Next years draft?

[BuckSutherland]

If Sammy Watkins is staring us in the face at 8 you RUN to podium and take him. He would be BPA regardless who's still on the board.

Yeah, maybe he can throw himself the ball or play all 5-6 holes have have on defense.

All this talk of taking a WR or a CB are just plain stupid. Lets go back to the last draft with a STUD WR and STUD CB that were going to be there when we picked. When we took Kalil there were a few of you here clamoring that we should take Justin Blackmon, and the other half thought we should take Morris Claiborne. Both of them were considered ELITE prospects. Both have proved to be very ordinary in the NFL at best because their teams are terrible at the line of scrimmage. Neither have done squat to help their teams win because they are so far away from the ball.

WR is arguably our most talented position (yes we are that bad) and you want us to take another one? He might be the BPA, but with no QB, and no defense it is a wasted pic, especially since you presumably arent filling any of the holes in the ship.

[Scott K]

I agree will a lot of things you said but this quote above ruined any credibility. I am sure a GM, VP, Head Coach, Asst's, etc. are there for their personal fantasy squads or to please the shield. Physical mechanics are more apparent, raw athletic ability, compensation patterns are seen (patterns that can result in injury and drop stock), shear strength, explosiveness, the list can go on and on with why the combine is important in scouting talent. Go ahead and pretend that its not and only for media and rubes.

This isnt Gladiators, they wont ever have to stop in the middle of play to bench press 225# 20 times, they wont need to sprint 40 yards in a straight line, with a stop watch, and a whistle.

If fitness is the key, how come Bret Favre was still a good QB in his upper 30's? How come Peyton Manning is still putting up unheard of numbers? I bet Jerry Rice would have been lucky to bench 225 more then a couple times. I guess that must mean he would have never been any good in the NFL.

Zep, I am with you on the Watkins pick. I would love to have him on the Vikings, he just really isnt a huge need. I think if Watkins is still on the board, it will make our 8th pick value pretty high for a trade.

[DrJuice1980]

This isnt Gladiators, they wont ever have to stop in the middle of play to bench press 225# 20 times, they wont need to sprint 40 yards in a straight line, with a stop watch, and a whistle.

If fitness is the key, how come Bret Favre was still a good QB in his upper 30's? How come Peyton Manning is still putting up unheard of numbers? I bet Jerry Rice would have been lucky to bench 225 more then a couple times. I guess that must mean he would have never been any good in the NFL.

If that's seriously your view it is extremely shallow minded. I guess there is no movement in the sport of football that a bench press would matter. I suppose an agility cone drill doesn't show quickness and agility. I would also suppose that there are not foot races during a game. As a DB you would never have to break on a route. A WR wouldn't ever have to cut or pivot and have a split second to catch a ball through a window. A QB would never need to hit a WR in stride and have his release evaluated.

Hey guys, there's also these things call Pro Day's and Workouts. Are those just for media or do coaches scout and evaluate? I guess Mr. D2 and D3 go there to mingle and hang out with all the media members and not try to showcase their talents.

Favre, Manning, Rice. All those guys weren't/aren't proven so we would need them to go through a Combine to evaluate their talents every season. Sure.

[DrJuice1980]

Mack throws up a 4.45 40, what an animal. If this guy is still available for our pick that would be sweet. Odds are hes not.

[JP Z]

What good is all this "talent" at WR if we have no one to throw them the ball?

[DrJuice1980]

Who's talking WR Mack is a LB. No need for a WR on this squad.

[Scott K]

I would take Watkins if he is available to us at 8. You would be insane not too, he is a huge playmaker. Any good free agent QB would drool to have Jenkins, Patterson, and Watkins as their WR's. Then top that off with Peterson, and Kyle Rudolph. As I said before, with that squad, I could score 30 points a game as QB

[JP Z]

Juice, they were just talking about Watkins before your comments on Mack.

[DrJuice1980]

Well jpz, Im with you on not at all being interested in any WR. Waste of pick if we take one.

Scott,

By chance are you killing time on here because college football is over and you have nothing to commentate on? Are you trying to relive the days of being an executive for a certain NFC North team that loved drafting 1st rd WRs? Do you still have nightmares about Joey Football?

[Scott K]

Unless your team is a certain positional player away from a championship, you are better off picking BPA with your pick, even if that pick isnt your biggest need. Huge playmakers such as Watkins dont come around very often, and if your team has a chance at one, with an 8th pick, you take it.

I would pick Clowney, or Mack at number 8 if they are there, but chances are, they wont be. The Vikings find themselves in a good position this year to make some drastic improvements. There is a good class of free agents this year, with positions we have a lot of need in. We also have a lot of money available this year to pick up few decent FA's. We have the number 8 pick, and we are practically guaranteed to have a big playmaker available with that pick. We are fortunate to have a decent young core on our team to build on, hopefully the Vikings can put together a decent team to watch this fall.

