Vikings and Draft Day
I love the draft! I love it so much I'm willing to give the vikings free advice on how they should improve their team through it. The vikes have 5 first day picks, one in the first round and two in the second and third. First a look at their needs.
QB - Brad Johnson is the best and only available option. The only QB in the draft even remotely ready to start in Leinart and there is no chance the Vikes can get him. No matter who they draft or what happens with future cuts - Johnson is the starter for this year. Here's the problem, if Johnson goes down - there is nothing behind him and no solution for next year. Need level - high but not urgent
RB - They all suck. Except for Tony Richardson who is one of the league's premiere FBs. Here's the thing, a good offensive line would make any one of the Vikes RB a 1000 yarder. So even though the RB's suck, they are a low priority. Need level - moderate,
WR - They all suck slightly less than the RB's. Last year's pick of Troy Williamson with the 7th overall pick was possibly the 7th dumbest move of all time. Marucs Robinson and Travis Taylor provide adequacity while Koren Robinson is a real stud. The Vikes could use another impact reciever - either through the draft or the emergence of Williamson. Vikes are good at TE with Wiggins and Kleinsasser. Need level - low
Offensive Line - Gotta love the left side with Mckinney, Hutch and Birk! The right side though - yuck. OT Rosenthal, OG Liwienski and last year's 2nd round OG bust Marcus Johnson who also played RT. Reminds me of a joke - a jew, a pollack and a... never mind. The right side is awful, but there is some hope Johnson will emerge to hold down one of those two right spots. Need Level - high
DL - This is the best part of the team with the pro-bowler ability Williamseses at DT and a healthy Udeze and emerging Erasmus James at DE. They even have decent depth. Unless a real gem falls on the first day to #17, I would shocked if a DE or DT was picked with the first 5 picks.
LB - These guys, outside of free agent Ben Leber, are terrible. EJ Hederson and Napoleon Harris are barely practice squad reserves - yet are scheduled to start. Need Level is high, urgent, and numerous.
DB - A very solid core with Winfield and Smoot at CB and Sharper and recent addition Tank Williams at Safety. Depth is a real concern as is a future replacement for Sharper. Need level is moderate
K/P - Fine here with Green Bay's old kicker and the rookie stud punter from last year. Need level - non-existent
Bill's Board for the Vikings 1st round pick at #17
1 - QB Jay Cutler
2 - OT Winston Justice
3 - OLB Chad Greenway
4 - OLB Ernie Sims
5 - Trade Down
6 - OLB Bobby Carpent or DE Kimerian Wimbley
If somehow Cutler falls to 17 - take him! But please, do not trade more than a 3rd round pick or less to move up. Here's why - Cutler won't be ready to play this year, so even if you get him he's not an adequate backup. There will be plenty of free agent QB's next year - including Matt Schaub who will be available for a song and a 3rd round pick. The vikes - if 38 year old QB Brad Johnson goes down combined with a team adjusting to a new head coach, an offensive and defensive scheme, has much potential for a REALLY good draft pick next year. My guess is Cutler will be long gone and these point are (s)moot.
Winston Justice is a stud tackle from USC. He too will likely be gone in the top 10, and if not then, Baltimore at 14 is a near lock to take him. But if he does fall, the Vikes O-line could be the best in the league allowing the team to put all the fragile 40 year old QB's and weak sister RB's they want in the back field and still be sucesful.
I'll address both LB's - Both are great. Pundits say Sims will be the better fit for the new cover 2 D since he is faster. Greenway is bigger and was a stud down in Iowa. I take Greenway over Sims since Sims has had 5 concussions - which tells you something about his motor and hitting ability. Sims is probably the better fit, but the concussions scare me. If I have my choice, I take Greenway, but no way I pass on Sims if Greenway's not there. Both guys could be gone. Arizona, Mianmi, Philly, and St. Louis have shown interest in these guys. If one doesn't fall to 17, the Vikes will be very disappointed, and thus I suggest...
They move down. The Jets at 29 and #3 in the 2nd would be a nice trading partner - although picking up an early 2nd and a 3rd round pick is more likely. Who they could take will be addressed next.
Taking Bobby Carpenter at 17 is just too soon - and he's a significant step down from Sims and Greenway - and also played with AJ Hawk who's going top 5. I put in DE Kamerion Wimbley because he is a tweener who would likely play LB. I really don't like this scenario which probably has a 25% chance of happening.
