Hello, everybody. Brett here back from the dead. I apologize for being so M.IA. lately… “Real life” stuff has been non-stop and it’s been difficult to find time to even think about football. I’ve stayed in the loop as much as I can and have been lurking but just really haven’t had time to contribute. Hopefully things will be slowing down though as the 2013 draft ramps up and I can dedicate more time here.
I’m back today with an updated Mock Draft. This is my second of the year and I’m feeling a little bit better about this one. My last one was posted all the way back in January and [obviously] there were still a lot of unknowns at that point. Of course, there are still unknowns. But at least we’ve gotten through important events that could impact things come draft day like free agency, the combine and some pro days.
This is also the first mock I’ve done since we acquired pick 1.25 from the Seahawks as a result of the Harvin trade. Boy, does having two first round back-t0-back picks sure make things exciting!
There are a lot of different directions the Vikings can go come April 25th and I think the signing of Greg Jennings and the addition of pick #25 really opens things up for the Vikings and they are no longer pidgeon-holed into basically having to go wide receiver in the first round.
Nevertheless, that is exactly what I did. What happened with pick #25 I’m sure you all will find a little more interesting.
I’ll just say this – the closer and closer I got to mocking the Vikings picks, the more I realized that there is a lot of great talent that could potentially fall to us. And there are a lot of different routes we can take.
Of course, it’s impossible to predict what’s going to happen a month from today but it sure is fun to try. Click here to check out my new mock draft and make sure to let me know what you think. Good to be back.
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Patterson was on the board an we took injured allen? minter personal thought he's to slow.
Fully agree, I wouldn't be happy if we took Allen over Patterson or ended up with Brinkley 2.0. That said I wouldn't mind Allen if Patterson is gone.
I liked it until the 20's. If Bjorn Werner is there at 25 we'd be nuts to pass on him, Short over J &S Williams!? Allen over Patterson?! Minter before round 3?!
I really did contemplate pulling the trigger on Werner.
I took Allen over Patterson because all the research I've done points to Allen being a more complete, safer pick at WR. Patterson, although I do like him and would not be disappointed if the Vikings grabbed him, is more of a project with not a lot of experience. (A lot of upside though) I think Allens injury concerns are behind him and he could be an immediate contributor.
Honestly, I thought about taking both of them but just felt we had to address MLB in the first considering our position. I would have liked to have Te'o in that spot but he was just off the board.
Allen is a safer more complete receiver but that's not gonna get us wins, he will never wow us or scare defenders, he's at best another Anquan Boldin while Patterson could be a taller Mike Wallace. As for Minter, he's no better than Brinkley and it would be a wasted pick if we wanted Minter we could have just resigned Brinkley.
Assuming your first 22 are correct I'd want Patterson at 23 and at 25 probably Werner. At that point Werner is too good to pass on. We would then be able to address DT/Mlb/CB with our next 3 picks.
I don't like K Allen over Patterson or Hopkins.
I don't like Minter over Star Lotulelei, Xavier Rhodes or Bjorn Werner.
I think Erin Henderson in the middle is a better option than Minter right now.
In my last mock you said you would take Minter at 23 and that was when we only had one pick. What changed?
I know... I feel bad about that, but with the signing of Erin Henderson, the rise of Arthur Brown and Minters poor showing at the combine - I changed my mind.
Plus, I do not believe you had Patterson, Lotulelei and Xavier Rhodes all on the board.
Yes, I will admit, K Allen and Minter have fallen on my board over the last few weeks! Sorry
Brett, my new risers are DeAndre Hopkins and Kawann Short! Feel free to use them in your next mock. Thanks.
Lotulelei was off the board since pick #3.
I really like Xavier Rhodes. Like I said, there were a bunch of different directions I could have gone with the picks - lots of talent available. It just so happens I picked the direction that everyone hates the most! :)
I will keep Hopkins and Short in mind next time around, Carl.
Sorry, I missed Star up there.
Minter's 4.81 time at the combine turned me off a little.
I think the Vikings will find a way (trade up) to land Sheldon Richardson or Manti with that first pick!
Maybe Spielman can grab both of them in round 1.
Pretty good Brett! I would be happy if we landed any of the players below. Given the Vikes pick at 23 and 25, to land at least one of these players there will need to be a couple of QBs drafted early and then a couple of others like Werner, Mingo, Moore. If these guys aren't available I hope they trade back and get some more picks next year.
WR - Patterson, Allen
OT - Joeckel, Fischer, Johnson
OG - Warmack, Cooper
DT - Floyd, Star, Richardson
OLB/DE - Jordan, Jones, Ansah
CB - Milliner, Rhodes
S - Vaccaro
ILB - Ogletree
Thanks SB. Good list. There's a possibility that all those guys could be off the board come pick 23 though.
I might be in the minority, but I really really like the pick of Alllen. He is actually my favorite receiver in the draft. He is tough, got good hands and route running abilities. He was fairly productive with a very bad QB.
Patterson is very raw, but perhaps has more upside. However I feel he will dissapoint a bit in the pros.
Minter is a tough choice for me. I think the dropoff in LB are not that big and I think in this draft we will find good LBs even in the 3rd round.
Perhaps DT or CB also could be an option in the first round.
Or even gaurd should Cooper or Warmack fall.
But interesting choice, dislike minter a bit, but like Allen A LOT
Wouldn't mind if they take Allen at all with either of the 2 picks but I doubt that him or Patterson will be there (would love to see Allen, Jennings, Wright and Simpson with AD in the backfield . . . course there is that pesky QB issue). Don't see GB taking a WR in the first round - DT or CB would be my guess.
Patterson is one of the more polarizing guys in this years draft, he's just so darn raw it could go either way. He's not going to be able to just show up and be an NFL player, the guys got a lot to learn and I don't think he's a starter as a rookie. Allen will be able to line up and play right away if he's healthy, so I could see the Vikings taking him over Patterson if the draft shaped up that way. Check out the receivers in the game changers series NFL network is running if you can. Patterson, Allen, Woods, Rogers, and Stills were all on with Mooch and Irvin. I like watching these because you can get an idea of the players personality. I can't say Patterson blew me away in that category.
Honestly I'm still a Robert woods fan, he's only behind Patterson in my book.
@AntoineWinfield send him a tweet or do something. he's in washington right now
fans do make a difference:
http://www.startribune.com/sports/vikings/blogs/Access_Vikings.html
Fans, believe it or not, have played at least a small role in aiding the Vikings’ cause in the past two weeks. The news that Winfield had been released proved jarring to so many Viking backers who’d grown attached to his hustle and toughness and savvy over the past nine years. Many fans, upset with the Vikings’ business move, began sending support letters and e-mails to Winfield and his camp. The outpouring of love was significant. And one NFL source said that if the cornerback does decide to circle back to reunite with the Vikings, there will be three big reasons he does so. “The biggest factors in potentially pulling Antoine back there would be a) coaching staff; b) teammates; c) fans,” the source said. “The fan support has been overwhelming. And it does mean something.”