2015 Draft Profile - DeVante Parker

Check out our current receivers if you aren't familiar with them. Jarius Wright, 5'10 and maybe 185, is a great slot receiver and sometimes deep threat, but he'll never be able to play well on the outside or consistently win one-on-one matchups. Adam Thielen has good size at 6'2 and 200 pounds. He's solid; dependable, works hard, but there isn't any pop to him. Cordarrelle Patterson has plenty of pop, especially for his size, but he hasn't put it all together to become a reliable receiver yet. Charles Johnson came from nowhere to become our number one wide out in the back half of the season, but his upside may be limited. Then there's the new addition of Mike Wallace, the burner, who I truly believe will open up our offense, but is really just a deep threat. It may not be super clear, but we are missing something.

Calvin Johnson: 6'5, 235. Alshon Jeffery: 6'3, 220. Jordy Nelson: 6'3, 217. All big receivers in the NFC North, all consistently able to beat man coverage. Patterson, at 6'2 and 220, may someday be able to play that role, but right now he needs to work on his route running and separation ability. If the Vikings decide we need help now at that position, they'd be smart to take DeVante Parker, wide receiver from Louisville.

from: thecardinalconnection.com

At roughly 210 pounds, he may be a bit light, but he stands 6'3, and he knows how to use it. Even when Parker isn't open, he's open. Throw it his way, and he will leverage his body to put himself in position to make the catch. That means he'll go up top to bring the ball down, too; he climbs the ladder, if you will. He missed the first seven games of the season last year, but in the last six he caught 43 passes for 855 yards and 5 touchdowns. Double those stats and while his touchdown total doesn't reach Amari Cooper's, his yards are close and his yards per reception would be far and above Cooper's. Heck, it currently is: 15 yards per reception. That's the kind of production we need from a wide out, someone who can be a number one option for us.

His 4.45 forty yard dash doesn't show the deep threat speed that Kevin White showed, but it's more than good enough when you look at his other skills. Check out the video below, posted to youtube by nasseh257.

Most of these plays look to be from the 2013 season, but that highlights another positive that I'm sure you're aware of. Louisville just happens to be the same school Teddy played for a year ago, and he had a good connection with Parker. If you watch the video, you can see a lot where Teddy simply throws it up for Parker, who comes down with the catch. Granted, Teddy puts the ball where it needs to be, but they are still tough catches to make. I'm going to highlight some plays that really stood out to me.

At 1:40, Parker makes a leaping catch while double covered in the endzone. We don't have a receiver on the roster who can make that kind of catch. Rudolph can, but I believe it's nice to have a couple options on a fade like that. 

At 1:55, Teddy actually slightly under throws the ball, but Parker stutters a bit and throws his body into the air to make a beautiful catch. Another plus on this play is he comes down with both feet in bounds.

2:35 displays some after the catch ability. Some experts have said he's slowed a bit after his 2014 foot injury, but I'm not worried. At least, I don't think that should change effect our decision to draft him.

3:13 shows how he wins with his body positioning in man coverage. Granted, these are NCAA corners and not NFL corners. A knock on Parker is that he isn't strong enough to make those types of plays against press corners in the NFL. That may be true at this point, but Parker's frame can handle another ten pounds of muscle. His innate ability to know where he needs to position himself to catch the ball is a big plus that should pay dividends right away, but will explode with a bit more weight. Then again, AJ Green plays in the 205 to 210 range and is easily a number one receiver who has great jump ball ability. 

3:56 he makes an over the shoulder grab with his hands. Those long arms extend smoothly and snag the ball. 

from: thecrunchzone.com

Going back to a weakness mentioned, his functional strength against NFL caliber corners, PJ Williams was predominantly lined up opposite him during the Florida State game. Williams is expected to go in the second round at the lowest, while he's been mocked to the bottom of the third in some cases. He's not Marcus Peters or Trae Waynes, but Williams will play well for an NFL team. Parker handled him very well. Most of the passes I noticed that ended up incomplete were on the quarterback. Even though he didn't have Teddy, he was still making plays. That's what you want to see. On the flipside, when Williams met him at the line and got physical right away, Williams won a lot more match ups. If Parker works on his hand skills, and even puts on five to ten pounds, I'm very confident he'll be able to get the initial separation he needs at the line for quick slants and to get running room on go routes.

