Draft Status

[radar55]

St. Louis gets Washingtons 1st round pic so it would be great if Wash could win this week. I dont think Atl or Wash will be looking for a QB but St. Louis just might be if Bridgewater were to fall to them. Just a thought.

[PurpleHalo]

The issue with JFB is how is his talent going to transition to the NFL. I can understand where the comparison to Tebow comes from, not in each player's individual traits, however in their success at the college ranks despite their unconventional styles of play in regards to what an NFL QB looks like.

To me, I see JFB as the Reggie Bush of QBs. Reggie Bush was highly successful and electrifying as a college running back. But when he made it to the pros, it took him years to transition to the pace and style of the NFL game to where he could be used as a starting RB.

JFB is very small, and his style is going to lead to him getting hit a lot in the NFL. That's a huge concern. He has a tendency to throw off his back foot and float balls, another big concern. His scrambling around to keep plays alive could be successful in the NFL, but one has to wonder if those near missed tackle from less talented college players will result in much bigger, faster NFL defenders clobbering him. And his mechanics and footwork still need a lot of work.

It's certainly going to be an interesting evaluation, and I honestly cannot tell you where I expect him to go in the draft. His talent is very apparent, and when you watch his game, he clearly has that "it" factor at this current level. But with that said, there are clearly many issues with his game that are hard to predict how they will translate. Basically, to me he is the definition of a boom or bust prospect. And the off the field antics and attitude issues only further those concerns.

He's the kind of player that you are so nervous to take a chance on, if you do and he fails, you can look really stupid. However, if you're a team which decides to pass on him and in the end, his talents translate to the NFL, you can be kicking yourself for years for doing so, because if he does translate to the NFL, he will be a special player.

Very well stated, it is exactly what I feel about him. And what I say is, this team hasn't gone anywhere treading water for 38 years, nobody has ever accomplished anything playing it safe. Throw caution to the wind, but draft a plan b, he's a lottery ticket, maybe one you wanna crumple up and toss away, but what if.

The last 2 QBs drafted here have been jittery deer in headlight types, Johnny isn't that! So at the very least, it would be something different.

[Angels Wings]

You can't compare him and his brother. The only thing they for sure have in common is the same parents.

I agree, David was drafted #1 by an expansion Texans team and out behind the worst offensive line probably in NFL history and got sacked to pieces. That alone messed up his psyche. I don't think his brother suffers the same fate...

[PurpleHalo]

What exactly are manziel's off the field issues? I've heard about the autographs and seen a mugshot, but I don't know anything more than those two things. Enlighten me.

I think it's just little things, I know he was accused of accepting money for autographs. And he is considered a playboy party guy. Beaing brash, taunting, nothing really daunting but stuff like that turns teams away. To me it much of it shows personality. Can't be too bad, he hasn't missed games as far as I know.

[NextQuestion]

MN Nice is very much NOT a myth. MN Nice = passive aggressive niceness.

"Hey dude, your dog crapped in my yard again. I put it in a bag and put it in your trash for you"!

[King James]

I dont see why we cant just keep Cassel or Freeman, and then draft a guy in the later rounds like McCarron.

Unless we get the #1 pick then I dont see the big deal. Teddy Bridgewater is the only QB worth getting in the 1st.

[Eli]

I dont see why we cant just keep Cassel or Freeman, and then draft a guy in the later rounds like McCarron

Depends on how much faith you have in McCarron. Cassel (or God forbid, Freeman) certainly isn't the future QB of this franchise. He can hold them over while a rookie QB is groomed, but if that rookie doesn't have a good chance of becoming a starter, then you're just wasting your time.

[King James]

Depends on how much faith you have in McCarron. Cassel (or God forbid, Freeman) certainly isn't the future QB of this franchise. He can hold them over while a rookie QB is groomed, but if that rookie doesn't have a good chance of becoming a starter, then you're just wasting your time.

I think McCarron is perfect for our system, I dont know how many other teams he would fit on. I know with a good running back, McCarron is smart enough to know when to go deep if the D is creeping. He also knows how to get the ball out during blitzes. This is what I've seen personally because I attended the iron bowl game they had against Auburn. A much better arm than Ponder and Cassel I believe. I don't know how he handles weak protection though because Alabama has a good O-Line. With our line he will definitely have to think quicker but I think he can succeed in a west-coast system. Maybe even a spread offense as well.

[PurpleHalo]

I agree on both of your points. He's a hell of a player. I do have some reservations about whether his game will translate well to the NFL, but I see something special in this kid and would welcome his whole style as a complete sea change for us.

A move away from the bland normal, this is not the type of player the Vikings ever draft. But I welcome such a change, there is some reason having a trophy case is a waste of counch space at winter park, and maybe it is playing it Minnesota safe too often.

[Purple bruise]

2014 NFL Mock Draft: Matt Miller's Latest First-Round Projections from Bleacher Report:
. 4th pick, first round, Minnesota Vikings—QB Teddy Bridgewater, Louisville

The first quarterback comes off the board, and the Minnesota Vikings couldn't be happier. Their attempts with Christian Ponder, Matt Cassel and Josh Freeman all failed, and it's time to start over at the position. Teddy Bridgewater is a safe pick at the spot given his accuracy, field vision and ball placement all over the field. Once he bulks up a little, he'll be ready to roll over NFL defenses


http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1881 ... rojections

[Raptorman]

Depends on how much faith you have in McCarron. Cassel (or God forbid, Freeman) certainly isn't the future QB of this franchise. He can hold them over while a rookie QB is groomed, but if that rookie doesn't have a good chance of becoming a starter, then you're just wasting your time.

