Only 3 months until the NFL draft

[koonie]

I have nothing else to look forward to when it comes to professional sports in Minnesota.

Maybe I'll try and start a mock draft forum here for the Vikes.

For right now I'll just try to state some positions we need to upgrade.

Cornerback- Winfield, still very good, is getting old and we need to groom a replacement. Griffin has played better in the second half of the season but he is still average at best.

Offensive line- The right side needs some help. Especially at the tackle position. Cook isn't the answer. Lots of talent in this years draft, including some studs who could come in and play from day one. McKinnie is one screwup away from a year long vacation. Also, Birk probably will be gone. Not sure if Sullivan can be our starter.

Wide reciever/kick returner- Berrian and Wade have done well but we need someone to come in and challenge Rice and opposing secondaries. I'd rather not have Berrian returning punts(injury possibilities).

Quarterback- We are still trying to develop Tjack but if he doesn't pan out we need a plan B. Booty has got career backup written all over him.

Defensive line- Need to draft Phat Pats heir apparent and add some quality depth.

Tight end- Shanko played well in the second half of the season but it would be nice to add a young, fast, atheletic pass catching tight end to help stretch the field.

Questions, comments and smart remarks welcome.

[kevfish1]

We need a quarterback!!

[Sandmannd]

We don't want to draft a QB, go out and get a good one for a change.

[koonie]

We need to sign a good veteran qb and draft a guy to groom for the future. I was talking in terms of our 09 draft and not including free agency. The draft is usually what sets a team up long term.

[The Donk]

Offensive line definitely... I believe the quarterback spot can be shored up in free agency pretty easily, a nice young Def Tackle would be good too. Other than that, we are pretty set with leaving Sharper on the curb but should keep Birk.

[pinkfloyd4ever]

O-line or D-Line in the draft

[gundy89]

BEST Player available in the 1st!!! We really need to address O-line, QB, TE, and D-line. Probably in that order. I think we can accomplish the line positions in the draft. I'd love to see us grab Harrell and sign/trade for a vet QB. Gus is done. It's easy to say go get a good one, but let's be realistic. They aren't exactly a dime a dozen.

Move cook back to Center and hopefully between him and Sullivan, we get a player to develop. Right tackle is definitely something we have to address. Another DE and DT would be nice, but not a must. I'm liking how griffin has come around. Sharper will be gone so another safety would be nice. I think Johnson can step in and do well next year.

[snoozebutton]

Here's a link to a bunch of mock drafts. It's a Redskin's site but still has a ton of mocks on it. I checked the first few and they have the Vikes taking OT Phil Loadholt, WR Percy Harvin, CB Vontae Davis, and DT B.J. Raji in the first.

http://www.hailredskins.com/MockDraft.htm

[MUSKY18]

where is Sharper goin? Did he retire?

[CodyDawg]

IMO, we should only take WRs and QBs. 7 rounds, 4 WRs and 3 QBs. Plus trade for a veteran QB. Cassel will cost too much to get him. We dont have a decent QB on the roster....unless maybe Booty years down the road but that is too late to help.

And WR, Berrian is a #2. Do any of you ever think when we need a 3rd and 10 that man, Berrian is the guy, no way can they stop him. Get the ball to Berrian. Nah, he is a #2, stretches the field. Wade is not an NFL WR. Have you ever seen him get tackled? Nope, me either, he always slides before he gets hit. No speed, no jumping ability. Not particularly great hands. There is just nothing there. I could live with him as a #4 or #5 maybe. Rice, well, he is solid for 3-5 plays per season . Allison has shown nothing. Seriously, if we started over other than Berrian it wouldnt be any worse than what we have.

Right now, other teams laugh in our face and dare us to throw with TJack. We need to upgrade our passing attack at least to the level where it can carry its own water.

[Rick]

We do need an offensive right tackle fo sure. A quality pick will upgrade our passing game AND running game.

[bassNspear]

I really think we need to work on our pass defence. Need to keep sharper, and get some pass defence

[Randyjr.]

Cassel's probably going to be franchised by New England. Warner, Garcia, Boller, and Grossman are the other UFAs; not much of an unrestricted free agent class. Any other thoughts on quarterback?

[Sandmannd]

We do need an offensive right tackle fo sure. A quality pick will upgrade our passing game AND running game.

I agree, not a huge McKinnie fan. I would love to see Sharper stay. Still has a lot of good tread on the tires.

[The Donk]

He said right tackle, not left. Mckinnies not going anywhere. After thinking more, I would like to see the vikes get another Wideout too. Its a tossup which to pick first, WR or RT

[Sandmannd]

Sorry, my bad. Get them both then. I still don't care for McKinnie.

