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wtfvikesfan (449)Day Eleven of our Community Mock is updated with the results from our last poll. We awarded nose tackle Dontari Poe to the Chiefs and now it is the Seattle Seahawks that are on the clock.
The Seahawks recently signed quarterback Matt Flynn to compete with Tarvaris Jackson in the starting lineup, but there are plenty of other needs to fill and that will start with this selection.
View the Community Mock by clicking here.
Cast your vote below.
Whether by design or otherwise, the Vikings are suddenly in possession of the hottest pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.
The third overall selection that the Vikings hold is suddenly the center of the most buzz. There appears to possibly be a trade market growing for teams that think Ryan Tannehill could be a franchise quarterback. Peter King mentioned it earlier in the week, and Matt Flynn’s signing in Seattle has seemingly left the Browns and the Dolphins out in the cold in regards to their quarterback situation.
I find it hard to believe that any team would be willing to select Tannehill third overall, let alone trade up to get him there, but stranger things have happened.
Also, I had previously passed along an article citing an unnamed source saying that the Vikings front office was somewhat split and the LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne could seriously be considered by the Vikings when they are on the clock.
The National Football Authority has a similar article today in which a source “close to the scouting ranks” who says the Vikings will indeed target Claiborne over tackle Matt Kalil and receiver Justin Blackmon.
Claiborne is a quality player worthy of consideration, but I find these unnamed sources stories hard to take seriously this time of year, as the Vikings or any other team could be sending out smokescreens for any number of reasons.
Regardless, the Vikings have successfully gone from “they will certainly take Kalil” to “they have lots of options” and that mystery can only help them in their quest to generate a trade partner in April.
Six Days into free agency, we have seemingly entered “wave two” of the annual garage sale. The Vikings have been, as you all know, very quiet thus far. The re-signed three of their own: Sage Rosenfels, Letroy Guion, and Fred Evans. They also signed Nick Taylor, a former college point guard turned arena football defensive back.
Their biggest signing was tight end John Carlson, who received a five year deal worth up to $25 million.
For the most part, Rick Spielman sat back and watched this year’s top talents fly to new destinations and the Vikings stressed that a patient approach is the right approach to free agency.
Still, there are indications that the Vikings are not yet done with free agency and will now commence with bargain hunting. Here are the top ten players that are still available and, in this hack blogger’s opinion, should be targeted by the Vikings this week.
The VT community has spoken once again, and this time you all have decided that cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick will join the Bills defense that has also just acquired defensive end Mario Williams.
Now, it is the Kansas City Chiefs that are on the clock. Please cast a vote and leave your analysis in the comments section.
If you visit our Tweet GRIDiron, you will quickly realize that free agent linebacker Erin Henderson is quickly growing unhappy with the Vikings attempts to retain him.
Henderson began the day by stating, “I wish I [could] speak freely on twitter…”
Then, probably against the wishes of his agent, Henderson proceeded to speak freely on Twitter.
Henderson went undrafted four seasons ago, but last year got a chance to start alongside his brother E.J. as the team’s weakside linebacker. He also pulled some duties in the middle, when E.J. needed to be spelled due to injury.
“What’s crazy is I’m not even asking for big money,” Tweeted Henderson. “All I want is respectable money for what I’m asked to do…”
Henderson clearly plans on continuing to be a starter in the NFL, but it sounds like the toll it takes on his body is worth more to him than the $1.2 million he made in 2011.
“I got a taste of what it means to be a starting [linebacker]. [T]rust me if the money aint right it doesn’t make sense at all…” Henderson continued.
“In a nutshell… market value and franchise value aren’t always going to match,” Henderson said. “If someone can play [three] positions [for you], their value has to go up. … I watched every single [one] of my games from last [year] [ten times] over. I know what I’m worth.”
The Vikings have reportedly been in contact with Henderson’s agent at multiple points throughout the offseason, and they have expressed their desire to keep him on the roster, but there is currently no standing offer out there.
“Not to mention they [haven't] even [given] me an offer….” Henderson lamented on Twitter.
Henderson’s choice to vent his frustrations in a public setting may not be a wise one, and will be even less wise for Rick Spielman to respond in a public setting.
The truth is probably less sinister than some of the conspiracy theories floating around out there at the moment. The free agency period has been very slow for the linebacker position, and much of the top talent is still available. By all appearances, Henderson has yet to receive substantial interest from any other teams, and it is hard to blame the Vikings front office for holding tight and waiting to see where the market sets Henderson’s value.
The risk with this approach, of course, is that Henderson will grow so frustrated that he decides to ignore the Vikings moving forward and turns his attention from moving on from Minnesota. Henderson’s risk, on the other hand, is that team’s will be turned off by his public rants and decide to pursue other talent… of which plenty is available.
Henderson needs to realize he isn’t the team’s only option to fill his shoes. The Vikings, however, need to realize that solid talent only 25 years old is exactly what this roster needs now, and in the future.
The needs and wants seem mutual, and now we just need to see how the process plays out.
Friday evening I solicited questions from the audience and I will try to hit as many as I can in this segment.
A few of them were too silly to answer in this post, but I’ll try and match the silliness and reply to them in the comments section.
Here we go.
NORSEMAN66: Is there going to be a live chat during the draft (each day)?
ADAM: Yes! Brett and I plan to host live chats here at VT for every selection of the 2012 NFL Draft and we are way excited! Barring any last minute major changes, you can consider this a done deal. One thing I might be interested in, though, is recruiting one or two of you to be a moderator during the chats to help out with the work load. If you have interest, click the “Contact Us” tab at the very top of the page and let me know your availability that week.
BJOHNNY: What are your thoughts on Speilman? Is he in over his head, clueless or a crafty genius?
ADAM: Where is the “other” option, Johnny? I think Spielman’s approach to free agency makes this year’s Draft even more important to him. Building through the draft is regarded by almost everyone as the best way to put together a winning football team, but you still have to draft well to see those results. Let’s wait and see how the Draft and the next few waves of free agency go (and maybe even a football game or two) before judging the approach too harshly.
In a move that will surely raise the hackles of the hackles of the hackles that have already been raised on Vikings fans this offseason, the Vikings have made a move that some will deem a waste of time.
The team has reportedly signed former point guard at Florida International University Nick Taylor.
The former basketball player work out at FIU’s pro day and apparently caught the Vikings attention by posting a forty yard dash in the neighborhood of 4.34 and 4.27. He attended the pro day after spending time with a low-level arena league last year.
The Vikings then brought Taylor in for a closer look on Friday and decided to sign him to a three year contract. Taylor said the team will give him a look as a return man, a receiver and a cornerback. He played defensive back for his arena team.
Taylor has a major uphill battle ahead of him if he plans on sticking to the roster beyond training camp.
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