Somebody Will Draft This ‘God.’ Why Not the Vikings?
If you enjoy mock drafts or the draft cycle in general, here’s a name to file in your memory bank — Matt Araiza.
He’s a punter. Yes, a punter.
Why on earth should you flag a punter on the radar as a hot commodity? It’s simple. He’s the Punt God. The guy can bash a punt over 60 yards as a matter of commonality. Araiza, per the draft hype, is the unicorn you’ve pondered throughout your life. Unquestionably, you’ve asked yourself, “What if there was one guy on the planet who could routinely convert 70-yard field goals like the YouTube videos?”
Araiza is that — but for punts. If his skillset translates to the NFL — it probably will — the Punt God will become the ultimate field-position weapon. Perhaps Mike Zimmer was fired too soon, huh? We digress.
First, the footage from — you guessed it — YouTube.
Araiza is a mutant, plain and simple.
He’s a Californian, born in San Diego, playing collegiate football at San Diego State. Did we mention he’s also a kicker? Indeed, the man kicks field goals, too, although he only converted 18 for 28 field goals as an Aztec in 2021.
Araiza ended his final season at San Diego State averaging 51.19 yards per punt, snapping the NCAA record set by Texas A&M’s Braden Mann in 2018 (50.98). Hell, his Holiness belted an 86-yard punt in 2021. The hype train on this one might just be real.
The Vikings have decent kickers and punters at the moment in Greg Joseph and Jordan. Too, Minnesota drafting Araiza seems like a curseworthy idea, destined to sink Araiza’s trajectory based on the Vikings chaotic history with kickers. But perhaps those demons were exorcised with the hires of Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell. We shall see.
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At the very least, remember the name Matt Araiza and the punt god designation following him. Mock drafts will dance around the internet for the next two months — they’ve already started — and in a cozy 5th-Round spot nestled will be the name Matt Araiza because every team should want a glimpse of the field-position machete.
And if Araiza’s draft stock remains at the 5th Round or lower, the Vikings have five picks to explore for the punter. Courtesy of the terminated Rick Spielman — the low-round draft pick god — Minnesota is in good shape for low-round draft capital. One of those could be used to outfit Araiza in purple clothes.
A punt god, to be sure.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. His YouTube Channel, VikesNow, debuts in March 2022. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doors (the band).
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