Let's circle back to the receivers we currently have and compare their skillsets to Parker's. Parker isn't a polished route runner yet. He won't be for a year or two at least. But Charles Johnson runs nice routes, and Wright and Thielen are decent as well. Parker has very good separation skills, though. Locked in coverage, he will create enough space from his defender to make the catch. That was an issue with our receivers last year. They couldn't get open in the first place, so Teddy was throwing into coverage more often than not, and our receivers couldn't make the one or two little moves necessary to make those catches. Finally, Teddy didn't throw many fades into one-on-one coverage. Our receivers couldn't win those match ups regularly. Parker can do that. Parker excels at that. He will adjust to the pass on the fly, and will go up and get the ball at a higher point than his defender can, assuring an uncontested catch, at least while in the air. The only receiver I would feel comfortable throwing a fade to is Kyle Rudolph, and he's a tight end. It's not often that he's lined up out wide. Parker would give us that outside presence.

I really like Parker at the 11th pick. I would even take him over Kevin White if White would happen to fall. Amari Cooper would be hard to pass up, as he is fast, polished, NFL ready from day one, and extremely consistent. Both should be gone by the time the Vikings pick, though, and Parker is far from a consolation prize. He's a pick that would help our offense from the first game throughout his career. I say take him at 11.

Thoughts on NFL.com 7 Round Mock Draft

Nfl.com just put out a 7 round mock draft. Of course I have thoughts. You want to hear them? No? Then stop reading. Otherwise here they come.

I want to put a disclaimer first. I'm very familiar with a lot of prospects, but I get into unfamiliar territory with most of the players from the end of the 3rd on. So when I say the Vikings should take this player over the one that was mocked, I may be doing that because I know more about the one I want. But hopefully I can at least provide some arguments supporting my pick.

Here's the link for the the full mock if you'd like to see it: http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000487820/article/2015-sevenround-nfl-mock-draft-round-1. 

Nfl.com round 1, pick 11: Brandon Scherff, OL Iowa.
If I haven't mentioned it before, I like Scherff, and not just because I graduated from Iowa. He could honestly play any position in the line, though I would keep him away from center. For the Vikings he'd slide in at left guard and we went even notice we have a rookie at that spot. His run blocking should immediately be above average and a little work in training camp will do loads for his pass blocking. He'd be a perennial Pro bowler at guard. He's also insurance at right tackle if Loadholt gets hurt, and he'd go to many pro bowls if he stayed there. He can also slide over to left tackle if Kalil struggles this year, but I predicting that won't happen. While I think Scherff will be gone before the Vikings pick, I think this is a great pick.

from: nfl.com

My preferred pick: DeVante Parker, WR Louisville.
In nfl.com's mock, the Browns take Parker at 12. If Scherff is available, I would be happy with him or Parker. If it's Parker though, he'd fill the need for a big receiver who can consistently win one on one match ups.

NFL.com round 2, pick 45: Tevin Coleman, RB Indiana.
Here's where things crash. I don't like this pick. This draft is loaded with backs that can contribute right away, and whether we have AP back or we roll with McKinnon as our starter, I think we wait until at least the 3rd to look at a running back. With players like Byron Jones, Preston Smith, Benardrick McKinney, and Carl Davis still on the board, we shouldn't be looking at running back.

from: thefanindiana.com

My preferred pick: Shaq Thompson, defensive weapon, Washington.
Take a look at my draft profile on Thompson for my thoughts on the position he should play. In nfl.com's mock, he's gone by the time the Vikings pick. We shouldn't let that happen. I'd try to trade up a few spots to guarantee we get him.

Nfl.com round 3, pick 76: PJ Williams, CB Florida State.
I think I'm ok with this pick. I don't know much about Williams, but I've heard good things. He plays predominantly on the outside, which is the type of defensive back we need.

from: wftv.com

My preferred pick: Michael Bennett, DL Ohio State. 

PJ Williams would be a great pick, but Bennett's upside is too good to pass up. Granted, he'd be best at the 3 technique, and we're stacked there with Shariff Floyd and Tom Johnson. But Zimmer has expressed a desire to have a deep pool of defensive linemen. Bennett is athletic enough to play run stuffing end on the left side during run plays and to provide backup reps on the interior and start alongside Floyd at tackle during passing situations. Might be a luxury pick, but I believe his upside would be hard to pass up.

Nfl.com round 4, pick 110: Gabe Wright, DT Auburn.
This is a good pick if we don't take a defensive lineman earlier. NFL.com lists him as a decent penetrating tackle that could use some work on his pass rush moves. He'd be a project at this point of the draft. 

from: oanow.com

My preferred pick: at this point I have a few options. In the nfl.com draft, OT Tyrus Thompson goes the very next pick. He's a monster on the line at 6'5 and 325. Running backs David Johnson from UNI and David Cobb from Minnesota are still available as well. Even if we keep AP, I wouldn't mind taking one of these backs.

