NFL Draft Day 2024

[nicksaviking]

Man, I had seen Troy Franklin as high as the #5 WR on a lot of boards. NFL teams must really not believe in him.

[nicksaviking]

Dang, MarShawn Lloyd was one of my favorite RBs and the Packers got him.

Not that I was aiming for the Vikings to take a RB any time soon. And the Packers have a crowded backfield already.

[nicksaviking]

Well looks like there might be some guys I'm still familiar with and fond of sitting there for the Vikings to grab.

I'm not sure an O'Connell offense has much room for a 3rd WR, but those are fun picks. I thought Troy Franklin was a late 1st early 2nd so he'd seem to be a steal. I also like Javon Baker and Malik Washington. The one guy I may like most is Jacob Cowling but he's down a lot of lists so he might even be available later. He looks like an electric slot guy that could immediately relieve Brandon Powell of his duties. Anias Smith would be another slot guy I see way down on most lists that could fill that role. So if the slot guy is a target, maybe they still wait, though I guess they don't have a 5th round pick.

My preferred roster spot is interior OL, and Sataoa Laumea is a guy I like and called for back yesterday. But Sederick Van Pran-Granger (can't wait to see that on the back of a jersey!!!) might be a great center.

DL would be my second spot to hit and Mekhi Wingo (John Randal type?) and Brandon Dorlus (Everson Griffen type?) sound like the overlooked athletic freak kind of players that tend to do really well for this franchise. Wingo obviously has the better name. With 3/4 defense, DL guys do seem like a spot that needs to be hit early in a draft to find actual impact players though, so it might be a 'next year' kind of situation.

But it is the 4th round, so I'm OK conceding a CB to you guys should that finally transpire.

[Danchat]

I'd go CB or WR at #108 with the guys available - Franklin, Baker, Washington at WR and Jackson, Hart, or Tampa at CB.

[Mike Sixel]

I'd take two guards to increase the odds of one working

[nicksaviking]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'd take two guards to increase the odds of one working

After watching O ‘Neal get smoked by top pass rushers last year, I wonder if he’d ever get moved inside.

Not that finding a starting tackle at this point in the draft is a reasonable idea.

[nicksaviking]

This CB is a giant. 6’4”? That’s pretty rare.

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

This CB is a giant. 6’4”? That’s pretty rare.

Somehow inexperienced at age 25?

[nicksaviking]

I did read one theory that quick and long players are what will be needed for the new kickoff rules. Maybe drafted entirely to be a special teams player?

[Mike Sixel]

3 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I did read one theory that quick and long players are what will be needed for the new kickoff rules. Maybe drafted entirely to be a special teams player?

Gave up very few yards per pass against last year. 

[Danchat]

Tackle and kicker in the 6th... can't tell if Rouse will move to guard, but he probably fights for the swing tackle job. Reichard will compete for the kicking job but will be the heavy favorite. Last time this team drafted a kicker, they picked the right one but lost patience.,

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Danchat said:

Tackle and kicker in the 6th... can't tell if Rouse will move to guard, but he probably fights for the swing tackle job. Reichard will compete for the kicking job but will be the heavy favorite. Last time this team drafted a kicker, they picked the right one but lost patience.,

Two more kickers went not much later. 

[DocBauer]

Sorry, but busy and taking a couple days to rest from an ailment, I wasn't able to join the discussion until things concluded. 

My overview, FWIW:

1] I've been TORN who I like better than Williams...whom I'm not 100% on...between Daniels, Maye, and McCarthy. I'm just a fan, not a FO expert. I don't particularly like Harbaugh as I think he's a bit of a jerk, but I respect the hell out of his career as a coach at both levels. When he stated he believed McCarthy was the best QB in the draft, I listened. When I look at his HS and college career, I pay attention. When I look at his stats I pay attention. As a BIG 10 fan who's watched him do some really great things...despite being in a run first offense...I pay attention. He's a good athlete with a good arm and well coached and HUGELY successful, I think we got a POSSIBLE franchise kid who O'Connell and the FO believe in.

I HATED trading up ONE SPOT and the cost, but I DO THINK the Broncos and others were about ready to pounce.

2] I HATED giving up even more draft choices to move up for Turner, but he was a consensus top 10-12 player.

3] I again HATED sitting still through rounds 2 and 3, but I understood this draft was about the top 2 picks, FA already signed, a few more that might happen, and still keeping the 1st round pick in 2025, along with GREAT payroll flexibility to sign JJ and other additions. 

4] The Jackson pick looks really smart. He's long, fast, athletic, and hasn't probably topped out yet considering his career experience so far. If he can improve his feet and "hip turn" just a little more, he could be a real steal.

5] I DIDN'T see the Rouse pick, even though there might be a need at OT IF Brandel is the favorite for LG. I really like Brandel a lot, but I still see him as a 4 spot fill in who's practiced at Center to be an emergency offering there if needed. Since there is debate about adding a 3rd 3rd round pick in 2025 if Risner signs for $X elsewhere, I'm still expecting him as a re-sign, and letting Brandel be the 6th man on the line. Rouse makes sense as a big, smart, experienced potential swing tackle who gets a year to adapt and develop.

6] I honestly expected the Vikings to draft a kicker. My IMAGINATION said we could sign one of the top ones in UDFA, but I think we all understand how the game has changed. Hard to argue with Reichard and his career as a draft option. Here's hoping he's the RIGHT GUY for 8-10 years! (I'm old enough to remember when the Vikings actually had great kickers for YEARS)

7] Michael Juegens wasn't on MY list for G/C. But, unsurprisingly, with limited draft choices, he seems at least "interesting" as a choice. The bi*ch of lost draft choices meant a lot of G/C options I was hoping for were gone. But the kid has toughness and experience. And he has opportunity. Not a bad pick.

