2026 draft stuff

[Cap'n Piranha]

New mock out from Matt Miller at ESPN.  He has the Vikings with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo at 18 and Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech at 49.  While I don't completely hate that, I do disagree with it.  Flores has shown he can coordinate a playoff-caliber unit; KOC has not.  Further consider that next year needs to be the year in which we learn if JJM can be a quality QB (and if he's not, the team is starting over at QB in 2027 anyways), and to me it becomes clear that the priority is improving the offense.

To that end, I would take either Ioane, G, Penn St. (assuming Mauigoa will be long gone at 18) or Sadiq, TE, Oregon.  Ioane gave up 2 pressures and no sacks in 11 games last year, and according to reports is good in both the run and pass game; he could back up Jackson/Fries or with no dead money on Fries' deal after this season, it would be easy to find a taker in a trade for him.  Sadiq is considered the best TE in the class, and would give JJM another target.

In round 2, I would go with Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame or Logan Jones, C, Iowa.  Price only got 280 carries across 3 years at ND because he was sharing time with Love, but he still put up 1700 yards (6.0 average) and 21 TDS.  He's fast (also returned 3 kickoffs for TDs) but physical at 210 lbs.  Jones was mocked to the Niners and touted as a Day 1 starter; if you can get a lineman and a playmaker for JJM in the first 2 rounds, I think that's the way to go.

[nicksaviking]

I don't want a TE in round 1. Even if McCarthy isn't starting, I don't think a TE in this system will ever be high volume enough to use a 1st round pick on.

I don't mind the offensive players in round 2. It's really frustrating that this organization hasn't been able to develop a new cheap, young RB since Dalvin Cook a decade ago. I'm on the fence about Price though; I really want a guy who can be electric catching the ball, and we have absolutely no idea if Price can do that. Also, he tore his achilles his Freshman year, kudos to him for coming back and being awesome. But that scares me as those injuries are largely genetic.

This is really looking like a sparse skill position draft. The smart move may be to let the other teams reach for any QB/RB/WR/TE with a pulse and grab the best non-sexy players.

 

[Cap'n Piranha]

34 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't want a TE in round 1. Even if McCarthy isn't starting, I don't think a TE in this system will ever be high volume enough to use a 1st round pick on.

I don't mind the offensive players in round 2. It's really frustrating that this organization hasn't been able to develop a new cheap, young RB since Dalvin Cook a decade ago. I'm on the fence about Price though; I really want a guy who can be electric catching the ball, and we have absolutely no idea if Price can do that. Also, he tore his achilles his Freshman year, kudos to him for coming back and being awesome. But that scares me as those injuries are largely genetic.

This is really looking like a sparse skill position draft. The smart move may be to let the other teams reach for any QB/RB/WR/TE with a pulse and grab the best non-sexy players.

 

Fair points.  I think where I'm at is the thing I want most is to know without a shadow of a doubt come January 2027 if JJM should have his 5th year option picked up.  If the answer is no, then heaven and earth must be moved in the 2027 draft to get a legitimate QB.  If yes, then great!

To that end, I think 2026 is the year that KOC needs to put his ego fully aside, and realize that he can either run his preferred offense, or maximize the offense's potential, but he can't do both.  Accordingly, I want to eliminate any possible reason why JJM can be sub-par in 2026, and yet be on the roster for 2027.  And if that means he gets a TE (which he relied on heavily while at Michigan) then so be it.  I would be surprised if the Vikings did it, I guess I'm just saying were I KOC, I would.

As for Price, a quick google shows an achilles re-tears in only 2-5% of cases, so that seems like a pretty low risk.  Price did not catch the ball much at ND, but when he did he averaged 10.8 yards per catch and scored TDs 20% of the time.  I would much prefer to have Love over Price, but I don't think Love will be available at 18, nor would I be super enthusiastic about taking a RB that high, knowing that KOC is unlikely to use him enough to warrant that level of pick.

[TheLeviathan]

51 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

I don't want a TE in round 1. Even if McCarthy isn't starting, I don't think a TE in this system will ever be high volume enough to use a 1st round pick on.

