How do you grade the Vikings draft?

[S197]

If I try to look at the picks from outside of a fans perspective:

Both WR picks are risky. Mo is almost certainly going onto the Practice Squad, and WR's are pretty hit and miss in general, and the Daily Norseman article that talked about how rarely you get 1000 yards out of a slow receiver in today's NFL... I think you get more space shuttles exploding. An "A" for the stories these guys bring. A "C" for the actual football I expect out of them in the next two years.

If I'm not a fan, I probably downgrade the Vikes for giving away a 3rd round pick. That's a player who won't help at all this year. I would have wanted better compensation. Standard comp is one round higher the next year. We should have gotten a 2 or two 3's. This "worst of the 4th round picks" thing could easily make this a losing proposition for me - should have clearly been "best of your 4ths".

Love, love, love the Alexander pick. Love to see Alexander get a pick. The guy allowed 19 catches all year in the SEC, often times matched up against the other team's best target. That's something else. The stats and the highlights make me think he'll be our best CB going into 2017.

The other guys... Aren't going to matter much. They'll all be at the fringe of making the team. In their own ways, they are all good choices for me - a decent player with a flaw that the Vikings staff has a chance to fix. I think Morgan is the only guy who I can say with certainty that he'll never make a pro-bowl, but that's because he's playing blocking TE. He could turn out to be the best blocking TE in the league.

So in this, I go C/D/A/A- (for those paragraphs above). I guess that makes it around a B. Then again, I'm guessing we only get three quality starters out of this draft, so that's going to be a letdown after getting what appears to be four to six, eventually, from last year's draft.

I think the trade is Miami's 3rd and their 3rd if they get one as compensatory, otherwise their regular 4th pick. I've never read any confirmation but someone in the draft thread said as much.

[PurpleMustReign]

Treadwell splitting time with Diggs?? Since they are our two best WRs, I hope they would both be on the field at the same time

And they will not cut Marcus Sherels. That is laughable.

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[PurpleKoolaid]

And they will not cut Marcus Sherels. That is laughable.

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Yeah, Sherels is going nowhere. Too versitle of a player on ST, and an ok CB in a pinch. And Treadwell and Diggs on the field at the same time was the point. Theilen may be gone though.

[halfgiz]

My grade for the draft: blah

Does Beavers even have the possibility of being the starting tackle over Clemings? The one name I never wanted to hear again in a Vikings game was Clemings, and with my luck, they probably give him a raise, and brand new contract this year. How can the Oline be the LAST thought of Rick and Zimmer. What if Sully, Load, and Kalil all suck this year? We dont even have guys to train to take over. What about injuries to (imho).

Clemmings is getting moved to LT....Zimmer made that announcement over the weekend.
"Check post I made on OL"

[dead_poet]

I'm overall OK with this draft but really think it shows lack of foresight to not draft a talented center in rounds 2-4. There were SO many good ones to choose from and Sullivan isn't guaranteed to last this season much less next and Berger will be 34 this season (and his contract expires). This was my biggest disappointment/frustration. I also found it a little surprising they didn't draft any competition for Locke, though I don't think he's as bad as people seem to think. Like Kalil, I think he has one more chance. I do dig the Alexander pick, as well as Treadwell and Brothers. Sparano has his work cut out for him, but the offense does have a chance to improve with the line in particular and possibly Treadwell (if he can crack the starting lineup).

[Texas Vike]

To echo señor Viveiros and DP:

OK draft, totally agree that we messed up by not taking a center. I think our first two picks are likely to make an impact, but after that it is highly dubious. The trade was weird IMO, especially since we could have snagged a center or a safety at that pick and gotten a year to train him. I suppose we'll be excited next year to have that extra ammo.

The biggest surprise to me is that they didn't (really) address two of the biggest needs: S and C.

I'm a hard grader, but I'd give it a C.

[halfgiz]

I would probably grade this draft a B....
There was a few positions/players I would have liked to seen us draft..OL mostly.

Instead we got a few players that are diamonds in the rough. Now it remains to be seen if they will shine or eventually get released.

In Zimmer we trust

[fiestavike]

They addressed most of the positions where guys have an actual chance to contribute this year in some fashion...WR, S, MLB, DL...

They had some good value picks in Mackenzie and Treadwell.

They've got some projects in Beavers and Boehringer.

They added a lot of size this year, Treadwell, Beavers, Boehringer, Kearse, Weatherly.

I'm not unhappy with the draft...as tunsil slid I was curious to see if we might make a move up, but once he was selected, and Decker went to the Colts, its was pretty clear we were not going to add significant OT help.

[Norv Zimmer]

Hard to grade the draft now. A year from now gives some perspective, still you need two years at least before you can grade a draft. I sure don't look forward to complaining about the Oline Like last year since we barely addressed it in the draft Which I consider to be Zimmers first big mistake. The Game is won in the trenches. Always has, Always will. Most important Players in my mind are Lineman both Off And Def, the QB, and the Corners. If you are weak in any these areas it's not realistic to expect to win much.

We picked up 2 of lineman in FA two are returning from injury, and we drafted one. We have like 15 of them to choose from..... I think we are fine in the O line department.

I will give the Vikes a B+. Live Alexander and Treadwell picks. I think brothers will eventually start in the middle and move Kendricks outside. Kearse will be a solid backup and special teamer. Who knowshould how the German unicorn will play out...

[Mothman]

We picked up 2 of lineman in FA two are returning from injury, and we drafted one. We have like 15 of them to choose from..... I think we are fine in the O line department.

There's a difference between having a lot of offensive linemen and having enough good offensive linemen, now and for in the near future. We'll see how it all shakes out but I think there's still plenty of cause for doubt/concern.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

There's a difference between having a lot of offensive linemen and having enough good offensive linemen, now and for in the near future. We'll see how it all shakes out but I think there's still plenty of cause for doubt/concern.

I don't see us having any quality guards outside of Alex Boone. If Fusco starts again I may lose my mind.

As far as tackle, I feel a lot better at right tackle than I do left tackle. Kalil was one of my favorite draft picks, but, I cannot defend him anymore. He isn't playing like a tope 5 pick.

[CbusVikesFan]

For all the good player/prospects we acquired yesterday, I cannot give a passing grade to this draft because the glaring need for a fresher backup at QB. Obviously the Vikings are going to hinge the future on TB and TH. Pffffft!

[Mothman]

I don't see us having any quality guards outside of Alex Boone. If Fusco starts again I may lose my mind.

It seems likely to be him or Harris.

As far as tackle, I feel a lot better at right tackle than I do left tackle. Kalil was one of my favorite draft picks, but, I cannot defend him anymore. He isn't playing like a tope 5 pick.

He's not and he isn't playing like he should get the salary he'll receive in 2016 but with all that said, I think he's adequate. "Adequate" obviously isn't the standard we want though...

I'm concerned about RT. Hopefully, Loadholt can come back strong. I'm not sold on Smith at all and I sure don't want Clemmings starting at either tackle position.

Center's probably going to be okay this season but they passed up opportunities to solidify it for the future in this draft. I share DP's frustration about that.

[fiestavike]

It seems likely to be him or Harris.

I think that is the position which might have the most competition, along with S.

In addition to Harris and Fusco, I think Berger, Shephard, Beavers, and even Andre Smith could be competing to start at RG.

[Mothman]

In addition to Harris and Fusco, I think Berger, Shephard, Beavers, and even Andre Smith could be competing to start at RG.

I keep forgetting that Berger could assert himself into that mix if Sullivan is healthy.