Who do we draft?

[Texas Vike]

I would sure like to pick up at least one LB, possibly two, in this draft.

Perryman (ILB) in the 3rd or Paul Dawson in the 2nd (OLB) would be solid picks, IMO. Perryman looks like a thumper, Dawson I've seen a good amount of--he's a very smart player--sheds blocks well and makes tons of tackles. How likely would moving Chad to MLB be?

I like Scherf or Devante Parker at 11.

[slapnut19]

didn't they try greenway at mlb last training camp?

[Texas Vike]

didn't they try greenway at mlb last training camp?

Yeah, that rings a bell. Dug this up--pretty solid prediction from Goessling:

Why he has something to prove: Greenway took a paycut after a disappointing 2013 season with the Vikings, and he has just one year left on his contract after this season. The Vikings would have to count only a $1.7 million bonus proration against their 2015 cap if they cut Greenway after this season, and they'd save $7.1 million, meaning Greenway could be looking at another contract restructure or a release if he doesn't pick things up at age 31 this season.

The Vikings worked him out at middle linebacker during organized team activities (OTAs) and minicamp, and it's possible he could see some time there. Wherever the Vikings put him, Greenway will have to cover more ground, and probably hold up better against the pass, than he did last year. He stayed on the field during most of the Vikings' nickel work during minicamp, and it's possible he'll end up running the defense in that package if Jasper Brinkley winds up at middle linebacker on first and second down. Zimmer and defensive coordinator George Edwards have been complimentary of Greenway, and there's no doubt the veteran will have a thorough understanding of his responsibilities in the defense. The question will be whether he's able to execute them.

Projection: Greenway starts at weakside linebacker, with Anthony Barr on the strong side and Jasper Brinkley in the middle. He'll get pushed by some of the Vikings' younger linebackers, but if he eliminates some of the missed tackles, he'll keep the starting spot for the entire season. Time will tell if he plays well enough to convince the Vikings to keep him around in 2015 at his scheduled $8.8 million cap number.

http://espn.go.com/blog/minnesota-vikin ... d-greenway

[dead_poet]

I would sure like to pick up at least one LB, possibly two, in this draft.

Perryman (ILB) in the 3rd or Paul Dawson in the 2nd (OLB) would be solid picks, IMO. Perryman looks like a thumper, Dawson I've seen a good amount of--he's a very smart player--sheds blocks well and makes tons of tackles. How likely would moving Chad to MLB be?

I like Scherf or Devante Parker at 11.

I would be more than surprised if Perryman lasts until R3 but that'd be great for us if he did..

[Texas Vike]

I would be more than surprised if Perryman lasts until R3 but that'd be great for us if he did..

CBS Sports has him projected to go in the 3rd round. I didn't watch any Miami games this year, so I'm only going off of his highlights. He has some big flashy hits, that's for sure.

I know you like Walterfootball and I see that they have him projected for Rd. 1-2. They are less excited about Dawson, whom CBS Sports projects higher than Perryman. Interesting.

However it goes down, we need some LB help. Kendricks (UCLA) sounds like a heck of a run defender--might be good to reunite him with Barr.

http://walterfootball.com/draft2015ILB.php

[IIsweet]

I am for trading down and acquiring additional picks.
I would then use those picks to get back into the 1st round.
I would look to do the following.......
Round 1 - LB Shaq Thompson
Round 1 - WR Jaelen Strong
Round 2 - CB Jalen Collins
Round 3 - S Kurtis Drummond
Round 4 - OG Arie Kuoandijo

I posted something similarin another thread.
I also like CB PJ Williams at end of rd 1 and WR Vince Mayle in 2nd.

[dead_poet]

CBS Sports has him projected to go in the 3rd round. I didn't watch any Miami games this year, so I'm only going off of his highlights. He has some big flashy hits, that's for sure.

I know you like Walterfootball and I see that they have him projected for Rd. 1-2. They are less excited about Dawson, whom CBS Sports projects higher than Perryman. Interesting.

There's sooo much more process before the draft but you're right, I've seen him mocked late first all the way to Day 3. Last roundup I looked at showed him late second. He has a chance to improve his stock, obviously, with a good showing at the combine. One of the knocks on him is his speed/overall athleticism.

However it goes down, we need some LB help. Kendricks (UCLA) sounds like a heck of a run defender--might be good to reunite him with Barr.

I dig Kendricks, too, who I think is a bit more athletic and has more coverage ability (even though they both would be considered "undersized"). Really I'd probably be OK with either of them on Day 2 (though I've read that Kendricks projects more to weakside LB in a 4-3).

I've seen Benardrick McKinney being ranked on several "big boards" as the top ILB in this year's relatively weak LB class. I haven't watched any Bulldog games so I'm just basing this off of what I read. Dude is big (6'5, 245) and described as "huge, athletic, and packs a punch in the trenches." He's being projected as a late-first/early second-rounder.

