2022 Vikings Off-Season Thread

[Mike Sixel]

Right. Over on the main vikings draft site I go to, the consensus is one of the top 2 CBs, or who knows if neither is there....

The more I think, and I know I've already posted this, the more I want a trade down. This team needs an injection of youth.

[Mike Sixel]

Is time dragging or is the draft just that late in the year and I'm impatient? I'm not even paying close attention, and it seems like time has stopped.....

[Vanimal46]

4 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Is time dragging or is the draft just that late in the year and I'm impatient? I'm not even paying close attention, and it seems like time has stopped.....

This time of year isn’t nearly as slow as after the draft to training camp time. At least now we have draft chatter. But I’m getting tired of speculating and want to fast forward to next Thursday! 

[TheLeviathan]

6 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Right. Over on the main vikings draft site I go to, the consensus is one of the top 2 CBs, or who knows if neither is there....

The more I think, and I know I've already posted this, the more I want a trade down. This team needs an injection of youth.

I can't remember a draft with more variance in the opinions.  You see the same Prospect ranked fifth in one guys rankings and another they might be 25th. I expect this draft to go much more unexpectedly then is typically the case.

 

100% with you on trading down.

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

I can't remember a draft with more variance in the opinions.  You see the same Prospect ranked fifth in one guys rankings and another they might be 25th. I expect this draft to go much more unexpectedly then is typically the case.

 

100% with you on trading down.

The madness could begin as early as #1 overall if Jacksonville doesn’t pick Aidan Hutchinson. If they pick him, no one knows what Detroit is doing at 2. Gonna be a wild draft for sure. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The madness could begin as early as #1 overall if Jacksonville doesn’t pick Aidan Hutchinson. If they pick him, no one knows what Detroit is doing at 2. Gonna be a wild draft for sure. 

If Walker, Thibedeaux, Johnson, or Hutchinson slip and push that group down we could be in a prime spot for someone in the 20-25 range to come up.  Cards are desperate for one of those 4.

Could land 23, 55, and a 2 next year or 23 and a 1 next year in that case.

[Danchat]

7 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Is time dragging or is the draft just that late in the year and I'm impatient? I'm not even paying close attention, and it seems like time has stopped.....

Sometimes the draft is in May, so I guess you're just impatient! Enjoy time while it is running slow, usually it runs too fast for me.

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

The madness could begin as early as #1 overall if Jacksonville doesn’t pick Aidan Hutchinson. If they pick him, no one knows what Detroit is doing at 2. Gonna be a wild draft for sure. 

It's going to be a wild one, and most mocks are not going to be accurate at all. Last year we knew 3 QBs were going in the first 3 spots, this year we know very little, and the QB class is a complete crapshoot. 

12 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

If Walker, Thibedeaux, Johnson, or Hutchinson

I could see Thibodeaux fall, but I think the rest are pretty firm in the top 12-14. Right now my bet on a faller is on Hamilton being available at #12.

[nicksaviking]

I'm all for trading down, but seems to me very few teams have a guy they need to be locked onto, which means most teams probably feel the same way. Especially for the teams that are looking at a WR or defensive BPA. There's just so many options. If so, you won't get the typical value by moving back. And I fell I need to express this one last time: I really dislike stockpiling the 6th/7th round Spielman Specials.

Seems to me we thought 2019 was a trade down year but there ended up being no other teams biting. Or maybe it was 2015? Maybe it was both?

[Mike Sixel]

17 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

I'm all for trading down, but seems to me very few teams have a guy they need to be locked onto, which means most teams probably feel the same way. Especially for the teams that are looking at a WR or defensive BPA. There's just so many options. If so, you won't get the typical value by moving back. And I feel I need to express this one last time: I really dislike stockpiling the 6th/7th round Spielman Specials.

Seems to me we thought 2019 was a trade down year but there ended up being no other teams biting. Or maybe it was 2015? Maybe it was both?

If they aren't getting more second and third round picks in trades, then I don't want to trade down. They don't need more fifth thru seventh round picks.....

I'm betting a QB is the target, or elite WR or falling OL.... But I'd bet they don't trade down.

[Vanimal46]

Just for fun… One last mock draft up to the #12 before the real deal on Thursday!

1.01 - Jaguars - Travon Walker EDGE - Certainly not the direction I would go, but there’s too much smoke that he’s going top 3. This pick will get the GM fired in 2 years. 

1.02 - Lions - Aidan Hutchinson EDGE - No brainer for Detroit. They keep the local kid and give Dan Campbell a key piece to his rebuilding defense. 

1.03 - Texans - Ikem Ekwonu OT/OG - I’m sure internally they would love nothing more than to trade down for more picks. If they have to stick here they go with the most versatile OL in the draft. 