Nfl.com round 5, pick 137: Jamison Crowder, WR Duke.
At this point in the draft, he'd be a good value pick. He's a bit smaller and good in the open field, meaning his skillset is similar to the receivers we currently have, but the pro comparison video on nfl.com compared him to Antonio Brown. If Crowder becomes half the player Brown is then he is well worth a fifth round pick.

from: nfl.com

My preferred pick: how about a guard here? Josue Matias from Florida State or Arie Kouandjio from Alabama would be nice. They could compete with David Yankey and possibly Joe Berger for the left guard spot.

Nfl.com round 7, pick 228: Dres Anderson, WR Utah.

At 6'1 and 187, he's got good height but is a bit small. Based on his draft profile, he plays bigger than his height, isn't afraid to go over the middle, but struggles with press man coverage. We've got receivers like that already, so I'd prefer to pass on him. And two late round receivers seems a little much when we already have five receivers that will make the roster. Late round picks are for developmental players, though, so I won't be upset by who we take here.

from: deseretnews.com

My preferred pick: like I mentioned above, I'm pretty much good with whoever we take at this point.

Nfl.com round 7, pick 232: John Timu, ILB Washington.

At 6'1 and 246, he's a bit undersized for the run-stuffing middle linebacker that I think Zimmer would like, but he's good in zone coverage and gets off blocks well. He doesn't change direction well though, according to nfl.com, so if he misses the correct read, he'll have issues chasing his assignment. At this point in the draft though, bringing him in with his former teammate Shaq Thompson would immediately upgrade our pass coverage from the linebacker core. 

from: usatoday.com

My preferred pick: like I mentioned, getting this far down I don't feel comfortable standing behind any picks. However, in looking at the list of notable free agents left, I see Zack Hodges, the OLB from Harvard. He's more of a pass rushing linebacker at 250 pounds, but he could backup Barr and we'd have a player in a similar mold. I really think Hodges will be drafted though, definitely in the 7th if not in the 6th. 

Let me know what you think. 

2015 Draft Profile - Shaq Thompson

If you read my previous post, then some of this information might be redundant. Either way, reading it again won't hurt you. You can just be enamored by Thompson's abilities and versatility once more.

Shaq Thompson is listed as a linebacker who played for the Washington Huskies, but he also played safety and running back. That's a lot of positions to play at, but Thompson did more than just play them. He excelled at them. As a running back, he ran for 456 yards last year and averaged 7.5 yards per carry. That's ridiculous for a defensive player. Oh, he scored two touchdowns as well. On defense he played all the linebacker positions and started at strong safety for a game. His stat line on defense shows an even more productive player: 81 tackles, an interception that he returned for a touchdown, and 4 fumble recoveries, 3 of which he returned for touchdowns.

from: nflcom

But his defensive stat line doesn't show everything. Thompson began his freshman year of college as the Huskies nickelback. Yep, he played cornerback. And he had 74 total tackles. Currently listed at 6 feet tall and 228 pounds, I would imagine he's bulked up a bit since playing cornerback, but he is considered undersized for a linebacker. But his coverage skills, man and zone, are fantastic. At the NFL level he will be able to cover running backs, tight ends, and some receivers. Bleacher Report had an article advising the 49ers to make sure they got Thompson, as they not only need help at linebacker but they need someone who can cover Jimmy Graham. I'm hoping that doesn't happen though, as I want to see Thompson in purple.

The former Huskie put up more reps of 225 during the combine than Anthony Barr did. Barr played a pass rushing linebacker for UCLA at 255 pounds. Thompson is more than 25 pounds lighter. Granted, he didn't have an outstanding 40, but I'm currently of the belief that the 40 isn't very important for elite prospects. He plays much faster and quicker than his 4.66 would lead you to believe.

from: usatodayhss.com

Here's where I'm going to get redundant. I would be ecstatic to pair Thompson with Barr. We'd have an amazing pair of linebackers that would most likely be perennial Pro bowl players. Both are crazy athletic and have versatile skillsets. OK, taking a break from Barr to focus on Thompson. He's said he's a linebacker and I would agree there, but just as we now label some players as offensive weapons and simply as EDGE, maybe we should have a defensive weapon. Thompson could be that.

