2026 draft stuff

[gunnarthor]

3 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

But Smith is gone. 100 percent need a safety. 

Yeah, but I think that's easier to fix in FA or later draft picks. Ward and Jackson are both under contract, although Jackson looked lost early in the season. 

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Yeah, but I think that's easier to fix in FA or later draft picks. Ward and Jackson are both under contract, although Jackson looked lost early in the season. 

Sure, FA will change needs. 

[DocBauer]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

I think I want either another Pat Williams to absolutely stuff the run (Kayden McDonald?) or make a LB to eventually replace Cashman (Allen or Styles?). They'll need to add to the secondary but somehow that group did ok this year.

I'd really like to see what Taimani could do with a chance at some regular playing time. He's impressed me each of the past 2 preseason and looked OK in very brief action on the regular season roster. 

Overall, the DL is very deep and a nice combination of veterans and young players. I don't know if Taimani has simply been pushed out by that depth, or because he's a classic run stuffer, NG type that Flores has been reluctant to use him.

[Vanimal46]

Early draft crushes heading into the offseason... 

SS Caleb Downs - He feels like vintage Harry the Hitman to me.

QB Fernando Mendoza - He was impressive against a loaded Ohio State defense. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the CFP.

RB Jeremiyah Love - I think he has Gibbs type of upside that transforms an offense

LB Sonny Styles - Converted safety so he has the speed. Will be curious what his measurables are at the combine

LB CJ Allen - Dude is all over the field making plays

LB Anthony Hill - Hook 'em horns! Another guy who is all over the field making plays

CB Chris Johnson - Similar type of shut down stats that Sauce Gardner had at Cincinnati. He'll be a riser to the 1st round if he tests off the charts at the combine.

[gunnarthor]

19 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Early draft crushes heading into the offseason... 

SS Caleb Downs - He feels like vintage Harry the Hitman to me.

QB Fernando Mendoza - He was impressive against a loaded Ohio State defense. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the CFP.

RB Jeremiyah Love - I think he has Gibbs type of upside that transforms an offense

LB Sonny Styles - Converted safety so he has the speed. Will be curious what his measurables are at the combine

LB CJ Allen - Dude is all over the field making plays

LB Anthony Hill - Hook 'em horns! Another guy who is all over the field making plays

CB Chris Johnson - Similar type of shut down stats that Sauce Gardner had at Cincinnati. He'll be a riser to the 1st round if he tests off the charts at the combine.

Good list, I think the Vikings will be able to get one of Allen/Styles at 18. Two questions. 1) Did Ohio State's last two losses take some of the shine off of Downs or Styles such that they might slip? 2) What do you think of Kayden McDonald?

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, gunnarthor said:

Good list, I think the Vikings will be able to get one of Allen/Styles at 18. Two questions. 1) Did Ohio State's last two losses take some of the shine off of Downs or Styles such that they might slip? 2) What do you think of Kayden McDonald?

1) Personally for me no. It was their lack of offense that hurt them more than the defense. 

2) I'll have to dig in further on McDonald but I do want a big boy NT for the defense. IMO we've been missing that key piece the entire time since switching to the 3-4 scheme. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Early draft crushes heading into the offseason... 

SS Caleb Downs - He feels like vintage Harry the Hitman to me.

QB Fernando Mendoza - He was impressive against a loaded Ohio State defense. Looking forward to seeing more of him in the CFP.

RB Jeremiyah Love - I think he has Gibbs type of upside that transforms an offense

LB Sonny Styles - Converted safety so he has the speed. Will be curious what his measurables are at the combine

LB CJ Allen - Dude is all over the field making plays

LB Anthony Hill - Hook 'em horns! Another guy who is all over the field making plays

CB Chris Johnson - Similar type of shut down stats that Sauce Gardner had at Cincinnati. He'll be a riser to the 1st round if he tests off the charts at the combine.

I'm a Johnson fan too.  There are a lot of linebackers to like in this class.

[Vanimal46]

Ty Simpson declares for the draft. I'm 100% out on him for the record. 

[nicksaviking]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Ty Simpson declares for the draft. I'm 100% out on him for the record. 

Yeah, he's small with a weak arm, he screams zero upside game manger at best. I really, don't like this QB class.

The one guy I'd be interested in later in the draft is John Mateer. Not great numbers this year, but his coach at Oklahoma, Brent Venabals, clearly has zero idea what to do with the QB position, so I'd take a flyer on the chance it was coaching and not talent.

But the Vikings can't and won't pick a mid-to-late round QB anyway. They won't move on from McCarthy, and they will 100% get a known back up QB. So anyone they draft they would have to hope can slip to the practice squad.

[Vanimal46]

8 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, he's small with a weak arm, he screams zero upside game manger at best. I really, don't like this QB class.

