In this episode of ‘Two Old Bloggers’, Darren Campbell and Dave Stefano discuss the Minnesota Vikings’ decisions in the post-2024 NFL Draft. They analyze the selection of J.J. McCarthy, Dallas Turner, and the day three draft picks. They also evaluate the potential of undrafted rookie free agents and speculate on the team’s future strategies. Tune in for an insightful discussion on the future of the Vikings. SKOL!
Dave and Darren, better known as the “Two Old Bloggers,” recently shared their thoughts on the Minnesota Vikings’ latest draft picks. With over two decades of experience commenting on the Vikings, these seasoned bloggers have become a reliable source of analysis and commentary for fans. In their latest podcast episode, the duo guided listeners through an exciting weekend of selections and signings, offering insights and reactions to the Vikings’ draft strategy.
Day 1: A Grand Start
The first day of the draft was met with enthusiasm and positivity from the two bloggers. Darren expressed his approval of the Vikings’ choices, stating, “I really like what the Vikings did on day one.” For him, the highlight of the day was the selection of their new quarterback, J. J. McCarthy, and the best part was that the Vikings managed to secure him without having to give up their number 23 overall pick, or their 2025 first-round pick.
Darren was effusive in his praise, “You get your quarterback of the future,” he noted, adding that the team also acquired the best edge rusher in the draft, Dallas Turner. Despite having to move up to secure Turner, Darren believes it was a move worth making. “I think that’s a pretty good day one overall,” Darren concluded, setting an optimistic tone for the rest of the draft.
McCarthy and Turner: The Star Picks
Both bloggers shared high praise for the Vikings’ picks. Darren was particularly impressed with McCarthy’s mobility, leadership, and ability to make plays on third down. He emphasized McCarthy’s youth as a significant advantage, allowing plenty of room for growth and development in the coming years.
Dave was equally positive about the selection of McCarthy. “My favorite quarterback in the draft was J. J. McCarthy. I wanted J. J. McCarthy,” he confessed. He was impressed by McCarthy’s leadership skills and the ‘it’ factor, which he believes is crucial for a successful quarterback. “He knows how to win,” Dave stated, expressing confidence in McCarthy’s potential to lead the team to victories.
Dallas Turner, hailed as the best edge rusher of the draft, was another major topic of discussion. Darren was thrilled that Turner is now a Viking, even though the team had to give up a substantial amount of draft capital to secure him. “To get him at 17, where we did, is great, great value,” said Darren. He praised Turner’s speed, strength, and productivity during his time at Alabama. “So to get him where we did, fantastic,” he added.
Dave also voiced his support for the aggressive move to acquire Turner. “Those were aggressive moves they made… I like this approach because we haven’t taken it,” he said. Echoing Darren’s sentiments, Dave expressed his belief that both McCarthy and Turner are going to be foundational pieces for the Vikings for the next decade.
A Bright Future for the Vikings
The bloggers’ summary of day one of the draft was overwhelmingly positive. Darren was clearly pleased with the team’s decisions, stating, “My final, final opinion on day one, what the Vikings did… I am quite happy with who we selected.”
Dave also looked ahead optimistically, stating, “I think our Super Bowl competing window opens fully in 2025… Everything’s going to look bright and rosy and fun.” He believes the team will not only be competitive this year but will also significantly enhance their chances of competing for the Super Bowl in the near future.
The Two Old Bloggers’ detailed analysis and reaction to the Vikings’ draft picks have sparked optimism and excitement amongst Vikings’ fans. Their positive outlook suggests that the team’s decisions during the draft have set them on a promising path for success in the upcoming seasons.
Day 3 Round 4: The Mixed Bag
The conversation kicked off with Darren expressing his mixed feelings about the third day of the draft. He acknowledged his anticipation for the day, given that the Vikings had remained relatively inactive during Day 2. “Day three, of course, day two, the Vikings just sat and kicked their feet up and didn’t do anything because they didn’t have any picks and they didn’t make any trades to get picks,” he explained.
However, the selection of Khyree Jackson in the fourth round was a high point for Darren. He said, “[The] fourth-round pick, Khyree Jackson, I did like this pick.” He went on to highlight Jackson’s unique size for a cornerback and his ability to contest catches, which he believes will add significant value to the team.
Controversial Day 3 Picks: Questioning the Strategy
Darren pointed out some concerns regarding the Day 3 picks, particularly the selection of placekicker Will Reichard from Alabama. He questioned the strategy of using a draft pick for a placekicker, especially in the later rounds of the draft. “I like all of that. I just don’t like using a draft pick, even if it’s a day three, late day three, in order to do that,” he remarked, expressing his dissatisfaction.
Dave, on the other hand, brought a different perspective to the conversation. He shared his optimism for Reichard, highlighting the player’s dedication and focus. “I’m hoping this kid, because we drafted him, to me goes beyond any analytic approach from the analytics GM, because we drafted him, I’m hoping that’s what we get,” Dave mused.
The Final Picks: An Unexpected Surprise
The final pick of the draft, Levi Drake Rodriguez, was a surprise to Darren. However, he acknowledged the player’s relentless pass rush and noted that Pro Football Focus had ranked him as the best pass rusher at the FCS level. Darren admitted, “I’ll admit I’d never heard of the guy when he was selected, um, but, um, but hey, the guy had self-made player, uh, tremendous work ethic, um, fantastic human being apparently.”
Looking Forward: The Future of the Vikings
Despite the mixed reactions to the draft picks, both Darren and Dave agreed that the success of these new players would ultimately be determined on the field. “You’re throwing a lot of darts at this point. Sometimes you’ve got a blindfold on when you’re throwing them,” Darren conceded.