1.04 - Jets - Sauce Gardner CB - Their secondary is a dumpster fire and odds are Gardner and Stingley will be off the board by pick #10. 

1.05 - Giants - Charles Cross OT - Sounds like the Giants FO loves Cross the most in this deep group of prospects. 

1.06 - Panthers - Evan Neal OT - If the draft fell this way, I think the #6 pick becomes a very coveted slot to trade up for. They have over 100 picks in between their 1st and 2nd pick, so it would not surprise me to see them trade down. 

1.07 - Giants - Derek Stingley Jr CB - They’re actively trying to trade James Bradberry. So they must have at least one of the top CBs on their radar to pick. 

1.08 - Falcons - Kavon Thibodeaux EDGE - Atlanta has needed help with pass rush for the last 30 years. 

1.09 - Seachickens - Jermaine Johnson EDGE - Their secondary is trash as well, but picking another CB is a major reach… On second thought, maybe that’s exactly what they do. Since Seattle typically chooses someone totally off the board for their 1st round pick. 

1.10 - Jets - Jameson Williams WR - The Jets have a couple of big bodied WRs already. But no one to truly beat opponents deep. 

1.11 - Washington - Drake London WR - Still have no idea what Washington is going to do here. Possible landing place for Kyle Hamilton too I suppose. 

Leaving us at 12… With all of the QBs on the board, Kyle Hamilton, Jordan Davis, Garrett Wilson…. Who do you pick?

[nicksaviking]

My favorites in that scenario would be Jordan Davis and Devin Lloyd, but I know those aren't popular names with other Vikings fans, so I'm not pushing an agenda this year. I'm not big on picking secondary early, but Hamilton looks like he has a pretty high floor; there's no safe picks in the NFL, but he looks to be less of a gamble. I dislike CBs but McDuffie would be my second choice anyway, Stingley and Booth can both take a hike. CBs and WRs seem to be the top positions you should steer clear from players with injury histories.

As far as the WRs go, there are just so dang many to drool over. I don't know that the top few are that significantly better than the next half dozen or so. I tend to like the big wideouts though and Wilson is a bit on the short side and Williams seems awfully slight, so I'm not sure the guys most people have at the top of their lists would even be my top choices.

Also, we've seen ample evidence that Cousins NEVER looks the way of the 3rd WR. Bisi Johnson and KJ Osborne have both had moments when they looked pretty interesting, but only when Thielen wasn't on the field. Smith-Marsette did too in his one start. Even if the Vikings nailed a top WR, I'd suspect he'd get next to no attention. Cousins seems to check down to Cook or the TE if Jefferson and Thielen aren't open.

[Vanimal46]

36 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

My favorites in that scenario would be Jordan Davis and Devin Lloyd, but I know those aren't popular names with other Vikings fans, so I'm not pushing an agenda this year. I'm not big on picking secondary early, but Hamilton looks like he has a pretty high floor; there's no safe picks in the NFL, but he looks to be less of a gamble. I dislike CBs but McDuffie would be my second choice anyway, Stingley and Booth can both take a hike. CBs and WRs seem to be the top positions you should steer clear from players with injury histories.

As far as the WRs go, there are just so dang many to drool over. I don't know that the top few are that significantly better than the next half dozen or so. I tend to like the big wideouts though and Wilson is a bit on the short side and Williams seems awfully slight, so I'm not sure the guys most people have at the top of their lists would even be my top choices.

Also, we've seen ample evidence that Cousins NEVER looks the way of the 3rd WR. Bisi Johnson and KJ Osborne have both had moments when they looked pretty interesting, but only when Thielen wasn't on the field. Smith-Marsette did too in his one start. Even if the Vikings nailed a top WR, I'd suspect he'd get next to no attention. Cousins seems to check down to Cook or the TE if Jefferson and Thielen aren't open.

Wouldn’t be opposed to either of those guys. LB is a sneaky need for us. Hicks and Kendricks are both over 30 and most likely out of the organization in less than 2 years. Hicks especially appears to be a 1 year stop gap option. 

WRs are deep too. Choose your flavor (tall possession players, speedy deep threats, savvy route runners) and there’s probably 5-6 in each category to pick from. 

Re: Cousins never looking for the 3rd WR. Hopefully that changes with the new scheme in place. Sounds like we’re gonna be running a ton of 3 WR 1 TE sets so all of those targets to Conklin and Ham will transition over to WR 3. 

[nicksaviking]

33 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Re: Cousins never looking for the 3rd WR. Hopefully that changes with the new scheme in place. Sounds like we’re gonna be running a ton of 3 WR 1 TE sets so all of those targets to Conklin and Ham will transition over to WR 3. 

