PFT Mock Draft

[Mothman]

Leslie Frazier quotes drawn from Sid Hartman's column:

http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikin ... 72751.html

“I’m hoping that we’ll be able to draft some guys that can bring in some competition for us at that position [cornerback],” Frazier said. “It’s an area where you’re always trying to get quality depth in the secondary. The way people spread you out now and try to create mismatches, you want to make sure that you address the secondary every season. We’re not quite where I’d like us to be yet, but this draft can really help us to improve our secondary.”

Frazier said another obvious hole for the team is at middle linebacker with Jasper Brinkley signing with Arizona.

“We have to either have one of the guys on our current roster step up for us or we have to draft someone who could be a starter for us. But we don’t have an incumbent at that position. We have to get that addressed.”

Frazier said he would like to get more depth at wide receiver; a little more competition on the offensive line; and the defensive line is aging as well.

“We need a swing tackle, we don’t have that,” he said. “We need more competition at the guard position. We’re going to try to get some of that addressed in this draft.”

[saint33]

All of this to me is the best argument for grabbing an Alabama Lineman line Jones, Warmack of Fluker to play Guard and open holes for adrian peterson. They just destroyed everybody they played and both Fluker and especially Jones offer fantastic position versatility.

"Jones started three BCS National Championship Games all at different positions along the offensive line"

He's also a very high intelligence/high character player and a Spielman type pick.
http://www.nfl.com/draft/2013/profiles/ ... id=2539195
If we got Jones and Hopkins in RD1 I think it would be a huge success.

Taking Jones in the first round would be a pretty big failure, considering he'll likely be around for us with at least our 3rd round pick, if not one of our 4 round picks.

DJ Fluker is also a long shot as well, very much built to be an offensive tackle, not so much an offensive guard. He's a huge man with very long arms, guards are generally have more of a compact build.

If Warmack were to fall to us, I wouldn't think twice about scooping him up. Beyond that, I don't expect us to be calling an Alabama offensive lineman in the first round

[King James]

Te'o is a 4-3 LB. Why else would the Bears might want to grab him too? They run that Tampa 2 defense just like us. I dont see what everyone problem is with him. If it's the Alabama game. That's not his fault. Alabama embarrasses every team they play! ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!!

But seriously the guy is probably good, I know the media is overhyping him but the guy could be a valuable asset to our team. He is a definite upgrade because we have nothing at MLB right now.

[Funkytown]

He is a definite upgrade because we have nothing at MLB right now.

You said it all right there. An upgrade, an upgrade because we have nothing. lol. Not saying much there pal.

[King James]

You said it all right there. An upgrade, an upgrade because we have nothing. lol. Not saying much there pal.

well i mean we have MLB's like Audie Cole still on the roster but I doubt he is ready to start anytime soon. So like I said we really have nothing at MLB unless we just want to see if Cole can get it done his second year. Either that or get Te'o, and from what I seen, the Vikings know how to mold Notre Dame players into good players.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Taking Jones in the first round would be a pretty big failure, considering he'll likely be around for us with at least our 3rd round pick, if not one of our 4 round picks.

DJ Fluker is also a long shot as well, very much built to be an offensive tackle, not so much an offensive guard. He's a huge man with very long arms, guards are generally have more of a compact build.

If Warmack were to fall to us, I wouldn't think twice about scooping him up. Beyond that, I don't expect us to be calling an Alabama offensive lineman in the first round

Barrett Jones will be under drafted and is under-rated. However, you are right, there is no reason to take him with the 23rd or 25th pick.

I would like it if Minnesota took Larry Warford in the second. That guy will be a good guard in the NFL.

[Funkytown]

well i mean we have MLB's like Audie Cole still on the roster but I doubt he is ready to start anytime soon. So like I said we really have nothing at MLB unless we just want to see if Cole can get it done his second year. Either that or get Te'o, and from what I seen, the Vikings know how to mold Notre Dame players into good players.

I know what you meant. I was just picking on you. Do the Vikings mold Notre Dame players into good players or are they already good? I don't see this guy as being "good" though. I see him as being "alright" and a "role player." I'm hoping we get more than that with our first-round picks. I want beasts--and difference makers! Speaking of Cole, didn't you say he was going to be our Clay Matthews--only with better hair?!?! Don't give up on your guy now.

[King James]

I didnt give up on him, I said he is not ready yet to be a starter. I think Cole is the type of guy who will have to work his way up the ranks to succeed. I like Te'o though. People are just having their pre-draft doubts about him. He's a great player with great work ethic. He can make plays, that Bama game was the only game he looked bad. But like I said, Bama is a big team. Everyone that plays them get the same results. RTR!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Funkytown]

I didnt give up on him, I said he is not ready yet to be a starter. I think Cole is the type of guy who will have to work his way up the ranks to succeed. I like Te'o though. People are just having their pre-draft doubts about him. He's a great player with great work ethic. He can make plays, that Bama game was the only game he looked bad. But like I said, Bama is a big team. Everyone that plays them get the same results. RTR!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, when is he going to be a starter? It's going to be hard to do if the LB positions are solidified.