8] Levi Drake Rodriguez! I don't care if it's the 7th round of the draft! Who is this guy? Well, he's about 6' 4" and 290 lbs and raw as meat from your favorite butcher.  He started out at NAIA and moved to the FCS level. He reportedly has a 100MPH motor and some quickness and speed and strength and has produced pressure and TFL and some sacks without good technique. Is this a steal from the scouting department? 

Everything I'm seeing is he's a PRIORITY FA and wondering if we didn't miss another decent draft option instead?

UDFA:

I LOVE Murphy from UCLA! Dallas Gant from Toledo MIGHT be another Pace.

CB Dwight McGlothern might surprise. A potential PS possibility at least.

Nester and Flax from WV and Kentucky might be transitional G options if given time.

Not a bad haul for UDFA. Bo Richter from AF is really interesting if he can convert to an OFF THE BALL LB since he's tough as nails but small for an OLB. 

 

 

[Fatbat]

Jackson pick at 108 was awesome!!  17 UDFA’s WOAH!!! and why?

[wabene]

7 minutes ago, Fatbat said:

Jackson pick at 108 was awesome!!  17 UDFA’s WOAH!!! and why?

[nicksaviking]

On 4/27/2024 at 5:41 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Two more kickers went not much later. 

I've been thinking about the idea of drafting a kicker, and I think I'm good doing it if you can get one of the top college kickers in the 6th or 7th.

I'd guess most of the players drafted in the 6th or 7th you could get as UDFAs anyway, but the top guys at this position will get drafted.

[gunnarthor]

I have to say I really like the Jackson pick. Obviously, Turner and McCarthy are more important but watching some video of Jackson at Oregon is fun. He really seems like the type of player that fits in Flores' schemes of blitzes, press coverage, and man deep. Also seems like a decent enough tackler. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

I have to say I really like the Jackson pick. Obviously, Turner and McCarthy are more important but watching some video of Jackson at Oregon is fun. He really seems like the type of player that fits in Flores' schemes of blitzes, press coverage, and man deep. Also seems like a decent enough tackler. 

This could be a great draft. 

[DocBauer]

On 4/28/2024 at 9:12 AM, Fatbat said:

Jackson pick at 108 was awesome!!  17 UDFA’s WOAH!!! and why?

Actually, the 17 UDFA is about right. You need not only camp bodies to get the roster to the 89-90 limit...though a couple guys will be dropped after tryout camps and a possible NFL FA signing or two yet to come...but you're also searching for the diamonds in the rough that may turn out, like Pace last year, and others before him.

I was surprised...maybe a little disappointed...that the Vikings didn't target a UDFA RB as I thought there were a couple pretty decent ones available and I'm not sold on veteran Gaskin, 2nd year McBride, and KR specialist Nwangu as depth options. I think they might have missed the boat here on opportunity.

BUT, they nabbed a handful of UDFA that might turn out to be pretty good:

1] Gabriel Murphy-EDGE-UCLA: HIGHLY productive and athletic and "ALL EVERYTHING" here and there. He's athletic, fast, and productive. Draft grades had 3rd round plus, but lack of great size pushed him out of the draft. Sound familiar?

2] Dallas Gant-LB-Toledo: A tackling, downhill machine with solid speed and athleticism who is a very comparable player to the aforementioned Pace.

3] Doug Nester-OL-West Virginia: He's an OT who has barely allowed any pressures or sacks in his career. Good length and solid size with decent feet. I'm a little surprised he wasn't drafted by somebody as a G, which is probably where he fits best...if not too tall...and he could be a nice PS player.

4] Dwight McGlotheren-CB-Arkansas: He played at LSU for his first 2 yrs and was solid. He was 2nd team all SEC in 2022, and had a nice 2023 but missed a few games due to injury. He was projected to be a mid to late round draft choice. While slightly shorter and just a couple pounds lighter than Khyree Jackson, their draft profiles are almost exactly the same: Need to add strength, need to work on footwork for man coverage instead of zone first. 

POSSIBLE SURPRISES:

1] Bo Richter-EDGE-Air Force: WHO? His draft profile says muscles on top of muscles at 6' 1" and 248lbs and he had a 6-7th round draft grade. 19.5 tackles for loss in 2023 and 10 sacks. But his lack of length makes him dubious as an EDGE player. I'm betting the Vikings move him inside and place him on the PS for next year. You'd have to believe he's got the smarts to play in the middle, right?

2] Matthew Cindric- C-Califnoria: This one is a HUGE reach! He's older as he COULD have had a 7th college season in 2024 due to covid and injuries. He started 11 games as a redshirt freshman in 2019. He was a starter in the covid shortened 2020 year. And then he started 11 games in 2021. He then started 6 games in 2022 before a torn biceps ruined his season. He tore the OTHER arm biceps at the beginning of 2023 and lost that season. Why on earth would I possibly even consider this kid as a surprise? Because he's obviously pretty smart with his degree from Cal in 2022, and SOMEONE in the Vikings FO knows this kid and the potential he showed before a pair of unfortunate injuries. SOMEONE thinks he's worth bringing in as a potential PS player.

Like every group of UDFA there's an additional group of fodder and potential surprises. Different year, same song and dance. A couple will be gone in a few weeks when an "invite" looks good. And the Vikes will probably still sign a veteran or two and need to release someone to make room.

BTW, if I understand the FA vs future comp rules, signing Risner AFTER April, he DOESN’T  count against the 2025 comp pick situation. Just saying. 

Someone might surprise, but that's just a general breakdown of some of the more promenade UDFA to keep an eye on.