One thing about Cassel. He signed a two year deal that he can void in the first 5 days of the new NFL year. So unless he does that, or unless the Vikings dump him, he will be back.

[Eli]

One thing about Cassel. He signed a two year deal that he can void in the first 5 days of the new NFL year. So unless he does that, or unless the Vikings dump him, he will be back.

"Unless"? Seems like a pretty tenuous two year contract to me. The Vikings have to want him back.

His having an option to void the contract only increases the chances of him not coming back. And if he doesn't exercise the option, there's no more guaranteed money remaining in the contract, so it doesn't cost the Vikings anything to release him. His $3.7M in salary and roster bonus for 2014 could be considered a lot for a backup of his ability.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Thank god we never surrounded a draft pick for Cassel, like it was rumored we were going to back in the early offseason. He has played much better than Ponder, but we need all the draft picks we can get.


Who really knows with this QB class anymore. I don't know if there is a bonafide superstar, but there are quality players. All I know is that this team HAS to draft a QB this year in some round. The team doesn't have to force the QB pick, but they have to get someone.

I wouldn't be mad if the Vikings got a guy in the 2nd/3rd round, kept Cassel/Freeman, and then tried to draft a guy in the first round in 2015.

[mondry]

This win moved us from #3 to #8, a drop of 5 spots. A truly elite player like Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson is now well out of our reach, as are the top 3 QB's.

ATL - @SF, CAR - they won't win another game.

TB - @STL, NO - Lucky to get a 1-1 split here

WAS - DAL, @NYG - Could win both but given the turmoil there I'd say lucky to get a 1-1 split

OAK - @SD, DEN - Not likely to win either game

Hou - Can't possibly do better than us already

JAC - TEN, @IND - Lucky to get 1-1 split

CLE - @NYJ, PIT - Two winnable games really, but can they do it?



Now for the "if we win another game" category.

NYG - @DET, WAS - Should be favored against Washington, 1-1 split

TEN - @JAC, HOU - Both should be winnable

BUF - Miami, @NE - Maybe beat miami but i'd say it's not likely.



The "If we win both our final games" category

STL - TB, @SEA - Could probably beat tampa, Seattle MAY rest starters 1-1 split likely.

PIT - @GB, CLE - Both could be winnable, but evenly matched teams I'd say.

NYJ - CLE @MIA - Evenly matched teams again.


Looking at the possibilities, the only thing we CAN'T get 100% is the #1 pick.



What is likely to happen? Let's start if we finish 0-2



Atlanta faces two 10-4 teams both trying to win their division that is coming down to the wire. While they only need to win 1 to pass us, that's not likely.

Tampa faces a 6-8 Rams team they might be able to beat and a 10-4 Saints team, like Altanta just need to win one. I'd put the odds at less than 50% though so not likely.

Washington has 2 of the easier remaining match ups with DAL and @NYG but the problem is they need to win both and they're not very good, less than 50%.

Oakland plays SD and DEN, I don't think they win either of those

Jacksonville plays Indy and Tennessee - Their best bet is against TEN but I don't really see them winning either game.

Cleveland plays the New York Jets and I think they can win that one, PIT is also a vulnerable team, I think it's likely they win at least one.

The only team to bump us up is Cleveland and we go to #7.


If we win one more game, how bad will it hurt our position?

New York Giants play DET and WAS, they should be able to beat one of them, probably Washington - Shouldn't hurt us.

The Titans play JAC and Houston and as of right now both of those should be wins - shouldn't hurt us.

Buffalo plays Miami and NE and I don't think they win either game. It's possible NE clinches the division but they'd still be playing for the #3 seed or better. Likely hurts us

Winning one game likely means we stay put @ #8



If we win our last two games, how bad will it hurt our position?

St. Louis plays tampa bay and seattle, that's likely only 1 win at best, but enough to beat us - shouldn't hurt us

Pittsburgh plays GB and CLE, If Rodgers comes back their best bet is cleveland but I'm not sure they can win either game - hurts us

New York Jets play CLE and MIA, I think they can win one of them - shouldn't hurt us.

This bracket drops us down to #9, but we also have to think about the teams in the last bracket that now have to win 2 of their games and that means the Giants probably hurt us.

Winning two games likely drops us to #10 overall.


CONCLUSION - We can still get #2, but it's extremely unlikely, the worst we could possibly fall is to #14. Of course any thing can happen but the most likely situation given this analysis is that we'll pick some where between #7 and #10.

[Mothman]

This win moved us from #3 to #8, a drop of 5 spots. A truly elite player like Calvin Johnson or Adrian Peterson is now well out of our reach, as are the top 3 QB's.

If I'm not mistaken, there has only been 1 draft in the last 25 years in which 3 QBs were taken in the top 7 picks (1999) and considering the QBs in this class, it seems unlikely to happen again this year. I certainly won't deny the possibility but I don't think it's anywhere close to a sure thing that picking #8 would deny the Vikes a shot at one of the top 3 QBs. If it did, that might be good news because it would mean only 4 players at other positions had been selected, giving the Vikes a shot at filling another area of need with a potential impact player.

As an aside, is there even a truly elite Calvin Johnson/Adrian Peterson-like player in this draft? Do Clowney or Bridgewater fit that description? Just asking...

CONCLUSION - We can still get #2, but it's extremely unlikely, the worst we could possibly fall is to #14. Of course any thing can happen but the most likely situation given this analysis is that we'll pick some where between #7 and #10.

That should give them a shot at either a terrific player or, if they really feel the need, put them in position to move up a bit.

I can't believe you put that post together. Just reading it made my head spin. How long did it take you to work out all those scenarios?