Holy cow, the NFL Draft is this month. Right? It starts this month? I’m pretty sure it does. And while I’ve largely been busier tracking new Shirtless Vikings players joining the roster through free agency, I guess we also may need to find some potential new Shirtless Vikings who could potentially join that are younger. Maybe illegally young in some states. But that’s why you draft them, under the guise of “building an NFL roster” and then put them to “work.” You guys get me.
Anyway. Here is where we start our draft preview for the Vikings. We are going to look at the team’s offensive needs that could be addressed in the draft, that weren’t addressed through free agency, then prioritize those. It’s largely what you would expect, but, you know, due diligence and all. Here we go.
Free Agency Moves Recap
Going into free agency, we made three predictions of how the Vikings would attack offensive issues. We mentioned they’d likely stick with Adrian Peterson, bring in a veteran wide receiver of low caliber, and spend big-ass money on a free agent offensive linemen. In a way, we kind of hit on 2 out of 3 here. … Maybe 1.5 out of 3. We didn’t do anything at running back, because the Peterson issue is still unresolved. We DID get a receiver, but it was through a trade, and we also dropped a different receiver. So there is still kind of a gap there. And we DID sign an offensive linemen, but it’s some weird monster from Latveria or something. It’s not Mike Iupati, basically.
So, while some of these issues were KIND of addressed, they kind of weren’t, while at the same time creating new problems. The biggest problem is that we gave money and a roster spot to a linemen that may not move the needle. So, EEeeeeee ….
Still Gaping Big Holes
As I see it, there are still some pretty obvious offensive roster issues that will be addressed through the draft.
Going down the line, wide receiver is still an issue. A roster that includes Charles Johnson and Mike Wallace as your top bros is probably mediocre at best. I think the Vikings still need to be adding a depth here, and while I would prefer that this “depth” was a young guy like Cordarrelle Patterson – who is already on the roster – it’s pretty obvious that this isn’t working out how Mike Zimmer wants it to. So, I can see him adding a young guy.
I would also imagine the Vikings are feeling nervous enough about the Adrian Peterson fiasco that they would take a running back at some point. You can keep Matt Asiata, and Jerrick McKinnon on your roster as long as you’d like, thinking they are legit replacements for someone like Peterson eventually, but nah son, you just lying to yourself.
Offensive linemen is the other big concern. Because our offensive line sucks. And everything is up for grabs here. A left tackle upgrade over Kalil? Probably not this draft, but Kalil has about one year left to prove his worth, then we’ll see. Left guard? Sure. Right guard? Depends how Fusco comes back from injury. Right tackle? Loadholt has highs and lows, and I don’t even know about Babatunde. So I would think a linemen – any linemen – would be a priority.
Beyond that, depth at tight end, and maybe a 3rd QB to groom in the late rounds could all make sense too.
Offensive Priorities
With all that in mind, I see the priority for the draft looking like this – factoring in draft position and weird, stupid franchises making weird, stupid picks – falling something like this:
1. Offensive Linemen: Obvious. You get a top quality linemen and the Teddy Bridgewater offense changes pretty drastically. He has time to throw and grow as a passer, and whatever running back we have actually has lanes to run through. Start in the trenches.
2. Wide Receiver: As a further option to help Teddy Bridgewater. You get a young, great receiver to join your team and grow along with Teddy, you turn into Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison. Or Reggie Wayne. Or whoever you want. And hey, they won a Super Bowl!
3. Running Back: This is more so if the Vikings decide to trash Adrian Peterson. If so, then they need to get their ass in gear and find a replacement that isn’t named Asiata. Your team will continue to struggle unless you get a legit running back threat.
4. Quarterback: Eh, I’m just tossing this one out there. We have Teddy, Shaun Hill, and Mike Kafka on the roster. I’d give myself a reach around if Kafka actually makes the final roster, and more likely envision a developmental guy that Norvie can groom for fun. Because whatever, right?
So? Thoughts? How else do you see the offensive priorities breaking out in this draft?
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