Bill's Second Round Board - The Vikes pick at 16 and 19 in the 2nd round
* - OT Eric Winston/OT Marcus McNeil
1 - G Max Jean - Gilles/G Davin Joseph
2 - ILB Abdul Hodge/D'Qwell Jackson
3 - RB Joseph Addai
4 - FS Danial Bullucks/Ko Simpson
5 - WR Maurice Stovall
The * pick is if the Vikings trade down and get an early second rounder. If Eric Winston from Miami is still there they should grab him and have all Hurricane bookends with Mckinney. At RT, Winston should be just fine and has the ability to move to LT if McKinney walks or goes down. McNeil is a huge dude at 332 and his stock is rising. Either guy would be great - and heavens be praised if either of these potential first rounders drops to the Vikes real picks - but not bloody well likely.
Most likely the Vikes won't get an OT in this draft. When their picks at 16 and 19 in the second show up I would love to see them get one of the premiere guards. Jean-Gilles has a great name and is huge at 355! He is also quick off the snap and punishes defenders. It would be awesome to have him at RG destroying the DT while Birk and Hutch pivot around him on trap and sweep plays. At 355 he could easily seal the back side and take on the Gilbert Brown/Pat Williams type big bodies. But there is a good chance Jean-Gilles will be taken late first round or early 2nd by the Packers whose interior linemen suck.
Davin Joseph out of Oklahoma is smaller at 310 and more nimble. He has the footwork to play RT if need be but would also be a good pulling guard. This would allow the vikings to pivot left or right with Joseph and Hutch at guard - which is an advantage over jean-gilles. If either of these guys is available for the Vikes in the second - booya! The vikes will have 4 awesome linemen AND decent depth. With any luck Marcus Johnson will find him self and be a decent RT or RG and Joseph can move to RT (another example of the flexibility advantage of Joseph over Jean-Gilles). At this point, having one mediocre lineman won't matter so much.
If fate smiles on the vikes, they will have a new starting guard with their 16th pick and will have either Hodge or Jackson to choose from at 19 to be their new ILB. This teamed with free agent Leber and hopefully the 1st round pick of Sims or Greenway means EJ Henderson and Napolean become the special team, mop up, bench riding hacks they are. All of a sudden, the Vikes have a great starting D (with depth a concern).
RB - Joseph Addai is not likely to fall to the Vikes second round picks. But if all the guys I mentioned are gone, then it is possible he did. This guy might go as high as 27th in the first round and his stock is rising. I don't like Maroney (he's soft and cherry picked against bad teams with an awesome line), Williams (too small)or LenDale White (too weird). That being said, if one is available way down here, he becomes a good value pick. But given my drothers, I think Addai is the way to go and will flourish with the Vikes as a power runner. The rest of the RB field stinks as well. I'll be pissed if the Vikes pick up an RB on the first day unless a guy really falls. The quality just isn't there.
FS Bullocks from Nebraska and Gamecock Simpson would challenge Williams and Sharper for a starting job and would give the Vikings much needed DB depth. Now if one of the top 5 Corners is still floating out there, take him - but those guys should be long gone. I'll take Bullucks first (he's bigger) but either guy is fine. Hopefully the Vikes don't have to resort to a FS here, because there is also decent talent in the 3rd round.
WR - I nearly put Maurice ahead of the safeties, but that would be my Notre Dame homerism talking. Maurice is a big dude at 6-5 and has slimmed DOWN to 220. He's not exactly a west coast type of reciever, although he was awesome in Charlie Weiss' offense last year (Brady Quinn and hopefully future Vikes QB was also part of that). I don't like any of the WR's out there. Outside of Maurice or the top two guys Jackson and Holmes falling out of the 1st round - I'll be sore if the vikes go with a WR before their last pick of the 3rd round.
Bill's 3rd round Board - Vikes pick 19th and 31st in 3rd round
If anyone I've mentioned is still around in the 3rd - take him (unless the Vikes already got one at the position (don't need G jean-Gilles AND G Joseph)
Otherwise here is my board:
G - Deuce Lutui
OT - Ryan O'Callaghan
CB Kelly Jennings/Cedric Griffin
S - Greg Blue
OLB - Rocky McIntosh
QB Whitehurst/Jacobs/Croyle/Clemons
They should only draft Deuce if they don't get Joseph or Jean-Gilles.
