Insomnia Driven Off Season Game Plan

Talk about the latest College games and players and discuss the NFL Draft here. Get reports on players, prospects, Draft Links, the latest Mock Drafts and other indepth analysis, plus the latest on the NCAA College games.

Moderator: Moderators

Post Reply
fiestavike
Hall of Fame Inductee
Posts: 4959
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:03 am
x 395

Insomnia Driven Off Season Game Plan

Post by fiestavike »

Restructure: Jennings, Greenway, Robison

Re-sign: Berger, Brinkley

Free Agency:

exit Tom Johnson - enter Karl Klug
Image

He's a good hustle guy with a good motor, coming off his first contract, who might be a cheap, second waive option.

Henry Melton
Image

The Vikings were linked to him last year in FA before he chose the cowboys. Klug and Melton provide quality versatile depth along the DL.

Clint Boling
Image

Probably the highest priced FA the vikings sign this year. There is a gaping hole at LG and you don't want to go into the draft desperate at any position. Iupati will set the market and Boling will be the second tier. Another Possibility is Orlando Franklin who also has position flexibility.

Safety
Image
The Vikings will bring 2-3 random Free Agents in to compete for this spot, none of whom I will probably have any familiarity with. They will have to beat out Blanton, Exum, Sendejo, or my sleeper pick to start 2015 opposite Harrison Smith, Brian Peters.
Image

Other Possibilities

Charles Tillman
Image

He's doesn't fit the MO of getting younger, but he's one of the best at what he does. He's also a high character guy and given his age and recent injury, he might come cheap enough to be intriguing.

Brandon Spikes
Image

An alternative to drafting a 2 down MLB is to sign one. It makes more sense to target a LB who can stay on the field in Nickel packages through the draft anyway, and there appear to be several OLB who could fit that bill, but very few MLBs. Spikes is a specialist, but he fits the bill as an upgrade in the middle, depending on the price tag.

*One note on FA, avoid players from championship teams. They almost always seem to get overvalued and rarely live up to expectations. I would be hesitant to grab anyone from the Seahawks or Patriots without a lot of due diligence.

DRAFT

*I used Fanspeak here to at least present a framework, however flawed, of who might actually still be available at each pick.

R1-Vic Beasley
Image

I see him as an OLB in Zimmer's 4-3. I love to think of what the athletic ability and versatility of guys like Barr, Griffin, and Beasley could allow Zimmer to unleash. If a stout DE emerges to replace Brian Robison, you have the makings of an incredible hybrid defense.

*notable players taken before this pick in simulator: Scherff, Cooper, Fowler, Gregory, Williams, Ray, White, Collins.
**Other considerations: T. Waynes, L Collins, D. Shelton

R2-Todd Gurley
Image

This pick was a tough call. Not because Gurley isn't great value here, but there were several players at this pick whose value could be much higher, and a quartet of WRs that could be immensely valuable now. Gurley could redshirt if the Vikings bring back Peterson, and replace the aging RB in the next year or two. Longterm value just too much to pass up here.

*notable players taken before this pick in simulator: Waynes, Collins, Shelton, Gordon, J. Collins, pj williams, clemmings.
**Other considerations: Dorial Green-Beckham, Devin Smith, Devin Funchess, Sammie Coates, Tre Jackson, Laken Tomlinson.

R3-Sammie Coates
Image

This is the kind of big body WR with deep speed that makes throwing the ball down the field a lot easier on a QB. The knock on Coates is his hands but to find him sitting here in the 3rd round is a steal. Hoping one of the top 3 corners on the board makes it to the next pick, but not optimistic.

*notable players taken before this pick in simulator: S. Anthony, D. Smith, Funchess, DGB, P. Dawson, D. Perryman
**Other considerations: Ronald Darby, Josh Shaw, Byron Jones, Breshad Perriman.

R4-Breshad Perriman
Image

I understand objecting to this pick. If I knew Perriman would be there in the 4th I would have snatched up Byron Jones in the 3rd without question. As it is, there is too much value here not to take Perriman. This pick assures Greg Jennings is not a Viking in 2016 (perhaps even 2015). It also surrounds Teddy Bridgewater with incredible talent at WR for years to come.

*notable players taken before this pick in simulator: Darby, Shaw, Jones, Marpet, Lockett, J. Tartt
**Other considerations: Eric Rowe, Senquez Golson, John Miller.

R5-Eric Rowe
Image

Fanspeak doesn't have the vikings picking at the first pick of R5 yet, but this would have been my selection. Happy to see him still on the board. A physical corner with length and solid 40 speed.

**Other considerations: Senquez Golson

R5-Bryce Petty
Image

with no offensive line help in site, I am going to settle the VMB dispute about backup QBs by selecting Bryce Petty to be a developmental guy behind Bridgewater. I love this pick in the 5th round. No 6th round pick so just one more to GO!

R7-Sean Mannion
Image

We're crossing the line into the realm of the unprecedented here. There are a couple of interior line prospects still on the board at this point, but a flier on a QB here presents the most upside. If the guy can be developed he has a ton of value to the Vikings, and he also has a ton of value to every other team in the NFL. A young backup QB is an insurance policy and an investment plan in one.

In Rookie FA and second waive cuts the Vikings will have to be on the lookout for offensive line depth. I hate how little OL help this scenario provides. I would have taken Jones instead of Coates if I had it to do over again. I don't personally think WR is our weakest position, but the value available at WR deep in this draft is impressive. Its a good reason not to go WR at 11 if a top player at another position is available.
"You like that!"
-- Cap'n Spazz Cousins
44crm
Backup
Posts: 82
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 2:38 pm

Re: Insomnia Driven Off Season Game Plan

Post by 44crm »

Nice work, but it looks like Sammy Coates could be a first round pick after the interest he received at his pro day. I can't imagine him falling any further than mid to late 2nd. Would be a nice steal though.
fiestavike
Hall of Fame Inductee
Posts: 4959
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2014 9:03 am
x 395

Re: Insomnia Driven Off Season Game Plan

Post by fiestavike »

44crm wrote:Nice work, but it looks like Sammy Coates could be a first round pick after the interest he received at his pro day. I can't imagine him falling any further than mid to late 2nd. Would be a nice steal though.
Thanks,

I just went by the fanspeak mock draft board and selected who was available with each pick. Obviously not a very accurate offseason prognostication so far!
"You like that!"
-- Cap'n Spazz Cousins
44crm
Backup
Posts: 82
Joined: Tue Sep 23, 2014 2:38 pm

Re: Insomnia Driven Off Season Game Plan

Post by 44crm »

fiestavike wrote: Thanks,

I just went by the fanspeak mock draft board and selected who was available with each pick. Obviously not a very accurate offseason prognostication so far!

Oh I see, well I love your picks, especially that steal in the 3rd! :v):
Post Reply