Based off Spielman's presser today it is a pretty good bet AP is staying. What positions do the Vikings need the most help? What player at a specific position could step in and start from day one?
The only position where I think a day one starter could legitimately be found is at left guard. Brandon Scherff or La'el Collins look to be the two best prospects to fill that position and both have the ability to play tackle.
I do not see a corner starting even if it is Trae Waynes or Marcus Peters. I think Robinson or Newman will start on one side with Rhodes on the other and Munnerlyn in the slot.
I do not see a linebacker starting either even if it is Kendricks, McKinney, or Anthony. I think the starters are Greenway and Barr with Hodges and Matthews battling it out for the other spot.
I do not see a safety starting although Landon Collins may have a good chance.
I do not see any defensive tackle or end stepping in and starting right away.
On offense I cannot see anyone starting besides the left guard. Not even a receiver.
I am sure that the 1st and 2nd round picks probably can play a good number of snaps. But they really do not have to.
So when I look at the draft I am trying to get the best player available. I look at what players may not be here in 2016 and try and see if I could find a replacement this year for those players. That gives the rookie a year to get ready to play more snaps.
Look at the running back spot. There is a story here detailing the Vikings "commitment" to AP and how Spielman is not moving him without a substantial offer. What is substantial and reasonable though? I question the Vikings commitment just like the article does too. If they were really that committed then why not offer AP a restructured deal with some guaranteed money? They seem to be trying to play both sides of the fence to me. They are committed for this next year and that is it. AP knows this too.
Next year, they can cut him with zero cap hit and the chance that they could trade him for anything is very very slim. Not at his age and remaining contract. So really, they either trade him now or try to convince him to take less money after this season. That should go over very well. Not! I just do not get it.
If the Vikings are being honest about really believing in AP then why not redo his deal? This is what I do not understand and watching him play this year to decide if you want to ask him to take essentially a pay cut is hypocritical. Pay the man some guaranteed money!
I think that Todd Gurley would be an excellent pick. He can take it easy the first half of the season (probably be put on the PUP) and then ease into limited action as the season progresses. Then, next year he can be ready to roll.
I look at the wide receiver position and it is obvious that Mike Wallace needs to have a pretty dang good year to get 11 mil in 2016. Jarius Wright is in his contract year as well. That leaves CP84 and Johnson. CP84 needs to really step it up this year or he will be a huge question heading into 2016. Taking a top receiver early is not a bad option but that will limit snaps for someone.
I look at offensive tackle and see that Kalil is in a make or break year and some folks already think he is average at his absolute best. Loadholt is getting up there too. Offensive tackle could become a huge issue quicker than we think.
I look at linebacker and it is obvious that upgrades are needed. But are there really any worth it early in the draft at #11? And which ones will be left at #45? Are they worth the pick there or can you find another similar linebacker later in the draft? But with Greenway likely in his last season, and Cole plus Mauti in theirs too, the cupboard could get bare real quick.
I look at corner and see Robinson in his last season, Newman on a one year deal, and Munnerlyn needing to do better this year and you could be looking for 3 corners in 2016.
I look at safety and see Blanton and Sendejo entering their last seasons as well.
At defensive end, you have Robison who is 32 and then Griffen and Crichton. After that it is Trattou and Rayford. The way the Vikings were trying to sign Johnson and Selvie leads me to believe this is a position they are truly concerned about.
You can never have enough defensive tackles so adding more players to that mix (and run defenders in particular) could be a smart move.
Any player at one of these positions would be a good pick though save a couple. The pick, no matter the position, will have the luxury of getting developed a bit before being put out there. It is possible that a 1st round pick could start too but it is not necessary. It is a good thing not to feel like you MUST find a player at a particular position like in 2011 with QB and 2012 with OT.
Basically, if the Vikings do not want to spend a high pick on a guard, then they can probably take a WR, DE, DT, CB, or one S in the first round. I think the most value is finding a player to get after the passer.
So I am gearing my mock to attempt to do just that.
1st trade - 1.11 to the Texans for 1.16, 3.18, 6.19
2nd trade - 3.18 to the Cardinals for 3.22 & 5.23
16 - R1P16 DT ARIK ARMSTEAD OREGON
45 - R2P13 CB JALEN COLLINS LSU
76 - R3P12 WR NELSON AGHOLOR USC
86 - R3P22 G A.J. CANN SOUTH CAROLINA
110 - R4P11 CB ERIC ROWE UTAH
137 - R5P1 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
159 - R5P23 OLB DAVIS TULL CHATTANOOGA
195 - R6P19 QB SEAN MANNION OREGON STATE
228 - R7P11 DT DERRICK LOTT TENNESSEE-CHATTANOGA
232 - R7P15 ILB BRYCE HAGER BAYLOR
I wanted to select Randy Gregory but the failed marijuana test is very concerning and with Dion Jordan relapsing into a season long suspension the risk is just too much.