I don't mind the offensive players in round 2. It's really frustrating that this organization hasn't been able to develop a new cheap, young RB since Dalvin Cook a decade ago. I'm on the fence about Price though; I really want a guy who can be electric catching the ball, and we have absolutely no idea if Price can do that. Also, he tore his achilles his Freshman year, kudos to him for coming back and being awesome. But that scares me as those injuries are largely genetic.

This is really looking like a sparse skill position draft. The smart move may be to let the other teams reach for any QB/RB/WR/TE with a pulse and grab the best non-sexy players.

 

I'm not sure you should count on a running back that can catch the ball either.  Given KOC's preferred passing game, we pretty much have no choice but to have a RB that can pass protect rather than be a weapon out of the backfield in the way you frame here.

I'm not a huge fan of Price.  He's fast, I like him as a change of pace guy.  If you could tell me we get him in the 3rd I might be more interested but he was basically taken off the field on passing downs last year.  He had 3 fumbles in 113 carries.  I like that there is less tread on the tires as being the 2nd guy there, but I don't see enough to take him in the 2nd.  

I think the guy that fits us best is probably Trey Holly.  Problem is character concerns there.  

It's honestly just not a good year to go RB hunting in the draft IMO.  Last year....that was the year.

[Vanimal46]

9 hours ago, Cap'n Piranha said:

New mock out from Matt Miller at ESPN.  He has the Vikings with Emmanuel McNeil-Warren, S, Toledo at 18 and Lee Hunter, DT, Texas Tech at 49.  While I don't completely hate that, I do disagree with it.  Flores has shown he can coordinate a playoff-caliber unit; KOC has not.  Further consider that next year needs to be the year in which we learn if JJM can be a quality QB (and if he's not, the team is starting over at QB in 2027 anyways), and to me it becomes clear that the priority is improving the offense.

To that end, I would take either Ioane, G, Penn St. (assuming Mauigoa will be long gone at 18) or Sadiq, TE, Oregon.  Ioane gave up 2 pressures and no sacks in 11 games last year, and according to reports is good in both the run and pass game; he could back up Jackson/Fries or with no dead money on Fries' deal after this season, it would be easy to find a taker in a trade for him.  Sadiq is considered the best TE in the class, and would give JJM another target.

In round 2, I would go with Jadarian Price, RB, Notre Dame or Logan Jones, C, Iowa.  Price only got 280 carries across 3 years at ND because he was sharing time with Love, but he still put up 1700 yards (6.0 average) and 21 TDS.  He's fast (also returned 3 kickoffs for TDs) but physical at 210 lbs.  Jones was mocked to the Niners and touted as a Day 1 starter; if you can get a lineman and a playmaker for JJM in the first 2 rounds, I think that's the way to go.

I would be thrilled with that start to the draft... Lee Hunter I wouldn't be surprised if we have to consider him at 18, let alone 49 overall. He is IMO the most talented IDL in the class. Peter Woods from Clemson is another name mocked in the 1st round, but I'd much rather have Hunter than him. 

The Toledo safety hits players hard. Definitely reminds me of young Harry the Hitman

[nicksaviking]

13 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I would be thrilled with that start to the draft... Lee Hunter I wouldn't be surprised if we have to consider him at 18, let alone 49 overall. He is IMO the most talented IDL in the class. Peter Woods from Clemson is another name mocked in the 1st round, but I'd much rather have Hunter than him. 

The Toledo safety hits players hard. Definitely reminds me of young Harry the Hitman

This always happens this time of year between the end of the season and then through the various exhibition bowls and up to the combine. Hunter was basically crowned king of the Senior Bowl and I'd guess he is a first rounder on most teams boards at this point. But since the draft pundits had him so low in their preliminary estimations, they are too tentative to move him up more than incrementally. So few of those evaluators are bold enough to go rogue on these rankings, they all tentatively peak at each others work to make sure they aren't some huge outlier.

[Vanimal46]

No wonder why I love Lee Hunter... Fat Pat Williams was one of my favorite Vikings players ever. 

