2022 NFL Draft

[VikingLord]

We could absolutely go that route if the Vikings feel that we have the right personnel up front.
Adding at 12 a CB like Sauce Gardner, Stingley, or McDuffie and then getting a safety like Brisker, Pitre, Hill, or Cine in the 2nd. Granted those are the #2-5 ranked safeties, but I wouldn't look at any other I don't think.
Those 2 picks could become immediate starters on Day 1.

I still feel that the LOS is where we win and lose but you have to have playmakers on all levels of the Defense. With our cap situation and aging players, this is a huge draft for us to get it right.

Stingley is a huge risk at #12. Granted, he's struggled with injuries (which in itself is concerning), but most of the hype around him comes from his performance as a freshman on a stacked LSU defense. After that he has generally not played up to his physical attributes even when healthy. IMHO, he's a high risk of being a bust as a pro, and while the upside is high, he's too risky to spend #12 on.

Gardner would be good value at #12, as would McDuffie. Both have their concerns as well, but both have been more consistent in college.

Brisker is a very good prospect who has struggled to stay healthy IIRC. I don't think he stay on the board into the 2nd where the Vikings pick if he clears medical evaluations. If he were still available and he is healthy he'd be astounding value at that point in the draft.

Cine is another guy who merits consideration where the Vikings pick in the 2nd.

Another guy to throw into the mix for the Vikings in the second round at DB is Daxton Hill out of Michigan. I believe he plays CB for Michigan but I've read that he could switch to safety in the pros and be very good there. I think he'll come off the board before the Vikings 2nd rounder comes up, but if he's still there he'd be great value.

[IIsweet]

Note... I said IF the Vikings staff feels that they have the pieces in the trenches then I could see them adding youth and talent to the secondary !!!
I am all for generating pressure up front. I want an interior DL that destroys the middle. I am all for adding a great pass rusher at 12 but truthfully, I think BPA is the way to go. We can definitely get younger and cheaper in this draft. There is a lot of defensive players that are really good. We just have to hit on these guys. We have added some recent mid rd players that hopefully are better than what Zim allowed us to see.
Players that I hope to see making a huge gains during the offseason and thus making a bigger difference this year include:
S Camryn Bynum and Josh Metellus
DT Jalen Twyman and James Lynch
DE Janarius Robinson, Patrick Jones, and DJ Wonnum
LB Troy Dye and Chaz Suratt
OG Wyatt Davis

[VikingsVictorious]

We are going to have to go BPA for the first few rounds. Then we will have to get CBs and Edge (if we havent gotten many in BPA). We just cant go CB in the first. Period.I bet there are some good 3rd and 4th rd CB and Edge in this draft. maybe get lucky with a center and RG. Maybe we can get rid of Kirk and Hunter, and have enough cap to get a great center and RG. But we just cant have Kirk on this team. We should have learned a lesson by now. Screw stats, we need WINS!

We certainly can and likely will have Kirk on this team and it may prove very successful.

[Maelstrom88]

So in the draft, I am not confident in the QBs being any better than Mond. So I see us trying to load up the LOS.
I do however also see the need for quality DB help. I think that resigning Woods and restructuring Smith is a great idea. Smith is a fave and is getting long in the tooth, but he can mentor and help prepare the young secondary. We have some mid to late CB on the roster and they have to be upgraded. This is a deep CB class and their is value in the class well into the mid rds. It might need some coaching, but a lot of athleticism and measurables.
At DE... Hunter is an elite DE, when healthy.... but he also has shown that he is best as a LDE going against the RT. Thus in the 1st rd this year, a DE David Ojabo from Michigan may just be that guy. Purdue's George Karlaftis played a ton of football every game and durability is not a concern. Plus he's relentless, I think Jared Allen. Georgia's Travon Walker is a beast and has great tools, but is not a refined pass rusher yet. The Georgia system is not one designed for Sack numbers from the outside. Florida State Jermaine Johnson, left Georgia and had a dominating year rushing the passer as well as exploded at the Senior Bowl.
I am curious as to how our young guys are developing behind the scenes. Hard to know as Zimmer never threw the kids into the fire to see what they could do.

