Minnesota Sports Forum

Ha that is funny!

Looking at the first round I really hope QB's come off the board early. If 3 or 4 don't come off the board before we pick that will not be good. I see four offensive linemen I would pick at 18. (Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard, Chris Lindstrom, and Garrett Bradbury) If all 4 of them are gone I would do address the line later. If TJ Hockenson, Ed Oliver, or D.K. Metcalf are on the board I would go with them first over everyone except maybe Jonah Williams.

bleedspeed177 wrote:Ha that is funny!

Looking at the first round I really hope QB's come off the board early. If 3 or 4 don't come off the board before we pick that will not be good. I see four offensive linemen I would pick at 18. (Jonah Williams, Andre Dillard, Chris Lindstrom, and Garrett Bradbury) If all 4 of them are gone I would do address the line later. If TJ Hockenson, Ed Oliver, or D.K. Metcalf are on the board I would go with them first over everyone except maybe Jonah Williams.

I was listening to the local radio station this afternoon and they have a segment every Monday with the former Husker defensive coordinator Charlie McBride. At one point the host asked him about Which guys he liked of Bosa, Quinnen Williams and Oliver. He said Oliver would be way down if the 3. He said he has watched him live and some tape of him and watched him talk and he questions if he is all about himself. Obviously take it for what it's worth and really he probably won't fall to #18 anyway so maybe something to think about in the back of your mind for his career.

They talked about Luke Gifford being a versatile smart player. I know the Vikings worked him out. He seems like a guy that could have some ability to play in a number of different schemes and would likely be a good special teamer. I'd guess he won't be drafted.

Isn't it the Patriots that usually have the most UDFA's in the league?

Lots of solid guys don't get drafted. That is interesting about Oliver. I hope he is gone when we pick so we get some help for this line.

bleedspeed177 wrote:Isn't it the Patriots that usually have the most UDFA's in the league?

Lots of solid guys don't get drafted. That is interesting about Oliver. I hope he is gone when we pick so we get some help for this line.

The Vikings have to have been up there last season

Ham
Sendejo
Holton Hill
Rashad Hill
Thielen
Zylstra
Sherels
Sloter
Roc Thomas
Mike Boone
Anthony Harris

I think there were probably a olineman or some other guys that made in on the roster for a couple weeks including Beebe but did I miss anyone else? That's 11 guys that were undrafted that made the initial roster.

Oh looking at the roster now Dan Bailey was undrafted as was Matt Wile and obviously McDermott. Mike Remmers was undrafted as was Tom Johnson, Brett Jones. Tashaun Bower and Eric Wilson. So what that's up to 20 guys? Throw in Storm Norton, Craig James and Beebe that's a few more that were on the roster. It would be interesting to see the numbers for other teams. The Pats Super Bowl team that played against the Eagles had 18.

That is a pretty big group. I wouldn't count guys that came as free agents via other teams.

My last Mock Draft of 2019 is here. It has been interesting watching players go up and down the board. It seems that they fixed some of the draft boards so the steals in the later rounds have all changed. I would be curious if they track who is taking players where when they use the simulators.

Pick 18 Jonah Williams OT Alabama
He was still on the board and nobody fell worth taking. He is the Joe Thomas of this draft. We can plug him in at LG for this year and slide him to LT next year. The fans would be happy we addressed this right away. Going into the draft people had him as the best OL in the draft. PFF had him ranked #1 too. People fell in love with other guys in the process.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-jonah-williams-is-the-complete-package-worthy-of-top-five-selection-in-2019-nfl-draft

Pick 50 Jerry Tillery DT Notre Dame
I really like a few players at this point. Chris Lindstrom-G from BC would be a possible pick even in first for us if Jonah Willaims is not the board. Elgton Jenkins is PFF top-ranked interior lineman. Darnell Savage is a safety that can play slot corner and would be a beast for Zimmer. I picked Jerry Tillery both for value and the pencil him in as starting DT. He was ranked 2nd by PFF for an interior lineman. They felt he should go in top 10.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/news/draft-jerry-tillery-is-elite-top-10-prospect

Pick 81 Dawson Knox TE Mississippi
Knox has grown on me a ton in the last week. He has Fant speed with above average blocking skills. I could see him being the best TE in this draft. His 4.5 40 in during his pro day was a lot faster than the combine but it shows in his tape. He needs work running routes and was underutilized at Mississippi. The upside is huge. A lot of mocks have Patriots grabbing him at the end of round 2, buy Patriots.

