Vikings Mock Draft - Post Free Agency Wave 1

Free agency has started off with a HUGE BANG for most Vikings fans. It really does give reason to be excited! I am guessing that the rest of free agency is going to be very conservative with mainly minimum level deals.

I could see them bringing back Newman and Berger for 2 to 3 mil each if they would accept that amount. I like Matt Slauson as a veteran offensive lineman that can play guard. I could see them trying to sign a receiver like Eric Decker or Jeremy Maclin for cheap. Eric Ebron would be interesting at TE but he probably will get a deal too pricey. I like Jay Bromley at defensive tackle.

Right now spotrac has the Vikings with 29.9 mil in cap space not including Richardson. Subtract his 8 mil and they have 21.9 mil.

The rookie draft pool actually does not come off the cap but you need to have the money to sign your rookies as noted here.

It’s basically saying that when you sign a rookie, that amount will replace an amount at the bottom of the top 51 that count against the cap.

The Vikings will really only need about 2 mil to sign the rookies. That leaves 19.9 mil to add a few more players that would also bump someone from the bottom of the top 51 that count against the cap. So, if they sign Jay Bromley to a 1 year 1.2 mil deal then he would only count about 700K against the cap because someone making 480K would come off the calculation.

After they add a few more players like ...

Terrence Newman - 1 yr for 2.5 mil (only counts 2 mil against the cap because someone at the bottom bumped)

Matt Slauson/Joe Berger - 1yr for 2 mil (only counts 1.5 mil against the cap because someone at the bottom bumped)

Jay Bromley - 1 yr for 1.5 mil (only counts 1 mil against the cap because someone at the bottom bumped)

Kai Forbath or some kicker - 1 mil

They should have about 13.9 mil in cap space remaining after these signings or similar signings.

They can use this for extensions but they might not do that until the end of the season but I could see them doing at least Barr.

They could give Barr a 5 year 55 mil deal with a 15 mil signing bonus and salaries of 1, 6, 9, 11, & 13 mil. The cap hits would be 4, 9, 12, 14, & 16 mil.

That would free up 8.3 mil in cap space bringing the available cap space to 22.2 mil.

Maybe they do Diggs before the season and then Hunter and Kendricks at the end of the season?

So that leaves the draft. The majority of fans expect an early pick or two on offensive linemen. I could see them going that direction too. But I am not sure and the draft class for interior linemen is considered to be strong. I could see them waiting to get an additional interior lineman.

Spielman did say after signing Richardson that he need to go start scouting corners which was a tell to me. I cannot find a transcript but I do recall reading it.

The Vikings have these picks ...

1.30.30

2.30.62

3.30.94

5.30.167

6.30.204

6.39.213

6.44.218

7.07.225

I used the fanspeak on the clock premium tool.

Big Board - drafttek

https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=cdodsf

TRADES

CLEVELAND BROWNS

SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 30

RECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 3 & rOUND: 4 PICK: 14

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

SENT: ROUND: 5 PICK: 30 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 30

RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 6 & ROUND: 7 PICK: 22

CLEVELAND BROWNS

SENT: FUTURE ROUND 6 PICK & ROUND: 7 PICK: 22

RECEIVED: ROUND: 6 PICK: 1

35: R2P3 CB COLORADO

6’0.2” 201 with 33 1/2” arms, ran a 4.5 forty. Still waiting on pro day for other results.

62: R2P30 WR CHRISTIAN KIRK TEXAS A&M

5’10.3” 201 with 30 3/8” arms, ran a 4.47 forty, 20 bench, 35.5” vert, 9’7” broad, 7.09 3-cone

94: R3P30 TE HAYDEN HURST SOUTH CAROLINA

6’4.4” 250 with 32 3/4” arms, ran a 4.67 forty, 10’0” broad, 7.19 3-cone

Jeff Blake-USA TODAY Sports

114: R4P14 C JAMES DANIELS IOWA

6’3.3” 306 with 33 3/4” arms, 21 bench, 30.5” vert, 9’0” broad, 7.29 3-cone

143: R5P6 DL NATHAN SHEPHERD FORT HAYS STATE

6’3.6” 315 with 32 3/8” arms, 31” vert, 9’4” broad, 7.50 3-cone

175: R6P1 EDGE DUKE EJIOFOR WAKE FOREST

6’4” 264 with 34 7/8” arms. Still waiting on pro day for other results.

