All Things 2023 Minnesota Vikings Off-Season Thread

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GophersInIowa said:
I just realized Detroit signed David Montgomery already too. And have Swift. Makes that pick even more WTF.

They've used a lot of draft picks on RBs recently.
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Ryan Clark whose opinion I respect was apoplectic when asked about it - for both their first rounders.
 

Only having one (1) pick in the next 88 puts a bit of a damper on the Draft party tonight. Outside of including future picks, we have virtually no ammo to move around. If we're able to land two (2) starters from this draft, we'll be fortunate.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Ryan Clark whose opinion I respect was apoplectic when asked about it - for both their first rounders.
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Ryan Clark is a raving f'ng lunatic and honestly a disgusting human being. I'm not entirely sure about his football takes, most people have tuned him out for a long time now

No doubt, only having 4 more picks left, including just one Day Two pick, is going to really limit what the Vikings are able to do for the remainder of the draft. I hope they don't make the mistake of moving any draft picks from NEXT year's draft, where there appears to be a much deeper talent pool (or so all the experts say?)

They clearly have a plan, based on how they have structured some of the contracts they've already signed; not committing very much money to next year, or as little as possible. I'm not sure what that plan IS, but I'll trust the new regime until they give us a lot of reason not to.

SKOL!!
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Ryan Clark is a raving f'ng lunatic and honestly a disgusting human being. I'm not entirely sure about his football takes, most people have tuned him out for a long time now



No doubt, only having 4 more picks left, including just one Day Two pick, is going to really limit what the Vikings are able to do for the remainder of the draft. I hope they don't make the mistake of moving any draft picks from NEXT year's draft, where there appears to be a much deeper talent pool (or so all the experts say?)

They clearly have a plan, based on how they have structured some of the contracts they've already signed; not committing very much money to next year, or as little as possible. I'm not sure what that plan IS, but I'll trust the new regime until they give us a lot of reason not to.

SKOL!!
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Another one of your hot draft takes bro🤠?

Like there would be no trades for the early picks or that Stroud wouldn’t go where he did.

To your credit, I think you admitted you were wrong (?) about it - so congrats on that growth.

But you show your true colors again with character assignation of someone on TV who gets paid for their football knowledge without any proof of why they’re disgusting (LOL) and to de facto smear me Mr. All 🇺🇸.

I really pity you bro that you hold onto online grudges against a non big shot like me - when by all your accounts - you have everything a man could want.

Except me some of these -

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️

Ciao for good kiddo & God Bless you brother- tranquility is actually fun😃
 
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Agree with above posters concerns about our defense.

Interior defensive line is arguably the worst in the league.
Inside linebackers possibly worst in league depending if Aasamoah can take a leap.
Have one cornerback we can feel certain about.
Safeties probly about league average.

If Addison is very good I will have no complaints, but this defense looks to be sorry at this point. Maybe Flores is a miracle worker.
 


Gopher_In_NYC said:
Another one of your hot draft takes bro🤠?

Like there would be no trades for the early picks or that Stroud wouldn’t go where he did.

To your credit, I think you admitted you were wrong (?) about it - so congrats on that growth.

But you show your true colors again with character assignation of someone on TV who gets paid for their football knowledge without any proof of why they’re disgusting (LOL) and to de facto so smear me Mr. All 🇺🇸.

I really pity you bro that you hold onto online grudges against a non big shot like me - when by all your accounts - you have everything a man could want.

Except me some of these -

🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗

☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️☮️

Ciao for good kiddo
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Get over yourself, for real. I said nothing about you, just that Ryan Clark is a POS. Not a word about you. Take a deep breath, not everything is about you.

Proof? Okay.

Ryan Clark Says White Analysts Should Not Comment On Black Players Conduct

Ryan Clark Flips Out At Chris "Mad Dog" Russo In Debate

ESPN Ryan Clark Refused To Work With Fellow African American Sage Steele For Not Getting In Line At ESPN

Ryan Clark Was Ready to Fight Stephen A Smith On "First Take"

Ryan Clark, Radio Host, Nearly Come to Blows At Training Camp Practice

Sage Steel's Lawsuit Claims Ryan Clark Refused To Work With Her Over Covid Opinion
 



Gopherguy0723 said:
The Vikings could package Cook or Z. Smith to move up or acquire picks.
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I think you are talking picks tomorrow though for either one.

Damn, it sucks to not have another pick until 87.

For someone I feel we are moving into the second round.
 



kg21 said:
I think you are talking picks tomorrow though for either one.

Damn, it sucks to not have another pick until 87.

For someone I feel we are moving into the second round.
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It was worth it for Hockenson, though. He's very good.
 


