Draft thread

[VikingsVictorious]

Jefferson and Gladney are the two guys I drafted almost every time I stood pat in the 1st in draft simulators.

Not because I liked them or did any research on them, but because they gave me the best grade. If I didn't know any better I would say firstpick.com was Rick's big board.

The trade back will be fine if Love is a bust for the Packers and Gladney is a better CB than Wilson is an Olineman. I really liked Love, and the Vikings need a QB in 3 years more than the Packers do. If Love works out, it will be one of the worst draft blunders in Vikings history..

Here is to hoping the Pack wasted a 1st round pick.

I don't think Love was a possibility whether the vikings traded back or not. Trading back there certainly won't go down as a draft blunder, let alone one of the worst. This is a franchise that didn't get the pick in on time, a franchise that selected Demetrius Underwood, Troy Williamson and Erasmus James.

Like Fiesta said the trade back had nothing to do with us getting Love or not. If we wanted Love we would have drafted him where we drafted Jefferson. I personally think Hurts is going to be better and we might get him in the third sometime tonight.

[VikingLord]

Spielman said he wants to trade up today and there is a possibly that Vikings will be trading for Trent

I won't be surprised if the Vikings move up, but I will be surprised if the Vikings pull off a trade for Williams at this point. If the Skins wanted a 1st rounder for him, already too late for that.

[VikingsVictorious]

I get confused...We are a run first team according to Zimmer.
We're paying a throwing QB good money,yet we don't have a good line.
And we draft a slot WR who had 109 of his 110 catches from the slot. Slot WR's are abundant this year in the draft. I feel we could have got similar value in later rounds.
Plus we have AT and Bisi who work out of the slot.

To me our priorities last night was to upgrade the line, did we accomplish that? Not in my opinion.
The extra picks we got from the 49ers let's see when we cut down to 53 where them picks end up.

We may have already made the deal to upgrade the line and just haven't announced it yet. As much as I love drafting O line Jefferson could easily have a better affect on our running game than drafting an O Lineman would have.

[VikingsVictorious]

For those interested, I see fanspeak now has the first round up to our pick as it actually occurred. Could be fun to see mocks for the rest of the draft, or some from folks who would've done something different than Spielman actually did.

I have done new mocks updated with what happened yesterday and they turn out much better than the ones I was able to do before.

[VikingsVictorious]

PFN mock draft also has updated, and they allow trades. I opted not to make trades just to get a sense of where the dominoes might fall.

22.
Justin Jefferson
WR LSU

31.
Jeff Gladney
CB TCU

58.
Antoine Winfield Jr.
S Minnesota

89.
Matt Hennessy
C Temple

105.
Khalid Kareem
DE Notre Dame

117.
Kindle Vildor
CB Georgia Southern

132.
Jonah Jackson
G Ohio State

155.
Tanner Muse
S Clemson

176.
Zack Moss
RB Utah

201.
Kevin Dotson
G Louisiana

205.
Tyrie Cleveland
WR Florida

219.
Harrison Hand
CB Temple

249.
Chris Williamson
CB Minnesota

253.
Michael Warren II
RB Cincinnati

I would not mind your effort being reality. I would prefer we get a better 2nd WR than Cleveland though.

[VikingLord]

He was my favorite QB outside of Tua, and I would have taken him at 25 if I were in charge of the draft.

It could be he sucks, but at least one GM really liked him. Probably more than one since the Packers didn't feel he would last until their pick.

I mean really liked him. They have one of the best QBs of our time for at least a few more years and they traded up in the first for Love, knowing Rodgers is probably going to be really pissed about that pick. You don't do that unless you are 100% sold on a QB as a prospect.

This is just my opinion and I could be very wrong about Love as a QB, but based on how much I liked Love, passing on him to have him go to a team they play twice a year is far worse than any first round bust, failing to get your pick in on time or anything else the Vikings have done in the draft.

The Packer trade up to grab Love was an *objectively* bad move IMHO.

Love was not falling. He was not highly rated. This isn't like when Rodgers and Smith were both considered possible #1 picks and then Rodgers fell for no good reason after Smith was picked #1. That was a pure fall with a lot of teams ignoring a very good QB prospect way past the point where he should have gone.

