He who learns but does not think, is lost! He who thinks but does not learn is in great danger. – Confucius
Decisions … decisions.
Only one decision matters the most right?
News and Links
Kwesi’s Pre-Draft Presser – 2024 QB Class Strategy & the Stefon Diggs Trade
Justin Jefferson not at Vikings voluntary workouts and, seriously, who cares?
Minnesota Vikings 2024 NFL Draft
Vikings continuing dialogue with Justin Jefferson despite workout absence
Vikings’ offseason moves, embracing of uncertainty show commitment to building a winner
Matthew Coller: New QB should add urgency to Vikings-Jefferson contract talks
If Kirk Cousins was coming back under center, there would be no time crunch for Jefferson to get onto the field over the summer. After two years in the offense together, they could have operated it with no preparation but with Cousins in Atlanta and the quarterback on opening day set to either be Sam Darnold or Rookie QB X, the Vikings should be very anxious to have Jefferson working closely with his new quarterback.
Yore Mock
I did the annual what use to be SBNation Live Mock this past weekend. Trading up was out of the question because these dudes have been reading too many wild mock drafts and seriously believed the Vikings are going to give everything away for a maybe.
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Trades
Minnesota Receives: 2024: Round 2, Pick 36; 2024: Round 3, Pick 67
Washinton Receives: 2024: Round 1, Pick 23
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11. JJ McCarthy QB Michigan 6’2.4” 219
36. Cooper Beebe OG Kansas State 6’3.2” 322
67. Roman Wilson WR Michigan 5’10.6” 185
108. Jonah Elliss EDGE Utah 6’2.1” 248
129. Jarrian Jones CB Florida State 5’11.7” 190
157. Justin Eboige DT Alabama 6’4.3” 297
167. Malik Mustapha S Wake Forest 5’10.1” 209
177. James Williams LB Miami 6’4.2” 231
230. Cedric Johnson EDGE Ole Miss 6’3.0” 260
232. Erick All TE Iowa 6’4.3” 252
I talked to the Commandos about going up to #2 and said that he could not consider less than 11, 23, 2025 first, and 2026 first which I politely declined.
The Cards GM asked about JJ and offered 4 for 11+Justin Jefferson. I said no chance. Once he said that there was no use trying to go up to 4.
I told the Chargers I would do 11 & 23 for 5 & 69 if Maye or Daniels was there but did not hear back and it did not matter.
Here are the first 35 picks. There were some tardes in the mock and plenty of crazy player trades.
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1 : Chicago : Caleb Williams : QB : USC
2 : Washington : Jayden Daniels : QB : LSU
3 : New England : Drake Maye : QB : North Carolina
4 : Arizona : Marvin Harrison Jr. : WR : Ohio State
5 : LA Chargers : Malik Nabers : WR : LSU
6 : New York Giants : Rome Odunze : WR : Washington
7 : New Orleans : Joe Alt : OT : Notre Dame
8 : Atlanta : Jared Verse : EDGE : Florida State
9 : Las Vegas : Michael Penix Jr. : QB : Washington
10 : New York Jets : Taliese Fuaga : OT : Oregon State
11 : Minnesota : J.J. McCarthy : QB : Michigan
12 : Denver : Quinyon Mitchell : CB : Toledo
13 : Kansas City : Brian Thomas Jr. : WR : LSU
14 : Philadelphia : Brock Bowers : TE : Georgia
15 : Indianapolis : Olumuyiwa Fashanu : OT : Penn State
16 : Seattle : Jer’Zhan Newton : IDL : Illinois
17 : Jacksonville : Adonai Mitchell : WR : Texas
18 : Cincinnati : J.C. Latham : OT : Alabama
19 : Green Bay : Troy Fautanu : OG : Washington
20 : Chicago : Dallas Turner : EDGE : Alabama
21 : Arizona : Terrion Arnold : CB : Alabama
22 : Tennessee : Byron Murphy II : IDL : Texas
23 : Washington : Amarius Mims : OT : Georgia
24 : Arizona : Graham Barton : C : Duke
25 : LA Rams : Laiatu Latu : EDGE : UCLA
26 : Tampa Bay : Jackson Powers-Johnson : C : Oregon
27 : Green Bay : Cooper DeJean : CB : Iowa
28 : Buffalo : Xavier Worthy : WR : Texas
29 : Detroit : Kool-Aid McKinstry : CB : Alabama
30 : Baltimore : Nate Wiggins : CB : Clemson
31 : San Francisco : Demeioun Robinson : EDGE : Penn State
32 : Dallas : Edgerrin Cooper : LB : Texas A&M
33 : Carolina : Darius Robinson : EDGE : Missouri
34 : New England : Tyler Guyton : OT : Oklahoma
35 : Miami : T’Vondre Sweat : IDL : Texas
Obviously, after the Raiders traded up for Penix I had to take McCarthy. I still am nervous about him but not using extra picks, and t4 other QBs gone made the decision easier. But I like Bo Nix too.
