Week 2 - Which College Players Are Future Vikings 2019

College Football Season Is Here!

It started last Saturday with a couple of games actually. I’ll say it again but the next few months are probably my favorite time of the year. I love to watch college football AND watch the Vikings. For those of you that also like to watch both then you may like to check out some players that could be future Vikings.

In 2020, the Vikings will have some interesting decisions to make. Right now according to overthecap the Vikings are under the cap by 11.7 mil and according to spotrac that are under the cap by 23.2 mil.

They have a few players that will be free agents that wont come cheap. Trae Waynes, Anthony Harris, and MacKenzie Alexander are the top free agents. Then you have CJ Ham, David Morgan, Jayron Kearse, Stephen Weatherly, and OMG Kyle Sloter.

There definitely will be some cuts or adjustments made to contracts.

If Griffen and Reiff are released they save 21.9 mil. If they trade Rhodes they save 8.1 mil. If they restructure/extend Joseph they can save a little but his current salary is not too bad for a top defensive tackle. Geno Atkins signed a 4 yr 65 mil deal in 2018. Snacks Harrison just got a 1 year 11.25 mil extension. Marcel Dareus just got a 2 year 28 mil deal. If Joseph plays well this year again it will be tough to ask him to take a pay cut. I could see them giving him a 2 year extension pushing his contract out to 2024 when he will be 35. Maybe he could play as long as PWill? They probably would give him a signing bonus and guarantee a couple of years to make it worthwhile for him as he does not have anymore guaranteed money. If they gave him a 6 mil signing bonus they could free up another 4.8 mil if cap space.

The nuclear (or many would say best) option would be to trade Cousins. They would save 30 mil if they trade him. Then cut Griffen, Reiff, & Joseph plus trade Rhodes and they would have 41.3 mil in cap space.

Many feel the QB to replace Cousins is on the roster in Sloter. They would have to find a replacement for Reiff and would have to hope Stephen, Jaleel, and Holmes can step it up big time. If they trade Rhodes then they likely would extend Waynes and Alexander and hopefully Hughes shows he is able to step up.

Lots of options and possibilities to speculate about as the season rolls on.

I think that in terms of what positions to watch and players this year in college football, I am going to watch offensive linemen (of course), wide receivers (strong draft class), defensive end, and defensive back.

Here is a link to some sites that have rankings already ...

https://walterfootball.com/draft2020QB.php

https://www.drafttek.com/2020-NFL-Draft-Position-Rankings/Top-College-QBs.asp

https://nfldraftblitz.com/category/player-rankings/2020-rankings/

https://thedraftnetwork.com/prospect-rankings

https://www.draftblaster.com/2020-nfl-mock-draft/

http://www.draftscout.com/players.php?GenPos=QB&DraftYear=2020&sortorder=TSXPos&order=ASC

Here are some games that I will try to see this weekend. Bolded players are ones I like ...

Thursday, August 29

UCLA at Cincinnati 7:00 PM

Darnay Holmes - UCLA - CB - 5’10” - 198

Krys Barnes - UCLA - ILB - 6’1” - 235

Joshua Kelley - UCLA - RBF - 5’11” - 204

Keisean Lucier-South - UCLA - EDGE - 6’4” - 235

Theo Howard - UCLA - WRF - 6’0” - 182

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Michael Warren II - Cincinnati - RBF - 5’11” - 218

James Wiggins - Cincinnati - S - 6’0” - 206

Josiah Deguara - Cincinnati - TE - 6’3” - 240

South Dakota State at Minnesota 9:00 PM

Christian Rozeboom - South Dakota State - LB - 6’2” - 230

Chase Vinatieri - South Dakota State - PK - 6’1” - 215

Mikey Daniel - South Dakota State - RB - 6’0” - 235

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Antoine Winfield Jr. - Minnesota - S - 5’10” - 207

Tyler Johnson - Minnesota - WRF - 6’2” - 200

Carter Coughlin - Minnesota - OLB - 6’4” - 245

Rodney Smith - Minnesota - RBF - 5’11” - 210

Kamal Martin - Minnesota - ILB - 6’3” - 235

#14 Utah at BYU 10:15 PM

Jaylon Johnson - Utah - CB - 6’0” - 190

Zack Moss - Utah - RBF - 5’10” - 210

Britain Covey - Utah - WRS - 5’8” - 170

Leki Fotu - Utah - DL1T - 6’5” - 330

Julian Blackmon - Utah - S - 6’1” - 195

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Matt Bushman - BYU - TE - 6’5” - 245

Friday, August 30

#19 Wisconsin at South Florida 7:00 PM

Tyler Biadasz - Wisconsin - OG - 6’3” - 315

Jonathan Taylor - Wisconsin - RBF - 5’11” - 215

Isaiah Loudermilk - Wisconsin - DL5T - 6’7” - 306

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Mitchell Wilcox - South Florida - TE - 6’5” - 245

