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Y'all need to go see the movie Draft Day. It is fantastic!

Funkytown wrote:Y'all need to go see the movie Draft Day. It is fantastic!

I just watched the preview. Would it be too big of a spoiler to tell us what he traded for the no. 1 pick? I'm betting there's also no consensus no. 1, either, so that when he takes the likes of Derek Carr, everyone #### their pants. He did take a QB, right?

Eli wrote: I just watched the preview. Would it be too big of a spoiler to tell us what he traded for the no. 1 pick? I'm betting there's also no consensus no. 1, either, so that when he takes the likes of Derek Carr, everyone #### their pants. He did take a QB, right?

I won't ruin the movie. Just trust me, it's worth it. Check it out!

The problem is by a lot of accounts this is a very good draft at the top end, I've heard the top 40 players are better than most other years so finding a partner to trade with may be difficult. I'm not saying there won't be any trades, but I find it unlikely we see a RG3 or Julio Jones type deal this year. If the Vikings can move down for decent value, I'm all for it but I have a strong feeling they're going to have to stick and make a pick. The biggest chance might be if one of the big OTs (Robinson or Matthews) drop.

S197 wrote:If the Vikings can move down for decent value, I'm all for it but I have a strong feeling they're going to have to stick and make a pick. The biggest chance might be if one of the big OTs (Robinson or Matthews) drop.

Really? One of the tackles? Not Barr or Evans or one of the three QBs? Offensive tackle seems to be among the deepest positions, and while they don't all tend to be great, they do tend to be safe picks in the lower part of the round.

I'd just love to see the reaction if the Vikings were to trade down and then see the other team take one of the coveted quarterbacks. Fan reaction on this board from the camp of (pick one) Bortles, Manziel, or Bridgewater would be massively entertaining.

Really? I don't see anyone that cares much regarding the quarterbacks...

Star Tribune writer Mark Craig makes a case for the Vikings to draft an RB in May:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 43651.html

Mothman wrote:Star Tribune writer Mark Craig makes a case for the Vikings to draft an RB in May:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 43651.html

I think this attitude is why he is the reigning champ in the "favorites" thread:

“I look on YouTube all the time,” Peterson said. “I see guys 40, 50 years old running 48 [seconds] in the 400 [meters] and 4.3s in the 40 [yards]. It’s all because they put the work in. As long as you have the mind-set to work and you have what you need to take care of the body, then you’re able to extend your ability.”

I also agree with Craig's argument following this quote:

It’s also time to consider a less-is-more philosophy with Peterson’s carries, not to mention taking a firmer stand against him when he wants to play through significant injuries.

I don't know about "less is more," but we can't let him play hurt so much.

I'd say round 4 or 5 would be a good time. Rd. 3, as Craig posits, seems high to me, given the # of needs we have.

Texas Vike wrote:I think this attitude is why he is the reigning champ in the "favorites" thread:

Agreed!

I don't know about "less is more," but we can't let him play hurt so much.

I'd say round 4 or 5 would be a good time. Rd. 3, as Craig posits, seems high to me, given the # of needs we have.

I know what you mean. They need a lot of help on defense.

I think it's one of those situations where it probably makes sense to play it by the board and draft for talent as well as need. Having quality depth behind Peterson is important because the running game is an key part of the Vikings offense (I doubt that will change). If the talent available at RB in R3 seems like a much better value than the talent at some positions of more immediate need, it might make sense to pull the trigger on a running back.

Mothman wrote: Agreed!
I know what you mean. They need a lot of help on defense.

I think it's one of those situations where it probably makes sense to play it by the board and draft for talent as well as need. Having quality depth behind Peterson is important because the running game is an key part of the Vikings offense (I doubt that will change). If the talent available at RB in R3 seems like a much better value than the talent at some positions of more immediate need, it might make sense to pull the trigger on a running back.

In theory I would agree with that, but I have to admit that I have not studied up on the RBs of this draft AT ALL. I simply wasn't paying attention to the position while watching College FB this season. It wasn't on my radar because of AD, but just as the NEs of the world are rumored to be looking at Brady's future replacement, we need to be thinking down the road at RB.