[nicksaviking]

So there are questions about Rueben Bain's arm length.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/48033088/rueben-bain-jr-says-nfl-teams-focused-play-not-arm-length

Last time I remember that being a big talker for a defensive player was when Sharrif Floyd was expected to be a top ten pick then fell to the Vikings at 23.

 

[Vanimal46]

His nickname is Big Citrus. I'm in on that. 

[The Great Hambino]

11 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

His nickname is Big Citrus. I'm in on that. 

34" vert at 325 is terrifying

[TheLeviathan]

11 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

His nickname is Big Citrus. I'm in on that. 

This is the best nose tackle class of all time.  There are 10ish guys that will be long-term run stuffers in the league.

(Mcdonald, Corleone, Orange, Hunter, Jackson Jr., Banks, Miller, Keenan,McClellan, and maybe how you feel about Woods)

I absolutely want one of them this year.

[Vanimal46]

If the foot injuries are behind Caleb Banks, we should seriously consider him at 18. Hell, he might go before 18 if the medicals are clean. 

[Vanimal46]

This is going to be a major problem for Bain and spark a lot of debate... Do you trust the tape enough that he can overcome T-Rex arms in the NFL?

[Vanimal46]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

If the foot injuries are behind Caleb Banks, we should seriously consider him at 18. Hell, he might go before 18 if the medicals are clean. 

Oh baby... He just might go top 10. 

[Parfigliano]

5 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

This is going to be a major problem for Bain and spark a lot of debate... Do you trust the tape enough that he can overcome T-Rex arms in the NFL?

No.

[Vanimal46]

Oh no… I was really excited about him 

[TheLeviathan]

5 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

This is going to be a major problem for Bain and spark a lot of debate... Do you trust the tape enough that he can overcome T-Rex arms in the NFL?

Is there any sort of comp for those measurements?

[TheLeviathan]

Just now, Vanimal46 said:

Oh no… I was really excited about him 

Pick 49 it is!

[Vanimal46]

2 minutes ago, TheLeviathan said:

Is there any sort of comp for those measurements?

Not really… shortest arms since 1999

[Vanimal46]

Vikings have met with him in Indy 

[TheLeviathan]

We've talked about the strong DT class.....but the LBs showed out today.  Styles is a freak.  Hometown boy Rodriguez had an incredible day.  Allen, Golday, Hill all great players.

[Vanimal46]

9 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Styles is a freak.

You can say that again... He just had the best scouting combine performance ever for a LB.

Are we sure his Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese should be drafted ahead of Styles? That's the question I would ask the draft experts in the media. Since hybrid safety/LB roles are becoming more valuable in the NFL, I'd rather have this athletic freak than a traditional edge rusher like Reese.

[TheLeviathan]

15 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

You can say that again... He just had the best scouting combine performance ever for a LB.

Are we sure his Ohio State teammate Arvell Reese should be drafted ahead of Styles? That's the question I would ask the draft experts in the media. Since hybrid safety/LB roles are becoming more valuable in the NFL, I'd rather have this athletic freak than a traditional edge rusher like Reese.

He probably just skyrocketed into the top 10.  His versatility is ridiculous.

[Vanimal46]

Chris Johnson was one of my early draft crushes. Glad to see he's met with the Vikings as well.

[nicksaviking]

20 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Oh no… I was really excited about him 

He’ll fall pretty far in the draft now. Maybe to the point where’s he’s a fun lotto ticket pick.

[nicksaviking]

I’m thinking at this point, my preference is to trade the 1st for a 2027 1st +.

Next years class looks to have potential for multiple franchise defining players.

[Parfigliano]

20 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

Is there any sort of comp for those measurements?

A 15 year old?

[TheLeviathan]

45 minutes ago, Parfigliano said:

A 15 year old?

You know many 6'3 15 year olds who have arms so short they can't touch their nose?  :)

[Mike Sixel]

Styles was the guy I most wanted. That's not happening. I think you have to wait to round two for DT given the depth?

[Vanimal46]

Today is DBs and TEs working out. Guys I’m keeping an eye on…

Oregon TE Kenyon Sadiq and S Thieneman (visited with Vikes)

The Toledo safety that’s been mocked to us a couple of times 

S Caleb Downs