Vikings Fan Spotlight: Luke Inman, eDraft Sports
Lindsey Young
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“If Adrian Peterson doesn’t stay with the team it will be very unfortunate, because the thought of him working in Norv Turner’s offense—who has a long track record of maximizing his RBs’ talents—is still something that gives me chills.”
The above thoughts are from Luke Inman, friend of Vikings Territory and contributor for eDraft Sports. A lifelong Vikings fan, Inman is thrilled to spend most of his days doing what he loves: working around football. Inman joined eDraft almost two years ago, and he helped in a variety of departments, including NCAA Football, NFL Draft and Fantasy Football.
Inman started out as a contributing writer, but now he has his hands in many other areas of the site as well. Being local, Inman has the opportunity to photograph events such as Vikings Training Camp or the Senior Bowl, and he also hosts eDraft podcasts. You name it, he can do it.
If you’re excited for the NFL Draft, Inman assures you that he has a ton of great content coming. Starting next week, he will be launching a Daily Draft Player Profile: a five-minute video on a 2015 draft prospect that will include highlights, analysis, and breakdown of the player’s strengths and potential team fits.
So how did it all start? For Inman, the Vikings craze kicked off in “6th grade, aka 1998.”
“My first memory was the first game of the ’98 season. I’ll never forget it,” Inman said. “Brad Johnson was our quarterback, and he […] threw a bomb down the field to the highly prolific but ‘highly troubled’ rookie receiver that Denny Green drafted in the first round by the name of Randy Moss.”
Vikings fans know the rest of the story: Moss made the bobbling catch between two Tampa Bay defenders, finishing the game with over 100 yards and two touchdowns, and the Vikings won.
[pull_quote_center]”I had enough sixth grade adrenaline pumping through me that I was hooked on purple and gold before I knew it. I signed an unknown contract for a lifetime of pain and pleasure known as none other than being a Viking fan.”[/pull_quote_center]
Inman is in this for the long haul, and he is looking ahead to the 2015 season with anticipation. Considering his position with eDraft, he has especially given a lot of thought to the offseason and upcoming NFL Draft.
It’s hard for anyone to predict how the Draft will go down, especially since free agency moves could happen between now and then, but Inman is going with his gut feeling on this one: Rick Spielman will trade back again to gain more picks. After all, Inman reminds us that the GM already went on record to say he wants a total of 10 picks again this year.
“Plus, the way my big board looks, players 11-20 are very evenly ranked,” Inman said. “Meaning trading down would maximize the team’s value. In the end, I see the Vikings helping Teddy Bridgewater out in any way they can to make sure they continue his progressing from year one to year two. That could mean adding a premier offensive lineman to give him extra time as a pure pocket passer […] or trying their luck at another play-making receiver.”
Inman feels that Spielman will keep with his reputation of not spending big bucks in free agency. Rather, he could see the Vikings picking up some “second tier” free agents who “slip through the cracks of teams that are blinded by the bigger fish.”
Who are Inman’s free agency targets? The two he sees as viable options are defensive end Brandon Graham, who could fit into a traditional 4-3 scheme and come at a lower price, and defensive lineman Jabaal Sheard, who is only 26 years old and still has a lot of upside.
No matter what happens over the next couple of months, you can bet Inman will be right in the action, analyzing and reporting on his home team … and loving every second of it.
Play-by-Play with Luke
Favorite Wing Sauce at BWW: Caribbean Jerk (mix it with blue cheese for a wicked good time!)
Jerseys In My Closet: 3 — One from Vikings past, present, and traded. Can you guess?
Favorite [Current] Viking: Harrison Smith, aka Dirty Harry, aka Harry the Hitman — has an old school mentality that loves to get into the box and hit someone, while showing the ability and talent to drop back into coverage and be a ball hawking center fielder.
Hobbies (Besides Football): Trying to bring POGs back, freestyle rapping, and watching my girlfriend do yoga … but to be honest I’m very average at all three.
Current Song on My iPod: Most-played song right now is “It’s Raining Men,” but that’s partially because I let my neighbor down the street borrow it on his yearly trip to Cozumel, Mexico. Before that, it was TLC’s “No Scrubs.”
Luke on the Web: Twitter @Luke_Spinman