Whether or not Minnesota stands pat with one Day 2 selection, there are several players who feel like optimal fits. Using “The Beast,” by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, as a guide, here are 10 names to keep your eye on Friday:

Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota (6-0, 204)
The Vikings need defense. Like, all over the place. And Smith, who played his college ball locally and did visit the Vikings for a top-30 visit, would fit the bill for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Smith is a track athlete with size, speed and long arms who could play press-man coverage. Given Minnesota’s need for a cornerback to man the outside, especially in defensive sub-packages, Smith would fit the bill.

Corey Trice Jr., CB, Purdue (6-3, 206)
Brugler described Trice as a “king-sized athlete with elite height, build and length for the position.” To which it seems fair to respond: Where can the Vikings sign up? Trice has room to progress technically, but the athleticism likely pops on the Vikings’ projection models, and what he could offer coincides with Smith’s in that he’d provide Minnesota some help defensively.

Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame (6-5, 264)
By now, hopefully, you’ve noticed the defensive theme. Though cornerback seems more obvious in terms of what the Vikings must add in the short term, depth at the edge-rusher position feels important, especially considering the contracts of Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. Foskey’s traits match nicely with what the Vikings want, and although his pass-rush moves lack complexity, he stands as a moldable talent. This would be a bet on pass-rush specialist Mike Smith’s ability to maximize the team’s talent.

Marte Mapu, LB/S, Sacramento State (6-3, 221)
He’s versatile. He’s smart. And he can blitz. Adding him to the Vikings’ defense would not hurt. He is stoic. He plays aggressively. Thinking about his fit alongside Flores is too easy. He may not slide all the way to No. 87, but if he does, it feels like a solid match.

Zach Harrison, Edge, Ohio State (6-5, 274)
Harrison is essentially the edge-rusher version of Trice. Harrison is huge and can move. His measurables — the longest arms (36 1/4 inches) and wingspan (85 1/2 inches) among defensive linemen in this draft class — are hard to fathom. If there are questions, they lie in his stiffness and lack of bend.

Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama (6-1, 227)
Another frequent mention in this space over the last few weeks, To’oTo’o could fit if the team wanted an off-ball linebacker with experience and schematic familiarity. To’oTo’o manned the controls for legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban. And while he lacks coveted length, his instincts would be an interesting addition alongside the impactful wrecking ball that is Brian Asamoah.

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern (6-1, 282)
Whether he simply sideswiped his way past them or thrust them aside, Adebawore tore through offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl. He’s not the most creative of pass rushers on the interior, but his sheer athleticism could enhance the Vikings’ options up front. That a player like Calijah Kancey did not fall to the Vikings in the first round meant the team wasn’t going to snag an interior presence up high. This could be a chance to add an impressive athlete at the position later in this draft.

Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina (6-1, 198)
Will he slide into the third round? If he does, Rush stands as a reliable option to fill the team’s cornerback hole. He, too, starred at the Senior Bowl. He plays with press-man traits. And he does boast fluidity and length. Altogether, his attributes warrant a look if the Vikings remain at No. 87.

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State (6-2, 198)
Most of the players on this list are outliers in some capacity. It’s the length for some and the athleticism for others. Brents’ potential is all about his size. Can he track the ball optimally? Can he stay balanced while covering the best receivers in the NFL? They’re fair questions. But Brents can move, is fluid and can scratch his ankles standing up. His ability to disrupt the releases of particular receivers is a tool that aligns with how the Vikings are going to play defensively.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn (5-11, 210)
Why not throw a non-defender in here? If the Vikings were to stick with offense, the two likeliest options are running back and interior offensive lineman. Bigsby can catch. He is explosive. In college, as Brugler pointed out, Bigsby had trouble at times decisively selecting rush lanes. But in a scenario where the Vikings move on from Dalvin Cook, Bigsby is an option who could provide home run-hitting ability.
 

forever a gopher said:
The way to look at the lack of picks is they essentially "drafted" TJ Hockenson with their second rounder this year. Getting a good TE in his prime is well worth the unknown of whatever second round defensive guy they would have drafted.
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Excellent point.
 



kg21 said:
Whether or not Minnesota stands pat with one Day 2 selection, there are several players who feel like optimal fits. Using “The Beast,” by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, as a guide, here are 10 names to keep your eye on Friday:

Terell Smith, CB, Minnesota (6-0, 204)
The Vikings need defense. Like, all over the place. And Smith, who played his college ball locally and did visit the Vikings for a top-30 visit, would fit the bill for defensive coordinator Brian Flores. Smith is a track athlete with size, speed and long arms who could play press-man coverage. Given Minnesota’s need for a cornerback to man the outside, especially in defensive sub-packages, Smith would fit the bill.

Corey Trice Jr., CB, Purdue (6-3, 206)
Brugler described Trice as a “king-sized athlete with elite height, build and length for the position.” To which it seems fair to respond: Where can the Vikings sign up? Trice has room to progress technically, but the athleticism likely pops on the Vikings’ projection models, and what he could offer coincides with Smith’s in that he’d provide Minnesota some help defensively.