[JP Z]

BPA is a good point............I just wouldn't be Uber-excited if they did end up with Watkins......at first. I'm sure after seeing him tear it up in camp I would be changing my tune pretty quick. And to be honest I don't know if a Rookie QB is the answer to all of our prayers, unless that Rookie could come right in and lead...much like Russell Wilson did 2 years ago.

[DrJuice1980]

We wont draft Watkins because its a stupid pick. You are correct, they're are plenty of holes on this team that need filling, why on earth would you take your #8 pick and not fill a hole? This guy is no Megatron. There will be a far better choice for us with that pick than Watkins. I get the BPA opinion but not with this pick and with a WR. No front office guy would agree with you either.

[Scott K]

You usually dont draft a QB, to be your teams savior to the Super Bowl on his rookie year. But you cant keep kicking the can down the road either, and struggling with 3rd class free agent left over QB's either. The good thing about it is, the Vikings arent competing for the Super Bowl, even if we had Peyton Manning on the team. So, you can go many ways in the draft, you could go after your most need, that position can be argued upon all day, QB, LB, CB, DL, OL, etc... or you can go with BPA, and bring in the best playmaker available.

One of the biggest problems with MN sports teams is, FA's dont want to come here, unless we grossly over pay them. Well, if we drafted Watkins, our WR's, and backfield would give any QB a stiffy to play here. There for, not only having arguably one of the best receiver cores in the NFL, and the best RB core in the NFL, but it would draw in FA interests as well. Double score!

I am not saying we pick Watkins over anyone, but if the top QB's are gone, Mack, and Clowney are gone, and Watkins is still on the board, you take him. We could actually put Jennings at slot, where he belongs, as a third option, rather then your number 1 option.

[DrJuice1980]

You usually dont draft a QB, to be your teams savior to the Super Bowl on his rookie year. But you cant keep kicking the can down the road either, and struggling with 3rd class free agent left over QB's either. The good thing about it is, the Vikings arent competing for the Super Bowl, even if we had Peyton Manning on the team. So, you can go many ways in the draft, you could go after your most need, that position can be argued upon all day, QB, LB, CB, DL, OL, etc... or you can go with BPA, and bring in the best playmaker available.

One of the biggest problems with MN sports teams is, FA's dont want to come here, unless we grossly over pay them. Well, if we drafted Watkins, our WR's, and backfield would give any QB a stiffy to play here. There for, not only having arguably one of the best receiver cores in the NFL, and the best RB core in the NFL, but it would draw in FA interests as well. Double score!

I am not saying we pick Watkins over anyone, but if the top QB's are gone, Mack, and Clowney are gone, and Watkins is still on the board, you take him. We could actually put Jennings at slot, where he belongs, as a third option, rather then your number 1 option.

1. If you really think anybody on this team or associated with this team thinks they are not playing for a Super Bowl you are very much mistaken. It doesnt matter what team you are on you enter the season playing to win. "You play to win the game!"

2. Nobody wants to play here? This isnt the NBA where guys dont care. An NFL season from Sept-Jan (5 month) not even half a year and a lot of road games. These guys rarely homestead where their team is. Thats a lame excuse. They play where they are signed and paid and opportunity to win as well as current roster. climate/environment really is not in the top of their decision making process. Prime example: Green Bay

3. This guy, along with every other guy in the draft is not proven. Again, no reason to burn a top 10 pick on a position we do not need. If this was #25 ok, makes a little more sense but not here or if we are #1-#2 and there is some freak available.

4. Step back into reality

[zepman]

We picked AP right after we signed Chester Taylor to a 14M dollar contract and he rushed for @ 1300 yards. RB was the last thing we needed then, too. It happens all the time.

Watkins may not fill a hole now but how long do you honestly think AP is going to be the "man"? If the best offensive player in the entire draft is looking at you at pick #8...you take him. Chances are almost 0% that this would happen.

I hope Watkins is gone and they do draft defense.

Lot's of current mocks have Bridgewater falling to us at 8....

[BuckSutherland]

We picked AP right after we signed Chester Taylor to a 14M dollar contract and he rushed for @ 1300 yards. RB was the last thing we needed then, too. It happens all the time.

Watkins may not fill a hole now but how long do you honestly think AP is going to be the "man"? If the best offensive player in the entire draft is looking at you at pick #8...you take him. Chances are almost 0% that this would happen.

I hope Watkins is gone and they do draft defense.

Lot's of current mocks have Bridgewater falling to us at 8....

Exactly, they took BPA and how many Superbowls have we won or been to with Peterson???