Nobody drafting ahead of the Packers in the 1st round was going to draft Love and nobody was going to trade up into those picks to draft him either. Love might turn out to be a great QB, but no way did he justify what the Packers gave up to get him where they got him.

Further, does this move help the Packers win? The Packers went to the NFC Championship Game and won the North. They're ready to win now. How does drafting a QB of the future (and a reach at that) help them this coming season?

This is the sort of move a bad GM makes absent some incredible inside information. Someone in the Packer organization fell in love with Love and convinced himself he had to move to get him. Delusional IMHO. Love would likely have lasted into at least the mid-2nd, and if anything the Packers could have traded down into the early 2nd, gotten extra picks, and still got him if that is who they really wanted ala what Spielman did with Gladney.

Honestly, a move like the one the Packers just made makes me appreciate Spielman more.

[fiestavike]

For those interested, I see fanspeak now has the first round up to our pick as it actually occurred. Could be fun to see mocks for the rest of the draft, or some from folks who would've done something different than Spielman actually did.

I have done new mocks updated with what happened yesterday and they turn out much better than the ones I was able to do before.

Do tell. Better how so?

[VikingsVictorious]

PFN mock draft also has updated, and they allow trades. I opted not to make trades just to get a sense of where the dominoes might fall.

22.
Justin Jefferson
WR LSU

31.
Jeff Gladney
CB TCU

58.
Antoine Winfield Jr.
S Minnesota

89.
Matt Hennessy
C Temple

105.
Khalid Kareem
DE Notre Dame

117.
Kindle Vildor
CB Georgia Southern

132.
Jonah Jackson
G Ohio State

155.
Tanner Muse
S Clemson

176.
Zack Moss
RB Utah

201.
Kevin Dotson
G Louisiana

205.
Tyrie Cleveland
WR Florida

219.
Harrison Hand
CB Temple

249.
Chris Williamson
CB Minnesota

253.
Michael Warren II
RB Cincinnati

I will be surprised if Winfield fell to #58

I would be surprised not shocked. There are 5 possibly 6 very talented Safeties since not one was drafted yesterday. Teams place low value comparatively on safeties. If say McKinney, Delpit and Chinn go before Winfield which is certainly possible then he could easily be available at pick 58. If not we can take whichever of them fall or Duggar or Ashtyn Davis.

[VikingsVictorious]

Haven't had a chance to read most of this thread, but wanted to throw out some observations on the 1st round.

- Jefferson was the right pick at #22. Whether he turns out to be worth that high of a selection remains to be seen, but I can't argue that someone else was BPA at that choice. I've seen some comments where people think Jefferson is a slot receiver. The guy is 6'1" and 200 pounds and can probably add some more weight once he gets into a pro conditioning program. He ran a 4.43 at the combine. He's known as an excellent route runner and a hard worker and an on-field leader.

By comparison, Adam Thielen is 6'2" and 200 pounds (4.45 at his pro day). Stefon Diggs is 6'0" and 191 pounds (4.46 40 at the Combine).

Just because a player plays at a certain position in college does not consign the player to that position in the pros. Jefferson played a lot of slot receiver because the offense LSU ran put him in the slot. Based on the above, it is not unreasonable to believe Jefferson can play outside WR and play it very well.

- Would I have preferred to see the Vikings focus on their lines at #22? The answer to that is maybe and the reason it is maybe is because of what happened after pick #22. Other than Isaiah Wilson of Georgia (OT), nobody taken after #22 was either an OL or DL. That pushes a lot of very talented OL/DL into the 2nd round, and due to his trade back with the 49ers Spielman bought himself ammo to move in round 2 should he covet a lineman. There is a very good chance he could move up into the 1st half of Round 2 now and snag an OL/DL he likes while keeping #58. Not saying I think he's going to do that - just saying he gave himself the ability to do it and the draft is playing out in a way that makes it likely he can still find immediate starters for one or both of his lines.

- Trading down from #25 and still getting the CB he wanted was very astute. The kind of astute move you hope your GM makes if the opportunity presents itself.