Armstead is a huge base DE and is just the kind of player Zimmer likes. Based off the Vikings search for a defensive end in free agency, I really think an end will be the pick and Armstead is my favorite right now. He looks to be a clone of Calais Campbell.
Collins in the 2nd round may be a pipe dream but with him only having 10 starts under his belt, that could be something teams are concerned enough about to not use a 1st round pick on him.
Agholor brings another weapon and a punt returner to the team. Getting him in the 3rd could also be a pipe dream but you hear that every draft about players (I think it is true with Agholor though).
AJ Cann in the 3rd seems about right to me and he definitely could compete for that left guard spot.
Rowe in the 4th is another probable dream. But you never know. The Vikings need another defensive back to bring some competition and as I mentioned above, there are some players entering the last year of their contracts.
David Johnson in the 5th is a hopeful pick but with AP not leaving, taking one earlier could be considered a waste.
I like Mannion as a QB and he seems like a good developmental QB to have behind Teddy. His ceiling could be just a backup but that is fine. Many scouts compare him to Matt Schaub.
Lott in the 7th is just a defensive tackle I thought they should add. Coming from the same school as Tull was just a coincidence and I really did not consider it until I started to post this story. I almost took Corey Robinson instead.
Hager with the last pick is a LB I liked a lot this year. He has the measure-ables you want.
Well, this is likely my last mock this year. I have some others I have done that I will post below just for fun.
1st trade - 1.11 to the Eagles for 1.20, 2.20, & 6.20
2nd trade - 2.13 & 4.11 to the Bears for 2.7
3rd trade - 2.20 to the Ravens for 2.26 & 4.26
20 - R1P20 RB MELVIN GORDON WISCONSIN
39 - R2P7 DE OWAMAGBE ODIGHIZUWA UCLA
58 - R2P26 ILB STEPHONE ANTHONY CLEMSON
76 - R3P12 WR SAMMIE COATES AUBURN
125 - R4P26 CB JOSH SHAW SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
137 - R5P1 OT TYRUS THOMPSON OKLAHOMA
196 - R6P20 CB DARRYL ROBERTS MARSHALL
228 - R7P11 DT DARIUS PHILON ARKANSAS
232 - R7P15 OG JARVIS HARRISON TEXAS A&M
1st trade - 1.11 to the 49ers for 1.15, 4.27, & 6.14
2nd trade - 2.13 & 4.11 to the Jets for 2.5
3rd trade - 2016 2nd to the Patriots for 2.32 & 7.2
4th trade - 3.13 to the Eagles for 3.20 & 5.9
5th trade - 3.20 & 4.27 to the Patriots for 3.32 & 4.2
15 - R1P15 DT ARIK ARMSTEAD OREGON
37 - R2P5 RB TODD GURLEY GEORGIA
64 - R2P32 ILB STEPHONE ANTHONY CLEMSON
96 - R3P32 OT DONOVAN SMITH PENN STATE
101 - R4P2 G ALI MARPET HOBART
137 - R5P1 WR CHRIS CONLEY GEORGIA
145 - R5P9 RB JEREMY LANGFORD MICHIGAN STATE
190 - R6P14 CB CODY RIGGS NOTRE DAME
219 - R7P2 DT DERRICK LOTT TENNESSEE-CHATTANOGA
228 - R7P11 CB DEXTER MCDONALD KANSAS
232 - R7P15 QB BRANDON BRIDGE SOUTH ALABAMA
1st trade - 1.11 to the Chiefs for 1.18 & 2.17
2nd trade - 3.12 to the Eagles for 3.20 & 5.9
3rd trade - 2016 5th to the Seahawks for 6.5
18 - R1P18 OLB RANDY GREGORY NEBRASKA
45 - R2P13 CB BYRON JONES CONNECTICUT
49 - R2P17 ILB BENARDRICK MCKINNEY MISSISSIPPI ST
84 - R3P20 OT CEDRIC OGBUEHI TEXAS A&M
110 - R4P11 CB ERIC ROWE UTAH
137 - R5P1 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
145 - R5P9 CB IFO EKPRE-OLOMU OREGON
181 - R6P5 WR CHRIS CONLEY GEORGIA
228 - R7P11 OLB DAVIS TULL UT-CHATTANOOGA
232 - R7P15 FB TYLER VARGA YALE
1st trade - 1.11 to the Chiefs for 1.18 & 2.17
2nd trade - 3.12 to the Eagles for 3.20 & 5.9
3rd trade - 2016 5th to the Seahawks for 6.5
18 - R1P18 OLB RANDY GREGORY NEBRASKA
45 - R2P13 CB BYRON JONES CONNECTICUT
49 - R2P17 ILB BENARDRICK MCKINNEY MISSISSIPPI ST
84 - R3P20 OT CEDRIC OGBUEHI TEXAS A&M
110 - R4P11 CB ERIC ROWE UTAH
137 - R5P1 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
145 - R5P9 CB IFO EKPRE-OLOMU OREGON
181 - R6P5 WR CHRIS CONLEY GEORGIA
228 - R7P11 OLB DAVIS TULL UT-CHATTANOOGA
232 - R7P15 FB TYLER VARGA YALE
1st trade - 1.11 to the Texans for 1.16, 3.18, & 6.19
2nd trade - 2016 2nd to the Colts for 2.29
16 - R1P16 OLB RANDY GREGORY NEBRASKA
45 - R2P13 OT ANDRUS PEAT STANFORD
61 - R2P29 ILB BENARDRICK MCKINNEY MISSISSIPPI ST.
