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The Vikings finish 5-10-1 and receive the #8 overall pick in the 2014 draft.


The front office decides to hire (Similar to my last mock):

HC- Mike Zimmer (Cincinnati DC)- has done a great job with Cincy's defense and is a very intense coach (something this team has lacked for quite some time.)
OC- Carl Smith (SEA QB Coach)- We finally take something from Seattle and hire Smith who has done a great job with Russell Wilson and is familiar with having a solid run game.
DC- Adam Zimmer (Son of Mike Zimmer and Cincinnati's assistant DB's coach)- Similar to the Shanahan's, Adam Zimmer comes in and has a great mentor as the head coach.



UFA's Retained

QB- Matt Cassel (Does not opt out of contract)
WR- Jerome Simpson- 2 years
OG- Joe Berger- 1 year
DT- Fred Evans- 2 years
DE- Everson Griffen- 4 years
LB- Desmond Bishop- 1 year (veteran minimum)

RFA's Retained
LB- Larry Dean
CB- Marcus Sherels


Players Released/Cut
DT- Letroy Guion
LB- Erin Henderson

Players Retired
TE- John Carlson- Sea


Free Agency


CB- Alterraun Verner- 5 years- This is Spielman's "big splash" signing. Verner would come in as an immediate starter opposite Xavier Rhodes and will be an huge upgrade in our secondary.





LB- Vincent Rey- 3 years- Rey was one of ZImmer's guys in Cincy and has had a very solid season. He will come in and take over in the middle and push Audie Cole into a backup role. This is a must need with Henderson gone.





TE- Anthony McCoy- With Carlson retiring, Spielman decides to sign McCoy at a fairly cheap price. He is a solid TE that was underutilized in Seattle. He will come in and compete with Ellison for the #2 job.





DT- Cam Thomas- Thomas is a guy that could play both the 3 tech and 1 tech. He will be a great swing guy to go along with Floyd and a rookie NT.






2014 NFL Draft- BEFORE anyone jumps down my throat, I think it's important to remember that chances are....there are NOT going to be 4-5 QB's that go early in the first round. It just isn't very realistic with the guys in this draft. Bill Polian and Todd McShay are saying the same things on ESPN right now. They are also questioning Bridgewater as well and they think he might drop a few picks following the combine. In turn, I feel that whatever QB Rick Spielman is going to want, will fall right on his lap. I don't think he will have to reach in this draft which is a very good thing. When it gets to our pick Bridgewater, Carr, and Hundley are off the board and then................


TRADE- The Vikings trade their 1st round pick (8th overall) to the New York Giants for their 1st (12th overall), 3rd round pick, and 2015 5th round pick.


Round 1 (12th) via New York Giants

NT- Louis Nix III- Notre Dame- We are able to trade down and still get our guy. Nix will be an immediate starter next to Shariff Floyd and will create one of the best young interior tandems. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IcJiW47eHrk





TRADE- The Vikings trade their 2nd round pick (36th overall) and their 4th round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs for their 1st (27th overall)


Round 1 (28th) via Kansas City

QB- Johnny Manziel- Texas A&M- I know some will love this pick and some will hate it. Manziel has grown on me as of late. Bottom line is, he's a playmaker and Rick Spielman has done a good job finding playmakers in drafts. Bill Polian said he was pretty high on him and his only worry was him taking hits in the NFL compared to college. All I know is, with the threat of Peterson, Patterson, Jennings, Rudolph and now Manziel, it will be very tough for defenses to key on individual players. He has the ability to keep plays alive and has a better arm than many think. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_tdCDj4dNY





Round 3

CB- Kyle Fuller- Virginia Tech- Fuller is a solid talent that has been impressive all year. He blossomed vs Alabama this year and has continued his solid play. He will be used as an outside corner and will also play a lot of nickel as well. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8o-aandA74





Round 3 via New York

OG- David Yankey- Stanford- Yankey will come in and immediately fill in for Charlie Johnson at the LG spot. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RS2Zw-CbBho





Round 3 via Seattle

LB- Telvin Smith- Florida St.- I believe Smith is one of the biggest sleepers in this years draft. He has played some MIKE LB but was moved to WILL LB this year. He's an absolute freak athlete with a very high-motor and great leadership skills. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb6YTCFpHjc