So hopefully these guys are able to get a good look at our current guys and determine just what we need. I am hoping for an interior DL like an Aaron Donald that is disruptive inside. We do not have that, we have space eaters.
I would love a true RDE to keep Hunter at LDE and allow his speed and athleticism to wreak havoc on RT's.
I would be thrilled with Linderbaum !

Right now I am gearing up for Combine week and about to take notes

The more I watch and read the more I like Walker, Hamilton, and Stingley as potential picks at 12. Love your write ups and looking forward to your combine notes.

[IIsweet]

QB Desmond Ridder ran a 4.49 40.
Super athlete and started for 4 years.
The combine is huge as players get to showcase their skills. A lot of players develop later than HS. They become so much better than the surrounding talent.

[Pondering Her Percy]

We could absolutely go that route if the Vikings feel that we have the right personnel up front.
Adding at 12 a CB like Sauce Gardner, Stingley, or McDuffie and then getting a safety like Brisker, Pitre, Hill, or Cine in the 2nd. Granted those are the #2-5 ranked safeties, but I wouldn't look at any other I don't think.
Those 2 picks could become immediate starters on Day 1.

I still feel that the LOS is where we win and lose but you have to have playmakers on all levels of the Defense. With our cap situation and aging players, this is a huge draft for us to get it right.

Stingley is a huge risk at #12. Granted, he's struggled with injuries (which in itself is concerning), but most of the hype around him comes from his performance as a freshman on a stacked LSU defense. After that he has generally not played up to his physical attributes even when healthy. IMHO, he's a high risk of being a bust as a pro, and while the upside is high, he's too risky to spend #12 on.

Gardner would be good value at #12, as would McDuffie. Both have their concerns as well, but both have been more consistent in college.

Brisker is a very good prospect who has struggled to stay healthy IIRC. I don't think he stay on the board into the 2nd where the Vikings pick if he clears medical evaluations. If he were still available and he is healthy he'd be astounding value at that point in the draft.

Cine is another guy who merits consideration where the Vikings pick in the 2nd.

Another guy to throw into the mix for the Vikings in the second round at DB is Daxton Hill out of Michigan. I believe he plays CB for Michigan but I've read that he could switch to safety in the pros and be very good there. I think he'll come off the board before the Vikings 2nd rounder comes up, but if he's still there he'd be great value.

I honestly dont see many issues at all with Gardner. He's number one on my list of who I'd like the Vikings to draft. He's long, great instincts, physical, solid tackler, fluid mover, etc. Reminds me a lot of Rhodes in his prime. And what he allowed in coverage throughout his college career is about as little as possible. He has shutdown corner written all over him. If he's there at 12, I think that's a no brainer. I'd even consider trading up for him.

[IIsweet]

Yeah, Sauce Gardner is LEGIT. He has all the skills and the body. As the game is developing, I just wonder how important it is to have an elite CB ? I know that it sounds weird, but let me dabble a bit. If you have an exceptional pass rush, the timing for a WR to get open quickly diminishes. A CB can play press coverage and that throws off the timing. Now, IF that press corner does not get a good jam, the QB still must lob the ball up with a DL in his face. I almost wonder if you had long and athletic CB's with a ferocious DL, that you would become an elite defense ??? I could go all in with disruptive attacking the LOS and have great length and athleticism on the outside. Just an idea. Btw, Sauce is 6'3" 200. Perfect !!!
There are a lot of 6' 200 CB in this draft.
I still though think that we need a special disruptive player at 12. It might even be DT Jordan Davis who at 6'6 340 would destroy an interior DL due to his size and athleticism. He is not a fat 340 at all. His ability could make the DL around him much more effective as well. At 6'6" he comes in the middle with hands up and that stops the interior throws.

[CharVike]

QB Desmond Ridder ran a 4.49 40.
Super athlete and started for 4 years.
The combine is huge as players get to showcase their skills. A lot of players develop later than HS. They become so much better than the surrounding talent.

Playing QB isn't an athletic contest. With this guy his accuracy sucks and he has no anticipation. He better correct those two things now or he won't be around very long.

[cmoss84]

I only had the opportunity to watch a few Gopher games this year. Is their big tackle (who is DOWN to 384) worth a 2nd round pick? Supposedly he is ranked as the 6th best tackle in the draft...