Ryan O'Callaghan would be a very interesting pick. He has a lot of question marks, but the dude is 6-7 363! If he got his technique down, good night. Probably won't be available though.
If either top 10 CB Jennings from Miami or Griffin from Texas is available with the first pick in the 3rd (and a G was taken earlier) get the guy to be your nickel and give the DB's much needed depth. Both guys took on the best recievers in very good conferences and are ready to play in the NFL.
Assuming the Vikes got their 2 LB's earlier, take Blue. He is a second round talent who is going to get squeezed to the 3rd round. Would be a great addition to the DB's.
If the Vikes don't get their LB's earlier, jump McIntosh ahead of Blue. If Blue isn't there go ahead and take McIntosh with that first third round pick. The vikes only have their starters - they still need depth at LB.
With the 3rd to last pick in the 3rd round courtesy of the Seahawks stealing away Burleson - the Vikes should take a flyer on a QB (assuming Cutler not picked earlier - or that this pick was traded to move up to get Cutler). One of these guys will still be around here - I don't know who. Even if everyone is there I don't know who to take. My guess is one will become an NFL starting QB while the others bust or become career backups. If I had the choice I'd take Whitehurst.
This is my ideal Vike draft outcome:
1st round - LB Chad Greenway (we'll address QB next year)
2nd Round - G Max Jean-Gilles
2nd Round - ILB Abdul Hodge (two Iowa guys at LB...)
3rd Round - CB Cedric Griffin
3rd Round - QB Charlie Whitehurst (or whoever)
On the second day I would like to see the Vikes grab another LB, a DB and WR. BUT...
The word is that only the Broncos have any interest in Gopher center Greg Eslinger. Eslinger is small at 292, but he is fast and smart and won all sorts of awards for good reason. If the Bronco's don't take Eslinger in the 3rd, I'd like to see the Vikes make a move to jump Denver in the 4th and steal him. Eslinger won't start for the Vikes - Birk is bigger, mobile - and I will swallow my pride and admit that Harvard grad Birk is probably smarter than UMN grad Eslinger. However, we saw what life was like without a smart and mobile Center last year. Eslinger will be an awesome insurance policy and center for the future.
QB - Brad Johnson is the best and only available option. The only QB in the draft even remotely ready to start in Leinart and there is no chance the Vikes can get him. No matter who they draft or what happens with future cuts - Johnson is the starter for this year. Here's the problem, if Johnson goes down - there is nothing behind him and no solution for next year. Need level - high but not urgent
RB - They all suck. Except for Tony Richardson who is one of the league's premiere FBs. Here's the thing, a good offensive line would make any one of the Vikes RB a 1000 yarder. So even though the RB's suck, they are a low priority. Need level - moderate,
WR - They all suck slightly less than the RB's. Last year's pick of Troy Williamson with the 7th overall pick was possibly the 7th dumbest move of all time. Marucs Robinson and Travis Taylor provide adequacity while Koren Robinson is a real stud. The Vikes could use another impact reciever - either through the draft or the emergence of Williamson. Vikes are good at TE with Wiggins and Kleinsasser. Need level - low
Offensive Line - Gotta love the left side with Mckinney, Hutch and Birk! The right side though - yuck. OT Rosenthal, OG Liwienski and last year's 2nd round OG bust Marcus Johnson who also played RT. Reminds me of a joke - a jew, a pollack and a... never mind. The right side is awful, but there is some hope Johnson will emerge to hold down one of those two right spots. Need Level - high
DL - This is the best part of the team with the pro-bowler ability Williamseses at DT and a healthy Udeze and emerging Erasmus James at DE. They even have decent depth. Unless a real gem falls on the first day to #17, I would shocked if a DE or DT was picked with the first 5 picks.
LB - These guys, outside of free agent Ben Leber, are terrible. EJ Hederson and Napoleon Harris are barely practice squad reserves - yet are scheduled to start. Need Level is high, urgent, and numerous.