(Amani Hookers S Iowas was on my radar as was JJ Arcega-Whiteside WR Stanford.) (Jamel Dean went in this round were he went in 6th last time I drafted)

Pick 120 Khari Willis S Michigan State
I was ready to take Savage in round 2, but Tillery fit better. That might come back to haunt me, but I doubt it having Khari Willis available here. He is bigger at 6'0" 215lbs. Big strong and average speed. High character and physical. He can cover TEs, RBs, and big slots 1on1. He would fight for a starting spot and be Harrison Smith heir apparent.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/khari-willis?id=32195749-4c60-5004-6791-4fe00adf2db2

Pick 190 Hjaite Froholdt G/C Arkansas
Transfer student from Denmark. New to the game and still improving. He is 6'5" with short arms, but very strong. He is PFF's 4th rated interior OL so the value is there. Good backup and development player.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/hjalte-froholdt?id=32194652-4f24-2081-4dce-09bac366d016

Pick 209 Tim Harris CB Virginia
Tim is a cornerback with 6'2" safety frame. He battled injuries but finally was healthy as a senior and produced. We can see if Zimmer can work his magic with him.

https://thedraftnetwork.com/articles/virginias-harris-taking-full-advantage-of-shrine-stage

Pick 247 PJ Johnson NT Arizona
PJ is a 6'3" 335lb NT with 4.9 40 speed. He had 35 tackles and 3 sacks last year and left as a junior to help his family. He could develop into Lenval Joseph's replacement.

Pick 250 John Cominsky DE/DT Charleston
He was the Mountain East Defensive Player of the Year in 2018 by posting 67 tackles, 16.5 for loss, three sacks, and two forced fumble. He is 6'5" and 286lb with 4.6 40 speed. He looks like a Viking to me. Great practice squad player. I think he goes earlier.

https://www.nfl.com/prospects/john-cominsky?id=3219434f-4d27-5428-ccac-ad99ba74b4eb
To be continued.

UDFA Watch
Darrin Hall RB Pittsburg - Powerback that split time with carries most of his career. I think he is a fit behind Cook.
Cody Barton LB Utah - I think he gets drafted in this weak class. Barton is coming off an honorable mention All-Pac-12 season as a senior, leading his team with 116 tackles while also being credited with 10.5 tackles for loss, four sacks, an interception, and six pass breakups.
Terrill Hanks LB New Mexico - Converted safety. Ran horrible at the combine due to injury. Outside LB that is good in coverage.
Keesean Johnson WR Freno State - Tall possession WR with great hands and solid routes. Not a burner.
CJ Conrad TE Kentucky - Had a heart issue according to doctors at the combine. Now cleared and was solid at his pro day. He is a second tier TE that caught 81% of the passes thrown to him and is a good blocker. We need TE's with Rudolph and Morgan being FA's next year.

Top needs I see are: OL/DT/TE/RB/DB

This draft would have crushed all of those needs even though we would be looking at UDFA for RBs.

Did anyone watch Speilman's PC yesterday? I watched it and he didn't give any information away except his Wife's preference of who they draft... lol

I most watched to see the part about Studwell retiring. That was a pretty emotional scene. It sure makes sports seem more like people actually do this whole thing than just some guys you watch and read about.

I didn't see. I have heard his wife wants OL. :-)

Saw this mock.
https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2019/04/simulating-all-seven-rounds-of-the-vikings-draft/



I will have to say I wouldn't trade any of my picks for the ones they took.

Fant has iffy hands. I would go Jerry Tillery in first if Jonah Willaims is gone. Plus Dawson Knox is better.
Lindstrom is a great get in second, but Jerry Tillery was there for me.
Polite is a headcase and we need a DT, not DE
Welsey is interesting as a deep threat, but we can't block long enough for his slow ass to get downfield.
Cheever is a guy I have not looked at before. He is undersized at 5'9" and slow, but good ball skills.
Love was an interesting pick, but not sure he is healthy.
Bryant is a good value here, but Cominsky is a freak.
Hyatt will get owned in NFL as he has problems with power.

In the end, I see 2 future starters in that group maybe 3 in Polite.

If qbs and D line go on a run and Taylor falls id trade up to get him

It's finally here Draft day! ABC has coverage so I think I'm gonna watch that at least tonight and see how it goes. So I assume that's 3 different draft coverages ABC ESPN and NFL network for the draft? That's really something.