Greg Cosell is a very good evaluator and has concerns too.
NFL Films’ Greg Cosell: Game Tape Says JJ McCarthy Is Not 1st Round Worthy | The Rich Eisen Show
Don’t shoot the messenger.
Beebe is probably a round too soon but I was not certain a guard would be there at 67. Probably should have taken Braden Fiske or Kris Jenkins. But Beebe is as solid as they come. He has a high floor according to most scouting reports and I have seen one comparison to Kevin Zeitler. This dude is able to play all over the line if necessary.
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The Most UNDERRATED Offensive Lineman in The 2024 NFL Draft
Beebe was the Big 12 offensive lineman of the year in 2022, and followed it up in 2023, winning that honor again, and being named a consensus All-American. The first offensive lineman in Kansas State history to earn that honor. Beebe is a great athlete, in high school he played both sides of the ball, also lining up at defensive tackle. While also playing basketball, and competing in shot put, placing 3rd in the state in 2017.
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Cooper Beebe 2024 NFL Draft Profile
2020: Played in nine games with eight starts (seven at right tackle, one at left guard).
2021: First-team All-Big 12 Conference. Started all 13 games at left tackle.
2022: Second-team Associated Press All-American. Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year. First-team All-Big 12 Conference. Started all 14 games at left guard.
2023: First-team Associated Press All-American. Big 12 Conference Offensive Lineman of the Year. First-team All-Big 12 Conference. Finalist for the Outland Trophy (given to the nation’s top interior lineman-OL/DL) and the William V. Campbell Trophy (aka, the Academic Heisman). Started all 13 games at left guard. First consensus All-American offensive lineman in school history.
Overview
Wide-bodied guard who has been a model of consistency over the last four years, dialing in a very firm brand of football. While hand placement can be a little inconsistent, Beebe is still a bulldozer in cleats who jolts smaller players and moves big ones against their will. A lack of arm length will test him in certain interior matchups in the pros, and he will need to improve his technique to bolster his block sustain. He’s slow of foot and is likely to be pigeonholed into downhill-oriented rush attacks, but that has never prevented him from doing his job in pass protection. Beebe’s experience, girth and drive-blocking talent should make him a long-time starter who can step in right away.
Sources Tell Us
“Smart, tough and strong as an ox. Might be one of the strongest guards I’ve studied in a long while.” – NFC national scout
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2024 NFL Draft: Highest-graded interior offensive linemen in every category
I really do not care about the “he is only a power run blocking” fit. The dude just gets it done and is not going to get steam rolled very often. In fact, he is the one to likely do most of the steam rolling.
Considering his versatility, you simply cannot do much better IMHO.
I’d rather get protection for the young QB over a defensive tackle.
I think WR3 is more of a need then we know and Wilson could be excellent insurance if any of the top 2 go down for a bit.
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Roman Wilson 2024 NFL Draft Profile
https://www.nfl.com/prospects/roman-wilson/32005749-4c77-7750-194f-0fd7ed86214a
Sources Tell Us
“I don’t think most people realize what he would have done in a wide-open offense like Ohio State or Washington. He’s got rare speed and you will see it more in the NFL when he’s a bigger part of the passing game.” – NFC national scout
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