American Football

Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 25 April 2024

April 25, 2024

East Carolina v Michigan — Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images

If you’re not making mistakes, then you’re not doing anything. I’m positive that a doer makes mistakes. – John Wooden

It’s Draft Day!

We are hours away of being very happy or very upset right?

I am not sure how the draft will play out. I do not think the big trade ups are going to happen. As many folks here have posted, the odds are not good that you will get a sure thing. Recent history also does not paint a good picture. See Trey Lance. I think the teams in the second and third spots rightfully want to be blown away and other teams wont do it. I think the Cardinals do not need extra picks as much as they need a sure thing. That leaves the Chargers who might trade down but maybe not to 11.

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Here is my guess with NO trades in the top 10. Teams are probably asking for too much IRL.

This is sure to not come true.

1. Chicago Caleb Williams QB USC

Duh.

2. Washington Jayden Daniels QB LSU

Despite the recent comments about the Top Golf event, I think the Commandos will be smart and take the next best QB. Trading down is not a serious option because if you have to find a QB later you are in more trouble than a little bit. I guess if they dropped down no further than 4, then they could still get a QB. BUt right now, there starter is Marcus Mariota with Jeff Driskell as his backup. Not pretty. Be smart and thae your QB.

3. New England Drake Maye QB North Carolina

The Patriots are similar to the Commandos. Their starter is Jacoby Brissett backed up by Bailey Zappe. Maybe they drop a spot or two but the risk of some other team jumping up is too much. The fact that their roster needs a lot of work is not a problem. They have 46M in effective cap space still remaining. Next year they will have the most at 124.7M. They can bring in a lot of help with that kind of money.

4. Arizona Marvin Harrison Jr. WR Ohio State

The Cardinals have picks 4, 27, 35, 66, 71, 90, & 104 already. They really do not need more picks. They need better players especially at receiver. I do not think they will trade out of the chance to get Marvin Harrison Jr. He is believed by some to be the best player in the draft. Take him and worry about the rest later.

5. LA Chargers Malik Nabers WR LSU

I do not see the Chargers passing on a stud WR. They need to get Justin Herbert a serious weapon. I think the Vikings will call again but the fact they do not have that second round pick this year or next, and that they want to keep 23, and that they do not want to trade the 2025 1st really makes the deal impossible. Trading down further ensures they miss out on Odunze too.

6. NY Giants J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan

There he goes. The dream is over for some. I think the Giants are done with Jones but cannot cut him yet. They will get 19M in cap space if he is cut or traded before June 1st next offseason. I could see a team (like the Vikings) trading for him.

7. Tennessee Joe Alt OT Notre Dame

They need a better left tackle to protect the QB the Vikings should have taken last year. Addison is aight but as the season proved, a lot of rookie receivers made solid contributions last year that were picked after the first round.

8. Atlanta Dallas Turner EDGE Alabama

The tampering Falcons need EDGE help bad. This is easy. Now that McCarty is gone, there really is no need to trade up plus they may not do it for the Vikings outof spite.

9. Chicago Rome Odunze WR Washington

Bears doing work!

10. NY Jets Taliese Fuaga OT Oregon State

I could see the Jets trading down to get more picks.

11. Minnesota ???

What to do? Take Penix or Nix? I would take Penix here but who knows. Byron Murphy would be a nice pick I suppose.

News and Links

Norse Code Podcast Episode 510: Excel Wizardry Or Whatever

Minnesota Vikings 2024 NFL Draft

Report: Vikings ‘More Likely to Keep 11 and 23 at This Point’ But Still Exploring Options

Vikings’ $20 Million Star ‘Likely’ to Be Traded on NFL Draft Night, If Ever

Kay mentioned a trade proposal Barnwell floated on April 18, which includes the No. 23 overall pick and Jefferson to the Patriots in exchange for the No. 3 selection.

Lions agree to contract extensions with St. Brown and Sewell worth combined $200M, AP source says

The Lions and wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown agreed to a four-year contract extension worth more than $120 million with $77 million in guarantees and they later came to terms with offensive tackle Penei Sewell on a four-year, $112 million deal, according to a person familiar with the situation.

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Now, after laughing at that Pats trade proposal, what do you think the prices will be for JJ and Darrisaw? JJ is going to have to get 34 or 35M. Darrisaw may not get as much as Sewell but I am guessing around 25M per year could be the floor especially with the cap going up again next year Yikes.

You cannot really suggest trading them because you might not get top dollar although I do like that trade up with the Pats. But it defeats he purpose of having that young QB and giving him the best weapons. Left tackle and receiver are what a rookie QB needs the most.

Yore Mock

The thing with mocks is that they are rarely right. I purposely do not try and predict what the team would do because I usually have no clue. I think mocks are interesting when there are no real games and, being a true draft doofus, I find them interesting during the college season as well. It helps to know which player you might want to take a look at in a game you would not otherwise watch.

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The latest from Drafttek.

1.11 J.J. McCarthy QB Michigan 6’2.4” 219

1.23 Jared Verse EDGE Florida State 6’3.7” 254

NCAA Football: ACC Football Championship-Louisville at Florida State

4.108 T’Vondre Sweat DL1T Texas 6’4.4” 366

2023 Big 12 Championship - Oklahoma State v Texas

4.129 Jermaine Burton WR Alabama 6’0.2” 196

2023 SEC Championship - Georgia v Alabama

5.157 Tanor Bortolini OC Wisconsin 6’4.2” 303

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 04 Wisconsin at Indiana

5.167 Justin Eboigbe DL5T Alabama 6’4.3” 293

6.177 Tyrone Tracy Jr. RB Purdue 5’11.1” 209

7.230 Ryan Watts CB Texas 6’2.7” 208

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 01 West Virginia at Texas

7.232 Myles Cole EDGE Texas Tech 6’6” 278

I guess some would be surprised if JJ McCarthy “dropped” to 11. Some are surprised he was considered early in the first at all. Getting him without using extra picks should make all parties happy.

Sweat falling to the fourth is unlikely but in this mock he did and the Vikings gladly pounced. It is light on the guard spot which may be a concern but Bortolini has played center mainly in 2023. In 2022, he played 411 snaps at LG, 744 at C, and 163 at RG. In 2021, he played 58 snaps at LG, 16 at RG, and 229 at RT. Who knows how they would use him but he has shown he can play in multiple spots if need be.

Looking forward to a great first night!

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