[Rick]

We don't need to waste a pick on our offensive left side. Move cook or sullivan to center.

Get a quality RT and a potential stud WR. Sometimes they come out of the later rounds. We could use early - a big DT prospect or DE and another CB prospect.

Talent level at the time of our pick should dictate who we take first. A quality RT or WR might be available later.

Our first pick should be a true stud WR, DT, DE or CB. Then we go from there.

[CodyDawg]

We dont need a CB, we have those. We have one GLARING need and that is QB. Secondly a WR that can get open. Then, because our QB situation is so poor, get another one. Then throw in a RT if you must. Or sign one in free agency.

Knowing Chili, we will draft a RB.

[Rick]

We're likely to lose Sharper and Winfield is likely at top speed for one more year. We need an "experienced" stud CB by the end of next year.

If we can get a stud rookie QB at our draft position I'm all for it. But it won't help us next year when we need it.

[FISHINGURU]

LETS GO ASOMUGHA!!!!

[koonie]

Not taking into account free agency. Leaving Qb out until we know who is entering the draft. Things may change after the nfl combine as well. Here is my take on the draft.

First round will likely be OL help or CB.

OL- Ciron Black, Duke Robinson, Eugene Monroe(unlikely to fall to our pick). Black and Monroe would start instantly and could move McKinnie to the right tackle position. Robinson is a guard who could play RT and be an instant upgrade over Cook. Hererra is ok for now and Robinson could move into the guard spot and start over Hererra right away also. All three would start from day one and be an upgrade to our OL. Other options would be Phil Loadholt in the second or third round.

CB- Alphonso Smith, Darius Butler, Vontae Davis(not likely to fall to our pick) Griffin improved when he started jamming recievers at the line and Winfield is still doing his thing. Winfield isn't getting any younger though and our depth in terms of quality is suspect. Davis, should he fall, would be a no brainer. Griffin would move to the nickel CB spot. Butler and Smith would take over the nickel and probably over take Griffin before long. All three have the potential to be shutdown corners. We could look at Mike Mickens and Macho Harris in the second round.

DT- B.J. Raji, Peria Jerry. Phat Pat and Kevin will likely be riding the pines for a while next year and we need to groom Pats replacement. Both these guys can play the run and push the pocket. Another option would be Rajis teamate Ron Brace in the third or fourth round.

WR- Percy Harvin. He's a weapon who could play the slot and go over the middle. Dangerous after the catch which is something we don't have. Could also return kicks and punts. Kenny Britt and Hakeem Nicks would be good options in the second round.

NOT LIKELY

LB- Aaron Curry. We need some quality depth and an eventual replacement for Leber. Could also improve our special teams.

S-- William Moore. Sharper is getting old and not playing well and Moore could step in and start for the next 10 years. The guy is a GREAT prospect.

That's all I've got for now.

[Born2Fish]

It sucks knowing that every false start begins with #62. Get rid of him, now. He was tagged as the worst starter in football. Birk wont go anywhere. If he does leave it will be to retirement. But get Sullivan ready for duty. I really can't see up drafting anyone special this year. Were going to be low on the boards and knowing our past drafts(minus AP)have been less than spectacular. Im not stuck on Sharper but we do not have anything other than him. Look at the GREAT prospect of Tyrell Johnson. Was hailed as the best safety in the draft. Every time he got into the game everyone took 5 or 6 deep breaths. Get a qb through free agency or trade. Upgrade our backup DT's(groom one for pat). Find a nickel corner whom can also be groomed to replace winfield(Asmouga sounds like a good idea!).

[FISHINGURU]

born2fish have you been huffin paint again? lol j/k

tyrell johnson played some good football this year...we got him to groom in for when sharper leaves...madieu ended up not being able to play and tyrell stepped right in and played as the starter safety for half the season.

for being a rookie and never playing at the pro level or this system i thought he played real good...normally rookies get owned or teams constantly take shots towards you but i didn't see any of that.

i'd rather see tyrell then sharper this year if sharper thinks he deserves top safety money...he's far from a top safety these days.

[kr8r.tom]

It sucks knowing that every false start begins with #62. Get rid of him, now.

and every holding penalty for the past 10 years on crucial plays has been burk. still don't know how he makes the pro bowl every year. either it's once you make the pb your an automatic every year or theres alot of itty centers out there.

[FISHINGURU]

the pro bowl is pretty lame...guys that have made it before continue to make it even if they get outplayed and have less stats then other people that haven't made it yet....you ever ask yourself how that guy made it to the probowl but that other guy didn't.