76 - R3P12 CB BYRON JONES CONNECTICUT
82 - R3P18 WR NELSON AGHOLAR USC
110 - R4P11 DE HENRY ANDERSON STANFORD
137 - R5P1 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
195 - R6P19 DT DARIUS PHILON ARKANSAS
228 - R7P11 OT TERRY POOLE SAN DIEGO ST.
232 - R7P15 WR DARREN WALLER GEORGIA TECH
1st trade - 1.11 to the Texans for 1.16 & 3.18
2nd trade - 2.13 & 3.18 to the Titans for 2.1 & 6.1
3rd trade - 2016 2nd to the Patriots for 2.32
16 - R1P16 OLB RANDY GREGORY NEBRASKA
33 - R2P1 OT LA’EL COLLINS LSU
64 - R2P32 CB BYRON JONES CONNECTICUT
83 - R3P19 WR NELSON AGHOLOR SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
110 - R4P11 ILB BEN HEENEY KANSAS
137 - R5P1 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
153 - R5P17 OT COREY ROBINSON SOUTH CAROLINA
177 - R6P1 S ADRIAN AMOS PENN STATE
228 - R7P11 DT DEREK LOTT TENNESSEE-CHATTANOOGA
232 - R7P15 CB CRAIG MAGER TEXAS STATE
1st trade - 1.11 to the Saints for 1.13 & 5.12
2nd trade - 1.13 to the 49ers for 1.15 & 4.27
3rd trade - 3.13 & 4.11 to the Colts for 2.29 & 7.27
15 - R1P15 DT ARIK ARMSTEAD OREGON
45 - R2P13 CB BYRON JONES CONNECTICUT
61 - R2P29 ILB STEPHONE ANTHONY CLEMSON
96 - R3P32 G A.J. CANN SOUTH CAROLINA
126 - R4P27 WR CHRIS CONLEY GEORGIA
137 - R5P1 CB ERIC ROWE UTAH
148 - R5P12 RB JEREMY LANGFORD MICHIGAN STATE
228 - R7P11 OT COREY ROBINSON SOUTH CAROLINA
232 - R7P15 WR TY MONTGOMERY STANFORD
244 - R7P27 OLB FRANK CLARK MICHIGAN
1st trade - 1.11 to the Chiefs for 1.18 & 2.17
2nd trade - 2.17 to the Patriots for 2.32, 3.32, and 4.32
3rd trade - 3.12, 5.1, & 7.15 to the Redskins for 3.5 & 6.6
4th trade - 3.32 to the Falcons for 4.8 & 5.8
5th trade - 2016 6th to the Cowboys for 7.19 & 7.26
6th trade - 2016 7th to the 49ers for 7.29
18 - R1P18 OT ANDRUS PEAT STANFORD
45 - R2P13 WR BRESHAD PERRIMAN CENTRAL FLORIDA
64 - R2P32 ILB STEPHONE ANTHONY CLEMSON
69 - R3P5 CB P.J. WILLIAMS FLORIDA ST
107 - R4P8 CB ERIC ROWE UTAH
110 - R4P11 RB DAVID JOHNSON NORTHERN IOWA
131 - R4P32 CB IFO EKPRE-OLOMU OREGON
146 - R5P10 WR CHRIS CONLEY GEORGIA
182 - R6P6 OLB JORDAN HICKS TEXAS
228 - R7P11 DE FRANK CLARK MICHIGAN
236 - R7P19 QB BRANDON BRIDGE SOUTH ALABAMA
243 - R7P26 G JARVIS HARRISON TEXAS A&M
246 - R7P29 DT DARIUS PHILON ARKANSAS
I probably like the last one best to be honest.
Cant wait for tomorrow!