DB - A very solid core with Winfield and Smoot at CB and Sharper and recent addition Tank Williams at Safety. Depth is a real concern as is a future replacement for Sharper. Need level is moderate
K/P - Fine here with Green Bay's old kicker and the rookie stud punter from last year. Need level - non-existent
Bill's Board for the Vikings 1st round pick at #17
1 - QB Jay Cutler
2 - OT Winston Justice
3 - OLB Chad Greenway
4 - OLB Ernie Sims
5 - Trade Down
6 - OLB Bobby Carpent or DE Kimerian Wimbley
If somehow Cutler falls to 17 - take him! But please, do not trade more than a 3rd round pick or less to move up. Here's why - Cutler won't be ready to play this year, so even if you get him he's not an adequate backup. There will be plenty of free agent QB's next year - including Matt Schaub who will be available for a song and a 3rd round pick. The vikes - if 38 year old QB Brad Johnson goes down combined with a team adjusting to a new head coach, an offensive and defensive scheme, has much potential for a REALLY good draft pick next year. My guess is Cutler will be long gone and these point are (s)moot.
Winston Justice is a stud tackle from USC. He too will likely be gone in the top 10, and if not then, Baltimore at 14 is a near lock to take him. But if he does fall, the Vikes O-line could be the best in the league allowing the team to put all the fragile 40 year old QB's and weak sister RB's they want in the back field and still be sucesful.
I'll address both LB's - Both are great. Pundits say Sims will be the better fit for the new cover 2 D since he is faster. Greenway is bigger and was a stud down in Iowa. I take Greenway over Sims since Sims has had 5 concussions - which tells you something about his motor and hitting ability. Sims is probably the better fit, but the concussions scare me. If I have my choice, I take Greenway, but no way I pass on Sims if Greenway's not there. Both guys could be gone. Arizona, Mianmi, Philly, and St. Louis have shown interest in these guys. If one doesn't fall to 17, the Vikes will be very disappointed, and thus I suggest...
They move down. The Jets at 29 and #3 in the 2nd would be a nice trading partner - although picking up an early 2nd and a 3rd round pick is more likely. Who they could take will be addressed next.
Taking Bobby Carpenter at 17 is just too soon - and he's a significant step down from Sims and Greenway - and also played with AJ Hawk who's going top 5. I put in DE Kamerion Wimbley because he is a tweener who would likely play LB. I really don't like this scenario which probably has a 25% chance of happening.
Bill's Second Round Board - The Vikes pick at 16 and 19 in the 2nd round
* - OT Eric Winston/OT Marcus McNeil
1 - G Max Jean - Gilles/G Davin Joseph
2 - ILB Abdul Hodge/D'Qwell Jackson
3 - RB Joseph Addai
4 - FS Danial Bullucks/Ko Simpson
5 - WR Maurice Stovall
The * pick is if the Vikings trade down and get an early second rounder. If Eric Winston from Miami is still there they should grab him and have all Hurricane bookends with Mckinney. At RT, Winston should be just fine and has the ability to move to LT if McKinney walks or goes down. McNeil is a huge dude at 332 and his stock is rising. Either guy would be great - and heavens be praised if either of these potential first rounders drops to the Vikes real picks - but not bloody well likely.
Most likely the Vikes won't get an OT in this draft. When their picks at 16 and 19 in the second show up I would love to see them get one of the premiere guards. Jean-Gilles has a great name and is huge at 355! He is also quick off the snap and punishes defenders. It would be awesome to have him at RG destroying the DT while Birk and Hutch pivot around him on trap and sweep plays. At 355 he could easily seal the back side and take on the Gilbert Brown/Pat Williams type big bodies. But there is a good chance Jean-Gilles will be taken late first round or early 2nd by the Packers whose interior linemen suck.
Davin Joseph out of Oklahoma is smaller at 310 and more nimble. He has the footwork to play RT if need be but would also be a good pulling guard. This would allow the vikings to pivot left or right with Joseph and Hutch at guard - which is an advantage over jean-gilles. If either of these guys is available for the Vikes in the second - booya! The vikes will have 4 awesome linemen AND decent depth. With any luck Marcus Johnson will find him self and be a decent RT or RG and Joseph can move to RT (another example of the flexibility advantage of Joseph over Jean-Gilles). At this point, having one mediocre lineman won't matter so much.
If fate smiles on the vikes, they will have a new starting guard with their 16th pick and will have either Hodge or Jackson to choose from at 19 to be their new ILB. This teamed with free agent Leber and hopefully the 1st round pick of Sims or Greenway means EJ Henderson and Napolean become the special team, mop up, bench riding hacks they are. All of a sudden, the Vikes have a great starting D (with depth a concern).