[JJBreaksRecords]

We are going to have to go BPA for the first few rounds. Then we will have to get CBs and Edge (if we havent gotten many in BPA). We just cant go CB in the first. Period.I bet there are some good 3rd and 4th rd CB and Edge in this draft. maybe get lucky with a center and RG. Maybe we can get rid of Kirk and Hunter, and have enough cap to get a great center and RG. But we just cant have Kirk on this team. We should have learned a lesson by now. Screw stats, we need WINS!

We certainly can and likely will have Kirk on this team and it may prove very successful.

I hope not. Cousins has only show us he CANT win the games that really count. That he ISN'T a leader. I could go on and on but there are enough examples already out there for you to look at. But you minds made up. Even with 3 more years of Cousins, you would say we need to have Cousins for 3 more years. So sad, but true.

[VikingsFan84]

We certainly can and likely will have Kirk on this team and it may prove very successful.

I hope not. Cousins has only show us he CANT win the games that really count. That he ISN'T a leader. I could go on and on but there are enough examples already out there for you to look at. But you minds made up. Even with 3 more years of Cousins, you would say we need to have Cousins for 3 more years. So sad, but true.

So the playoff win against the Saints do not really count?

[CharVike]

I hope not. Cousins has only show us he CANT win the games that really count. That he ISN'T a leader. I could go on and on but there are enough examples already out there for you to look at. But you minds made up. Even with 3 more years of Cousins, you would say we need to have Cousins for 3 more years. So sad, but true.

So the playoff win against the Saints do not really count?

Nothing counts. People think he should lead the worst defense we ever put out on the field in the history of our franchise to the super bowl. I don't know how any football fan can even think that. And this BS about how great that 2019 D was. They sucked in the playoffs against the better competition. They were like that with Case also in 2017. The miracle they gave up a 17 point half time lead. It was a trend. That D never played good in the playoffs. Better competition.

[VikingsVictorious]

We certainly can and likely will have Kirk on this team and it may prove very successful.

I hope not. Cousins has only show us he CANT win the games that really count. That he ISN'T a leader. I could go on and on but there are enough examples already out there for you to look at. But you minds made up. Even with 3 more years of Cousins, you would say we need to have Cousins for 3 more years. So sad, but true.

You have your right to be wrong.
If we have a better option I'd have no problem with moving on from Cousins, but until we do then no. Didn't Stafford prove again and again he couldn't win a game that mattered? Then all of a sudden he could win a game that mattered. Funny how that works.

[IIsweet]

So to answer a couple things.
Faaleis a big dude, but is a RT and reminds me of Korey Stringer in that he dwarfs his competition at RT. Problem is that we have O Neill, Ezra, and Darrisaw as OT. All were college LT.

I mentioned Jordan Davis earlier and he put on an absolute show. 6'6 3/8" and 340. Ran a 4.78. 2nd fastest 10yd split at 1.68 and 40 of all DT.
Crazy Impressive.
The guy that beat him.... Teammate Devante Wyatt who ran 1.66 and 4.77. his numbers are just a bit behind Aaron Donald combine of 1.63 and 4.68.
I also really liked UConn Travis Jones and Oklahoma Perrion Winfrey. Houston Logan Hall is decent too. Just wish he had more bend to him.
DE/3-4 OLB Nic Bonito of Oklahoma ran 4.54.
The DEs are about to get started.

[IIsweet]

DE Amar'e Barno of Virginia Tech just ran a 4.37 !!! 6'5 246.
Ridiculous. Freaky like Jayson Oweh from PSU last year who wreaked havoc as a DE in Baltimore
Aiden Hutchinson ran 4.75 1.62 10yard split. Exact same time as Jared Allen.
David Ojabo 6'4 250 1.64 and 4.60.... easy speed too.
Kayvon Thibodeaux. ran 4.65 and 1.62 split.
Travon Walker. 6'5 275 84" wingspan 4.60 and 1.64.
Edit:. 2nd run was a 4.59 !!!
Sam Williams 6'4" 265 ran a 4.52 and 1.61.
2nd run was a 4.52 again
The DL is absolutely LOADED with talent and playmaking ability

I would like to add that DeAngelo Malone of WKU to me looks real good in drills. His change of direction and burst looks great to me.