As far as the Alabama game and them being a "big team"--so are NFL teams.

So, it's okay if teams and players look bad in big games as long as they don't look that way overall?

Ahh. Of course y'all think that way, you are Vikings fans! You have no choice.

You just remember that if our little ol' quarterback decides to suck it up in a big game. "It's okay, because he did well throughout the season. He improved. He was a leader." I'll be saying that, but will you be?

[Mothman]

So, it's okay if teams and players look bad in big games as long as they don't look that way overall?

Well... yes. It happens to every player. They all have bad games. Remember, Adrian Peterson once had 14 carries for 3 yards against the 49ers. he didn't look like a potential hall of Fame back that day but we all know he is...

[Funkytown]

Well... yes. It happens to every player. They all have bad games.

They do. But when that "bad game" just so happens to be the biggest game of your career, people aren't so forgiving. It's called "choking" from the way I understand it. People don't like "chokers." lol Vikings fans shouldn't want anything to do with someone who "chokes." Right? Or do we have extra love for those guys?

[Purple bruise]

They do. But when that "bad game" just so happens to be the biggest game of your career, people aren't so forgiving. It's called "choking" from the way I understand it. People don't like "chokers." lol Vikings fans shouldn't want anything to do with someone who "chokes." Right? Or do we have extra love for those guys?

People are not so forgiving but knowledgeable ones realize that one game, know matter how important that game is/was, does not determine the ability or future of a player. It is a whole body of work that needs to be examined. If said player had a mediocre career and then in one very important game, he and his team "shined" then you would forget all of his other mediocre games in his career and "crown him" (sorry Denny Green)lol.
Brian Urlacher came out of New Mexico playing as a hybred stong safety, a player out of the WAC having not played against the better teams in the country and when he was chosen by the Bears with their first round pick (#9), although highly touted and award winning, I am sure many fans may have questioned that selection too. Thank goodness for the Bear's sake that those fans did not have any say in the draft.
Here is Teo, also highly tauted (mentioned as a possible Heismen winner and talked about as being the best player in the country) who had an outstanding career, playing for one of the top football schools in the nation, playing against the top football teams in the country and he has a bad game against the top team in the country and runs a 4.8 forty and people are trying to discount the fact that he is a great player.
I hope that the Vikes draft him and fear that the Bears will.

[dead_poet]

They do. But when that "bad game" just so happens to be the biggest game of your career, people aren't so forgiving. It's called "choking" from the way I understand it. People don't like "chokers." lol Vikings fans shouldn't want anything to do with someone who "chokes." Right? Or do we have extra love for those guys?

Check out related post here: http://vikingsmessageboard.com/viewtopi ... 12&t=25682

Alabama typically destroyed everyone. Te'o was hardly the only one (LB in particular) to have a "bad game."

Additionally, it was reported that Alabama linemen were specifically game planning for/targeting him throughout the game. I'm not trying to make excuses for the guy, but I look at it like a WR being regularly double covered, showing up poorly in the box score and people attributing that entire lack of production on the WR. There are other factors involved. Frankly, I think it says something when a team as tough and respected as Alabama (likewise with a coach with similar qualities) planned their offense with neutralizing him as a primary focus. I don't know if there's a larger form of respect.

Hopefully if he's our selection he will excel. If not, I hope he fails miserably.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Check out related post here: http://vikingsmessageboard.com/viewtopi ... 12&t=25682

Alabama typically destroyed everyone. Te'o was hardly the only one (LB in particular) to have a "bad game."

Additionally, it was reported that Alabama linemen were specifically game planning for/targeting him throughout the game. I'm not trying to make excuses for the guy, but I look at it like a WR being regularly double covered, showing up poorly in the box score and people attributing that entire lack of production on the WR. There are other factors involved. Frankly, I think it says something when a team as tough and respected as Alabama (likewise with a coach with similar qualities) planned their offense with neutralizing him as a primary focus. I don't know if there's a larger form of respect.

Hopefully if he's our selection he will excel. If not, I hope he fails miserably.

I have come to terms with Minnesota drafting Te'o. I think he is overrated (and always has been), but, should he our pick, I hope he can become a very good player.

[John_Viveiros]

I posted this in another topic but it is seems more apropos to post it here. "In the past ten years, the top 64 picks have produced 14 receivers who have had over 800 yards from scrimmage in their rookie year (out of 79 who played in games). Of those, only four chosen between pick 23 and 52 produced 800 yards (out of 36 who played games). This doesn't include those who haven't made an impact in games, like A.J. Jenkins."

Wow. So historically, the odds of getting an impact performance from a WR we draft this year is something like one in nine. That splashes a lot of cold water in our faces. Thanks for the post.