Official 2010 Vikings Draft Thread

[TheLoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Grover M

I'm with ya.

I think this team has so many needs that I wouldn't be surprised if they traded down this year to get more picks. Someone is going to want the #30 to select either Tebow or McCoy. After those two are gone, the QB crop drops off considerably. And I am one who thinks that Tebow shouldn't even be on that list.

I wouldn't mind trading down at all depending on who is left at 30.I would hope we get an early 2nd round pick out of it so we could still have a shot at a guy like Devin McCourty/Kareem Jackson or Patrick Robinson

And i would not be shocked at all if the Vikes took Tebow.I think Chilly might be in love with him.Depends on how Spielman and Studwell like him.We have more pressing needs for sure but if Tebow was the pick i wouldnt be that upset like most Viking fans would be

And if you wanted to go Linebacker in Round 1,why not take Weatherspoon? Obviously McClain is the best LB in the draft but this way you keep your picks and still get a nice player

[Grover M]

Originally Posted by TheLoneWolf

I wouldn't mind trading down at all depending on who is left at 30.I would hope we get an early 2nd round pick out of it so we could still have a shot at a guy like Devin McCourty/Kareem Jackson or Patrick Robinson

And i would not be shocked at all if the Vikes took Tebow.I think Chilly might be in love with him.Depends on how Spielman and Studwell like him.We have more pressing needs for sure but if Tebow was the pick i wouldnt be that upset like most Viking fans would be

And if you wanted to go Linebacker in Round 1,why not take Weatherspoon? Obviously McClain is the best LB in the draft but this way you keep your picks and still get a nice player

I think the Tebow interest is all smoke. Anyway, I hope that is the case. If we are going to spend a 1st round pick on a quarterback, I'd rather have Colt McCoy or Jimmy Clausen.

[TheLoneWolf]

Originally Posted by Grover M

I think the Tebow interest is all smoke. Anyway, I hope that is the case. If we are going to spend a 1st round pick on a quarterback, I'd rather have Colt McCoy or Jimmy Clausen.

Clausen would be fine with me.Don't really have an opinion on him either way but i think he can become a good NFL Quarterback.Hope he turns out better then his brothers did

[LEvine]

Originally Posted by TheLoneWolf

And if you wanted to go Linebacker in Round 1,why not take Weatherspoon? Obviously McClain is the best LB in the draft but this way you keep your picks and still get a nice player

Because Weatherspoon seems to be moving up a lot of boards and it sounds like he could possibly go in the 15-20 range, and if we're going to trade up, I'd rather get McClain.

Now if McClain goes early and Weatherspoon falls to our pick, I"d have no problem drafting him - or even doing a small trade up.

[LEvine]

The LB I'll be ****ed if we draft in any round is Brandon Spikes.

We don't need more slow, unathletic LBers on this team.

[TheLoneWolf]

Originally Posted by LEvine

The LB I'll be ****ed if we draft in any round is Brandon Spikes.

We don't need more slow, unathletic LBers on this team.

Agree on both posts.Weatherspoon probably will be long gone by then.

looking at nfldraftcountdown,Spikes' 40 time is 5.00.Yikes.Seems like a stiff too

[LEvine]

Originally Posted by TheLoneWolf

looking at nfldraftcountdown,Spikes' 40 time is 5.00.Yikes.Seems like a stiff too

Yup. Ran a 5.01 at his Pro Day. And showed off a 29" vertical....

[Wolf on the Prowl]

As far as the ROY awards to LBers how many of them play in the 3-4 vs the 4-3? Not an argument just curious to know it seems like most of those guys like Ryan and Mathews played in a 3-4 which is designed for LBers to get monster numbers. The 4-3 type LBers dont always get the press 3-4 guys do.

[LEvine]

Looks like its pretty even between the two. But I disagree that 3-4 LBers are in a better position. Sure, the guys who are basically DEs and rush the passer on every snap can have an edge on sacks, but stud LB is going to impact anywhere - guys like Willis, Urlacher, Brooks, etc. I don't want a 15 sack LB, I want a guy who is going to get 100+ tackles, and something like 5 or 6 sacks, but is a terror in coverage as well.

ROYs:

4-3: Cushing, Willis, Ryans, Vilma, Urlacher.

3-4: Mayo, Suggs, Merriman, Bell.

Linebackers have won half of all the Defensive ROTY awards (21 out of 42).

I think its because LB is a playmaking position where you can make an immediate impact. It's very rare for a DE to be a stud as a rookie (an amazing amount of 1st round DEs bust as well). Its even harder to dominate early from DT. Same goes for secondary players - very few make an immediate impact, but every year you see a handful of rookies absolutely excel at LB.

[Wolf on the Prowl]

Doesn't Houston play in a 3-4?

I just wanted to make a clarification on my part. When I said I would like Spikes from Florida it is not as a guy in the first two rounds. I would take him in the 3rd or 4th. He just reminds me of a guy like Zach Thomas who does not have the ideal measurement but just gets the job done. His 40 time was not good but he seems to know the game and have a desire to be a good player. That is why I think in the long term he will be a steal if taken after round 2.

[LEvine]

Originally Posted by Wolf on the Prowl

Doesn't Houston play in a 3-4?

