2018 NFL Draft

[Crazysauce]

Speaking of holton hill we signed him as a udfa.

[Monster]

It was an interesting draft and they seem to have added some interesting undrafted guys. One of the surprises was they didn't draft a RB. That's good news for Mack Brown and any other undrafted guy etc who is looking for a team that has an open spot.

[Wolvesfan21]

Brian O'Neil seems like a really athletic Tackle prospect. Will he be any good? Idk. The idea that has been kicked around is find the best athlete you can at tackle and make him good. Well...that seems like ONeil.

They say he is great against speed rushers due to his athleticism. The knock is he needs to get a lot stronger. I actually like the pick based on the few scouting reports I read. I looked through a bunch of Mocks as well and he was picked to go higher in all that I looked at. So, he may not be ready right away but long term, could be a solid player.

[Monster]

Brian O'Neil seems like a really athletic Tackle prospect. Will he be any good? Idk. The idea that has been kicked around is find the best athlete you can at tackle and make him good. Well...that seems like ONeil.

They say he is great against speed rushers due to his athleticism. The knock is he needs to get a lot stronger. I actually like the pick based on the few scouting reports I read. I looked through a bunch of Mocks as well and he was picked to go higher in all that I looked at. So, he may not be ready right away but long term, could be a solid player.

He fits the scheme and that matters. He seems like a pretty high upside guy and that's what this roster needs on the oline. Our current tackles are solid but not exactly above average although Renner's has a pretty good year at RT. I'm skeptical of the idea of him obviously being successful at RG.

[mrhockey89]

This is also the last straw for me for early corners in the draft if it fails. Waynes has been good, but not great. Alexander looks like a bust. Hopefully this hits.

Agreed. We are supposed to have a DB guru for a headcoach. Why do we need to use so many early picks on DB's when he should be able to coach up some later picks?

I'd argue that most of the top CBs in the NFL are picked in the first round. It's a position you don't see nearly as many late round steals. I'm a fan of taking CB early. We needed one with Alexander being a big unknown at best, and Newman not coming back. Additionally, it's insurance against losing Trae Waynes to FA. This could be our solution to being able to sign Anthony Barr, Diggs, and Thielen, where as before it would have been harder to let Waynes walk (even though I'd argue he's currently the worst of that group of 4, but at a position we couldn't afford to lose).

[BizarroJerry [enjin:6592520]]

Can someone with Insider post Kiper's grades/analysis? Thanks.

[Monster]

This is also the last straw for me for early corners in the draft if it fails. Waynes has been good, but not great. Alexander looks like a bust. Hopefully this hits.

Agreed. We are supposed to have a DB guru for a headcoach. Why do we need to use so many early picks on DB's when he should be able to coach up some later picks?

I'd argue that most of the top CBs in the NFL are picked in the first round. It's a position you don't see nearly as many late round steals. I'm a fan of taking CB early. We needed one with Alexander being a big unknown at best, and Newman not coming back. Additionally, it's insurance against losing Trae Waynes to FA. This could be our solution to being able to sign Anthony Barr, Diggs, and Thielen, where as before it would have been harder to let Waynes walk (even though I'd argue he's currently the worst of that group of 4, but at a position we couldn't afford to lose).

I'd be curious about the numbers on that. Couldn't you say the same thing about a number of other positions? I can think of some top CBs (or were for a while) Josh Norman and Richard Sherman who were 5th round picks. I was looking up some good CBs and Chris Harris was an undrafted FA. But yeah lots of first rounders also. Realistically I don't think anyone is really complaining too much about using top draft picks on CBs but the Vikings have spent a lot of draft capital on that side of the ball and at times especially on the offensive line they certainly haven't done enough. And Zimmer is supposed to be a defensive savant...well yeah if you get all the best draft picks on that side. Now the flip side is that if they basically end up hitting on all those players that's pretty impressive. The jury is still out on Waynes (took a step forward last year but needs to build on it) and Alexander.

Having said all that the Vikings have had need at CB for 2 seasons now with little depth behind the top group (either via talent or established players) so it was absolutely a need even if you think Waynes is going to be a good starter going forward. They haven't found any worthwhile CB gems (or just solid guys) in later rounds, undrafted cheap FAs etc. That's a bit disappointing. Sometimes the "coach em up" narrative is overrated though.

[bleedspeed]

Here is my quick breakdown.
Round 1: Mike Hughes-CB: I like Josh Jackson better would have went him or Dallas Goedert
Round 2: Brian O'Neill-OT: I am fine with pick. I felt Geron Christian was a better option.
Round 4: Jalyn Holmes-DE: Hate this pick. Not a fan. I liked John Franklin-Myers better and was thinking he was a 6th rounder and mocks had him not being drafted (went in 4th) The following on the board Wyatt Teller-OG, Troy Fumagalli-TE, Maurice Hurst-DT, Shaquem Griffin-LB and Dalton Schultz-TE. I go Shaquem Griffin because all my other LBs are off the board
Round 5: Tyler Conklin-TE: Troy Fumagalli went the pick before him. Dalton Schultz went end of 4th. I would have already picked Dallas so I would go Wyatt Teller-OG.
Round 5.2: Daniel Caston-K: I am okay with the pick, but like Parry Nickerson-CB of Tulane as my guy. Went to Jets.
Round 6: Colby Gossett-OG: Love this pick. Did well at Senior Bowl.
Round 6.2: Ade Aruna-DE: Seems like a solid upside pick Why can't we draft DB's like this?
Round 7: Devante Downs-LB: Great pick, but might not be back from knee injury to help in 2018.

[bleedspeed]

I do like some of the UFA. These 3 are interesting.


Holton Hill........................ CB............................... Texas

Roc Thomas................... RB............ Jacksonville State

Jake Wieneke................ WR......... South Dakota State

[Monster]

I do like some of the UFA. These 3 are interesting.


Holton Hill........................ CB............................... Texas

Roc Thomas................... RB............ Jacksonville State

Jake Wieneke................ WR......... South Dakota State

I was looking up the RBs we signed and Roc Thomas tape looks more intruiging as a RB as a pure runner. The knocks are he goes for the big play and doesn't look good in pass protection.

On the other hand Mike Boone looks more like a change of pace/ 3rd down type and his pro Day numbers were impressive...not that I buy into them all that much. His workout partner was Taven Bryan the DT out of Florida. I watched some videos of every play he was in a couple games and they split him out as a receiver a few snaps every game so you assume he doesn't suck as a receiver plus he made a few nice catches...the QBs Moore looked kinda erratic to me. Boone looked like he knew what he was doing in pass protection. He doesn't look big but flattened a couple DBs, once when going out of bounds and another time finishing a block about when the whistle blew. He was limited by a foot injury the last 2 years.