the next 3 rounds.

Easton, Collins, FA (Levitre? Paradis?) makes it more trench BPA in the first then reaching on OL. 

Give me 4 lineman with the first 4 picks, OG, OT, DT, DE.  The development of those 4 plus Elf, ONeill, Collins, Eastom, Hunter, Weatherly, Johnson, Holmes will keep this team good and flexible with the cap for years to come. 

I'd love an athletic TE to pair with Diggs/Thielen. But I suspect  DT, maybe LB with the first pick if its not OL.  

@"Skodin" said: Easton, Collins, FA (Levitre? Paradis?) makes it more trench BPA in the first then reaching on OL. 

Give me 4 lineman with the first 4 picks, OG, OT, DT, DE.  The development of those 4 plus Elf, ONeill, Collins, Eastom, Hunter, Weatherly, Johnson, Holmes will keep this team good and flexible with the cap for years to come. 

We'd definitely be hitting on a strength position in this draft...I think my reaction would mirror Jimmy’s...I'd expect two lineman for Steph and Kubes Day 2...

Hockensen is a helluva tight end, but unless we somehow acquire a couple of offensive lineman in free agency, I just don't see the wisdom in taking a player who will not help us much in 2019. 

It could happen. I'm not dumb enough to think they won't go BPA in round 1 although they need OL desperately. I've got zero control over it so whatevs.

TE is my own dark horse prediction for our first round pick (though I have banged the table for OL). I think the Vikings' offseason mantra this year is not strictly "build the offensive line", but "help Cousins succeed". Who was a key weapon for Cousins in CD? Jordan Reed, a fast TE who could line up like a WR. If the Vikings feel Hockensen - or Fant or Smith - can have an immediate impact, possibly be the #3 receiver they tried to push Treadwell to be, they would pick him. Another factor would be that drafting a TE would be a strong weapon in pushing Kyle Rudolph to restructure his contract.
Related note - I wonder if the Vikings might sign Maxx Williams in free agency? He will probably be cheap and still young.

We are going to have to make some moves to clear cap if we want to sign any FAs...our best hope is via the draft and better coaching...And Elf returning to form.

@"StickyBun" said: It could happen. I'm not dumb enough to think they won't go BPA in round 1 although they need OL desperately. I've got zero control over it so whatevs.

I don’t hate the pick but I’m not excited about it.  It’s not the responsible choice to make.  I do think we need a 4th receiving
target behind Thielen, Diggs, and Rudolph, but I’m not sure how I feel
investing a first round pick in a guy that is going to dictate that our personnel
packages are 2 TE so much.    I think league average usage of 2 TEs is
around 26% and the highest usage teams use 2 TEs around 40% of the time.  League average for 3-4 WRs is 55%.  If we drafted OLine, that player would be on
the field for 100% of snaps unless they get injured or suck.

We already know how the ignoring your OLine but being great
at skill position players paradigm works out. 
If they can fix the OLine (and by fix the OLine I mean making it solid,
not just barely functional) without using the first round pick that’s great, but
it’s a risk, seeing as what happened last year, where we weren’t able to get a
day one starter on the OLine with our second round pick.

@"medaille" said: I don’t hate the pick but I’m not excited about it.  It’s not the responsible choice to make.  I do think we need a 4th receiving target behind Thielen, Diggs, and Rudolph, but I’m not sure how I feel investing a first round pick in a guy that is going to dictate that our personnel packages are 2 TE so much.    I think league average usage of 2 TEs is around 26% and the highest usage teams use 2 TEs around 40% of the time.  League average for 3-4 WRs is 55%.  If we drafted OLine, that player would be on the field for 100% of snaps unless they get injured or suck.

We already know how the ignoring your OLine but being great
at skill position players paradigm works out. 
If they can fix the OLine (and by fix the OLine I mean making it solid,
not just barely functional) without using the first round pick that’s great, but
it’s a risk, seeing as what happened last year, where we weren’t able to get a
day one starter on the OLine with our second round pick.

@"BarrNone55" said: We are going to have to make some moves to clear cap if we want to sign any FAs...our best hope is via the draft and better coaching...And Elf returning to form.

@"Bullazin" said:

@"BarrNone55" said: We are going to have to make some moves to clear cap if we want to sign any FAs...our best hope is via the draft and better coaching...And Elf returning to form.

is anyone else freaked out by Elfeins crappy showing this year?  He was worse than our Guards and thats saying something. Makes the Risner crush all the more palatable.  We need several new players

Hockenson is good but unless they plan on moving Rudolph then why would they carry 4 tight ends. 
Is Conklin already a cut candidate?
In this particular mock, Risner, White, Gary, Wilkins, and Sweat would be players I would take before any tight end.
Wilkins would be at the top of my list followed by Sweat.
If any of  Griffen , Barr, and Richardson are gone then that would inform the pick me more.