2015 NFL Draft thread

[nightowl]

I'm happy that Kendricks & Denzel Perryman are still available. Gregory is intriguing in the 2nd round. I don't know what Zimmer would do with him, or if he'd be interested, but we'll see. Also have Quinten Rollins a CB/Safety prospect who could be the final piece of the secondary puzzle. Should be an interesting day tomorrow.

[S197]

Still available:

Randy Gregory
Landon Collins
TJ Flemmings
Jake Fisher
Paul Dawson
Eric Kendricks
Dorial Green-Beckham
Tevin Coleman
Devin Smith
Denzel Perryman
Benardrick McKinney
AJ Cann

Vikings pick #13 tomorrow.

[Angels Wings]

@mattvensel: Five players to watch for the #Vikings tomorrow: DE Randy Gregory, OT T.J. Clemmings, S Landon Collins, G A.J. Cann and MLB Paul Dawson.

Would be surprised if Gregory fell to the 13th pick on the 2nd round. Weed issue is a concern, but clearly a 1st round talent.

[John_Viveiros]

After a night of sleep... maybe Rick's "we have to trade down" was a smokescreen to hide their interest in Waynes, who was mocked to them in nearly half of the mock drafts.

I don't know... It had the feel of the Vikes saying "hey, if Pete Prisco thinks this should be our pick, and if Banks and Mayock think he'll be gone by #11...". Of course, maybe the journalists got it right.

[halfgiz]

Seattle has 11 picks. Some predict they will get busy in the second round moving up. Wonder if Rick will make a deal with Seattle? And we move down for more picks.

[Mothman]

After a night of sleep... maybe Rick's "we have to trade down" was a smokescreen to hide their interest in Waynes, who was mocked to them in nearly half of the mock drafts.

I don't know... It had the feel of the Vikes saying "hey, if Pete Prisco thinks this should be our pick, and if Banks and Mayock think he'll be gone by #11...". Of course, maybe the journalists got it right.

It's probably that simple. I certainly don't think they had anything to do with the Vikes choice to make the pick. If anything, they were responding to the logical need at CB, Miek Zimmer's background and love of the position, and the interest the Vikes had shown in Waynes. That interest has been apparent for some time.

The talk about trading down may have been a smokescreen but Rick Spielman said they listened to some offers and decided the value wasn't there and they would be better off drafting Waynes.

[Mothman]

What's everybody hoping for tonight? I want the Vikes to select South Carolina guard A.J. Cann in R2. Fill that gaping hole at guard with a strong prospect! I don't think he'll be there in R3 so I say grab him if the opportunity presents itself.

[dead_poet]

What's everybody hoping for tonight? I want the Vikes to select South Carolina guard A.J. Cann in R2. Fill that gaping hole at guard with a strong prospect! I don't think he'll be there in R3 so I say grab him if the opportunity presents itself.

Guard, defensive end or linebacker for sure. Unfortunately I think Kendricks will be long gone so I've already crossed him off my list and Anthony was my #2 choice so I'd look real hard at Mychal Kendricks if Spielman is serious about upgrading ILB. If you can't get his brother he's far and away the best choice of those remaining for a second-rounder. I have significant reservations about Dawson and Benardrick McKinney and am souring on Denzel Perryman. But there are still guys I like, including:

AJ Cann (as you mentioned)
La'El Collins (I understand he won't be the pick for obvious reasons but has huge upside)
Dorial Green-Beckham (his upside is undeniable but doubt the Vikings take the risk)
Randy Gregory (see Dorial Green-Beckham)
Owamagbe Odighizuwa (one of the few Force players still available, but I'm concerned about his medicals)
Preston Smith (Force player, 96% SPARQ, has visited Minnesota, a bigger LDE that Zimmer prefers, has the skills to move inside in sub-packagae situations)
Jake Fisher (as a guard, where he also has experience. He's a plus athlete that's already solid in pass pro. High character, great worth ethic)
Eric Rowe (love him as a safety)
Ali Marpet (is the second-round too high for him?)

Given Spielman's record for not selecting interior offensive linemen early, my best guess is Preston Smith, Eric Rowe or (sigh) Benardrick McKinney or Paul Dawson.

I know it won't happen but right now the most talented player that I think will impact this defense the most is Mychal Kendricks. But a second-rounder is a high price to pay for a guy that might be available in free agency next March. It'd also be an uncharacteristic Rick move.

[nightowl]

What's everybody hoping for tonight? I want the Vikes to select South Carolina guard A.J. Cann in R2. .

Cann would work for me. Ali Marpet is out there too. Personally I'd be happy if we could get Kendrick's, Preston Smith, Quinten Rollens or Perryman. I want to keep building a Nasty defense.

