If teddy is there at #8 do you take him now?

[nightowl]

If they think he's worth a first round pick, why wait unless there's a player available at #8 who is so good they can't bear to pass him up? The idea of trading up is fine but it requires a partner, has a cost and there's no guarantee that some other team won't trade up to grab Bridgewater before the Vikes can do likewise.

I understand that everyone wants to maximize value in the draft and that's a good goal but for many years now, we Vikings fans have been focused on the team's need to settle their QB position with a good, young franchise quarterback. If they think there's a player in this draft (Bridgewater or someone else) who fits that description, I say don't screw around. Go get that quarterback. Don't try to get him at the ideal spot, just select him and move forward.

Absolutely a fair point. As I stated I wouldn't be upset if they take him at 8. If the Vikes have come to the conclusion that he's the man for them, then they should pick him at 8 and not gamble.

My line of thinking is that as much as I like Teddy I don't view him as the only QB option for the Vikings, so if they miss out on him I don't believe they're doomed. If I'm honest, even though I like him, I don't even know if he's the best QB for them. Personally, I believe they would do just as well to trade back a bit(if possible) grab a defensive player like Aaron Donald, C.J Mosley, Justin Gilbert, Calvin Pryor, Clinton Dix or Ryan Shazier. Then target the Qb they want and go get him.

I've come to the belief that the QB run is going to kick off around pick 26. Manziel will go first somewhere in the top 10, then there will be a lull before all hell breaks loose between the late first and end of 3rd.

**Edit** To further clarify. I don't think there's much if any separation between the top 5-6 Qb's. I don't believe we're looking at a class where one guy is 8, the next is a 6.5 and so on. I think it's more like a bunch of 6.6's 6.5's, & 6.4's and such. Each of them has strengths and weaknesses that could sway a team either way, but none of them are head and shoulders above the rest. Essentially this class is a QB ice cream parlor, which flavor do you like... No mix and match double scoops

[Mothman]

Absolutely a fair point. As I stated I wouldn't be upset if they take him at 8. If the Vikes have come to the conclusion that he's the man for them, then they should pick him at 8 and not gamble.

My line of thinking is that as much as I like Teddy I don't view him as the only QB option for the Vikings, so if they miss out on him I don't believe they're doomed. If I'm honest, even though I like him, I don't even know if he's the best QB for them. Personally, I believe they would do just as well to trade back a bit(if possible) grab a defensive player like Aaron Donald, C.J Mosley, Justin Gilbert, Calvin Pryor, Clinton Dix or Ryan Shazier. Then target the Qb they want and go get him.

I've come to the belief that the QB run is going to kick off around pick 26. Manziel will go first somewhere in the top 10, then there will be a lull before all hell breaks loose between the late first and end of 3rd.

**Edit** To further clarify. I don't think there's much if any separation between the top 5-6 Qb's. I don't believe we're looking at a class where one guy is 8, the next is a 6.5 and so on. I think it's more like a bunch of 6.6's 6.5's, & 6.4's and such. Each of them has strengths and weaknesses that could sway a team either way, but none of them are head and shoulders above the rest. Essentially this class is a QB ice cream parlor, which flavor do you like... No mix and match double scoops

I don't really disagree with any of that, although I we may see more than one QB go in the top 10. To borrow your analogy, I'm hoping the Vikes, after months of evaluation, have decided which flavor of ice cream they want and will go get it. It may be true that none of these QBs stand out head and shoulders above the rest when just analyzing them but the Vikings should have a solid idea of what they intend to do, what qualities they're looking for in a QB, etc. as well as a solid idea of who is the best fit for them. I want them to draft that guy.

I definitely don't view Bridgewater as the only QB option for the Vikes and honestly, I can't figure out who is their best option. I'm eager to see what they think though!

PS.) I wish you had time to post more often. I always enjoy reading your take on things.

[nightowl]

PS.) I wish you had time to post more often. I always enjoy reading your take on things.

Thanks, I try to put a lot of thought into my posts.. hence why I end up editing them about a half a dozen times.
I just don't really have a lot to say all that often. I'm most often lurking keeping tabs on the conversation.

Side note: I locked myself out a few minutes ago and in the process of resetting my Password, realized it's been 10 1/2 Years since I signed up here! What the crap... feel old now.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Meanwhile, draft "guru" Dane Brugler has Bridgewater as the top player in the draft:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-nfl-d ... --nfl.html

As big as Bridgewater supporter as I am, I cannot agree with that sentiment. I believe that the top five players in the draft are Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack, Mike Evans, and Greg Robinson. Bridgewater is about 7th on the board for me in terms of overall talent. He, however, is by far the best quarterback in the draft.

