As for all mocks, this is just my prediction of how things could go, not saying anything is set in stone. As for the free agents I had us sign, some may say that 6 is too many but 3 out of the 6 are on 1 year deals and 1 is on a cheaper 2 year deal. I also added in the entire 1st round and part of the 2nd round as well. But stopped after out first 2nd round pick because predicting anything after that is nearly impossible. Team Needs
-Current Offensive Needs:
• QB (Starter and depth)
• RB (2nd string)
• WR (Depth)
• LG (Starter)
• OT (Depth)
-Current Defensive Needs:
• DE (Starter and Depth)
• DT (Starting 1 technique (NT) and depth at both)
• LB (Starter at MIKE and WILL)
• CB (Starter on outside and Depth)
• S (Possible starter)
-Current Special Teams Needs:
• N/A
In-House Re-signings
• DE- Everson Griffen (~5 years, $25 million)
• OT- J’Marcus Webb (2 years)
• WR- Jerome Simpson (1 year)
• C- Joe Berger (1 year)
• DT- Fred Evans (1 year)
• RB- Matt Asiata (ERFA)
• LB- Larry Dean (RFA)
• CB/PR- Marcus Sherels (RFA)
In-House Let Walk
• QB- Josh Freeman
• RB- Toby Gerhart
• WR- Joe Webb
• OG- Charlie Johnson
• OG- Seth Olsen
• DE- Jared Allen
• DT- Kevin Williams
• LB- Desmond Bishop
• LB- Marvin Mitchell
• CB- Chris Cook
Restructured Contracts
• LB- Chad Greenway
Notable Cuts
• LB- Erin Henderson (saves ~$2 million)
• TE- John Carlson (saves ~$4 million)
• DT- Letroy Guion (saves ~$4 million)
• SS- Jamarca Sanford (saves ~$2 million)
* Total Savings ~$12 million*
Trades
• Christian Ponder is traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for a 6th round pick.
Free Agency
• CB- Alterraun Verner (~5 years, $40 million)
-I'm a big fan of Verner and believe we need veteran presence in our secondary. With his former DC running the secondary and Mike Zimmer being highly regarded, I think Verner has a solid chance to sign with us.
• LG- Zane Beadles (~4 years, $16 million)
-Beadles has had his ups and downs but is a former pro-bowler and a definite upgrade over Charlie Johnson. I don't think we need to break the bank on a guard and I think Beadles falls under that "middle of the road" category.
• S- Kendrick Lewis (~2 years, $4 million)
-Lewis has struggled with injuries at times but when playing, he has shown a lot of promise. He is a fierce run defender and his best attribute could very well be his coverage.
• DT- Pat Sims (1 year)
-Sims is a former Bengal and will know Zimmer's defense very well. He provides depth along the defensive line but I can't see him commanding much money.
• DE- Daniel Te’o Nesheim (1 year)
-Te'o Nesheim showed some promise just a season ago racking up 4 sacks. He is probably more suited for a 3-4 defense but I believe he could provide quality depth in Mike Zimmer's aggressive 4-3 defense.
• QB- Jason Campbell (1 year)
-Campbell has already had a year under his belt with OC Norv Turner and can provide guidance with the young QB we draft.
2014 NFL Draft
Round 1
1. Houston- QB, Blake Bortles- UCF
TRADE: The St. Louis Rams trade away #2 overall to the Atlanta Falcons for their 1st round pick (6th), 2nd round pick (37th), and 2015 1st round pick.
2. Atlanta (via StL via WAS)- DE, Jadaveon Clowney- South Carolina
3. Jacksonville- QB, Johnny Manziel- Texas A&M
4. Cleveland- QB, Teddy Bridewater- Louisville
5. Oakland- WR, Sammy Watkins- Clemson
6. St. Louis (via ATL)- OT, Greg Robinson- Auburn
7. Tampa Bay- DE/OLB, Khalil Mack- Buffalo
TRADE: The Minnesota Vikings trade away #8 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers for their 1st round pick (15th) and 2nd round pick (46th)
8. Pittsburgh (via MIN)- OT, Jake Matthews- Texas A&M
9. Buffalo- TE, Eric Ebron- North Carolina
10. Detroit- CB, Justin Gilbert- Oklahoma St.
11. Tennessee- DE/OLB, Anthony Barr- UCLA
TRADE: The New York Giants trade away #12 overall to the New York Jets for their 1st round pick (19th), 3rd round pick (80th), and 2015 6th round pick.