In our base 4-3 he could play the safety spot opposite Smith. He'd play closer to the line, like the Seahawks' Kam Chancellor, allowing Smith to be a true mid fielder. That would put Hodges as the weakside linebacker and Audie Cole or someone else in the middle.  But when we go with a nickel look, Thompson would drop down a bit farther and play the weakside linebacker spot next to Barr. We'd then bring in Robert Blanton or Taylor Mays or whoever to play the safety spot alongside Smith. Even though our pass defense was surprisingly good last year, in our division plus the increasingly pass happy league, it can't be a bad thing to get more help in coverage. We also spent a considerable percentage in our nickel set last year, so Thompson could realistically take most of his snaps as a linebacker in this scenario. It's one that I would certainly find fascinating.

The other scenario is we draft him as a linebacker and only play him on the weakside, in the mold of Lavonte David. He'd be very good in that position as well, where he isn't asked to take on lineman one on one, but plays more of a mop up role.

from: rantsports.com

In either case, I think Thompson may be a bit of a reach with our first round pick unless we trade back. If we don't, we better get him in the second. If I were Spielman, I would even consider trading up a bit higher to make sure we got him. Then again, if Byron Jones is available at the end of the first or even early in the second, I wouldn't complain about that pick.

One Major Change I'd Like to See in Madden 16

I know this is a Vikings blog, but I love Madden. My second round prediction in the 2015 draft for the Vikings, Shaq Thompson, got me thinking about what I'd like to see added to Madden 16. While there are more than a few things I'd like changed, I'm only going to expand on the one that applies to Thompson if he were to be drafted.

from: espn.go.com

I tend to use the Broncos defensive playbook. Zone coverage seems to work better for me and this playbook blitzes the left outside linebacker quite a bit. Perfect for the type of player we have at that position, Anthony Barr. But in nickel packages the game forces the left backer to leave the field while the middle and right linebackers stay on the field. Why does the player substitution have to be based on the player's position? I'd like to be able to designate who I want my nickel backers to be.

Thompson takes this to the next level. A bit undersized at 225 to 230 pounds, Thompson has been mocked as a safety almost as much as a linebacker. He's crazy athletic and has good coverage skills, so he could be a decent safety. I see him as a linebacker, as he's said he sees himself at the combine, but there's a third option. Why not a hybrid player?

On offense we have players like Percy Harvin and Cordarelle Patterson who primarily play one position but also get some snaps at other positions. Many defensive line players do this as well, such as a defensive end sliding inside on an obvious passing down to make room for another pass rusher (see the New York Giants NASCAR set). So why not a hybrid linebacker/safety?

2012 Giants NASCAR Set; from: bleacherreport.com. 

The Vikings would find a very cool and interesting way to use Thompson. Of that I have no doubt. One way I've seen mentioned is playing Thompson as the strong safety in our traditional 4-3 formation. He would play up closer to the line, while Harrison Smith was back deep playing center field. Then in nickel situations, Thompson could drop down to linebacker, joining Anthony Barr. We'd then bring in Robert Blanton or another safety to play deeper.

I don't have the stat on hand, but we played in nickel a lot of last season. That would mean a lot of reps for Thompson. But this kind of customization isn't possible in Madden. A player is either a safety or a linebacker and they can't be placed on the depth chart at any other position.

I understand not giving us the option to put our quarterback at defensive end, but other than that I think the player should have free reign to put whatever player he wants at a given position. That should also be formation specific too. I want to be able to say Barr and Thompson will be my nickel linebackers, Robison and Griffen are my nickel ends, but then I want Thompson to play safety in a base 4-3 and I want Crichton to play the left end spot in that same formation.

That's not too much to ask, right? I leave it to you EA Sports.

1st Round Mock Draft

I figure it's about time. I've been reading enough mock drafts and following free agency like most people follow their gps. I'm definitely not an expert, but I do think I know some things. I'm not going to try and pick players the way I think the GM or coach would. Can you imagine trying to figure out what Chip Kelly is going to do? I'm picking players based on team need and what I would do in that team's situation. 

1 Buccaneers: Jameis Winston, QB, Florida State. 
I love Mariota, but Winston fits the Bucs better. He's a pocket passer with above average mobility. 

from: cbssports.com

2 Titans: Leanord Williams, DE, USC. He played all over the USC defensive line, but he'll play a five technique end in the Titan's 3-4 defense. With Jurell Casey on the other end, and Derek Morgan and Brian Orakpo coming off the edges, they could be scary. 

