FanPost

CDougy's Big Board: Rough Draft #1

Minnesota Vikings Big Board

  1. Amari Cooper, Wide Receiver, Alabama. The best WR in this class. Exceptional athleticism and hands, looks pro ready. Cooper would instantly make the offense better and provide a weapon for Bridgewater that we seemed to be lacking in the previous season.

  2. Brandon Scherff, Offensive lineman, Iowa. Injuries and poor play along the offensive line was the biggest issue for the Vikings this past season. Scherff can be an above average tackle and an exceptional guard at the next level, similar to the Cowboy’s Zack Martin, who made All-pro as a rookie.

  3. Landon Collins, Safety, Alabama. Alabama has a bad track record with defensive backs in the pro ranks, but I believe it is undeserving. Haha Clinton-dix is thriving with the Packers and Mark Barron has found a new home in St. Louis. Dre Kerkpatrick is making plays in Cincinnati and Dee Milliner has been playing well when healthy. Landon Collins would slot right in next to Harrison Smith and be a very similar player to him.

  4. Leonard Williams, Defensive lineman, USC. Any team would be crazy to pass up on a talent like Williams. He is not quite the talent that Clowney was, but there is no question about his ability to disrupt an offense, his motivation or toughness

  5. Devante Parker, Wide Receiver, Louisville. Many Vikings fans will look at his past success with Teddy Bridgewater as reason to draft him, but I look at this year with his great route running, hands and YAC ability making him a close second in the wide receiver rankings of my big board.

  6. Benardrick McKinney, Linebacker, Mississippi State. With great performances in week 17 by Audie Cole and dynamic playmaking from Gerald Hodges throughout the season, Linebacker depth is not as bad as I had thought. But with the likely (hopeful) departure of veteran Chad Greenway and Jasper Brinkley becoming a free agent, McKinney may stand out to Zimmer and Speilman for the same reasons Anthony Barr did a year ago. At 6’5 250 and rumored to run less than 4.5 speed, he could be a weapon in the middle of Zimmer’s defense.

  7. Shaq Thompson, Linebacker, Washington. Thompson was one of the most dynamic playmakers in college football this past season, whether it was on the offensive or defensive side of the ball. He is lighter than most pro linebackers but his speed and intensity makes up for most of that. The need at OLB is the biggest question when drafting Thompson, because Hodges and Cole have both made cases for being the starter.

  8. Dante Fowler Jr., Defensive End, Florida. Many of you may argue why Fowler Jr. is the top defensive end on the board, and not Randy Gregory or even Shane Ray. On film I think Fowler is the most polished defensive end that can both rush the passer and set the edge in the run game. He is an exceptional athlete and with Corey Wooton likely being gone, Brian Robison aging, and Scott Crichton needing time to get on the roster, I would not complain about Fowler Jr. as our pick

  9. La’el Collins, Offensive lineman, LSU. Been playing at a high level for LSU for years now, and his versatility, strength and footwork makes him a very attractive prospect for the Vikings at either Tackle or Guard.

  10. Kevin White, Wide Receiver, West Virginia. Many may argue that White is the most talented wide receiver in the draft class. He offers more down the field as a receiver than both Cooper and Parker in both jump ball situations and catching in traffic. I have some of the same problems with White as I did with Cordarrelle Patterson coming out of school, the biggest one being that he only has one year of solid production and experience.

  11. Shane Ray, Defensive end, Mizzou. Has great burst and quickness off the ball, uses hands well. Not the size I would like, though.

  12. Trae Waynes, Cornerback, Michigan State. The best corner in this draft, and has lock-down potential, but needs to put on some weight to be the "big guy" across from Rhodes that most of us want.

  13. Randy Gregory, Defensive end, Nebraska. Exceptional playmaker, but I question his ability to set the edge as 4-3 defensive end and stop the run.

  14. Alvin Dupree, Defensive End, Kentucky. Played both OLB and DE in Kentucky, and I’d like to know what the coaches/scouts think of him as a pure defensive end.

  15. Devin Funchess, Wide Receiver, Michigan. Big-bodied, great athlete. Not as good as I would like in the most important area of being a wide receiver, though, catching the football.

  16. Cedric Ogbuehi, Offensive lineman, Texas A&M. Was supposed to be the next best LT to come out of A&M after Joeckel and Mathews, but struggled at LT in his first few starts. I still think he would be a great value pick at other positions along the line.

  17. Melvin Gordon, Running back, Wisconsin. One of the best running back’s to come out of college in years, but in this deep running back class it would be tough to justify taking him in the top-25 of the first round.

  18. Vic Beasley, Outside linebacker, Clemson. Very talented, but played a position in college that does not translate to our defense very well (Careful, though, I said that about Barr too)

  19. Danny Shelton, Defensive Tackle, Washington. Could be the best 320+ pound pass rusher that I have seen in my short time watching football, but needs to be better as a run defender. The player would not really fit any of our needs, either.

  20. Paul Dawson, Linebacker, TCU. Fairly undersized, but great tackler and good athlete that could fill in nicely at either Mike or Weak side.

  21. Jaelen Strong, Wide Receiver, Arizona State. I am probably more down on him than most, but I don’t think he is going to have a good showing at the combine, not that great of an athlete.

  22. Eric Kendricks, Outside Linebacker, UCLA. Only thing dropping him is his size and lack of great athleticism. Love the player otherwise, could have a Borland-like impact first year.

  23. Michael Bennett, Defensive Tackle, Ohio State. Less than 290 is usually a big problem for a defensive tackle at this level. Bennett’s high intensity speed and style is remarkable, though.

  24. Kevin Johnson, Cornerback, Wake Forest. Has more than one year of good quality tape, but could definitely benefit from gaining 20 pounds or more.

  25. Andrus Peat, Offensive Lineman, Stanford. In my opinion, should have stayed in school. He lacks experience that could have benefited him a lot with his technique.

  26. Gerod Holliman, Safety, Louisville. Bawl hawk downfield, but his supposed poor work ethic and lack of effort while tackling is a concern.

  27. Malcom Brown, Defensive Tackle, Texas. Has great hands, never gets pushed backwards. Could definitely see him rising up my board in the future. Not a house hold name yet.

  28. Jalen Collins, Cornerback, LSU. Also could have benefited from staying in school. His technique is questionable but his size and athleticism cannot be ignored.

  29. Ty Sambrailo, Offensive lineman, Colorado State. More of pure tackle, but plays with aggression and has efficient footwork in both the pass and run game.

  30. Hau’oli Kikaha, Defensive end/outside linebacker, Washington. Natural speed rusher, can play with hand in the dirt or standing up, but if his speed rush gets beat he is in trouble

  31. Denzel Perryman, Linebacker, Miami. Short, stout and built mike linebacker. Seems very one-dimensional, but has good instincts in zone coverage.

  32. Laken Tomlinson, Guard, Duke. Unpopular pick, because I doubt any other big board has this guy in the top 50, but I think Duke guys are well coached, technique wise he is a great pass blocker, and gets great push in the run game. I think he could step in and start at left guard, but he is a guard, and that is why he is so low.




This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.