American Football

Minnesota Vikings News and Links, 18 April 2024

April 18, 2024

2024 CFP National Championship - Michigan v Washington — Photo by Aaron J. Thornton/Getty Images

You can’t have a better tomorrow if you are thinking about yesterday all the time. – Charles Kettering

One thing I think about more than I probably should, besides them taters, is what would the team do if Brian Flores gets a head coaching job offer next offseason? They have been adding pieces to the defense that fit his scheme and what he wants. They cant get a new DC that does something entirely different can they?

They did that when going from Donatell to Flores. Maybe it is not much difference and that players can adapt? I would like to think that Kyle Hamilton would fit very well in a Flores defense while the fit of Lewis Cine is still unknown. Do Booth, Asamoah, and Evans really fit? Booth and Evans got playing time last year so they were trying.

The point is that any team should not do a revamp when they change coordinators otherwise it amounts to wasted draft picks no?

News and Links

The announcement of the Vikings’ first-round pick will be special

Vikings Report 2024 NFL Draft Preview: Cornerbacks

Looking at Dane Brugler’s seven-round mock for the Vikings

Norse Code Podcast Episode 509: Continued Progression (with guest Trevor Sikkema)

Minnesota Vikings 2024 NFL Draft

NFL Analyst Sends Fiery Justin Jefferson Message To Vikings

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk wonders what the hold up is and says that if Minnesota is not going to pay him, it should recoup some value for him by trading him.

“Some things are complicated. Some things aren’t. For the Vikings, this is as simple as it gets: Pay receiver Justin Jefferson or trade him to someone who will,” Florio wrote. “If they intend to pay him, what’s the delay? It won’t get cheaper over time. The best thing to do is to just do it now, make him happy, and move forward.”

Vikings Pro Bowler Got Inside Scoop on Sam Darnold From All-Pro Playmaker

“Great guy,” Hockenson told reporters about Darnold on April 15. “He’s been down to Tight End U a couple times, and so I’ve met him in the past. Great guy. Played with George for a little bit which, obviously, George and I are our best buds. So I know quite a bit about him. And just excited to have him in the building.

“To have another guy like Sam and come in and learn this offense and be around – obviously this is the first day just working with him. But to be able to do that and continue to do that I’m excited about it.”

Vikings’ offseason moves, embracing of uncertainty show commitment to building a winner

The Vikings won only one playoff game in six years with former quarterback Kirk Cousins. Blame it on roster management, former coach Mike Zimmer, the offensive line, the defense or Cousins — it does not matter. What does is this: the team was never a true Super Bowl contender with Cousins. There were too many deficiencies. That would have likely remained the case had he re-signed.

That’s why fans should be thrilled with this offseason: They won’t have to cling to an ‘in the hunt’ graphic all December as proof of their team’s legitimacy. Instead, the team focused on the longer-term direction of the franchise.

The roster management contributing to consistent mediocrity is why the Twin Cities market is in the longest drought of any metro with four major men’s professional sports teams in the country: 119 consecutive seasons without a championship appearance.

Prioritizing the hope of building a championship team — not a playoff team — is what counts.

…

Adofo-Mensah and coach Kevin O’Connell have risked a lot on this offseason. That should be exhilarating for fans because, at the very least, they know what can’t happen for the next few years: a ‘relevant’ team on paper in training camp not being relevant when it counts.

A Vikings trade with New England? Three thoughts on the No. 3 overall pick

The Vikings need a quarterback, and every signal they have given since the end of the season suggests they intend to choose one very high in next week’s draft.

The problem, of course, is that other teams also want to pick quarterbacks in what is considered a very strong draft for that position. Namely: The first three picks in the draft are held by the Bears, Commanders and Patriots, all of whom need QBs.

*Why would New England even consider making the deal? The Patriots need a quarterback. They have a draft pick that ensures they can get a quarterback. So why is a trade even a possibility?

Curran gave two good reasons. First, New England has a lot of needs. The Patriots finished 4-13 last season and if they are being honest they are in the early stages of a rebuild. Getting multiple first-round picks (just how many is a subject for the next item) might be more valuable than choosing a QB now.

Second, which feeds off the first reason: The Patriots saw what happened to QB Mac Jones when they lacked the support around him. A productive rookie for a playoff team in 2021 turned into a lost cause by 2023, in part because the rest of the roster was in decline.

What would it cost the Vikings to move up to No. 3? Curran suggested that informal conversations with the Patriots lead him to believe it would cost the Vikings the No. 11 and 23 picks this season, next year’s first round pick AND another pick, perhaps even another future first rounder, to move up to No. 3.

“I don’t know if that’s their official stance within the (draft) war room, but I think that’s probably what they’re doing now,” Curran said.

In essence, it will take “a Godfather” type of offer, Curran said.