Devin Smith, WR Ohio State, is an interesting option if he's there too, keep adding speed to the offense and giving Teddy some dangerous weapons.

[Mothman]

Guard, defensive end or linebacker for sure. Unfortunately I think Kendricks will be long gone so I've already crossed him off my list and Anthony was my #2 choice so I'd look real hard at Mychal Kendricks if Spielman is serious about upgrading ILB. If you can't get his brother he's far and away the best choice of those remaining for a second-rounder. I have significant reservations about Dawson and Benardrick McKinney and am souring on Denzel Perryman. But there are still guys I like, including:

AJ Cann (as you mentioned)
La'El Collins (I understand he won't be the pick for obvious reasons but has huge upside)
Dorial Green-Beckham (his upside is undeniable but doubt the Vikings take the risk)
Randy Gregory (see Dorial Green-Beckham)
Owamagbe Odighizuwa (one of the few Force players still available, but I'm concerned about his medicals)
Preston Smith (Force player, 96% SPARQ, has visited Minnesota, a bigger LDE that Zimmer prefers, has the skills to move inside in sub-packagae situations)
Jake Fisher (as a guard, where he also has experience. He's a plus athlete that's already solid in pass pro. High character, great worth ethic)
Eric Rowe (love him as a safety)
Ali Marpet (is the second-round too high for him?)

Given Spielman's record for not selecting interior offensive linemen early, my best guess is Preston Smith, Eric Rowe or (sigh) Benardrick McKinney or Paul Dawson.

I know it won't happen but right now the most talented player that I think will impact this defense the most is Mychal Kendricks. But a second-rounder is a high price to pay for a guy that might be available in free agency next March. It'd also be an uncharacteristic Rick move.

Good list!

I'm worried they will miss out on the starting-caliber guard they need if they wait until R3 but I suppose a similar concern applies to LB. I just see what looks like an awfully big hole on that OL that needs to be filled and it makes me nervous.

[dead_poet]

NFL Draft Day 2 prospects to watch for the Vikings
http://blog.startribune.com/sports/acce ... he-vikings

I'll save you the suspense.

1. Nebraska DE/OLB Randy Gregory:

2. UCLA ILB Eric Kendricks

3. Arizona State WR Jaelen Strong

4. Alabama S Landon Collins

5. Miami ILB Denzel Perryman

6. Mississippi State ILB Benardrick McKinney

7. South Carolina OG A.J. Cann

8. Oklahoma/Missouri WR Dorial Green-Beckham

9. Louisville S James Sample

10. Hobart (NY) OL Ali Marpet

Reasonings at the link. Guarantee they pick someone I don't want. Also a good chance the guy I don't want ends up being more productive than a guy I wanted.

[mondry]

I agree on the LG position, would REALLY like to see that filled in the 2nd round and I would imagine no later than the 3rd. It just depends I guess on how good they feel about some of the in house options like Yankee. Landon Collins, wasn't he the projected best safety in this draft? I'm always a fan of getting the top prospect (like Waynes) so if that's the case, a 2nd for the best safety in the draft seems solid. LB is obviously the other biggest "need" so Kendricks is the guy there? I don't know much about the day 2 guys, is gregory a DE for us or OLB?

[dead_poet]

Landon Collins, wasn't he the projected best safety in this draft?

He was on some boards. Damarious Randall was gaining steam in the last week and some also had/have Byron Jones and/or Eric Rowe close to or above Collins.

I'm always a fan of getting the top prospect (like Waynes) so if that's the case, a 2nd for the best safety in the draft seems solid.

It wouldn't bother me at this point. It'd be a good value pick. I just don't see the Vikings going CB, Safety with their top two picks. But that's just me.

LB is obviously the other biggest "need" so Kendricks is the guy there? I don't know much about the day 2 guys, is gregory a DE for us or OLB?

I doubt Kendricks lasts to us but I have to believe he's the pick if he does. Gregory would most likely be a linebacker. He's too light to be a defensive end.

[mondry]

cool, thanks for the info sir!

[Mothman]

Reasonings at the link. Guarantee they pick someone I don't want. Also a good chance the guy I don't want ends up being more productive than a guy I wanted.

LOL!

i really want them to draft a guard in R2 and I'm trying to remind myself not to be annoyed if/when they don't but man, I just want to sit Zimmer and Spielman down and make them watch a tape of every play on which Johnson was beat last year and Bridgewater ended up getting hit or a play was ruined, just as a reminder. I'm normally a BPA guy but getting a starting-caliber guard seems crucial to me. I know Zimmer loves defense and I know they could use improvement at LB but I just can't ignore the gaping hole on the left side of the o-line. They need to get better up front.