213: R6P39 RB PHILLIP LINDSAY COLORADO

5’7.3” 185 with 31” arms, ran a 4.39 forty, 14 bench, 35.5” vert, 10’4” broad

DP

218: R6P44 LB OREN BURKS VANDERBILT

6’3.1” 233 with 33 3/8” arms, ran a 4.59 forty, 18 bench, 39.5” vert, 10’11” broad, 6.82 3-cone

225: R7P7 K DANIEL CARLSON AUBURN

6’5” 213 with 32” arms

UDFA

CB DARIUS PHILLIPS - WESTERN MICHIGAN

FB RYAN NALL - OREGON STATE

CB PARRY NICKERSON - TULANE

C AUSTIN CORBETT - NEVADA

WR JAKE WIENEKE - S DAKOTA ST

DL BILAL NICHOLS - DELAWARE

OT ALEX CAPPA - HUMBOLDT ST

S NATRELL JAMERSON - WISONSIN

RB CHASE EDMONDS - FORDHAM

OT COLE MADISON - WASHINGTON ST

S TRE FLOWERS - OKLAHOMA ST

G COLBY GOSSETT - APPALACHIAN ST

WR JEFF BADET - OKLAHOMA

S JOSHUA KALU - NEBRASKA

OT BRETT TOTH - ARMY

Obviously, there are players shown here as UDFAs that many will say GTFO. That is cool.

drafttek’s rankings are interesting and this is the result.

I think Oliver is just the kind of corner that Zimmer will LOVE. He has very long arms and is a press corner. I think they can bring back Newman and then grab a player like Oliver. It could be a move to hedge against paying Waynes. This is where the people who were against signing Cousins could point to an another example. But that is OK. The Vikings might not want to have too many players making top dollar. Waynes will have an expected 10 mil 5th year cap hit in 2019. If he plays well next year then the Vikings may be able to trade him for hopefully at least a 2nd round pick. They can slide Oliver into his spot if he is showing signs of being able to be the starter.

Christian Kirk is a nice addition to the receiving group and brings return abilities. This is another move that could lead them to not keeping Diggs. If Diggs wants north of 15 mil then it could be too pricey. They will need to bump Thielen’s salary up if he continues his stellar play. If they could trade Diggs then they likely should get a high pick too. The only way they can do that though is during this year’s draft which is highly unlikely. I just like adding another weapon because with Wright now gone and Treadwell still not contributing, if there is an injury (knock on wood) then the receiving group could be not as strong. I would not trade Diggs. I would extend him AND have Kirk too!

I think Hurst is another tight end who is ready to contribute and could replace Rudolph after the 2019 season or if they trade Rudolph next year. Doubtful but if Hurst is doing well it could be a consideration and would save 7.625 mil in cap space.

I finally add an offensive lineman in the 4th round which is sure to make people give this mock a big fat F!

Daniels is very good and probably will not even be there in the 4th. He played a little guard at Iowa before moving to center. Getting a player who is able to play center and guard is a good thing. The Vikings need someone to slide over for Elflein if he gets banged up.

I think Shepherd or another defensive tackle is needed because they need MOAR depth and insurance in case they cannot or do not want to extend Richardson. Trenton Thompson was an option at this spot too.

I think trading up for another edge player is never a bad thing. Ejiofor has the traits you look for in an end.

Lindsay is a back that does not get enough love but he had a great career at Colorado. He should have been invited to the combine and caught 53 passes his junior year. He could be similar to Darren Sproles or Chris Thompson. A nice 3rd down compliment.https://www.ralphiereport.com/2018/3/8/17097270/phillip-lindsay-fantastic-pro-day-results

Burks is a linebacker that did well in the combine and could go as early as the 3rd round. If he does then I can see Matthew Thomas here. Either way a linebacker is always a good pick and they need more competition.

Not sure why Carlson is still available which is also unlikely but if he is then it would be a good pick. If they bring back Forbath then this will probably not happen.

Here is an alternate

Big Board - drafttek

https://fanspeak.com/ontheclock/sharedraft.php?d=jbgwhq

TRADES

CLEVELAND BROWNS

SENT: ROUND: 1 PICK: 30

RECEIVED: ROUND: 2 PICK: 3 & ROUND: 4 PICK: 14

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

SENT: ROUND: 4 PICK: 14

RECEIVED: ROUND: 4 PICK: 22 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 22

DALLAS COWBOYS

SENT: ROUND: 5 PICK: 30 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 30

RECEIVED: ROUND: 4 PICK: 37 & ROUND: 7 PICK: 18

NEW YORK JETS

SENT: ROUND: 6 PICK: 22 & ROUND: 7 PICK: 7

RECEIVED: ROUND: 5 PICK: 20

35: R2P3 CB ISAIAH OLIVER COLORADO

62: R2P30 WR CHRISTIAN KIRK TEXAS A&M

94: R3P30 DL NATHAN SHEPHERD FORT HAYS STATE

122: R4P22 G SCOTT QUESSENBERRY UCLA

137: R4P37 LB JOSEY JEWELL IOWA

157: R5P20 TE TROY FUMAGALLI WISCONSIN

213: R6P39 RB ITO SMITH SOUTHERN MISSISSIPPI

218: R6P44 K EDDY PINIERO FLORIDA

236: R7P18 S GODWIN IGWEBUIKE NORTHWESTERN

The Jets probably wont trade with us because they are bitter. Well there fans are but maybe not the GM?

Well, there you have it!

Feel free to take the link from either mock and post what you would do differently.