Yeah, I'll acknowledge that the indifference toward the 3 WR might be scheme. Based on how the Rams roll, we should find out fairly early.

[gunnarthor]

I think if Hamilton is there, that would be the pick.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd be good with any of those, but I think WR is easier to get later, so he'd be my third choice, but, man, hard to pass on him....

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

I think if Hamilton is there, that would be the pick.

Ditto, I take Hamilton.  But I hope with Hamilton and Wilson there that we have an enticing trade possibility.

[Mike Sixel]

Shots fired!

 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

Shots fired!

 

Ha!  That said....please trade down. 

[Danchat]

For those who may be interested, I've got my annual draft board going which you can view on Google Forms or you can use my custom Drafting Rankings App where you can view the board and filter it and remove players (nice for making mock drafts). Here's a look at the top of the board:

 

[TheLeviathan]

Trading down and landing Lloyd is my top scenario.

Curious....why do you like Lloyd over Dean?

[Danchat]

9 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Trading down and landing Lloyd is my top scenario.

Curious....why do you like Lloyd over Dean?

As for my draft board, there's a large gap in between them because Lloyd is considered to be a top 10 talent and tested great - Dean is undersized. He has really good tape, but I don't know how many teams want a spend a first on a 5' 11" LB. That's not to say he's bad - Jeremiah Owusu-Kormoah was a similar player in last year's draft and he fell into the 2nd round and then Browns got a bargain with him. The majority of mocks from the people I trust aren't putting Dean in the 1st round, and when they do it's to the Lions at #32. I've actually seen more Quay Walker in the 1st than Dean.

[nicksaviking]

10 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Trading down and landing Lloyd is my top scenario.

Curious....why do you like Lloyd over Dean?

Not that you asked for my opinion, but for me it's the size; Dean is just so dang small for a LB. I'd have some interest, but Lloyd would make me much more comfortable.

[Vanimal46]

21 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Ha!  That said....please trade down. 

I’d love to shoot for the moon and get their 2023 1st, but would be happy to receive a 2023 2nd to move down 8 slots. 

[TheLeviathan]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Not that you asked for my opinion, but for me it's the size; Dean is just so dang small for a LB. I'd have some interest, but Lloyd would make me much more comfortable.

Same.  Was just curious on thoughts because a lot of scouts have them basically tied.  

It's understated how badly this team needs linebackers.

[nicksaviking]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’d love to shoot for the moon and get their 2023 1st, but would be happy to receive a 2023 2nd to move down 8 slots. 

Yeah, a 2023 first would be nice, but there's probably a half dozen teams near the Vikings draft position that would also be OK trading down, and all it would take is for one of those other teams to settle for a 2nd instead. 

 

[TheLeviathan]

31 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, a 2023 first would be nice, but there's probably a half dozen teams near the Vikings draft position that would also be OK trading down, and all it would take is for one of those other teams to settle for a 2nd instead. 

 

Agreed.  A lot of teams are looking to trade down, I don't think we'll have a ton of leverage.

Then again....I think this draft might get super weird.

[Vanimal46]

On 4/18/2022 at 1:20 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Is time dragging or is the draft just that late in the year and I'm impatient? I'm not even paying close attention, and it seems like time has stopped.....

We finally made it! Happy draft day!

[Vanimal46]

Tidbits I heard on KFAN this morning…

Paul Allen said that if Stingley made it down to around pick 8, he thinks the Vikings will trade up for him. 

If Sauce Gardner and Stingley are gone, be on the lookout for a WR pick. Sounds like Garrett Wilson is the top WR on our board. 

Trading down is a realistic possibility. Steam around the league is picks 11-14 will be the sweet spot for teams like Pittsburgh to move up for their QB. 

PA has been hyping up Malik Willis. Not sure if he’s prepping us for a surprise pick, or a smoke screen. 

 

[nicksaviking]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Tidbits I heard on KFAN this morning…

Paul Allen said that if Stingley made it down to around pick 8, he thinks the Vikings will trade up for him. 

If Sauce Gardner and Stingley are gone, be on the lookout for a WR pick. Sounds like Garrett Wilson is the top WR on our board. 

Trading down is a realistic possibility. Steam around the league is picks 11-14 will be the sweet spot for teams like Pittsburgh to move up for their QB. 

PA has been hyping up Malik Willis. Not sure if he’s prepping us for a surprise pick, or a smoke screen. 

 

Good stuff Van, I was just coming here to wonder if PA had his usual scoops this year. I figured he wouldn't have the in he normally has with the new regime changes. 

It just feels like the new FO is much more likely to keep things under wraps and do something none of us expect. I was wondering if a QB was secretly in the cards.

[Danchat]

A few resources for draft day:

 

My horizontal draft board:

My final mock draft: