** Official 2013 Draft Thread **

[psjordan]

Put down the draft value chart. Nobody cares.

NFL GM's care, which is the only point I am trying to make.

Sometimes I am amazed at the "steadfast assuredness" of fans who feel their own analysis of NFL players and trades exceeds the abilities of NFL front offices. My "local" Buffalo Bills (not a fan) have proven to be HORRIBLE drafters in the past 10 years. Do I think I could do a better job? Of course not. Was Manuel a crappy pick for them at 16? Who knows?

The point is that it does not matter whether you care or believe in "the chart". It's basically what is used by NFL front offices. So to posit "we gave up too much" you must have some other basis that I am not aware of. Fans can prattle on all day long about picks, and certainly some will fail and some will succeed. But to pretend we can evaluate this trade of picks TODAY by stating "we gave up too much" is simply fan opinion.

If teams are trading up to draft a consensus fifth-rounder in the first round, then yes I see a point in howling.

Trading up to take a consensus top 2-3 at their position? I just don't see the need for hand-wringing.

[VikingHoard]

Put down the draft value chart. Nobody cares.

Nobody? You don't speak for me, I liked his post and thought his point about the draft pick values was a good one. Some others probably did as well. Maybe when you say "nobody" you mean "not me"?

The Vikings are a young, rebuilding team with some gaping holes and very little depth at most positions. They gave away two fairly high draft picks for the privilege of seeing whether or not this guy is going to be any good.

Or, in non-biased language, they traded their 2nd, 3rd, latter 4th, and a 7th to acquire Patterson. But stating it in such a just the facts manner probably won't sway as many people to your viewpoint as saying they "gave away" rather than "traded", "for the privelege of seeing..." rather than "to acquire", and trying to get people to have the emotional reaction to this trade that they would have to the image of Spielman "shooting his wad".

[PacificNorseWest]

Put down the draft value chart. Nobody cares.

The Vikings are a young, rebuilding team with some gaping holes and very little depth at most positions. They gave away two fairly high draft picks for the privilege of seeing whether or not this guy is going to be any good. That's two additional young players who could have been used to build this team for the future.

Rebuilding? No.

You don't do a complete rebuild when you have Adrian Peterson. Especially so, when just made the playoffs and you're in a division that there is no clear cut favorite as we stand today.

Today's NFL makes it so those who draft well can compete every single year and that's what Minnesota is doing.

Quite frankly, you're being ignorant about this all because it was a pick that you didn't like. And the Vikings didn't give up as much as you think, but there's no telling you that.

Like I said...So what, he's a raw receiver. He's going to be an instant gamechanger for the Vikings on special teams, and don't be surprised if he leads the league in return yards/td's. That's the least of what he brings.

[Eli]

The point is that it's not about trading for equal value according to some theoretical draft chart (a 4th grader could work the bleeping draft value chart - big deal). When your rebuilding team has so _many_ holes, the draft picks and additional players can be more valuable than one potential playmaker. I think Spielman got big eyes.

If Patterson becomes a star, great deal. If he becomes just an average WR, it's a monumental fail.

[Eli]

Rebuilding? No.

You don't do a complete rebuild when you have Adrian Peterson.

If what the Vikings did last year wasn't the start of a complete rebuild, then I don't know what is. This is just the second year of the process.

[PacificNorseWest]

If Patterson becomes a star, great deal. If he becomes just an average WR, it's a monumental fail.

So you're saying you'd rather have them sit back on their hands and draft T'eo or Allen who also have the potential to bust out? Nah, man.

There's one thing that translates to the NFL from college as a sure thing. That's instincts. And you when couple those instincts with the physical prowess that Patterson has, then you can be sure that even if he never fully matures to his potential, he'll at the least be good for more than a few huge plays.

[Eli]

Or, in non-biased language, they traded their 2nd, 3rd, latter 4th, and a 7th to acquire Patterson.

Which really isn't correct. They traded a late 3rd and their early 4th round pick plus a throwaway 7th rounder to move up.

[Eli]

I'm saying that I would _hope_ the Vikings draft room is capable of selecting solid players in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th rounds rather than only being able to pick 1st rounders. Or maybe they really do have that little confidence in their ability to draft football players.

It's feeling like 2010, 2011 all over again. I think that 10-6 record last year has put some twinkly stars in their eyes and they think they just need a couple of big players to get to the big game. The Patriots, meanwhile...

I wonder who called who in initiating this deal.

[Purple bruise]

The point is that it's not about trading for equal value according to some theoretical draft chart (a 4th grader could work the bleeping draft value chart - big deal). When your rebuilding team has so _many_ holes, the draft picks and additional players can be more valuable than one potential playmaker. I think Spielman got big eyes.

If Patterson becomes a star, great deal. If he becomes just an average WR, it's a monumental fail.

"When your team has so many holes, the draft picks and additional players can be more valuable." Well duh what did you think that Spielman was doing filling the Winfield hole, the Harvin hole, and the soon to be Williams hole (thats building for the future) These holes were not only filled but filled with with 3 highly tauted and regarded football players that will all be starting this year.
What frikken guarantees are there that anyone succeeds in the pros? I will take my chances on these types of players rather than the players that they may have gotten in the 2nd, third, fourth or 7th round.
Why take AD when they had more pressing needs and had Chester Taylor? They could have traded back and gotten more players, or Harvin, or Moss, or Kalil, or Harrison Smith etc. etc.
Everyone has their own opinion but the opinions that I am rerading from professionals, coaches, and sports writers are that the Vikings did the best job of any team in the first round.

[Texas Vike]

I understand both sides of the Patterson pick debate: it seems especially odd in a year when our own GM has repeatedly stated that it is deep, particularly at our positions of need. OTOH, I trust their evaluation of talent and their feeling that Patterson can do something for our offense that makes the price worth it. The bottom line for me is that we lost an explosive playmaker in Percy. We just added one in Patterson. Watch his videos--the guy is ridiculously elusive. He is also more robust than Tavon Austin.

My one concern is MLB. Depending on how round 2 goes, I hope they consider moving into the bottom of the 2nd or top of the 3rd to take Minter, Brown or Te'o. They can even use a pick from next year as currency (or Toby for that matter) to do it, IMO.

[Mothman]

The point is that it's not about trading for equal value according to some theoretical draft chart (a 4th grader could work the bleeping draft value chart - big deal). When your rebuilding team has so _many_ holes, the draft picks and additional players can be more valuable than one potential playmaker. I think Spielman got big eyes.

I don't. Again, 11 rookies were unlikely to make the team anyway and I'm not convinced the team has that many holes. They may have just plugged three of them and untested depth doesn't necessarily mean lack of depth. LB is an clearly an area of concern but they just addressed CB depth, they have healthy competitive situations on the d-line with a good mix of veterans and youth, a competitive situation at safety, they addressed WR depth, they're fine at RB, they added a veteran backup QB and their depth at TE appears solid. OL depth leaves something to be desired but can still be addressed, even without the apparently crucial 83rd and 102nd picks in this draft. they have picks remaining, they can still sign rookie free agents and veteran free agents... trading a few mid-round picks is hardly a folly that will haunt them for years to come. They had the picks to spare.

If Patterson becomes a star, great deal. If he becomes just an average WR, it's a monumental fail.

LOL! An average WR is useful player, not a "monumental fail". An average WR who is also a great return man (Patterson could end up fitting that description) is certainly not a "fail".

[Eli]

LOL! An average WR is useful player, not a "monumental fail".

Again, it's not just about the draft choice, it's about the deal.

If the Vikings use a late round 1st to take a guy who becomes just an average WR, it's a disappointment, but not a failure. Using three draft picks to take an average player is a giant failure.

[PacificNorseWest]

Exactly. Plus they have to PAY Three 1st rounders under rookie pool which is the total amount you can pay all your draft picks . There is no need for those extra picks especially from a dollar standpoint .


ppl still thinking the Pats fleeced the Vikings. the Vikings DID WORK. moved up to get guys they think can impact their team in a STRONG division . You gotta get impact players when you're division has 2 other teams capable of double digit wins in a season.
they cant keep trading back and getting special teamers in the 3rd and 4th rounds like teams who face the Bills , Jets and Dolphins twice a year.

Pulled this from another thread. Poster is non-biased and is not a Vikings fan, but a very astute follower of college football and college prospects. Just wanted to share his opinion to get a fresh take.

[Mothman]

I understand both sides of the Patterson pick debate: it seems especially odd in a year when our own GM has repeatedly stated that it is deep, particularly at our positions of need.

I'm thinking that might be one of the reasons it makes sense. How deep is "deep"? With 5 picks left in the last 4 rounds, maybe they feel this draft is deep enough that they can still get good players late to go with the 3 first round picks they landed last night.

My one concern is MLB. Depending on how round 2 goes, I hope they consider moving into the bottom of the 2nd or top of the 3rd to take Minter, Brown or Te'o. They can even use a pick from next year as currency (or Toby for that matter) to do it, IMO.

My guess is they will target a player like Iowa State's A.J. Klein, NC's Kevin Reddick or Alabama's Nico Johnson, all of whom could be available in R4. Klein is very intriguing and Alonso or Bostic might still be around in the 4th too. They should still have some options in that round and they have enough ammo to move up again if they feel it's wise.

[Texas Vike]

I'm thinking that might be one of the reasons it makes sense. How deep is "deep"? With 5 picks left in the last 4 rounds, maybe they feel this draft is deep enough that they can still get good players late to go with the 3 first round picks they landed last night.
My guess is they will target a player like Iowa State's A.J. Klein, NC's Kevin Reddick or Alabama's Nico Johnson, all of whom could be available in R4. Klein is very intriguing and Alonso or Bostic might still be around in the 4th too. They should still have some options in that round and they have enough ammo to move up again if they feel it's wise.

Great. I hadn't considered that. I was so completely convinced that they were picking a MLB in the 1st round that I hadn't even thought about "tier 2" type guys. At the very least they have to create competition at the position. Audie Cole might make the leap, but I'm not comfortable with COUNTING on that to happen.

I like the idea of snagging another WR in the 5th or 6th.