3 Jaguars: Dante Fowler Jr., DE, Florida. 
This spot was Randy Gregory for the longest time for most people, but even if Gregory bulks up he might still be a tad small for the rushing end in the Jaguars 4-3. Oh, and he just admitted to testing positive for drugs. Fowler is much more of a complete player at this point and is a perfect size at 270.

4 Raiders: Kevin White, WR, West Virginia. 
Amari Cooper has lost his spot as the top wideout. Cooper is still more polished, but White's jump ball ability plus his crazy speed at 6'3 and 210 pounds makes him nearly impossible to pass up for the pass catching starved Raiders. 

from: sbnation.com

5 Redskins: Randy Gregory, OLB, Nebraska. 
They just lost Orakpo in free agency and need someone to start opposite Ryan Kerrigan. His failed drug test will actually probably drop him farther, but the Redskins draft him for his athletic ability and upside.

6 Jets: Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon. 
In my opinion Mariota can be good in any system, but if a team wants him to be good right away they will need to tool their offense to his current abilities. Since I'm not doing trades, I have the Jets taking Mariota here, but I really do think the Eagles will trade up to get him.

from: cbssports.com

7 Bears: Danny Shelton, DT, Washington.  
With the switch to a 3-4 defense, the Bears need a true nose tackle. Shelton will provide plenty of oomph in the middle for years to come. 

8 Falcons: Vic Beasley, DE/OLB, Clemson. 
This was kind of a tough one. The Falcons main need is a pass rush. Beasley is the best available in that aspect, but at 246 pounds, he may only be a situational pass rusher in the Falcons 4-3 defense led by former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn. Granted, they could shift newly acquired linebacker Brooks Reed to the middle and play Beasley like the Vikings did Barr. The Clemson product is athletic enough to transition to that role. He'd play a similar position to the one that Bruce Irvin plays for the Seahawks. 

9 Giants: Brandon Scherff, T/G, Iowa.
With the top pass rushers off the board, I see the Giants going offensive line here. Scherff should be the first offensive lineman off the board, as he can be an above average left tackle, but a stellar guard or right tackle. 

from: thesportsbank.net

10 Rams: La'el Collins, T, LSU.
The Rams need help on the line, as they cut two starters a couple weeks ago. I think they'd like to have had Scherff, but he's not available for them in this mock.

11 Vikings: DeVante Parker, WR, Louisville.
If the first ten picks role out the way I've listed, look for the Vikings to try and trade down here. The signing of Mike Wallace has taken some pressure off the need to find a wideout, in my opinion. If they can't find a partner to trade with, though, I think they take the highest ranked player on their board. Why Parker over Amari Cooper, you ask? Cooper is easily the most polished, and he'd make Bridgewater better, but we need something a bit more than polish to go with the receivers we currently have on the roster. We need the separation ability at the line against man coverage that Parker has, and the crazy ability he has to use his size to win in tight areas and when going after the jump ball.
Some may ask why we don't go corner here, as that is a bigger need, but I don't think Trae Waynes, the corner from Michigan State and the highest ranked at his position, is ranked higher than Cooper or DeVante Parker. I also believe Waynes is ranked too high, as he's good in man coverage, but not really anything else. And though he is 6'1, at about 185 or 190 pounds he'll get pushed all over in the NFL.

from: dynastynerds.com

12 Browns: Amari Cooper, WR, Alabama.
With Josh Gordon serving at least a one year suspension, the Browns need help at receiver, whether Manziel or McCown start at quarterback. The Browns could use a lot of help on the defensive side of the ball as well, but Cooper should be ranked higher than their options on defense. He'll also step in and be their number one receiver, providing a very reliable target for whoever is playing at quarterback.

13 Saints: Shane Ray, DE/OLB, Missouri.
Ray would play the linebacker spot opposite Junior Galette, who was the only player with a decent sack number last year. I expect Cameron Jordan to play better this year, but having two great pass rushers on the outside edges of a 3-4 defense is very nice.

14 Dolphins: Trae Waynes, CB, Michigan State.
It can't hurt to pair the best corner in the draft with Brent Grimes. The Dolpins could use some help at linebacker and maybe wide receiver, but Waynes grades out much higher than any option at those other two positions. 

from: chatsports.com

15 49ers: Arik Armstead, DT/DE, Oregon.
They lost two starting caliber middle linebackers to retirement in the matter of a week, but I don't think there are any replacements in the draft worth a pick this high. Armstead can immediately line up opposite Darnell Dockett, or provide a large number of backup reps if Justin Smith decides to play another year.