[oldskoolvikingfan]

I see take a qb (after two qb in top 7) as a sop (Obviously if it wasn't the first target)
If i was gm i'd take a Best D. Player Aviable, but i believe in Spielman, Zimmer and Turner and i accept anyone.
Walter it's crazy

If we go Best Defensive Player at #8 the question is who will be there? C.J. Mosley, Anthony Barr, Justin Gilbert, Dennard, Clinton Dix, Aaron Donald??? All of these guys could be considered a reach at #8. I feel like once it is our turn to pick, there will be no players that other teams might want to trade up for (e.g. Mike Evans, Greg Robinson) and that we will be forced to either go with a QB in Teddy, Bortles, Carr, Manziel or one of the defense players that I mentioned earlier. Right now im hoping that somehow Evans is there at #8 and a team like St. Louis at 13 or the Jets at 18 wants to move up and then we can get a QB or Best Defensive player available. For me this is one of the most exciting drafts that we have had in a long time!

[Mothman]

Thanks, I try to put a lot of thought into my posts.. hence why I end up editing them about a half a dozen times.

LOL! I do the same thing.

I just don't really have a lot to say all that often. I'm most often lurking keeping tabs on the conversation.

Side note: I locked myself out a few minutes ago and in the process of resetting my Password, realized it's been 10 1/2 Years since I signed up here! What the crap... feel old now.

It's a startling realization, isn't it?

[Mothman]

As big as Bridgewater supporter as I am, I cannot agree with that sentiment. I believe that the top five players in the draft are Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack, Mike Evans, and Greg Robinson. Bridgewater is about 7th on the board for me in terms of overall talent. He, however, is by far the best quarterback in the draft.

I suspect his position weighed into where Brugler ranked him.

If we go Best Defensive Player at #8 the question is who will be there? C.J. Mosley, Anthony Barr, Justin Gilbert, Dennard, Clinton Dix, Aaron Donald??? All of these guys could be considered a reach at #8.

... or none of them could. That's another way to look at it.

Seriously, what constitutes a "reach" when players are separated by what, 5, 10 or 15 spots? That's nothing, especially when all rankings are subjective and can't take into account a player's value/fit to a particular team. Once you get past the few clearly elite players in any draft, most players essentially fall into groups. For example, there's an "almost certain to go in the upper 2/3 of the first round" group, a "will probably be selected in the late first or during the second round group", a "could fall into the third but won't slip much farther" group, etc.

I feel like once it is our turn to pick, there will be no players that other teams might want to trade up for (e.g. Mike Evans, Greg Robinson) and that we will be forced to either go with a QB in Teddy, Bortles, Carr, Manziel or one of the defense players that I mentioned earlier.

Wouldn't that be fine? They're all good prospects and being "forced" to go with a QB might not be a bad thing. The Vikings may actually want to go with a QB anyway.

Right now im hoping that somehow Evans is there at #8 and a team like St. Louis at 13 or the Jets at 18 wants to move up and then we can get a QB or Best Defensive player available. For me this is one of the most exciting drafts that we have had in a long time!

It's very intriguing and just to be clear, I'm not trying to be argumentative above, just attempting to provide another way to look at things.

[headless_norseman]

As big as Bridgewater supporter as I am, I cannot agree with that sentiment. I believe that the top five players in the draft are Jadeveon Clowney, Sammy Watkins, Khalil Mack, Mike Evans, and Greg Robinson. Bridgewater is about 7th on the board for me in terms of overall talent. He, however, is by far the best quarterback in the draft.

That's why he had such a good pro day.


Go Hawks!

[S197]

Meanwhile, draft "guru" Dane Brugler has Bridgewater as the top player in the draft:

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/2014-nfl-d ... --nfl.html

Gilbert waaay down there at #47.

[PurpleKoolaid]

That's why he had such a good pro day.


Go Hawks!

Your basing his quality as a QB based on one day? Have you watched any of his games? Or his one on ones? Check him out on ESPN and NFL when they have him highlighted. And on draft day when hes the first QB picked (hopefully by us) despite what all these experts have been saying about JFB, Bortles, Carr etc. He handles pressure well. He makes his reads fast. He is football smart enough not to lose the game for us. Do you expect us to luck out on a qb further down in the draft or one next year.

[Loki]

I would be fine with Bridgewater at 8 assuming that Clowney, Mack and Manziel are all gone. Ideally I'd be more comfortable with taking advantage of his low perceived value and trading down and adding a few more picks and taking Teddy middle of the first round, Although if they see him as our franchise QB I have no problem with them grabbing him at 8.

I want to point out a few knocks on Bridgewater that have few if any basis to them:

1. Too small - He is the same height as Aaron Rodgers, Joe Montana and Steve Young. He weighs more than Johnny Manziel, Doug Flutie, Russell Wilson and a few lbs less than Vick, RG3, Kurt Warner and other successful QBs. Yes some of these QB's have had Injury problems, but those same QB's run WAY more than Bridgewater ever will.