RB - Joseph Addai is not likely to fall to the Vikes second round picks. But if all the guys I mentioned are gone, then it is possible he did. This guy might go as high as 27th in the first round and his stock is rising. I don't like Maroney (he's soft and cherry picked against bad teams with an awesome line), Williams (too small)or LenDale White (too weird). That being said, if one is available way down here, he becomes a good value pick. But given my drothers, I think Addai is the way to go and will flourish with the Vikes as a power runner. The rest of the RB field stinks as well. I'll be pissed if the Vikes pick up an RB on the first day unless a guy really falls. The quality just isn't there.
FS Bullocks from Nebraska and Gamecock Simpson would challenge Williams and Sharper for a starting job and would give the Vikings much needed DB depth. Now if one of the top 5 Corners is still floating out there, take him - but those guys should be long gone. I'll take Bullucks first (he's bigger) but either guy is fine. Hopefully the Vikes don't have to resort to a FS here, because there is also decent talent in the 3rd round.
WR - I nearly put Maurice ahead of the safeties, but that would be my Notre Dame homerism talking. Maurice is a big dude at 6-5 and has slimmed DOWN to 220. He's not exactly a west coast type of reciever, although he was awesome in Charlie Weiss' offense last year (Brady Quinn and hopefully future Vikes QB was also part of that). I don't like any of the WR's out there. Outside of Maurice or the top two guys Jackson and Holmes falling out of the 1st round - I'll be sore if the vikes go with a WR before their last pick of the 3rd round.
Bill's 3rd round Board - Vikes pick 19th and 31st in 3rd round
If anyone I've mentioned is still around in the 3rd - take him (unless the Vikes already got one at the position (don't need G jean-Gilles AND G Joseph)
Otherwise here is my board:
G - Deuce Lutui
OT - Ryan O'Callaghan
CB Kelly Jennings/Cedric Griffin
S - Greg Blue
OLB - Rocky McIntosh
QB Whitehurst/Jacobs/Croyle/Clemons
They should only draft Deuce if they don't get Joseph or Jean-Gilles.
Ryan O'Callaghan would be a very interesting pick. He has a lot of question marks, but the dude is 6-7 363! If he got his technique down, good night. Probably won't be available though.
If either top 10 CB Jennings from Miami or Griffin from Texas is available with the first pick in the 3rd (and a G was taken earlier) get the guy to be your nickel and give the DB's much needed depth. Both guys took on the best recievers in very good conferences and are ready to play in the NFL.
Assuming the Vikes got their 2 LB's earlier, take Blue. He is a second round talent who is going to get squeezed to the 3rd round. Would be a great addition to the DB's.
If the Vikes don't get their LB's earlier, jump McIntosh ahead of Blue. If Blue isn't there go ahead and take McIntosh with that first third round pick. The vikes only have their starters - they still need depth at LB.
With the 3rd to last pick in the 3rd round courtesy of the Seahawks stealing away Burleson - the Vikes should take a flyer on a QB (assuming Cutler not picked earlier - or that this pick was traded to move up to get Cutler). One of these guys will still be around here - I don't know who. Even if everyone is there I don't know who to take. My guess is one will become an NFL starting QB while the others bust or become career backups. If I had the choice I'd take Whitehurst.
This is my ideal Vike draft outcome:
1st round - LB Chad Greenway (we'll address QB next year)
2nd Round - G Max Jean-Gilles
2nd Round - ILB Abdul Hodge (two Iowa guys at LB...)
3rd Round - CB Cedric Griffin
3rd Round - QB Charlie Whitehurst (or whoever)
On the second day I would like to see the Vikes grab another LB, a DB and WR. BUT...
The word is that only the Broncos have any interest in Gopher center Greg Eslinger. Eslinger is small at 292, but he is fast and smart and won all sorts of awards for good reason. If the Bronco's don't take Eslinger in the 3rd, I'd like to see the Vikes make a move to jump Denver in the 4th and steal him. Eslinger won't start for the Vikes - Birk is bigger, mobile - and I will swallow my pride and admit that Harvard grad Birk is probably smarter than UMN grad Eslinger. However, we saw what life was like without a smart and mobile Center last year. Eslinger will be an awesome insurance policy and center for the future.
posted by Bill Gilles | 11:21 AM
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