That's right, its ZERO.

I pray Watkins is there and we can fool a team like the Jets to move up and grab him just like the Falcons did with Julio Jones and get a kings ransom in return.

Lets take a look at some of the recent HUGE WRs to come out of college.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042203256.html

2008-Zero recievers first round

2009- Darius Heyward Bey first taken at 7 by oakland

2010- Demarius Thomas fist taken at 22 by Denver

2011- AJ Green first taken at 3 by Cincinati, Julio Jones 6 to Atl

2012- Justin Blackmon 5 to Jacksonville

2013- Tavon Austin to Rams #8

Bigtime college WR dont mean squat coming into the NFL. WR and CB are the two most overrated postions in the league.

Look at GB, they just keep grabbing guys in the middle rounds, and with a QB they can turn them into a star.

[Scott K]

OK Buck, where are we getting this star QB?

Tell me who, and how much the Vikings need to give up to get this QB that will make any WR look good? There are only a few in the league now, and they arent going anywhere. If your talking from the draft, which one is going to be a for sure thing, and what do we need to give up to get him?

[BuckSutherland]

Well, I think the only player worth picking at 8 if he is there is Mack.

I cant see any way one of the top 3 qbs will be there for us to pick. I like Bortles more than the other two.

So to gain some value I think we should move down.

I can see 4 teams in front of us willing to trade. Cleveland, Rams, Houston, and Atlanta.

Cleveland will swap with Rams to get Manziel, and Rams may then swap with ATL if Clowney is still there at 4. I think a ton of this draft rides on what Houston does. If they take Bortles there will be a bunch of trades in front of us. That probably doesnt leave one of the top 3 so we are better to move back, fill some holes on that 31st ranked D and take a QB late 1 or early 2.

[zepman]

Buck...check out the failure rate of LB's taken in the 1st 10-15 picks in the 1st round recently. Pretty similiar to that of EVERY position...(see Curry and McClain). Total busts.

Those WR's you listed...some of the best in the league. Minus DHB and Blackmon. You left out a few also....funny.

Bottom line is this...no matter who you decide to take, it's a crapshoot.

Are any of the so called "top 3 QB's" game changers? Not according to anyone I've seen/heard yet.

If the Vikes do trade back...which would be a good move...I see them taking a DL like Donald or a CB (Gilbert, Dennard). I just don't see anybody willing to trade away picks at the 8 spot given the CBA and the friendly contracts rookies are making now. The draft is sooo important now...adding young players at minimal cost and enabling teams to pay their stars.

[FISHINGURU]

Don't really matter what position you pick as long as you nail it.

Rankings and mocks mean absolutely nothing it's all about what they do when they get their chance.

BPA is only based on what people think. If BPA meant anything all these guys picked in the 1st round every year would be dominant. There will be more busts then stars in the 1st round every time.

Even when you pick for a team need you still try to take the BPA for that need.

[collegepaul]

IMO, the best player available at #8 will be DT Aaron Donald. He outperformed Clowney at the combine. Running a 4.68 40 yard dash for a guy that's 285 lbs....beast! He also outperformed Clowney in college last year with 11 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss; that's a true sign he's beating his blockers regularly and getting to whoever has the ball. I think he'll be a better pro than Clowney just because he plays harder.

[zepman]

IMO, the best player available at #8 will be DT Aaron Donald. He outperformed Clowney at the combine. Running a 4.68 40 yard dash for a guy that's 285 lbs....beast! He also outperformed Clowney in college last year with 11 sacks and 28 tackles for a loss; that's a true sign he's beating his blockers regularly and getting to whoever has the ball. I think he'll be a better pro than Clowney just because he plays harder.

+1

Zimmer had Geno Atkins in Cincy and this guy is almost a carbon copy of him.

Reminds me of Johnny Randle.

[JAfish]

Draft a QB next year. don't know who as long as it isn't this year, it would be a waste of a pick. Sign Vick and let him and AP get real cold together, build the team for the new stadium.

[collegepaul]

+1

Zimmer had Geno Atkins in Cincy and this guy is almost a carbon copy of him. Reminds me of Johnny Randle.

He reminds me of John Randle too. The release of L. Guion is a sign of making a roster spot and salary cap for an extra DT. I think the only DT on the Vikings roster is Floyd. We haven't seen how good Floyd is going to be yet but I can image those two playing next to each other on 3rd and long passing plays. They could be really good together.

[BuckSutherland]

I wouldnt mind Donald or Hagemann, but not at #8. I gotta think the Bears will be looking for DT too. Donald was a early second round pick a couple weeks ago, but now I think he lands between 10-20. Cowboys should be looking for DL too.

Check out around 7:25.