16 Texans: Andrus Peat, T, Stanford.
Before they signed Cecil Shorts, I would have put a receiver here. Now I think that signing allows them to take the best player available. Peat can take over the starting job as the right tackle right away.

17 Chargers: Malcolm Brown, DT, Texas.
From what little I know of the Chargers, they are pretty solid in all areas. A lot of mocks have the Chargers taking Melvin Gordon, but I don't see a running back going this early yet. Brown upgrades the defensive line, where he could play all three spots, but could compete for the starting nose tackle job right away.

18 Chiefs: Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Oklahoma.
They could really use an offensive lineman or three, but Green-Beckham's talent level is bounds beyond the others in his class. The offensive line pool doesn't have a discrepancy like that, so even with the past character flaws, Green-Beckham will almost guarantee that a Chiefs wideout catches a touchdown pass this season. I put a picture of him from Missouri below because he never actually played a game for Oklahoma. You know, those character concern things.

from: saturdayblitz.com

19 Browns: Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State.
The Browns didn't get a lot of help from their line last year. At least, not from what I've read. At 336 pounds, Goldman should at the very least eat up a couple blockers at a time to free up linebackers.

20 Eagles: Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State.
They couldn't keep Maclin, so a new addition at the wide receiver spot becomes necessary. A tag team of Jordan Matthews and Jaelen Strong would look pretty good, especially if Sam Bradford can stay healthy. 

21 Bengals: Ereck Flowers, T, Miami.
This could be any number of the great offensive line prospects remaining, but I went with Flowers as he is the highest ranked on ESPN's draft list. He could play guard or tackle.

22 Steelers: Landon Collins, S, Alabama.
Strange to see Collins slide this far, but it's great news for the Steelers. The loss of Peyton Manning only to land Andrew Luck is similar to the loss of Troy Polomolu only to land Landon Collins. Without the year interval, however. 

from: tuscaloosanews.con

23 Lions: TJ Clemmings, T, Pittsburgh.
They'd like to land a defensive tackle here, but I think the offensive tackles remaining are rated higher than the defensive tackles available. The Lions go with Clemmings, who should compete for a starting job somewhere along the line. 

24 Cardinals: Owamagbe Odiguzuwa, DE/OLB, UCLA.
The Cardinals main need is at pass rush. Odiguzuwa can do that from an upright position on regular downs, and can also play with a hand on the ground on obvious passing downs. 

from: bleacherreport.com

25 Panthers: DJ Humphries, T, Florida.
Is there a team that needs a left tackle more than the Panthers? Humphries is actually more of a jack of all the line positions, but he's the best offensive lineman available, so the Panthers have to pull the trigger.

26 Ravens: Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin.
They re-signed Justin Forsett, which helps, but Gordon has more potential, at least at this point in his career. He's also an every down back, and they can then use Forsett to rest him for 15 or so snaps a game.

27 Cowboys: Marcus Peters, CB, Washington.
Morris Claiborne has dropped way, way down on the depth chart. Marcus Peters comes with some character flaws, but he has the talent to take a bit of the sting from the Claiborne pick.

from: withthefirstpick.com

28 Broncos: Cameron Irving, C, Florida State. 
The Broncos lost Orlando Franklin at guard and can use as much line talent as possible to protect Manning for what should probably be his last year. 

29 Colts: Kevin Johnson, CB, Wake Forest. 
I think the Colts would like to go offensive line here, but I've already mocked all the lineman that deserve to go in the first. Some drafts I've read think Johnson should be the second corner to go, and what team can't use another great corner?

30 Packers: Eric Kendricks, ILB, UCLA.
Without Brad Jones and AJ Hawk, the Packers need help on the inside. Clay Matthews played very well taking over the inside duties last year, but his best spot is the left outside linebacker, holding the edge and rushing the passer. With Kendricks playing the middle, Matthews can move back to the outside. Well, as long as someone else takes over the second spot in the middle. 

from: sbnation.com

31 Saints: Maxx Williams, TE, Minnesota.
This is probably a stretch. Probably. Williams isn't a first round talent, but I think the Saints reach for a position of need. He won't replace Jimmy Graham, but it sounds like the Saints want to focus more on the run, so he won't need to be a replacement. 

