Minnesota Sports Forum

http://thedraftwire.usatoday.com/2016/01/16/top-candidates-for-the-minnesota-vikings-in-the-first-round/

Out of the 3 I would take the guard. I think Jaylon Smith would be awesome, but with Barr and Kendricks I think we have LB covered and won't be using a Third LB much. WR is a need, but I don't see Byod as the answer.

Garnett sounds like just what this team needs at RG. Mauler that would make punish teams when running. He would be perfect guy to run behind in short yardage and be the guy to spring interior runs for us.

I'm all about going for highest value pick, but if it's close you gotta go OL if you ask me. We have 2 stud LBs already so I definitely wouldn't go LB in the first round.

Everything starts with the OL for this team. Adding a weapon at WR won't give Teddy more time to throw it or Peterson/McKinnon more holes to run through, etc.

Looking into it Garrett is ranked 70th prospect on the drafttek board. I think he would be a good 2nd or third rounder. I would be happy going OL with 2 of or top 4 picks. I also wouldn't mind finding a SS. Jayron Kearse would be interesting.

TheGrey08 wrote:I'm all about going for highest value pick, but if it's close you gotta go OL if you ask me. We have 2 stud LBs already so I definitely wouldn't go LB in the first round.

Everything starts with the OL for this team. Adding a weapon at WR won't give Teddy more time to throw it or Peterson/McKinnon more holes to run through, etc.

The O-line has to be fixed without question, but I wonder if the draft is the place to do so. Unless you can get a blue chip prospect then they'll typically struggle for a year or two and this team is a couple players and a TeddyB breakout year away from contending. Regarding the line they should get Sully back which allows them to move Berger back to guard, that leaves right tackle. Can Loadholt come back or do they draft or sign a free agent. I'm thinking free agent myself and a draft pick, but not first or second round.

With the first through third picks I'd like to see a safety, WR, and O-lineman taken. If they go line I prefer having a free agent in place for the first season or two similar to what they did this year at CB. One positive with the line is Loadholt went out early so by the beginning of next season, if isn't cut, he should be as close to playing condition as he's likely to get.

I don't know their cap situation, but Wallace should be cut or renegotiated, Loadholt if they don't think he'll be back should be cut, and then there is the elephant in the room, Peterson. They have the potential to have significant cap space, but they're loyal so at most Wallace goes IMO.

I think you address the OL with both in the draft and FA. I would like to see them sign a LG in FA and then draft either a RG or RT that projects as a stud run blocker.

We do have real needs on defense at SS and MLB. I would use a higher pick on the SS.

I think we can get by with WR's next year, but should consider a high pick next year on a WR since I am not sure I see the guy we need this year.

When I think of the draft there is usually a guy that is rated highly that falls to the point in the draft where we pick that was rated much higher. I would certainly take that guy if happens. Hopefully it is a SS, OL, or DL. (DL is not a need but another stud DL would be icing on the defenses cake the way Zimmer likes to rotate these guys)

I'd just roll with best talent available. Basically the only spots using a 1st rounder for this team that wouldn't make sense is QB and CB. After that you can make an argument any other position group could use a boast in talent possibly even RB depending on how you view McKinnon. There are obviously positions of greater need but those spots could be filled either with players on the roster or FA. Like I have said a few times it's great that Zimmer and Spielman seem on the same page of what guys they look for. I am sure they don't agree on every player but they seem to have pretty similar philosophies.

I think you come up with a list of guys you can't pass up. I am not sure who those guys at this point.

TheSP wrote:
The O-line has to be fixed without question, but I wonder if the draft is the place to do so. Unless you can get a blue chip prospect then they'll typically struggle for a year or two and this team is a couple players and a TeddyB breakout year away from contending. Regarding the line they should get Sully back which allows them to move Berger back to guard, that leaves right tackle. Can Loadholt come back or do they draft or sign a free agent. I'm thinking free agent myself and a draft pick, but not first or second round.

With the first through third picks I'd like to see a safety, WR, and O-lineman taken. If they go line I prefer having a free agent in place for the first season or two similar to what they did this year at CB. One positive with the line is Loadholt went out early so by the beginning of next season, if isn't cut, he should be as close to playing condition as he's likely to get.

I don't know their cap situation, but Wallace should be cut or renegotiated, Loadholt if they don't think he'll be back should be cut, and then there is the elephant in the room, Peterson. They have the potential to have significant cap space, but they're loyal so at most Wallace goes IMO.

Kalil: still a solid tackle you can't just throw away (renegotiate his deal though b/c 11 mill for next year is too much). He had some breakdowns this year, but still had a better year than the previous. Next year will tell if he can get back to being close to the pro bowl caliber we saw early on.
Sullivan: If his back is finally healthy we should be good at C.
Berger is a solid rotational/backup guy and good insurance for Sully.
Loadholt has always been a good run blocker so it'll be interesting to see how he comes back for injury, especially in pass blocking which has been his weaker skill.
T.J. Clemmings hopefully has accelerated development from having to start this year.
Fusco should be a solid rotational/backup guy.
Mike Harris was a surprise with some good games.

The main thing we're missing is probably a blue chip guard, pref LG to make things easier on Kalil (He had Charlie Johnson next to him most of his career). Getting one early in the draft is probably most ideal unless the team wants to spend big in FA, but I'm not sure if there will be guard in FA at that level.

TheGrey08 wrote:

TheSP wrote:
The O-line has to be fixed without question, but I wonder if the draft is the place to do so. Unless you can get a blue chip prospect then they'll typically struggle for a year or two and this team is a couple players and a TeddyB breakout year away from contending. Regarding the line they should get Sully back which allows them to move Berger back to guard, that leaves right tackle. Can Loadholt come back or do they draft or sign a free agent. I'm thinking free agent myself and a draft pick, but not first or second round.

With the first through third picks I'd like to see a safety, WR, and O-lineman taken. If they go line I prefer having a free agent in place for the first season or two similar to what they did this year at CB. One positive with the line is Loadholt went out early so by the beginning of next season, if isn't cut, he should be as close to playing condition as he's likely to get.

I don't know their cap situation, but Wallace should be cut or renegotiated, Loadholt if they don't think he'll be back should be cut, and then there is the elephant in the room, Peterson. They have the potential to have significant cap space, but they're loyal so at most Wallace goes IMO.

Kalil: still a solid tackle you can't just throw away (renegotiate his deal though b/c 11 mill for next year is too much). He had some breakdowns this year, but still had a better year than the previous. Next year will tell if he can get back to being close to the pro bowl caliber we saw early on.
Sullivan: If his back is finally healthy we should be good at C.
Berger is a solid rotational/backup guy and good insurance for Sully.
Loadholt has always been a good run blocker so it'll be interesting to see how he comes back for injury, especially in pass blocking which has been his weaker skill.
T.J. Clemmings hopefully has accelerated development from having to start this year.
Fusco should be a solid rotational/backup guy.
Mike Harris was a surprise with some good games.

The main thing we're missing is probably a blue chip guard, pref LG to make things easier on Kalil (He had Charlie Johnson next to him most of his career). Getting one early in the draft is probably most ideal unless the team wants to spend big in FA, but I'm not sure if there will be guard in FA at that level.

They moved Fusco over there to help Kalil and that didn't work out so great. My guess is the position change as well as the layoff of coming back from a fairly significant injury probably held Fusco back from being effective. My guess is he bounces back and becomes at plenty solid like he was on the other side of the line.