This is the time of year to be skeptical of all that you hear or read.
This time of year is plenty full of people with motives behind their words, whether it be the G.M. of an NFL franchise or the agent for a prospect or two, but we’ve never shied away from passing along potential smoke-screens for our readers enjoyment. Oh, and sometimes they turn out to be true.
The most recent rumor regarding the Vikings comes from Luke Rodgers of 247 Sports whose 12,400 Twitter followers were privy to an interesting little Vikings-related nugget. For the sake of transparency, I didn’t know who the guy was prior to today. To be fair, however, that probably says more about me than it does him.
Rodgers claims that the Vikings gave a nose tackle assurances during the NFL Scouting Combine that they will select him with the 23rd pick this year if he is still available. He even spilled the specific beans by giving us the prospect’s name.
That player is Baylor nose tackle Andrew Billings.
Austin Belisle and myself both neglected to place Billings in our first drafts of our first round mocks, but it is sounding like the buzz in Indianapolis this week is that we were both in error for doing so.
Billings stands at 6′ 1″ and weighs in at 311 pounds. The big man was largely labeled as one of the Combine “winners” this week as he put up admirable numbers considering his size.
These results included a 5.05 second forty yard dash, 31 bench press reps, 27.5 inch vertical jump, 113″ broad jump, 8.05 second three-cone drill, and 4.82 second 20 yard shuttle.
Billings is not yet even 21 years old and is heralded as one of the prospects with the highest of upsides that this class has to offer. His dominating presence off the snap and overpowering strength have been evident through his collegiate career and a team that drafts him could be looking at a player with a very bright future.
Still, Vikings fans bent on seeing their pre-Free Agency needs checklist satisfied will not be too excited about this pick with Linval Joseph already having a stronghold on the Vikings nose tackle position. Depth, however, wasn’t there last season when both Joseph and Shamar Stephen were injured.
There are plenty of variables left to play out before May, but this class is stacked at defensive line and it seems very likely that the Vikings will be faced with selecting another one in the first round this year if they truly stick to the “Best Player Available” draft strategy. It isn’t impossible to think that Billings could be that player.
As far as those that might be dubious about this Twitter report and the source of the information. Rodgers returned to Twitter to fire back at a critic and clarify where the information came from.
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What you are witnessing here, is what's known as a "Verbal Drug Test"
.......he's failing....
..........................................so far ........................
I trust Darth S. But this one threw me for a loop. NT depth is luxury.
NT depth is NOT a luxury, especially when its lack leads, in part, to giving up 4.3 yards per carry. And it's even worse when missing said depth forces us to play others too much (Joseph) or out of position (Floyd, Johnson). I have no problem with the Vikings targeting Nose Tackle in the draft, although I must admit I was thinking the third round, especially since the NT/DT class is supposed to be quite deep this year.
Honestly, It wouldn't shock me at all. Billings was my favorite DT and he looked fantastic at the combine. Zimmer and Spielman will take the best player available in the first round, even if it doesn't fit an obvious need. Mark my words, Andrew Billings will be a Pro Bowl DT for years to come.
I've been hoping for him or Johnathan Bullard out of Florida.
Billings would be great by me Floyd has not been consistent with billings and Linval both out there run down would be great and both can push the pocket. Granted d line is probably our deepest group but nt needs depth and I'm not sure that Stephen is it
Really good talent, just not going to the Vikings. Too much Defensive line talent to pull the DT at #23 while the Vikings already have two 3 techniques.
Will need to see more game film on him but from what I saw I wasn't overly impressed - not at the point where I'd take him in the first round. Does make me want to watch more film on him.
Johnathon Bullard from Florida is much better.Great run stopper (never missed a tackle last year) a quick first step and changes the line of scrimmage in his teams favour.Can move around on the line and is an unselfish guy.He has a lot of traits that Zimmer looks for.
It's not the "Off Season"
It's the "Lying Season"
Yep. This smells of a Slick Rick smokescreen for sure.
Just like Manti Teo was a "lock" for the Vikings! Haha!
IF we HAVE TO go DT in round one, the guy to take is Sheldon Rankins of Louisville. He was nearly as unblock able at the Senior Bowl as Aaron Donald was. He turned out pretty well. If I am the GM I pick best DB or linebacker available. Perhaps CB Hargreaves or S Joseph or LB Lee. Just don't trust this group of O linemen and wideouts. Sign free agents you know can play. Make deep playoff run. Go Vikes!