32 Patriots: Carl Davis, DT, Iowa.
Davis could play a few different positions along the defensive line for the Patriots. He can play either tackle spot when they line up in a 4-3, and can play the nose or left end spot when they line up in a 3-4. Granted, he may be able to play the right end spot in their 3-4, but it seems like they keep Chandler Jones in, even though he's a bit small to play a traditional 3-4 end. The Patriots will get the best out of Davis, who I believe could be better than all the other tackles in this class. 

from: patspub.patsfan.com

2015 Free Agent Targets

There will be a few top tier players available at positions of need for the Vikings this year. However, based on what we’ve heard of Zimmer’s philosophy and what the Vikings did in the offseason last year, they probably won’t be breaking the bank on free agents. That means no Demarco Murray or Mike Iupati. But in my opinion that’s a good thing. We definitely don’t need Demarco Murray, as McKinnon has shown a lot of promise. We just need a better line. Iupati would definitely help, as he’s been one of the best run-blockers in the league over the last few years, but we’d have to use most of our available funds to sign him. If we trade or release Adrian Peterson, that will give us a bigger cushion, and if Chad Greenway is moved or retires, we will have more available. Below is a list of the free agents I would like the Vikings to sign.

Joe Berger, G, Vikings:

Yep, had to start with one of our own. Berger has been an invaluable back-up for us. While he’s best at the guard position, I think he can be plugged in at right tackle and center if need be. He wouldn’t be expensive, so this should be a relatively easy move for the Vikings to make.

from: twincities.com

Tom Johnson, DT, Vikings:

Another one of our own. Johnson played way better that his contract, a one year trial deal. He came in and played the 3-technique when Shariff Floyd was out for a bit, and he killed it. Based on his 2014 production, Johnson will most likely want a multi-year deal. While Linval Joseph is making a decent amount, and Shariff Floyd should get an extension soon, I would think we could bring Johnson back on a decent 2 or 3 year deal.

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints:

Let the opinions fly, but I would prefer we trade or cut AP. He is easily the best running back in the league (‘in’ is debatable right now), but he’s not worth the price he’s going to cost to stay. I like McKinnon as our starter, but then we need a decent back up that can also play a different role. Asiata was great on goal line situations, but that was it. Ingram provides good value in the passing game as well, and is a bit bigger than McKinnon at 215 pounds.

from: neworleanssaints.com

Clint Boling, G, Bengals:

Our line struggled mightily this year, but I’m hoping Kalil bounces back, and Fusco and Loadolt should have recovered from injuries. Sullivan has always been an unrecognized stud at center. But Charlie Johnson’s time as the left guard should be over. David Yankey, our fifth round draft pick, was supposed to be able to step in there, but he didn’t play at all last year, leaving us to wonder if the coaches don’t believe he’s ready yet. Boling has been solid for the Bengals since being drafted in 2011, and he’d continue being solid for the Vikings.

Brooks Reed, LB, Texans:

This might be a stretch, as the Texans are expected to resign Reed. A lot of blogs and columns are predicting the Bengals middle linebacker Rey Mauluga to the Vikings, as he is familiar with Zimmer’s scheme, but I’d much prefer Reed. He’s younger, and is still a great run-stuffer that should easily be able to make the switch from a 3-4 linebacker to a 4-3 middle linebacker.

from: houston.cbslocal.com

No splashy names, sorry. I’d prefer the Vikings play it safe in free agency. I didn’t list any wide receivers even though there should be a decent selection available. The Vikings have good depth at the position, but they don’t have a true number one receiver. They need someone who Bridgewater can turn to in a pinch that can win consistently against man coverage, and a red-zone threat other than Kyle Rudolph. Hence I’d like the Vikings to stay away from Torrey Smith and Cecil Shorts. The only two I’d consider number one material are Dez Bryant and Demaryius Thomas, and their teams should be resigning them soon. We’re most likely going to take a receiver with the 11^th pick in the 2015 draft. Whether it’s DeVante Parker or Kevin White, they will be much better options than anything we’ll find in free agency.

I have Clint Boling on the list, but I would much prefer the Vikings take Brandon Scherff with the 11^th pick. I doubt that will happen though, as he’ll either be gone or the Vikings will take a receiver even if he’s available.

There are probably more that should be on the list, but look for the Vikings to take an active look at linebackers, offensive lineman, and defensive backs. 

2015 Possible First Round Draft Picks

There have already been many mock drafts out already, as it’s one of the next big things to look forward to after your team doesn't make the playoffs. Unfortunately for Vikings fans that’s been the case much more often than not in the past few years. For me, at least, it’s given me a very good working knowledge of the younger players coming into the NFL in the last few years. We are also going into the 2015 draft not looking for a quarterback. That’s an astounding feeling.