I think they've experimented with it of late, but not when Ryans was a rookie.

I just wanted to make a clarification on my part. When I said I would like Spikes from Florida it is not as a guy in the first two rounds. I would take him in the 3rd or 4th. He just reminds me of a guy like Zach Thomas who does not have the ideal measurement but just gets the job done. His 40 time was not good but he seems to know the game and have a desire to be a good player. That is why I think in the long term he will be a steal if taken after round 2.

I think he might be a decent player in the right system with the right guys around him, but the Vikings have to get away from that type of player. EJ, Leber, Brinkley, Erin Henderson, etc. At some point we need guys with speed who can cover at the the middle level of our defense - not just guys who are best "running downhill".

The NFL has become so much more of a passing league that there is less and less of a place for "2 down" linebackers.

[Grover M]

I'd rather have Sean Lee of Penn State than Spikes. Second round choice, maybe?

[Wolf on the Prowl]

I think the Vikings are in a good position because they need several positions but they don't need any starters for the most part. They need depth for sure and players that will be called on to play and possibly start at some point. They are not being forced to make sure they draft instant starters that would simply be an added bonus. I really cant argue with this team drafting any position I do have some problems with some if we trade up for them or take guys that fit a mold I dont like (Patrick Robinson CB FSU). That being said this team does need to get some players who can contribute from Day 1 because the team did very little in free agency.

I have no problem with this team getting a CB, S, LBer, G, RB, even a DT would be great. I think the more the player can make a difference on special teams will also be an added bonus.

[Wolf on the Prowl]

I can't imagine Lee still being around when the Vikings select in round 2. Some teams have talked about him in late round 1.

[Grover M]

Originally Posted by Wolf on the Prowl

I think the Vikings are in a good position because they need several positions but they don't need any starters for the most part. They need depth for sure and players that will be called on to play and possibly start at some point. They are not being forced to make sure they draft instant starters that would simply be an added bonus. I really cant argue with this team drafting any position I do have some problems with some if we trade up for them or take guys that fit a mold I dont like (Patrick Robinson CB FSU). That being said this team does need to get some players who can contribute from Day 1 because the team did very little in free agency.

I have no problem with this team getting a CB, S, LBer, G, RB, even a DT would be great. I think the more the player can make a difference on special teams will also be an added bonus.

The defense needs young linebackers and our secondary is looking tattered. Those 2 positions are where I see round 1 and 2 going.

[LEvine]

Originally Posted by Grover M

The defense needs young linebackers and our secondary is looking tattered. Those 2 positions are where I see round 1 and 2 going.

Absolutely agree. I already commented on LB, but our secondarykind of scares the crap out of me.

• Griffin is coming off a very late season ACL.
• Winfield is aging and showing a propensity to get dinged.
• Allen didn't play nearly enough to show us what he can or can not.
• Sapp is a solid, but unspectacular nickle.
  
• Johnson looked to be showing signs of improvement late, but he's still a huge question mark.
• Williams gets hurt a lot and regressed a ton last year from the year before.
• Sanford is very untested.

[Wolf on the Prowl]

The secondary will not change as far as starters as long as Griffith is healthy and supposedly he is ahead of schedule and will be ready for training camp. Winfield is getting older for sure which is why some good young talent is a need...that being said chances are we wont be drafting a starter.

LBer again the depth is the issue and though another cover LBer is a need wont argue it has only become a need sense Henderson's injury. Leber struggled at the end of last year but much of that was due to him having to play more in nickle coverage because Brinkley is a true middle linebacker. Supposedly the Vikings really like a OLB out of Clemson or Georgia cant think of which one who is a bit undersized but is a great cover guy. He would be a good fit with a mid round pick.

DT to me is another question mark. We are solid with Evans and Kennedy backing up the two Williams's but what if Kevin and Pat are suspended? Also Pat Williams may retire after the season this draft is loaded with DT's they may look to get a gut to groom this year so they have some experience ready if he does retire.

[TheLoneWolf]

I'm not really a fan of the DT's that will probably be around at 30.Like a Jared Odrick,Brian Price and possibly Dan Williams

I just saw some mock have us taking a OL from Indiana in round 1 when Mike Iupati goes the pick after us.I would think if Iupati is there at 30 it will be an easy pick for the Vikes.


Oh and i'd love to get Nate Allen in round 2 but i think he goes early 2nd round

[Wolf on the Prowl]

Nate Allen would be a terrific second rounder but like you said he is likely to be gone unless their is a run at another position. You would think we will see several DE, DT, and OT go early on which should push some players down. The questions is how far down do they go.

The draft experts think this is one of the deepest drafts in years especially the talent in the 2nd and 3rd rounds is much better than usual. I think Mike Mayock said yesterday he has more first round grades this year than he has in the last decade. He just doesnt have those high first round grades.

[TheLoneWolf]

Anyone going to be around Thurs night? I'll probably miss part of it but hopefully make it back home before the Vikes pick.

I'm guessing if someone like a Mike Iupati or Maurkice Pouncey is there at 30,we would take them with our first round pick..Most likely both will be gone by 30.I think if Minnesota was targeting someone like Kareem Jackson/Devin McCourty or Patrick Robinson i would think they could trade down a few spots and pick up and extra pick and still have some of those corners available