The one guy I'd be interested in later in the draft is John Mateer. Not great numbers this year, but his coach at Oklahoma, Brent Venabals, clearly has zero idea what to do with the QB position, so I'd take a flyer on the chance it was coaching and not talent.

But the Vikings can't and won't pick a mid-to-late round QB anyway. They won't move on from McCarthy, and they will 100% get a known back up QB. So anyone they draft they would have to hope can slip to the practice squad.

Yeah this draft class is extremely light on talent. If Dante Moore goes back to Oregon (he should) then it’s Fernando Mendoza and nothing else besides late round draft picks. 

[gunnarthor]

So, I think the draft is set pick wise but for the playoff teams but the Vikings picks are locked in, right? So we have four picks in the first three rounds 18, 49, 82, 97, the last two are third round picks. 

Assuming the Vikings want secondary help, a real NT, a running back to pair with Mason, maybe a center, and possible LB depth/replacement, what position group is deepest this year so you could put it off until the 3rd round?

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Yeah, he's small with a weak arm, he screams zero upside game manger at best. I really, don't like this QB class.

The one guy I'd be interested in later in the draft is John Mateer. Not great numbers this year, but his coach at Oklahoma, Brent Venabals, clearly has zero idea what to do with the QB position, so I'd take a flyer on the chance it was coaching and not talent.

But the Vikings can't and won't pick a mid-to-late round QB anyway. They won't move on from McCarthy, and they will 100% get a known back up QB. So anyone they draft they would have to hope can slip to the practice squad.

With you on Mateer.  When I've watched him play I see a really good athlete with an underused arm.

[nicksaviking]

3 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yeah this draft class is extremely light on talent. If Dante Moore goes back to Oregon (he should) then it’s Fernando Mendoza and nothing else besides late round draft picks. 

Next year's QB class is looking pretty good right now, Moore might want to try his hand now when there's little competition.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

With you on Mateer.  When I've watched him play I see a really good athlete with an underused arm.

He could definitely be this year's Jaxon Dart. The national draft wonks keep focusing on their same top three QBs while the teams who are doing their own evals and are less likely to fall for group-think end up rating him in the top two or three.

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, nicksaviking said:

Next year's QB class is looking pretty good right now, Moore might want to try his hand now when there's little competition.

Depends on what Knight offers him to stay at this point. He's either number two or one picked..... Next year? Like fifth.

[Vanimal46]

5 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Depends on what Knight offers him to stay at this point. He's either number two or one picked..... Next year? Like fifth.

Not a bad consolation prize to get $5-7 million from Oregon and avoid getting drafted by the Jets 

[TheLeviathan]

9 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Depends on what Knight offers him to stay at this point. He's either number two or one picked..... Next year? Like fifth.

It's hard to say.  This time last year people thought guys like Klubnik, Allar, and Nussmeier were surefire top talents.  

Now they're career backup hopefuls.  I think the transfer portal and the nature of modern college football has made long term projections much, much harder.

[nicksaviking]

11 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

It's hard to say.  This time last year people thought guys like Klubnik, Allar, and Nussmeier were surefire top talents.  

Now they're career backup hopefuls.  I think the transfer portal and the nature of modern college football has made long term projections much, much harder.

Things can change for sure, but I guess I didn't remember too much excitement about those three. People talked about them, but it seemed like it was more so due to a lack of other QBs to talk about. I remember more speculation about whether Manning would declare than if they would be good.

Right now, I think Sayin and Manning would have to take a big step back for them to be in the same boat. And I like Sellers and Maiava way better than I ever liked them too.

[TheLeviathan]

1 minute ago, nicksaviking said:

Things can change for sure, but I guess I didn't remember too much excitement about those three. People talked about them, but it seemed like it was more so due to a lack of other QBs to talk about. I remember more speculation about whether Manning would declare than if they would be good.

Right now, I think Sayin and Manning would have to take a big step back for them to be in the same boat. And I like Sellers and Maiava way better than I ever liked them too.

Penn St. and Allar were supposed to win the national title.  

https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2026/story/_/id/45585366/2026-nfl-mock-draft-miller-early-first-round-predictions-quarterbacks-32-picks

https://www.reddit.com/r/NFL_Draft/comments/1kgfx05/top_100_consensus_prospects_for_the_2026_nfl_draft/

[Mike Sixel]

I'm betting good money both Ohio State defenders we've been watching are long gone by the time they pick. 

[gunnarthor]

11 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm betting good money both Ohio State defenders we've been watching are long gone by the time they pick. 