Jordan Cronkrite - South Florida - RBF - 5’11” - 207

Colorado State at Colorado 10:00 PM

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Laviska Shenault - Colorado - WRF - 6’2” - 220

Steven Montez - Colorado - QB - 6’5” - 230

Mustafa Johnson - Colorado - DL3T - 6’2” - 290

Davion Taylor - Colorado - OLB - 6’2” - 220

Saturday, August 31

Florida Atlantic at #5 Ohio State 12:00 PM

Harrison Bryant - Florida Atlantic - TE - 6’5” - 240

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Chase Young - Ohio State - EDGE - 6’5” - 265

Jeffrey Okudah - Ohio State - CB - 6’1” - 200

J.K. Dobbins - Ohio State - RBF - 5’10” - 214

Jonah Jackson - Ohio State - OG - 6’3” - 309

K.J. Hill - Ohio State - WRF - 6’0” - 195

Malik Harrison - Ohio State - ILB - 6’3” - 245

Jonathon Cooper - Ohio State - EDGE - 6’4” - 257

Tuf Borland - Ohio State - ILB - 6’1” - 230

Damon Arnette - Ohio State - CB - 6’0” - 195

Pete Werner - Ohio State - ILB - 6’3” - 236

Jordan Fuller - Ohio State - S - 6’2” - 205

Robert Landers - Ohio State - DL3T - 6’1” - 285

Eastern Washington at #13 Washington 3:00 PM

Spencer Blackburn - Eastern Washington - OL - 6’2” - 290

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Trey Adams - Washington - OT - 6’7” - 315

Jacob Eason - Washington - QB - 6’6” - 228

Nick Harris - Washington - OC - 6’1” - 302

Aaron Fuller - Washington - WRS - 5’11” - 186

Levi Onwuzurike - Washington - DL3T - 6’3” - 282

Northwestern at #25 Stanford 4:00 PM

Paddy Fisher - Northwestern - ILB - 6’4” - 241

Joe Gaziano - Northwestern - DL5T - 6’4” - 275

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Walker Little - Stanford - OT - 6’7” - 313

Colby Parkinson - Stanford - TE - 6’7” - 240

K.J. Costello - Stanford - QB - 6’5” - 215

Paulson Adedo - Stanford - CB - 6’1” - 189

Jet Toner - Stanford - PK - 6’4” - 201

#3 Georgia at Vanderbilt 7:30 PM

Jake Fromm - Georgia - QB - 6’2” - 220

Andrew Thomas - Georgia - OT - 6’5” - 320

D’Andre Swift - Georgia - RBC - 5’9” - 215

Richard LeCounte - Georgia - S - 5’11” - 190

Julian Rochester - Georgia - DL3T - 6’5” - 300

J.R. Reed - Georgia - S - 6’1” - 199

Solomon Kindley - Georgia - OG - 6’4” - 335

Tyler Clark - Georgia - DL1T - 6’4” - 300

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Jared Pinkney - Vanderbilt - TE - 6’4” - 255

KeShawn Vaughn - Vanderbilt - RBF - 5’10” - 215

Kalija Lipscomb - Vanderbilt - WRF - 6’1” - 200

#11 Oregon at #16 Auburn 7:30 PM

Justin Herbert - Oregon - QB - 6’6” - 225

Calvin Throckmorton - Oregon - OT - 6’5” - 318

Shane Lemieux - Oregon - OG - 6’4” - 317

Troy Dye - Oregon - ILB - 6’4” - 224

Jacob Breeland - Oregon - TE - 6’5” - 240

Jake Hanson - Oregon - OC - 6’5” - 297

Jordon Scott - Oregon - DL1T - 6’1” - 329

Thomas Graham Jr. - Oregon - CB - 5’11” - 191

Juwan Johnson - Oregon - WRF - 6’4” - 227

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Derrick Brown - Auburn - DL3T - 6’5” - 318

Nick Coe - Auburn - DL5T - 6’5” - 282

Marlon Davidson - Auburn - DL5T - 6’3” - 278

Prince Tega Wanogho - Auburn - OT - 6’7” - 310

Miami (OH) at #20 Iowa 7:30 PM

Doug Costin - Miami (OH) - 6’2” - 295 - DL

Mike Brown - Miami (OH) - 6’1” - 210 - DB

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A.J. Epenesa - Iowa - DL5T - 6’6” - 280

Alaric Jackson - Iowa - OT - 6’6” - 320

Tristan Wirfs - Iowa - OT - 6’5” - 320

Nate Stanley - Iowa - QB - 6’4” - 243

Fresno State at USC 10:30 PM

Jared Rice - Fresno State - TE - 6’5” - 238

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Christian Rector - USC - EDGE - 6’4” - 275