Isaiah Foskey, Edge, Notre Dame (6-5, 264)
By now, hopefully, you’ve noticed the defensive theme. Though cornerback seems more obvious in terms of what the Vikings must add in the short term, depth at the edge-rusher position feels important, especially considering the contracts of Za’Darius Smith and Danielle Hunter. Foskey’s traits match nicely with what the Vikings want, and although his pass-rush moves lack complexity, he stands as a moldable talent. This would be a bet on pass-rush specialist Mike Smith’s ability to maximize the team’s talent.

Marte Mapu, LB/S, Sacramento State (6-3, 221)
He’s versatile. He’s smart. And he can blitz. Adding him to the Vikings’ defense would not hurt. He is stoic. He plays aggressively. Thinking about his fit alongside Flores is too easy. He may not slide all the way to No. 87, but if he does, it feels like a solid match.

Zach Harrison, Edge, Ohio State (6-5, 274)
Harrison is essentially the edge-rusher version of Trice. Harrison is huge and can move. His measurables — the longest arms (36 1/4 inches) and wingspan (85 1/2 inches) among defensive linemen in this draft class — are hard to fathom. If there are questions, they lie in his stiffness and lack of bend.

Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama (6-1, 227)
Another frequent mention in this space over the last few weeks, To’oTo’o could fit if the team wanted an off-ball linebacker with experience and schematic familiarity. To’oTo’o manned the controls for legendary Alabama coach Nick Saban. And while he lacks coveted length, his instincts would be an interesting addition alongside the impactful wrecking ball that is Brian Asamoah.

Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern (6-1, 282)
Whether he simply sideswiped his way past them or thrust them aside, Adebawore tore through offensive linemen at the Senior Bowl. He’s not the most creative of pass rushers on the interior, but his sheer athleticism could enhance the Vikings’ options up front. That a player like Calijah Kancey did not fall to the Vikings in the first round meant the team wasn’t going to snag an interior presence up high. This could be a chance to add an impressive athlete at the position later in this draft.

Darius Rush, CB, South Carolina (6-1, 198)
Will he slide into the third round? If he does, Rush stands as a reliable option to fill the team’s cornerback hole. He, too, starred at the Senior Bowl. He plays with press-man traits. And he does boast fluidity and length. Altogether, his attributes warrant a look if the Vikings remain at No. 87.

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State (6-2, 198)
Most of the players on this list are outliers in some capacity. It’s the length for some and the athleticism for others. Brents’ potential is all about his size. Can he track the ball optimally? Can he stay balanced while covering the best receivers in the NFL? They’re fair questions. But Brents can move, is fluid and can scratch his ankles standing up. His ability to disrupt the releases of particular receivers is a tool that aligns with how the Vikings are going to play defensively.

Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn (5-11, 210)
Why not throw a non-defender in here? If the Vikings were to stick with offense, the two likeliest options are running back and interior offensive lineman. Bigsby can catch. He is explosive. In college, as Brugler pointed out, Bigsby had trouble at times decisively selecting rush lanes. But in a scenario where the Vikings move on from Dalvin Cook, Bigsby is an option who could provide home run-hitting ability.
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If they could land one of Smith, To'oTo'o or Brents in the 3rd, I'd be quite pleased.
 





I don’t recall PA or Meatsauce telling the listeners that a wr from usc was in the cards. On Monday tho PA will explain it to us..
 





Yep, so far the draft has worked out well for us. This draft is absolutely full of CBs. I don't know if the guy we got is great or not, but he is clearly the guy they wanted. There are still good CB and S options remaining.

We probably had the thinnest WR corp in the NFL, our #2 has had 1 good season and our #3 is wide open. We had to add there and the difference between a 1st round WR and a third round WR in this draft is much much greater than the differences in CB.

All of that said, DL and LB is still pretty awful.
 


Slim Tubby said:
We must've saved a ton of cash in our Scouting Department only having to visit USC. 😁
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We dumped money to the USC NIL fund to save on travel. Both of these guys were NIL transfers to USC last year.
 


After seeing USC in person last December at the Pac12 Championship (vs Utah) my gut reaction is...why take anyone from that horrific defense? Also lousy against Tulane in their Bowl game.

Having said that, I have no idea how much Blackmon was responsible for those permit defenses.
 

Ope3 said:
After seeing USC in person last December at the Pac12 Championship (vs Utah) my gut reaction is...why take anyone from that horrific defense? Also lousy against Tulane in their Bowl game.

Having said that, I have no idea how much Blackmon was responsible for those permit defenses.
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Yeah, I don't know much. I know I didn't really like Ringo because I saw him get beat a few times but that was a small sample size.
 


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