Vikings’ Bold Move: A Surge of Signings
Dave started the conversation with a note of excitement, highlighting the number of UDFAs that the Vikings had on their radar. “Un-Drafted Free Agents. And all that were signed, and boy, did we sign a lot,” he exclaimed, setting the tone for a thorough discussion on the prospects of these players.
Standout Players: Murphy and McGlothern
Darren echoed Dave’s enthusiasm and went a step further, identifying two players among the UDFAs who caught his attention. “The two big ones that I like were Gabriel Murphy from UCLA and Dwight McGlothern, the cornerback from Arkansas,” Darren shared.
Gabriel Murphy, who had been brought in for a top-30 evaluation, had an impressive record of eight sacks last year at UCLA. Despite concerns over his relatively short arms – a potential disadvantage for an edge rusher – Darren was optimistic about Murphy’s potential to contribute to the team. “To get a guy who had that production, particularly last year at UCLA as an undrafted rookie free agent, I’m all in,” he affirmed.
Dwight McGlothern, a former player for Arkansas and LSU, also garnered Darren’s praise. With over two years of starting experience in the SEC, widely considered the top conference in college football, McGlothern brings a wealth of experience and proven skill to the Vikings. Darren underscored the importance of this acquisition, stating, “A guy who was a starter multiple years at the SEC level, at corner as a position where we needed to add some competition to the cornerback room.”
Reality Check: The Chances of UDFAs
While the hosts were upbeat about the Vikings’ moves, they also offered a dose of realism. Darren reminded listeners that UDFAs, while potentially valuable, often face an uphill battle to secure a permanent spot on the roster. “Most UDFAs are busts. That’s why they’re UDFAs,” he pointed out, indicating that many of these players might end up on the practice squad.
Dave concurred, adding that UDFAs, though they may not all become star players, play a crucial role in filling out the 90-man roster. “You gotta fill a 90-man roster, and they’re the ones that fill in those gaps,” he noted.
A Late Signing for Risner?
The recent episode of a Vikings-focused podcast, hosted by Dave and Darren, brought up some intriguing points about the team’s future. One of the main topics was the potential return of Risner. According to Darren, there’s a possibility that the Vikings might bring him back for the forthcoming season. He stated, “It’s possible that the Vikings bring him back. And, um, he’s just a late signing like he was last year.” However, the hosts agreed that Reisner’s return would likely be contingent on the team’s depth at the guard position, which Darren noted was currently “not all that great.”
The 2024 Draft: Surprises and Predictions
The conversation then steered towards the 2024 draft, with Darren expressing his surprise at the lack of deals made on the second and third days of the draft. He said, “I was surprised on day two, I figured he [Kwesi Adofo-Mensah] would pull off two, maybe three, maybe more deals, looking to either add some draft picks… but he did not do that.” Despite this, the hosts agreed that the team did well in addressing some critical needs, such as securing a quarterback of the future and a potential long-term defensive piece in Dallas Turner.
Darren lauded the team’s moves, saying, “Hey, we got our quarterback of the future, which is the most important need of all… Got an edge rusher to be the replacement for Danielle Hunter, a guy who can be a long-term foundational piece of your franchise and your defense. Done with Dallas Turner. Great.”
Areas Left Unaddressed
However, Darren pointed out that there were areas the team didn’t address adequately, which could potentially be areas of focus in the upcoming season. “They didn’t address wide receiver… we didn’t really address getting a left guard, who could be a legit competition for Brandel right now,” he said. He also noted that he would have preferred if they had focused more on these positions during the draft.
The Development of J.J. McCarthy
The most engaging part of the episode was the discussion around J.J. McCarthy, the potential future starting quarterback for the Vikings. Dave shared his thoughts on how Head Coach Kevin O’Connell (KOC) and Quarterbacks Coach Josh McCown would approach McCarthy’s development.
Dave explained, “They’re going to step him up, here’s your basic stuff, here we’re going to get more in-depth, here we’re going to do this, and as you master each one, there’s a level where it’s, we’re putting you on the field, buddy.” This indicates a gradual, systematic, and skill-based approach to grooming McCarthy for the starting role.
Dave predicted that McCarthy could potentially start within the 2024 season, saying, “Whether it’s week one or not, that’s going to be fun to watch. But I’m betting it’s probably middle-ish that we see him play.” He expressed confidence in McCarthy’s ability to reach the necessary skill level to become the starting quarterback.
Final Thoughts
Wrapping up the episode, the hosts shared their high expectations for the future. Dave expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, saying, “I can’t wait for that approach to pay dividends and I think it will.” With the development of J.J. McCarthy and the team’s draft strategy playing a key role in their success, this upcoming season could be a turning point for the Vikings. Dave concluded by stating, “I think this is where the Vikings fans are going to see something they haven’t seen literally since Daunte [Culpepper] for his brief time or Sir Francis [Fran Tarkenton] before that.”
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Looking Ahead: The Potential for More Additions
Closing the episode, Dave hinted at the possibility of additional signings in the coming weeks, particularly experienced players who could bring more depth to the Vikings’ lineup. “You may see an experienced interior lineman, you may see an experienced wide receiver,” Dave suggested, leaving followers of the Vikings with much to anticipate in the team’s ongoing quest to enhance its roster.
The “Two Old Bloggers” episode offered an insightful look at the Vikings’ post-draft strategies, highlighting the team’s commitment to scouting and developing talent, even among those players who may have been overlooked in the draft.
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