2014 NFL Draft Discussion Thread - Round 1

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Seriously, Barr is a good choice. He will be a beast for us. I don't understand why people think C.J. Mosely is better.

[PurpleKoolaid]

A specialist LB with the #9th pick, that played 2 years on D, and we are going to use him for blitzes. Brilliant!

[dead_poet]

Good, the Bears don't get Donald.

Rams front four is sick.

[chicagopurple]

Another "reach" by spielman who thinks he is smarter then everyone . Uses 1st round on a 3rd down specialist who is really a converted fullback......man!

[VikingPaul73]

Barr is NOT a 3 down LB. Zimmer is not god nor a miracle worker. Nor is Norv. My lord, we hasn't been a HC a day in his life.

There is some interesting logic on this board. It's like Zimmer is a god, so by definition his pick is pure genius. If he took the backup Punter on Western Michigan it would be a brilliant pick, by definition, because he is a genius so how could a message board grunt question his genius?

I will really hope this picks works but it seems like a real reach to me. A 3rd down pass rushing specialist. And a reach at #9.

[S197]

Something is usually horribly wrong with the lions.

What amazes me is that they keep adding skill position talent but they really need to keep upgrading their o-line.

I like it that way, Stafford gives me a lot of fantasy points and no one ever drafts him high

[PurpleKoolaid]

Fuller, Ha Ha, or Dennard would all have been better, more ready picks where we know we need now. Zimmer the magician could turn any of our young LBs into stars....

[mondry]

I like the pick.

From my understanding Barr is pretty raw. He's only been a LB for a couple years? He knows how to rush the passer and stop the run, I think we'll use him to that extent when we can. For the poster that said this means we're giving up on hodges, maybe not so fast. It may be more of a platoon playing the best guy we can for each specific situation. Zimmer was able to take James Harrison and put him in his 4-3 and find a role for him so I think he can do the same for Barr.

The thing is, Barr does some things really well RIGHT NOW, so we can put him in there and get him on the field while we still mold and develop his coverage game. As a raw guy, it's not like his game is completely set in stone.

[dead_poet]

Fuller, Ha Ha, or Dennard would all have been better, more ready picks where we know we need now. Zimmer the magician could turn any of our young LBs into stars....

Take comfort that no matter what the pick was this year, the Vikings weren't logically contending for a Super Bowl in 2014.

[Texas Vike]

Why wouldnt Barr have been at the draft?

I wondered the same thing. Was he not expected to be a top 30 pick? Did he turn down the invitation? If so, why?

[PurpleKoolaid]

Take comfort that no matter what the pick was this year, the Vikings weren't logically contending for a Super Bowl in 2014.

Agreed. And it will take Barr that long to get ready to make a real difference. I guess we pick a Zach or Jimmy G or hope we suck enough to get Winston or Mariota next year.

[Demi]

Another "reach" by spielman who thinks he is smarter then everyone . Uses 1st round on a 3rd down specialist who is really a converted fullback......man!

Taking a top 10 talent in the top 10 is a reach

[S197]

Fuller, Ha Ha, or Dennard would all have been better, more ready picks where we know we need now. Zimmer the magician could turn any of our young LBs into stars....

I agree (except for Ha-Ha, I'll take Ward or Buchannon) but I think if you look at it positionally, we have Smith at safety, Rhodes & Munnerlyn at corner and.... and old Greenway and 6 unproven guys at LB. So you take a little of a gamble I think knowing you have a coach who can mold players.

[Texas Vike]

I think this is a good pick and gives Zimmer more flexibility with our front seven. Barr will become a Demarcus Ware type of player one day if all goes well. What pick did we get from the trade with the browns?

5th round.

[dead_poet]

I wondered the same thing. Was he not expected to be a top 30 pick? Did he turn down the invitation? If so, why?

From Barr's Twitter:

AB @itheeayb
It was humbling and I appreciate being invited to NYC for the draft, but I've decided to stay in LA and spend it with those I owe so much