Round 5

DE- Chris Smith- Arkansas- Smith has had a good season this year but it has been overlooked because of how bad Arkansas was. He will come in as a rotational DE. Similar to what Everson did this year. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYHjnUJoze8





Round 6

RB- Roderick McDowell- Clemson- We need a RB to back-up AP. McDowell is very explosive and will be similar to Chester Taylor as a 3rd down RB. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qjaBjxwuvQ





Round 7

WR- Cody Hoffman- BYU- Hoffman will come in and compete with guys like Childs, and Smith for a roster spot. Highlights: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSGHyipXbtc




....Hope you guys like it!!!

manziel making it to 28, what planet are you on?

mosscarter wrote:manziel making it to 28, what planet are you on?

You really think Bridgewater, Carr, Bortles, Hundley, and Manziel will all go before 28?? No way. Manziel is ranked behind these guys on many draft boards I've seen. There are going to be teams that do exactly what we might want to do.....dont reach, draft a defensive guy in the first, and take a QB in the second. Instead, we jump the gun by trading up ahead of those teams in the beginning of the 2nd.

I don't care what anyone thinks about your post, I had a blast reading it, would not be unhappy if it unfolded that way, and really appreciate the time and effort you took in putting it together!

psjordan wrote:I don't care what anyone thinks about your post, I had a blast reading it, would not be unhappy if it unfolded that way, and really appreciate the time and effort you took in putting it together!

Thank you I appreciate it!

Pondering Her Percy wrote: You really think Bridgewater, Carr, Bortles, Hundley, and Manziel will all go before 28?? No way. Manziel is ranked behind these guys on many draft boards I've seen. There are going to be teams that do exactly what we might want to do.....dont reach, draft a defensive guy in the first, and take a QB in the second. Instead, we jump the gun by trading up ahead of those teams in the beginning of the 2nd.

I think as more information has become available to us and more people have put both Manziel and players like Carr under the microscope, what some boards may say may be misguided or outdated. I would seriously question any board that has Manziel below Carr, that is for sure.

Make sure to read this part before commenting!!!


2014 NFL Draft- BEFORE anyone jumps down my throat, I think it's important to remember that chances are....there are NOT going to be 4-5 QB's that go early in the first round. It just isn't very realistic with the guys in this draft. Bill Polian and Todd McShay are saying the same things on ESPN right now. They are also questioning Bridgewater as well and they think he might drop a few picks following the combine. In turn, I feel that whatever QB Rick Spielman is going to want, will fall right on his lap. I don't think he will have to reach in this draft which is a very good thing. When it gets to our pick Bridgewater, Carr, and Hundley are off the board and then................

Carr and Bortles before Manziel? Madness!

Don't need 4 or 5 QB's to go when Manziel is the #1 pick to Houston at the end of the day

Demi wrote:Carr and Bortles before Manziel? Madness!

Both Polian and McShay said today that they think Manziel could fall due to his size. I really don't think teams will be in a rush to draft QBs this year

Pondering Her Percy wrote: Both Polian and McShay said today that they think Manziel could fall due to his size. I really don't think teams will be in a rush to draft QBs this year

Since you are new to the board you might not "get" this:
In some circles , if you are 6-2 230lbs. you are being called out as being a "midget" what does that say about JFB?

Thanks for this! I'm all about the mock speculation once the offseason hits. Well thought out and really good justification for all selections. The only thing I don't like is Zimmer's son as D Coordinator. We don't need the father/son dynamic. Keep this type of stuff coming!!

80 PurplePride 84 wrote:No way Manziel lasts til 28 he'll most likely be the one of the 1st QBs taken. I don't see him getting past the Browns.

I don't think we need McCoy either. I'm fine with Rudolph, Ellison, Ford.

I hear ya. Its very hard to ever figure how the QBs are going to fall every year. As for McCoy...he would be a fairly cheap signing but it could go either way

As I said above....I know some might agree and disagree with Manziel. I understand that.

However outside of Manziel....what do you guys think about the rest of the draft and free agency??

very cool post. I'm just worried that with Houston, Cleveland, Oakland, and Jacksonville all needing qb's and all drafting before us that more might be gone early than you think. love the read however.