Daniel Jeremiah calls Vikings best landing spot for quarterback

“I would say, if you gave truth serum to the quarterbacks and the agents of all the top guys, every single one of them would say they would love nothing more than to go to the Minnesota Vikings. That would be the No. 1 choice,” Jeremiah said.

“Of all these teams that are quarterback teams, and we’ve run through all of

them on this call, that is by far the best landing spot for a quarterback to go

into. It’s all set up, from the things that we talk about with the three Ps, with

the play caller, the protection, the play makers, check, check, check.

“Hey, maybe we don’t want to rush right onto the field, we want to sit and learn

a little bit, we’ve got Sam Darnold who can get us through games, he can get

us through the whole season if we needed to, but at least get us through

games until you’re comfortable and ready to go out there.

“I can’t think of a better situation for a young quarterback than the one that the

Minnesota Vikings have. For me, I think it’s kind of foolish to look back and

see, oh, these teams or these people had these quarterbacks ranked wrong.

It’s like, well, if you tell me where all they’re going to go, it might inform how

you’d rate the players a little bit. I’d feel pretty confident Minnesota has a good

chance of getting some production out of a quarterback that they take.”

Do top 30 visits matter when the Minnesota Vikings pick?

Schrager’s Predictive Mock Draft Has Vikings Settling for QB5

Vikings’ Brian Flores on Lack of HC Interviews This Year: ‘Very Happy Where I Am’

Despite leading an impressive turnaround during his first season as the Vikings’ defensive coordinator last year, Brian Flores confirmed on Tuesday that he did not receive any opportunities to interview for head coach openings this offseason.

“I did not,” Flores said. “And I don’t really have control over that situation. I will say, I’m very happy where I am. It’s been a great offseason. I haven’t spent this much time with my family in an offseason in a while, without a move. I’m in a great spot, I’m very happy, and I’m excited to work with our guys right now.”

Yore Mock

(from the latest Drafttek iteration by some doofus)

1.11 – J.J. McCarthy Michigan QB 6’2” 219

As we enter the last week before the actual NFL 2024 Draft, the silly season has arrived. This is the time when we might hear or read many rumors about players and teams being interested or not. There are plenty of mock drafts that have the Vikings sending both of their first round picks this year plus their first round pick in 2025 to move up to either the Patriots, Cardinals, or Chargers pick.

Kwesi Adofo Mensah said in his pre-draft press conference “But then, really, it’s always about walkaway prices. And walkaway prices, to me, are meaningful because it’s another action. Your leverage in a negotiation is your willingness to do something else”. This should inform people that just like with the Kirk Cousins negotiations, Kwesi has a point he will not go past.

The Vikings were fortunate in this mock draft and did not have to trade up at all the get JJ McCarthy who is one of the Quarterbacks often linked to the Vikings. McCarthy, meanwhile, is a true junior who just turned 21. Operating Michigan’s run-heavy offense, he finished 35th in the country in passing yards with less than 3,000 in 15 games. Although he does not have that volume of other passers in this draft, he does have great intangibles after leading Michigan to the title.

Considering his age and growth potential, the Vikings would be ecstatic to get McCarthy without giving up extra picks.

1.23 – Jer’Zhan Newton Illinois DL3T 6’2” 304

The Vikings were able to stand pat and get thier QBOTF (JJ McCarthy) with their first pick at #11. They can use this pick to address another area of need. Defensive tackle is a position the team tried to address in free agency. They were involved in the Christian Wilkins sweepstakes but could not either beat the Raiders price, or perhaps Wilkins simply chose the Raiders. The Vikings also were attempting to sign Teair Tart but he chose the Dolphins.

The team did sign Defensive Tackles Jerry Tillery, Jonah Williams, and brought back Jonathan Bullard but all were given just one-year deals. The last time the team drafted a defensive tackle in the first round was 2013 when they took Sharrif Floyd. It is time for the team to invest real draft capital on the defensive line.

Jer’Zhan Newton was named First-team Associated Press All-American, Big Ten Conference Defensive Player of the Year, First-team All-Big Ten, and was a Finalist for the Nagurski Trophy. Over the last two seasons, he recorded 102 pressures – including 12 sacks – for a pass-rush win rate of 14.9%. He would be an excellent addition to the Vikings defensive front.

4.108 – Adisa Isaac Penn State EDGE 6’4” 247

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 24 Penn State at Michigan State

4.129 – Ainias Smith Texas A&M WRS 5’9” 190

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 11 Mississippi State at Texas A&M

5.157 – Jaylan Ford Texas ILB 6’3” 236

5.167 – Chau Smith-Wade Washington State CB 5’10” 184

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: JAN 31 Reese’s Senior Bowl

6.177 – Isaiah Adams Illinois OG 6’4” 315

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: OCT 21 Wisconsin at Illinois

7.230 – Ryan Watts Texas S 6’3” 206

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: FEB 01 East-West Shrine Bowl

7.232 – Tyrone Tracy Jr. Purdue RB 5’11” 209

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