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I'd like to post how much I love the three + days of what we did (3 days of draft plus UDFA) but like a lot of people, came away somewhat underwhelmed. Its not that I think those guys suck or have no chance to be anything, but I thought there were clearly a couple picks we could have come away with more impressive guys than who we ended up selecting.
1) The RB thing obviously will be the story from the weekend and will probably continue to be one on throughout the offseason & preseason etc etc until they make a move. Especially now that its rumored Joseph Randle is going to get suspended for up to 6 games. I think the final tally was nearly 20 RB's drafted in the 3 days, and not one was by us. The Adrian Peterson speculation is probably going to dominate the remainder of the offseason and possibly right up to the trade deadline. Then you have Cris Carter fanning the flames a little by announcing he is fairly certain Peterson is going to be traded and citing sources within the Vikes organization. CC doesn't seem like a guy that's full of shit and I'm sure he does have some pretty credible sources in Minny. Of course that doesn't mean he'll be traded here, could be any number of places.
2) This draft, especially in the short term will be all about he first two picks. Both guys were highly rated on our board (per reports) and both guys help address major areas of concern. Sounds like they intend to start Jones at CB and go from there, but he might be better eventually at FS. If Gregory keeps himself straight getting him where we did is probably grand larceny type steal territory. Along with Hardy, Lawrence and Crawford, we now have several guys who can get in the backfield and disrupt QB's. Hard to argue against picking Jones and even though Gregory is a substantial risk at #60, you almost have to take him there considering what our biggest issues are defensively. (impotent pass rush)
3) I was surprised we passed on the RB's at the end of round three, but I do think Chaz Green will serve a valuable role and be an improvement over the doormats that are Hills, Hawkins and Weems. None of those should be on this roster. Still, had I been drafting I think I would have went for CB Steve Nelson (he went 98th), RB Javorious Allen or maybe even QB Bryce Petty and tried to get Green a little later.
4) I don't hate the LB we picked in the 4th, we obviously have some issues there. None of those free agent guys we signed are all that exciting and McClain & lee cant be trusted to be out there for 16 games. In fact for both its possible this could be their last years here. But I definitely think Grady Jarrett or Rashad Green would have been better picks.
5) This Lael Collins thing could be interesting if he is cleared. Supposedly we are 1 of 3 teams very interested in signing him. He could probably win the starting LG job this yr and maybe swing to RT next season, or maybe he stays at LG and gives us one of the best interior OL's in recent memory. He is a really strong run blocker and would improve an already outstanding OL. ith an OL of T Smith, Collins, Frederick, Martin and Free we probably could turn guys like Randle or Ryan Williams into big time producers.
6) I'm not much for assigning grades (or any real credibility into them) on drafts until at least a couple yrs in, but if I graded this one today I'd say C or C-. If Jones and Gregory are hits, its a potential coup and could have a huge impact on our 2015 chances to advance further in the postseason though.
The last 4 picks we made were not exciting at all. I do think that 7th pick Gibson is a nice developmental OL and at least he has some upside instead of those hanger on-ers like Weems. Some hate the idea of trading back into the 7th to grab that TE prospect, but by all accounts he is a strong run blocker and if so, there's a role for him here. I don't know anything about the LB from Wyoming but it sounds like the practice squad is his best case scenario, and I believe I read he is an older than normal rookie as well. Not sure that warrants wasting a pick on. DE Ryan Russell seems to have a lot of positive traits from a physical stand point, but the production hasn't really been there. Looks like he is going to be challenging Ben Gardner (7th rd pick last yr, missed entire season) for the last DE spot perhaps.
I really wanted one of those top RB's though, hopefully passing on them doesn't come back to bite us in the ass. I also thought we should have maybe spent another pick on the CB position.
1) The RB thing obviously will be the story from the weekend and will probably continue to be one on throughout the offseason & preseason etc etc until they make a move. Especially now that its rumored Joseph Randle is going to get suspended for up to 6 games. I think the final tally was nearly 20 RB's drafted in the 3 days, and not one was by us. The Adrian Peterson speculation is probably going to dominate the remainder of the offseason and possibly right up to the trade deadline. Then you have Cris Carter fanning the flames a little by announcing he is fairly certain Peterson is going to be traded and citing sources within the Vikes organization. CC doesn't seem like a guy that's full of shit and I'm sure he does have some pretty credible sources in Minny. Of course that doesn't mean he'll be traded here, could be any number of places.
2) This draft, especially in the short term will be all about he first two picks. Both guys were highly rated on our board (per reports) and both guys help address major areas of concern. Sounds like they intend to start Jones at CB and go from there, but he might be better eventually at FS. If Gregory keeps himself straight getting him where we did is probably grand larceny type steal territory. Along with Hardy, Lawrence and Crawford, we now have several guys who can get in the backfield and disrupt QB's. Hard to argue against picking Jones and even though Gregory is a substantial risk at #60, you almost have to take him there considering what our biggest issues are defensively. (impotent pass rush)
3) I was surprised we passed on the RB's at the end of round three, but I do think Chaz Green will serve a valuable role and be an improvement over the doormats that are Hills, Hawkins and Weems. None of those should be on this roster. Still, had I been drafting I think I would have went for CB Steve Nelson (he went 98th), RB Javorious Allen or maybe even QB Bryce Petty and tried to get Green a little later.
4) I don't hate the LB we picked in the 4th, we obviously have some issues there. None of those free agent guys we signed are all that exciting and McClain & lee cant be trusted to be out there for 16 games. In fact for both its possible this could be their last years here. But I definitely think Grady Jarrett or Rashad Green would have been better picks.
5) This Lael Collins thing could be interesting if he is cleared. Supposedly we are 1 of 3 teams very interested in signing him. He could probably win the starting LG job this yr and maybe swing to RT next season, or maybe he stays at LG and gives us one of the best interior OL's in recent memory. He is a really strong run blocker and would improve an already outstanding OL. ith an OL of T Smith, Collins, Frederick, Martin and Free we probably could turn guys like Randle or Ryan Williams into big time producers.
6) I'm not much for assigning grades (or any real credibility into them) on drafts until at least a couple yrs in, but if I graded this one today I'd say C or C-. If Jones and Gregory are hits, its a potential coup and could have a huge impact on our 2015 chances to advance further in the postseason though.
The last 4 picks we made were not exciting at all. I do think that 7th pick Gibson is a nice developmental OL and at least he has some upside instead of those hanger on-ers like Weems. Some hate the idea of trading back into the 7th to grab that TE prospect, but by all accounts he is a strong run blocker and if so, there's a role for him here. I don't know anything about the LB from Wyoming but it sounds like the practice squad is his best case scenario, and I believe I read he is an older than normal rookie as well. Not sure that warrants wasting a pick on. DE Ryan Russell seems to have a lot of positive traits from a physical stand point, but the production hasn't really been there. Looks like he is going to be challenging Ben Gardner (7th rd pick last yr, missed entire season) for the last DE spot perhaps.
I really wanted one of those top RB's though, hopefully passing on them doesn't come back to bite us in the ass. I also thought we should have maybe spent another pick on the CB position.