From the few (underexaggeration) drafts I’ve perused, there’s one player that is being mocked to the Vikings more than any other. I’ll start with that one, but there are three others I want to touch on briefly. They are a combination of players I could see the Vikings taking and players I would love the Vikings to take.

DeVante Parker, WR Louisville

from: draftpanthers.com

This is the player that the vast majority of mock drafters have the Vikings taking at 11. And why not? The Vikings could use a number one receiver. Jennings isn’t that person in Norv Turner’s offense, and though Cordarrelle Patterson was supposed to be that person, he isn’t there yet. Charles Johnson came out of nowhere and provided a solid target for Bridgewater when none were to be found, but he’s still a bit rough yet as well. The 6’3, 210 pound Parker would give Bridgewater not only a target that he is familiar with from his time at Louisville, but it would give him a red-zone target where, minus Kyle Rudolph, we have none. Amari Cooper will be gone by the time we pick, but for the type of player our offense needs on the outside, Parker may be a better fit anyway.

Brandon Scherff, OL Iowa

from: nfl.com

Scherff is likely to be gone by 11, as he can excel at nearly every position on the line. He would be especially beneficial for the Vikings, though. John Sullivan is timeless at center, and our right side is locked down with Fusco at guard and Loadholt at tackle. The left side could use some work though. I’m not one of those fans that is calling for Kalil’s head. He definitely deserves to play out his rookie contract starting at left tackle, and I believe he’ll show considerable improvement next year. That allows Scherff, 6’5 and 320 pounds, to step in at left guard day one. Charlie Johnson definitely won’t be here next year, and then the Vikings’ staff can ease David Yankey into a backup role. If the worst happens, as in Kalil plays the whole year like he did the first just of 2014, then Scherff can step in for the 2016 season.

Landon Collins, S Alabama

from: dabearsbeat.com

He’s probably the only safety that will go in the first round, and he most likely won’t go outside the top fifteen. At 6’ and 220 pounds he’s the perfect size to play alongside Harrison Smith as the strong safety. He’s quick, hits hard, reads runs well, plays expert zone coverage, and plays man coverage well enough to shadow a tight end. In essence, he’d be perfect for our defense. The only things that will prevent Goodell calling Collins’ name for the Vikings is that he will probably be gone before pick 11, and we have other positions that could use more of an upgrade than the strong safety position.

Shaq Thompson, LB Washington

from: espn.go.com

This is a bit of a stretch. Either he’ll go higher, or he’ll drop because of his size. Shaq Thompson is a freak of an athlete. If you’ve been following the big names in college football, you know how Washington played him at linebacker and running back. The reason he could fall is not because of his 6’2 height, but his weight of around 225. I’m not sure what the average weight of a linebacker in the NFL is these days, but if I had to guess I’d say it is 240 or 245. I recently read a mock draft that thought Thompson would be a great fit at strong safety. Safeties like Kam Chancellor and Taylor Mays both play at weights in that range, and while Mays hasn’t really come on, Chancellor is a beast. But that’s poppycosh. The Vikings are not running the traditional cover 2 defense that we saw for many years. We’re running Zimmer’s defense. That means Anthony Barr, a 255 pound pass rushing specialist freak of an athlete on the strong side, would fit perfectly with a 230 pound freak of an athlete on the weakside. Yes, I’m assuming he’ll play at 230. I don’t have the stat on hand, but the Vikings played in their nickel package more than they played in their base defense. With only two linebackers on the field, it would make sense to pair Barr, who is getting better but still struggles in coverage, with a rangy linebacker who can do everything. He’d be perfect as the second backer in the nickel defense, and great on the weakside in our base defense. I’m thinking something in the Lavonte David mold, and what defense couldn’t use Lavonte David?

The first round is all about getting someone who can step in immediately and make an impact. In my opinion, each of these players fits that description perfectly. If we look at the offense as we need to do whatever we can to assist Teddy’s development, Devonte Parker and Brandon Scherff are both solid selections. I know this has been beaten to death as well, but the Cowboys did prove how far a great offensive line will get you. Better lineman will only help Teddy. On the other hand, more time to throw will only help if Bridgewater has receivers to throw to. It's a viscous, viscous circle.  Under Mike Zimmer, the defense is always high on the list as well. The Vikings took some major strides this year under Zimmer, and plugging in a rangy linebacker or a safety that could be just as good as Harrison Smith in a few years (just as good, not better) would send our defense to the top of the pack. And defense wins championships, right? If we could grab any of these picks, I’ll be a happy fan. I hope to do an in-depth post about each of these picks in the next few weeks, and then it’s on to the second round!