Marlon Tuipulotu - USC - DL3T - 6’3” - 305

Drew Richmond - USC - OT - 6’5” - 316

Michael Pittman Jr. - USC - WRF - 6’4” - 223

Jay Tufele - USC - DL3T - 6’3” - 310

Sunday, September 1

Houston at #4 Oklahoma 7:30 PM

D’Eriq King - Houston - QB - 5’11” - 195

Leroy Godfrey - Houston - DL - 6’3” - 240

Patrick Carr - Houston - RB - 5’10” - 205

Keith Corbin - Houston - WR - 6’1” - 197

Jarrid Williams - Houston - OL - 6’7” - 305

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CeeDee Lamb - Oklahoma - WRF - 6’2” - 189

Kenneth Murray - Oklahoma - OLB - 6’2” - 238

Jalen Hurts - Oklahoma - QB - 6’2” - 210

Grant Calcaterra - Oklahoma - TE - 6’4” - 221

Trey Sermon - Oklahoma - RBF - 6’0” - 224

Neville Gallimore - Oklahoma - DL1T - 6’2” - 330

Monday, September 2

#9 Notre Dame at Louisville 8:00 PM

Tommy Kraemer - Notre Dame - OG - 6’6” - 319

Khalid Kareem - Notre Dame - EDGE - 6’4” - 265

Julian Okwara - Notre Dame - EDGE - 6’5” - 241

Alohi Gilman - Notre Dame - S - 5’11” - 201

Liam Eichenberg - Notre Dame - OT - 6’6” - 305

Chase Claypool - Notre Dame - WRF - 6’4” - 227

Daelin Hayes - Notre Dame - DL5T - 6’4” - 268

Jalen Elliott - Notre Dame - S - 6’0” - 207

Troy Pride Jr. - Notre Dame - CB - 5’11” - 192

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T.J. McCoy - Louisville - OC - 6’1” - 315

Mekhi Becton - Louisville - OT - 6’7” - 355

Dez Fitzpatrick - Lousiville - 6’2” - 204 - WR

Seth Dawkins - Lousiville - 6’3” - 218 - WR

Cornelius Sturghill - Lousiville - 5’11” - 194 - DB

If I did not list a game that you will be watching or some players you want to watch then please add them in the comments so that I can have for future reference.

As always, I like to give you a mock draft for the heck of it ...

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

TRADES

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

SENT: ROUND: 3 PICK: 42 & ROUND: 6 PICK: 37

RECEIVED: ROUND: 3 PICK: 31

DENVER BRONCOS

SENT: ROUND: 4 PICK: 21

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

21: R1P21 S GRANT DELPIT LSU 6’3” 203

Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

53: R2P21 WR JALEN REAGOR TCU 5’11” 195

Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

85: R3P21 OT LUCAS NIANG TCU 6’7” 328

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

95: R3P31 CB TREVON DIGGS ALABAMA 6’2” 200

Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

153: R5P7 DL NEVILLE GALLIMORE OKLAHOMA 6’2” 330

Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images

186: R6P7 G SEAN POLLARD CLEMSON 6’5” 320

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

200: R6P21 QB COLE MCDONALD HAWAII 6’4” 220

Photo by Darryl Oumi/Getty Images

237: R7P21 EDGE BRADLEE ANAE UTAH 6’3” 265

Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports

252: R7P36 DL JOSIAH COATNEY MISSISSIPPI 6’3” 314

Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports

255: R7P39 LB KAMAL MARTIN MINNESOTA 6’3” 235

Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

I know that safety is not a NEED in the first round but Delpit is too good to pass. Harris MIGHT get an extension from the Vikings but with the way the cap is right now it’s possible he wont get as much as he could on the open market. Plus, they could lose Kearse as well who may want to go somewhere that he has a chance to play more or even start.

I think the 3rd receiver spot is a huge need still.

Getting Niang in the 3rd could be nice but if he plays well he likely goes much earlier.Of course you cannot replace Reiff with a 3rd rounder but they make an adjustment to Reiff’s deal to free up cap space and give him guaranteed money. That way Niang can be groomed. Plus, Hill is just about done. Stick a fork in him and give him a free yellow flag as a parting gift.

I kind of doubt Diggs lasts until the end of the 3rd but there was another Diggs who lasted longer. How can I NOT take a player named Diggs? Zimmer loves him some corners and they will need one if they trade Rhodes or cannot keep Waynes or Alexander. I almost took Bryce Hall in the 1st.

Gallimore is huge and could be the eventual replacement for Joseph.

Pollard is a player that I like and he has over 40 starts at Clemson facing fairly tough competition and playing in the biggest games. I think he would be solid and is another one that likely does not last this long.

McDonald is a QB I like and will be watching a lot this year.

Anae, Coatney and Martin are solid players for their teams and just the kind of players the Vikings get late.

Well, there it is. Have at it.

Enjoy the games this weekend!