I think you're right but I'm hoping for a slide. I think how Starks and Ennumari (sp) slipped last year is good for that argument. The fact that both would clearly be drafted higher in a re-draft might make teams change their approach. Styles might slip b/c some teams might not see him as a fit for their LB scheme - he's too small as a converted safety or not a natural pass-rusher like some other options. I think the third Ohio State defender who will likely go in the 1st round (how did they lose two games?), McDonald, would be a good fit but I honestly don't know much about him. But by size and the few write ups I've seen, he seems like a real NT who can anchor the line as a run stopper.

[Mike Sixel]

6 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I think you're right but I'm hoping for a slide. I think how Starks and Ennumari (sp) slipped last year is good for that argument. The fact that both would clearly be drafted higher in a re-draft might make teams change their approach. Styles might slip b/c some teams might not see him as a fit for their LB scheme - he's too small as a converted safety or not a natural pass-rusher like some other options. I think the third Ohio State defender who will likely go in the 1st round (how did they lose two games?), McDonald, would be a good fit but I honestly don't know much about him. But by size and the few write ups I've seen, he seems like a real NT who can anchor the line as a run stopper.

Ya, both could slide. I hope so!

[Cap'n Piranha]

On 1/7/2026 at 1:46 PM, Vanimal46 said:

Not a bad consolation prize to get $5-7 million from Oregon and avoid getting drafted by the Jets 

What will be really interesting to see going forward is how much QBs actually want to get drafted in the top 10 going forward.  A top QB in college will now almost certainly make a parity to 1st round QBs still on their rookie deal; it won't be too long before QBs making $10M+ in 2 years is standard.  When you can make that level of money, all of the sudden landing in a settled situation becomes a bigger factor than simply getting the most money possible on a rookie deal by getting picked as high as possible.  Based on the slot values, getting picked in the top 3 is still a sizable difference (all 3 are guaranteed double what a pick from 11 onwards is), but if you're not absolutely sure, it probably makes more sense to go to a better situation and play for the second contract.

For example, would you rather be drafted 6th by Cleveland and receive $40M guaranteed?  Or go 13th to the Rams, and "only" get $24M guaranteed, but get to be the heir apparent to Stafford and be tutored by a quality QB developer in a system with lots of weapons?

[Vanimal46]

2 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

What will be really interesting to see going forward is how much QBs actually want to get drafted in the top 10 going forward.  A top QB in college will now almost certainly make a parity to 1st round QBs still on their rookie deal; it won't be too long before QBs making $10M+ in 2 years is standard.  When you can make that level of money, all of the sudden landing in a settled situation becomes a bigger factor than simply getting the most money possible on a rookie deal by getting picked as high as possible.  Based on the slot values, getting picked in the top 3 is still a sizable difference (all 3 are guaranteed double what a pick from 11 onwards is), but if you're not absolutely sure, it probably makes more sense to go to a better situation and play for the second contract.

For example, would you rather be drafted 6th by Cleveland and receive $40M guaranteed?  Or go 13th to the Rams, and "only" get $24M guaranteed, but get to be the heir apparent to Stafford and be tutored by a quality QB developer in a system with lots of weapons?

Until there are caps put on for NCAA football, it might end up being more profitable for any top QB prospect to stay in college as long as they can. The draft will end up being 23-25 year old QBs or the 1 year starting 21 year olds taking their chance before their draft stock tanks like Anthony Richardson and Ty Simpson 

[TheLeviathan]

Mendoza cemented tonight.  Moore might have played himself into returning.

[Vanimal46]

13 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Mendoza cemented tonight.  Moore might have played himself into returning.

To be honest I wasn't impressed with Moore last week and this week is even worse. But he's just 20 years old for the draft (turns 21 in May) 

Las Vegas might as well turn in the card tonight. Mendoza doesn't have to do anything but record his height and weight and he's the 1st overall pick

[TheLeviathan]

14 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

To be honest I wasn't impressed with Moore last week and this week is even worse. But he's just 20 years old for the draft (turns 21 in May) 

Las Vegas might as well turn in the card tonight. Mendoza doesn't have to do anything but record his height and weight and he's the 1st overall pick

Only real question is if he played so well it spurs a bidding war.

[Vanimal46]

Add Texas Tech NT Lee Hunter to my draft crush list. Listed at 6'4" 330 lbs - if he's that big with the burst he has then he's got the ceiling of Sexy Dexy Lawrence

[TheLeviathan]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Add Texas Tech NT Lee Hunter to my draft crush list. Listed at 6'4" 330 lbs - if he's that big with the burst he has then he's got the ceiling of Sexy Dexy Lawrence

There are a lot of nose tackles I love in this draft.

Last year I loved the RB class and I was pissed we didn't take one.  If we don't take a NT this year...I'm going to be ready to fly back to MN to call for KAM's firing.

[nicksaviking]

You know what would be the most Raiders thing ever? Hire Curt Cignetti, then draft Mendoza.

Has anyone suggested that yet? Because I’m calling it now.