12. NY Jets (via NYG)- WR, Mike Evans- Texas A&M
13. St. Louis- S, Calvin Pryor- Louisville
14. Chicago- DT, Timmy Jernigan- Florida St.
15. Minnesota (via PIT)- NT, Louis Nix III- Notre Dame
16. Baltimore- ILB, CJ Mosely- Alabama
17. Dallas- S, Haha Clinton-Dix- Alabama
18. NY Giants (via NYJ)- OG/OT, Zack Martin- Notre Dame
19. Miami- OT, Taylor Lewan- Michigan
20. Arizona- OT, Morgan Moses- Virginia
21. Green Bay- TE, Jace Amaro- Texas Tech
22. Philadelphia- CB, Darqueze Dennard- Michigan St.
23. Kansas City- WR, Marqise Lee- USC
24. Cincinnati- DE, Dee Ford- Auburn
25. San Diego- CB, Bradley Roby- Ohio St.
26. Cleveland (via IND)- WR, Jarvis Landry- LSU
27. New Orleans- DE, Kony Ealy- Missouri
28. Carolina- WR, Kelvin Benjamin- Florida St.
29. New England- DT, Ra’Shede Hageman- Minnesota
30. San Francisco- DE, Stephon Tuitt- Notre Dame
31. Denver- CB, Jason Verrett- TCU
32. Seattle- WR, Odell Beckham- LSU
Round 2
33. Houston- OT, Cyrus Kouandjio- Alabama
34. Washington- S, LaMarcus Joyner- Florida St.
TRADE: The Cleveland Browns trade away #35 overall to the Minnesota Vikings for their 2nd round pick (40th) and 5th round pick (136th)
35. Minnesota (via CLE)- QB, Derek Carr- Fresno St.
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2014 Minnesota Vikings Draft Picks
• Round 1:
o (via PIT) NT, Louis Nix III- Notre Dame
-Nix paired along with Floyd has me licking my chops! I think if Teddy or even Manziel don't fall to us, we should trade down or possibly draft Mack. In this situation, I have us trading down instead. I think this pick could solidify our defensive line once again.
• Round 2:
o (via CLE) QB, Derek Carr- Fresno St.
-I HIGHLY doubt 4 QB's go that early in the first round. But without Oakland taking a QB in the 1st, we have to jump them in the 2nd in order to get Carr. Carr has a monster arm and a pocket passer that I think could strive in Norv Turner's offense.
o (via PIT) OLB, Kyle Van Noy- BYU
-Van Noy will strive in Zimmer's defense and fills out hole at WLB. He is a solid pass rusher and is also athletic enough to be solid in coverage.
• Round 3:
o DE- Chris Smith- Arkansas
-We have already talked to Smith at the Senior Bowl and will play a similar role that Everson Griffen has the past few years.
o CB- Stanley Jean-Baptiste- Nebraska
-My big sleeper in this years draft. I love Jean-Baptiste's potential and has the build to be a solid outside CB. He's a absolute monster height wise and is solid in coverage. He will be a solid #3 CB in this defense.
• Round 4:
o RB- Andre Williams- Boston College
-Williams is similar to Gerhart when it comes to size and I think he could make a great 1-2 punch with Peterson. Some may not be a fan of this pick but I think he would be a great replacement for Gerhart and he could end up being Peterson's successor.
• Round 5:
o NO PICK (Traded to CLE)
• Round 6:
o SS- Vinnie Sunseri- Alabama
-Sunseri had a good season this past year and provides depth behind Kendrick Lewis and Andrew Sendejo
o (via PHI) WR- Jalen Saunders- Oklahoma
-Saunders is a speedy slot receiver that could provide depth behind Jennings and add some more elusiveness to that spot.
• Round 7:
o QB- Aaron Murray- Georgia
-I haven't been a big fan of drafting two QB's but since we were able to wheel 9 picks in this situation, I think we can afford to do it. Plus, Murray has a lot of potential but is probably going to fall because of his knee.
2014 Minnesota Vikings Depth Chart
Black= Returning Players
Blue= Free Agents Signed
Red=Rookies Drafted
OFFENSE
QB- Carr, Campbell, Murray
RB- Peterson, Williams, Asiata, Banyard, Randle
FB- Felton, Line, Ellison/Asiata
WR X- Patterson, Simpson, Smith
WR Y- Jennings, Saunders, Thielen
WR Z- Wright, Childs, Jorden
TE- Rudolph, Ford, Ellison
LT- Kalil, Murphy
LG- Beadles, Baca
C- Sullivan, Berger
RG- Fusco, Samuda
RT- Loadholt, Webb, Remmers
DEFENSE
DE- Robison, Te’o Nesheim, Trattou
DE- Griffen, Smith, Nealy
DT (3-tech)- Floyd, Sims/Evans, Baker
NT (1-tech)- Nix III, Sims/Evans, Randall
SLB- Greenway, Dean
MLB- Cole/Mauti, Lawrence
WLB- Van Noy, Hodges
CB- Rhodes, Prater, Steeples
CB- Verner, Jean-Baptiste, Edwards
NCB- Robinson, Sherels, Blanton
FS- Smith, Raymond, Bishop
SS- Lewis, Sendejo, Sunseri
SPECIAL TEAMS
K- Walsh
P- Locke
LS- Loeffler
H- Locke
KR- Patterson, Sherels
PR- Sherels, Patterson
Hope you guys enjoy the read!!!
Schwartz would definitely be the cheaper option but I think I would take Beadles over him. Just a personal opinion.
He constantly takes bad angles and has been demoted more than once. Sanford at least is solid in run support and has a knack for forcing fumbles. Raymond is usually invisible until he does something that makes you cringe. 
I'd take another one of those. Where I get sticky is that I think we may like a compliment to AD (Chester Taylor, Mewelde Moore) rather than another big guy. But talent is talent. And I firmly believe AD is going to play another 4-5 years (at that time he'll "only" be 32-33). By that time Williams will be in the same position as Gerhart (likely gone looking for other opportunities than re-signing to be a backup for another couple of years). Pure speculation, of course, but I'm not a big fan of the timing as far as grooming for a replacement. But I do like the value if Williams last to here. He has talent and likely a higher "grade" than some other players but because the RB position is being devalued so much he might just be here. It seems fewer and fewer are earning first-round grades.