[CbusVikesFan]

There's sooo much more process before the draft but you're right, I've seen him mocked late first all the way to Day 3. Last roundup I looked at showed him late second. He has a chance to improve his stock, obviously, with a good showing at the combine. One of the knocks on him is his speed/overall athleticism.
I dig Kendricks, too, who I think is a bit more athletic and has more coverage ability (even though they both would be considered "undersized"). Really I'd probably be OK with either of them on Day 2 (though I've read that Kendricks projects more to weakside LB in a 4-3).

I've seen Benardrick McKinney being ranked on several "big boards" as the top ILB in this year's relatively weak LB class. I haven't watched any Bulldog games so I'm just basing this off of what I read. Dude is big (6'5, 245) and described as "huge, athletic, and packs a punch in the trenches." He's being projected as a late-first/early second-rounder.

There would not be any topic for discussion if the Vikings had drafted CJ Mosley instead of Barr. Throw in Barr and all of the prospects this year and you maybe could make a rookie pro bowler out of them combined.
hashtag #DOH

[Mothman]

There would not be any topic for discussion if the Vikings had drafted CJ Mosley instead of Barr. Throw in Barr and all of the prospects this year and you maybe could make a rookie pro bowler out of them combined.
hashtag #DOH

Ouch.

I'd take Khalil Mack straight up over Mosely without even blinking.

I liked Mosely too but Barr was making a genuine impact on the Vikings defense last season and that's while essentially learning a new position. His future looks bright and I suspect Zimmer has plans to help him make an even bigger impact in the future. Mosely may have had the superior rookie season but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll prove to be the better choice in the long run. Even if he does, if Barr becomes an impact player for the Vikes year in and year out, there won't be much reason to complain.

It was a missed opportunity to solidify the middle though, so in that sense, I feel your pain. I wish they could have drafted both players!

[Texas Vike]

Ouch.

I'd take Khalil Mack straight up over Mosely without even blinking.

I liked Mosely too but Barr was making a genuine impact on the Vikings defense last season and that's while essentially learning a new position. His future looks bright and I suspect Zimmer has plans to help him make an even bigger impact in the future. Mosely may have had the superior rookie season but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll prove to be the better choice in the long run. Even if he does, if Barr becomes an impact player for the Vikes year in and year out, there won't be much reason to complain.

It was a missed opportunity to solidify the middle though, so in that sense, I feel your pain. I wish they could have drafted both players!

I was very pro-Mosely leading up to the draft and I didn't want Barr. I was pleasantly surprised by how well Barr played, actually. We still need a MLB in a really bad way though.

[CbusVikesFan]

Ouch.

I'd take Khalil Mack straight up over Mosely without even blinking.

I liked Mosely too but Barr was making a genuine impact on the Vikings defense last season and that's while essentially learning a new position. His future looks bright and I suspect Zimmer has plans to help him make an even bigger impact in the future. Mosely may have had the superior rookie season but that doesn't necessarily mean he'll prove to be the better choice in the long run. Even if he does, if Barr becomes an impact player for the Vikes year in and year out, there won't be much reason to complain.

It was a missed opportunity to solidify the middle though, so in that sense, I feel your pain. I wish they could have drafted both players!

I really don't mean to be so harsh but it was such the glaring need for me and seeing how that Mosley was right there just a couple picks further and then being the beast that he is at his position it really chaps me. Again, the guys coming up may end up better MLBs, and even if we actually addressed that position, but they are not plug in and play on the scale of Mosley. If that was the case, we all would know about it. I don't think that there were many people, especially anyone that follows the draft, even casually, that didn't know who Mosley was and what he could do, and what he is doing now. For me, he was number one on my Viking board. I really didn't/don't care what everyone else's board looked like. Our run defense has stunk since the dismantling of the Williams Wall, and I for one am tired of it. With Floyd, Smith, and Griffen, how nice would it have been to have the likes of Mosley on the team? I salivated for two years. Hopes crushed again.
I didn't see the projection of Barr over the value of Mosley with the high need. I guess we can go on griping about how we cannot stop the run. I am not sure what having a top 10 tackling rookie on a team means I guess. If Mosley never plays another down in the NFL, it will take Barr three years to match is type of output, ino. Since they do not play the same position, how many sacks will it take to match triple digit tackles? 30? Hard to compare, but I am sure that someone has broken it down somewhere. I hope that I am proven wrong about it all but I really have my serious doubts. It looks like we will have a nice topic to debate that you can either throttle me on or you can join me in shaking my head for another year.

[Mothman]

I really don't mean to be so harsh but it was such the glaring need for me and seeing how that Mosley was right there just a couple picks further and then being the beast that he is at his position it really chaps me. Again, the guys coming up may end up better MLBs, and even if we actually addressed that position, but they are not plug in and play on the scale of Mosley. If that was the case, we all would know about it. I don't think that there were many people, especially anyone that follows the draft, even casually, that didn't know who Mosley was and what he could do, and what he is doing now. For me, he was number one on my Viking board. I really didn't/don't care what everyone else's board looked like. Our run defense has stunk since the dismantling of the Williams Wall, and I for one am tired of it. With Floyd, Smith, and Griffen, how nice would it have been to have the likes of Mosley on the team? I salivated for two years. Hopes crushed again.