2. Weak Arm - Some people have tried to make the case that Bridewater has a weak arm. Teddy throws the ball 54 MPH. "Strong Arm" Flacco throws 55MPH, Bortles 56 MPH, Russell Wilson 55MPH, Andy Dalton 56MPH, Cam Newton 56MPH. I've also noticed from watching tape that on shorter throws Teddy seems to have more zip on the ball than Bortles who tends to ease up and not put his full arm strength behind passes. Sports Science had this to say about Teddy's arm "Bridgewater excelled in our arm strength test, with an angular velocity of 2200 of 2,200 degrees + /seconds Bridgewater hits 54 MPH, the fastest throw we recorded this year. This strong arm means that compared to a more typical 48 MPH throw on a 20 yard pass; Bridgewater's pass would arrive about .10 seconds sooner. Against a DB running at top speed that translates to a target window a entire yard larger."

3. Small Hands - If Bridgewaters hands are too small than so are Bortles since his is 1/8th of a inch bigger. Get a ruler out and see how small that is if you want to get caught up in his hand size. For another comparision Mike Vicks hand size was 8.5 inches which is over a 1/2 inch smaller. The only problem I have with his small hands is that he doesn't wear his gloves in bad weather games, which could actually be a fairly serious problem for playoff games.

4. Not accurate - This became a knock only after the pro-day, before it was being touted as one of his great strengths. Peyton Manning didn't have a great pro day either, one of the reasons Leaf was taken ahead of him. So trust me go with game tape over pro day. While I will say that he struggles with deep Passes, he mostly overthrows them so either his guy gets there or its incomplete. I would much rather have this than consistent underthrows, like bortles, that will be picked in the NFL. Also Teddy completed a higher percentage of 20+ passes than Carr who is praised for his strong arm and deep passes. Outside of deep throws Teddy excels though completing 71% of all passes. This is more impressive when you know he threw the fewest percentage of screens out of the top 4 QB's in the draft. He has the highest completion percentage of the top four QB's from 1-5 yards and 5-10 yards and comes in second from 10-20. He also has the highest completion percentage when blitzed and second highest when under pressure.

5. Not the Face of a Franchise - Frankly this wreaks to me of racism. I don't think they are deliberately being racist but it seems like it definitely has a part in it. Teddy is a quiet guy so he won't necessarily get fans excited by interviews and such, but he conducts himself exactly how you want you're franchise QB to act. He doesn't get in trouble off the field, he mastered a pro style offense and even called his line protection (something many college QB's don't do), and he was beloved by his fan base at Louisville. I've seen too many redskins fans complaining about how egotistical RG3 is and how they want him to just shut up and play football. Teddy is the exact opposite he's not gonna be big news off the field, he'll just stay quiet and work hard. Some people will try to equate Teddy being quiet with him not having enough "Fire" Just watch him will his team to victory against Cincinnati as proof that he has that "fire" when he steps on the field.

[frosted]

Ryan Leaf wasn't drafted before Peyton Manning

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

[Funkytown]

Ryan Leaf wasn't drafted before Peyton Manning

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2

Yeah, but otherwise, great post, Loki. Thanks for that!

[VikingsBoss]

I say no, not because I think Bridgewater can't be a quality NFL QB, but because I doubt how well he fits into Norv Turner's system and what Norv wants to do. Turner has traditionally favored bigger QBs with more vertical passing ability (one reason I think Cassel may very well thrive in this offense). Bridgewater's listed at 214...which I think is being a bit generous, and is more of a West Coast QB in my opinion. Good quick decisions and accurate throws. Manziel doesn't fit either, 5'11", 205lbs. and while is arm is better than Bridgewater's, I don't think it is equal to Bortles, Carr, Mettenberger or Savage. Add to that, I don't recall many times when Troy Aikman, Brad Johnson or Philip Rivers rolled left, ran back right, twisted back to the left and heaved a ball downfield into triple coverage only to be bailed out by his receiver. I have seen NFL QBs do that, minus the last part, 9 times out of 10 that ball is picked or knocked down. Plus, Turner's definitely going to want his QB to be a skilled passer in the pocket, anybody who saw LSU contain Manziel...and the end result...knows he has a long road to become a pocket QB.
If, and it's a big if, the Vikings were to take any QB at #8, it'd be Bortles...6'5", 230 with a better arm than Bridgewater and Manziel. He's still not a guy I would take at #8 though, the value on these QBs is mid-to-late first round. Bridgewater is my 14th best prospect and #1 QB, but that doesn't take into account the fit for the system. If you take that into account I think Bortles or Carr would be the Vikings best option, and I wouldn't take one of them before #20.
If the Vikings stay at #8, I go Best Player Available, which would probably be a guy like Barr, Mosley or Gilbert on the Vikings board. If a guy like Mack, Watkins or Evans slips, I'd take any of them in a heartbeat...you can never have too many playmaking WRs or dominant pass rushers. But, even with any of the three I mentioned previously, I think our defense makes a big stride right away. QB can wait until Day 2 or 3, there's lots of value in this Draft, guys who are potential starters can be had into the 4th or 5th round, and I think Cassel will be better than okay in 2014.

[PurpleKoolaid]

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