I wonder if guys projected in the 3rd (Carey, Williams, West) are significantly more talented than what we could get a bit later. Enough to justify ignoring other glaring holes on our team? Just from reading "experts'" takes on the RBs I don't see anyone that really stands out.

fiestavike wrote:Two names I am not sold on. Bortles and Mack. I keep watching mack footage trying to see what separates him and I just can't spot it. He doesn't seem exceptional at anything and while he played well against Ohio State he also got dominated by teams like Baylor who just made him disappear and swallowed him whole. With Barr I can at least see some real athleticism to dip that shoulder low and get past linemen. He does it over and over again in game footage. I'm not sure he is a match for our team, but he demonstrates both potential and ability. So far I have just found that one game for Mack. If someone can point me to another example I'd love to find something other than the Ohio State tape to show me why he is so highly regarded.

I know he had big games against Kent State, Miami and Bowling Green. Maybe you can find some film of those games.

Regarding the game against Baylor, it's worth noting that Baylor was an offensive powerhouse last year. They had the highest-scoring offense in college football and gained more yardage than any other offense in the game. Mack didn't have a good game against them but I don't there's a defensive player in existence who can't be neutralized by a terrific offense and a good game plan. Baylor did a great job against him.

I think Mack is so highly regarded because he's both fundamentally sound and explosive. He has a great knack for penetrating into the backfield forcing negative yardage plays but also for creating turnovers. He has a quick move off the line when rushing and the versatility and athleticism to not only drop back into coverage and intercept the ball but to run effectively after the catch.

Texas Vike wrote:In theory I would agree with that, but I have to admit that I have not studied up on the RBs of this draft AT ALL. I simply wasn't paying attention to the position while watching College FB this season. It wasn't on my radar because of AD, but just as the NEs of the world are rumored to be looking at Brady's future replacement, we need to be thinking down the road at RB.

I wonder if guys projected in the 3rd (Carey, Williams, West) are significantly more talented than what we could get a bit later. Enough to justify ignoring other glaring holes on our team? Just from reading "experts'" takes on the RBs I don't see anyone that really stands out.

I haven't read up on the RBs much either (this doesn't appear to be a great draft for that position) so I can't be much help. In that article, Mark Craig said Mel Kiper had the Vikings taking Tre Mason from Auburn in the third. NFLDraftScout has him ranked as the top RB in the draft so if he lasted until the Vikings pick in R3, maybe he really would be much better than what they could get a bit later. I don't know...

Terrance west in rd4-5would be a nice pickup.

Texas Vike wrote: I think this attitude is why he is the reigning champ in the "favorites" thread:

Peterson isn't the first highly competitive, hard working NFL player to want to play until he's 40. The reality of playing in the NFL has a nasty habit of changing those plans.

I also agree with Craig's argument following this quote: I don't know about "less is more," but we can't let him play hurt so much.

The hits add up. There's just no getting around it - it's cumulative and it catches up to every player eventually. It's understandable, though, that the Vikings have wanted to run him into the ground when he's both highly successful and their only reliable offensive weapon.

I'd say round 4 or 5 would be a good time. Rd. 3, as Craig posits, seems high to me, given the # of needs we have.

The Vikings have serviceable running backs. Drafting any RB would be foolish when the deficiencies on defense are so extreme. They have cap room and could have retained Toby Gerhart had they really wanted to. It's not a priority.

Demi wrote:Really? I don't see anyone that cares much regarding the quarterbacks...

I do, to an extent.


If we pass on Teddy Bridgewater, I am going to be pretty upset. However, if there is a better player available when we pick, then by all means we have to draft them (i.e. Khalil Mack, Sammy Watkins, Mike Evans, Clowney, Greg Robinson).

In my opinion, Anthony Barr, Justin Gilbert, C.J. Mosely, Kony Ealy, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, and Johnny Manziel are not better prospects than Teddy Bridgewater.