It would have been nice. and I understand why you wanted him. I've been wanting the Vikes to seriously address their MLB position for years and he represented a chance to finally do that.

I didn't see the projection of Barr over the value of Mosley with the high need. I guess we can go on griping about how we cannot stop the run. I am not sure what having a top 10 tackling rookie on a team means I guess. If Mosley never plays another down in the NFL, it will take Barr three years to match is type of output, ino. Since they do not play the same position, how many sacks will it take to match triple digit tackles? 30? Hard to compare, but I am sure that someone has broken it down somewhere. I hope that I am proven wrong about it all but I really have my serious doubts. It looks like we will have a nice topic to debate that you can either throttle me on or you can join me in shaking my head for another year.

I certainly don't feel the need to throttle you on it but I will say this: I'm not that concerned with Barr matching Mosley's statistical production or even with individual numbers on defense. My main concern is the overall quality/effectiveness of the defense. I want the Vikes to build a good one and I'm giving Zimmer the benefit of the doubt, and consequently giving it to Barr as well. It seems clear that Zimmer wanted Barr and thought he could be a key piece in his defense. If that proves to be the case and the defense is a success, I don't care if Barr ever matches Mosley's tackle output. Heck, Greenway basically matched it in 2013 and everybody wanted to get rid of him!

I definitely want to see the run defense get better, and I would have loved it if the Vikings had drafted Mosely, but I really liked what I saw from Barr too and I think his sideline-to-sideline athleticism and pass rushing prowess make him the kind of player offenses have to account for on the field. That's an advantage a coach like Zimmer can exploit. Hopefully, the Vikes will upgrade at MLB this offseason too.

[Texas Vike]

I certainly don't feel the need to throttle you on it but I will say this: I'm not that concerned with Barr matching Mosley's statistical production or even with individual numbers on defense. My main concern is the overall quality/effectiveness of the defense. I want the Vikes to build a good one and I'm giving Zimmer the benefit of the doubt, and consequently giving it to Barr as well. It seems clear that Zimmer wanted Barr and thought he could be a key piece in his defense. If that proves to be the case and the defense is a success, I don't care if Barr ever matches Mosley's tackle output. Heck, Greenway basically matched it in 2013 and everybody wanted to get rid of him!

I definitely want to see the run defense get better, and I would have loved it if the Vikings had drafted Mosely, but I really liked what I saw from Barr too and I think his sideline-to-sideline athleticism and pass rushing prowess make him the kind of player offenses have to account for on the field. That's an advantage a coach like Zimmer can exploit. Hopefully, the Vikes will upgrade at MLB this offseason too.

Very solid take, Jim. I agree. I really think this is the year to trade down, out of the #11 spot, and stock pile in the 20 to 120 picks range. Whether the Vikings decide to do that or not is another thing. I kind of doubt it. They've been more successful at recognizing talent in the first round than the mid-range rounds.

[CbusVikesFan]

It would have been nice. and I understand why you wanted him. I've been wanting the Vikes to seriously address their MLB position for years and he represented a chance to finally do that.


I certainly don't feel the need to throttle you on it but I will say this: I'm not that concerned with Barr matching Mosley's statistical production or even with individual numbers on defense. My main concern is the overall quality/effectiveness of the defense. I want the Vikes to build a good one and I'm giving Zimmer the benefit of the doubt, and consequently giving it to Barr as well. It seems clear that Zimmer wanted Barr and thought he could be a key piece in his defense. If that proves to be the case and the defense is a success, I don't care if Barr ever matches Mosley's tackle output. Heck, Greenway basically matched it in 2013 and everybody wanted to get rid of him!

I definitely want to see the run defense get better, and I would have loved it if the Vikings had drafted Mosely, but I really liked what I saw from Barr too and I think his sideline-to-sideline athleticism and pass rushing prowess make him the kind of player offenses have to account for on the field. That's an advantage a coach like Zimmer can exploit. Hopefully, the Vikes will upgrade at MLB this offseason too.

Nice post. I do like Barr, although my posts don't indicate it. I understand the thinking about having a player like him with so much potential. Not to undermine his talents, but are there not at least a half a dozen players like Barr in each draft? Mack, Barr, Justin Houston, Clowney, etc. I was fixated on Mosley so much that I just overlooked all the other good players. A player like Mosley doesn't come along every draft and we should have snapped him up.
One thing I am pretty sure of, is if Zimmer drafted him, he has talent and will be good. I just thought at the time we could have been better on an immediate basis.
Wish in one hand and get throttled with the other...
And it will be okay to tell me I told you so. I really hope that you will be doing just that on a weekly basis. Zim set the Barr high, lets see if the kid can reach for the golden ring.

[Texas Vike]

Sounds like Gophers' RB Cobb is impressing at the Senior Bowl practices, some scouts are even saying he may go ahead of Gordon. That would be surprising.

http://www.startribune.com/video/289620421.html#hpmfv