- Gladney is a good prospect. I personally think the CBs not named Okudah in this class were all pretty speculative. Lots of talent at the position, but a flat class. Of that "everyone else" part of the CB class, though, Gladney brings a pretty high upside as a pro. He is definitely capable of getting on the field right away and contributing. Given how everything else is shaking out, I'm happy with this pick as well.

- What will Rick Spielman do in Round 2? He currently sits at #58, but still has some major holes to fill. There is a chance Spielman might try to move up. If he wants Winfield, I think he's got to move up to around pick #40 because I don't see Winfield last past the Bears at #43. But does he want Winfield? Maybe he drafts Winfield as a slot DB? He'd make an excellent one. Or does he move up to grab one of the talented OL/DL players?

Great analysis Viking Lord.
Zero safeties were drafted in the first round. It is not considered a premium position. There are still at least 5 very good safeties on the board and possibly 6. How many will get drafted in the 2nd round? It isn't impossible for Winfield to last to 58, but if he doesn't there will almost certainly be a good one. As fun as it would be I'm opposed to trading up for Winfield. I propose we stand pat at 58 take the BPA at any of our positions of need. Then move up from 89 for another.

[VikingsVictorious]

I've seen some comments where people think Jefferson is a slot receiver. Just because a player plays at a certain position in college does not consign the player to that position in the pros. Jefferson played a lot of slot receiver because the offense LSU ran put him in the slot.

Folks seem to be missing that Jefferson played out wide every year he played WR except for last year when LSU put him in the slot. I think he will be a very productive player for us and brings great versatility. Wish he was a bit taller so he could add more muscle to his frame, but I think he'll be fine and was a great pick at 22.

He did play wide prior to last year and had trouble with press coverage. They moved him to the slot and added Burrow to the mix and his production skyrocketed.

[halfgiz]

I get confused...We are a run first team according to Zimmer.
We're paying a throwing QB good money,yet we don't have a good line.
And we draft a slot WR who had 109 of his 110 catches from the slot. Slot WR's are abundant this year in the draft. I feel we could have got similar value in later rounds.
Plus we have AT and Bisi who work out of the slot.

To me our priorities last night was to upgrade the line, did we accomplish that? Not in my opinion.
The extra picks we got from the 49ers let's see when we cut down to 53 where them picks end up.

We may have already made the deal to upgrade the line and just haven't announced it yet. As much as I love drafting O line Jefferson could easily have a better affect on our running game than drafting an O Lineman would have.

From what I have read...Washington wants a number 2 and that's the sticking point.

Jefferson played in the spread...we will see how he does in NFL in heavy traffic.

[VikingsVictorious]

Spielman said he wants to trade up today and there is a possibly that Vikings will be trading for Trent

I won't be surprised if the Vikings move up, but I will be surprised if the Vikings pull off a trade for Williams at this point. If the Skins wanted a 1st rounder for him, already too late for that.

I want a date with Shania Twain. We don't always get what we want. Reports were that Washington wanted a 2nd round pick. If we were to offer Reiff and a 3rd that would be as good as a second IMO and hopefully Washingtons.

[VikingsVictorious]

I have done new mocks updated with what happened yesterday and they turn out much better than the ones I was able to do before.

Do tell. Better how so?

Better overall talent.

[VikingsVictorious]

We may have already made the deal to upgrade the line and just haven't announced it yet. As much as I love drafting O line Jefferson could easily have a better affect on our running game than drafting an O Lineman would have.

From what I have read...Washington wants a number 2 and that's the sticking point.

Jefferson played in the spread...we will see how he does in NFL in heavy traffic.

Lots of things teams or people want. You don't always get what you want. Vikings should offer a third and Reiff and that should be good enough.

[IIsweet]

Spielman did a good job last night. Sitting pat and letting Jefferson fall in our laps. The trade down was perfect as I had us looking at 4 CBs there. Gladney, Fulton, Diggs, Johnson. I was also hoping for McKinney there, but I S normally is a 2nd day pick.
Watched an interview with Gladney, he played all season and did the combine with a torn meniscus. Kid is tough !!!