The NFL Draft can drive one to do some silly things. Like mock drafts. Predicting the selection of football players by 32 teams is damn near impossible. There are too many variables. Yet so many attempt it. So many can't stop doing it. I can't. Mock drafts this year aren't much fun for fans of the Minnesota Vikings as their team has no first round pick. It was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles for quarterback Sam Bradford. The Vikings aren't scheduled to make their first pick until the second round is about half done. Much of the pre-draft fun is lost on the Vikings and their fans because most of that fun surrounds the first round. So, here's some Vikings fun. A wild stab at all eight of their current picks.
2 (48) Dan Feeney, G, Indiana
3 (79) Elijah Lee, LB, Kansas State
3 (86) Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
4 (121) George Kittle, TE, Iowa
4 (129) Jermaine Eloumunor, T, Texas A&M
5 (160) Robert Davis, WR, Georgia State
6 (199) Austin Rekhow, P, Idaho
7 (232) Younghoe Koo, K, Georgia Southern
Or something like that.
Improving the offensive line was the Vikings greatest need this offseason. The addition of tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers in free agency was a nice start. It would be wrong to consider the task complete. More work can and should be done on the line. Even if most of the starters might be set the overall talent of the line has to improve. I really think that two of their top five picks should still be spent on linemen.
The first six picks that I mocked were scripted by the Vikings actions so far this offseason. With the addition of the free agent tackles, center and right guard are the offensive line positions still written in pencil. At the owners meetings last week, head coach Mike Zimmer hinted that he has an "idea" on four of the five line spots. Center and right guard are likely written in pencil. I pick right guard as the one most in the air. Dan Feeney could be a day one, and long-term, starter at that position. Long-time starting linebacker Chad Greenway retired last month. Elijah Lee would be a nice replacement. With the increasing dependence on nickel defenses to keep pace with the always increasing passing in the NFL, Lee has the coverage ability to stay on the field in more than base defenses. It's been a decade since running back has been a draft day concern. That changed this offseason. It appears that Adrian Peterson's brilliant career in Minnesota is over. That's hard to believe and in even more difficult to handle. The Vikings signed Latavius Murray in free agency but his addition is hardly a one-back commitment. Murray, Jerick McKinnon, and Kareem Hunt could form an excellent running back committee. The Vikings made a serious attempt to sign free agent tight end Jared Cook. That's a pretty clear indication that they'd like to upgrade at the position. George Kittle would be a nice addition for his versatility. He can be moved around the formation, chip in with his blocking, and be another target in the passing game. Jermaine Eloumunor would be a project at left tackle. He moved to the U.S. from England at 14 and hasn't played football as long as most. He's raw but sure looks the part with tremendous size, strength, and surprisingly nimble feet. The Vikings lost receivers Cordarrelle Patterson and Charles Johnson in free agency. Simply from a numbers standpoint they could use another receiver. Thus, Robert Davis, a big, fast pass catcher from itty-bitty Georgia State. It would nice if he could return kicks. The Vikings are going to sorely miss Patterson in that capacity.
A couple of years ago it looked like the Vikings were set at kicker and punter for the long term. Then Blair Walsh started missing field goals and extra points at an alarming rate. Jeff Locke had his best season punting last season but bolted to the Indianapolis Colts in free agency. Now the Vikings are sitting with Kai Forbath and Taylor Symmank as their kicker and punter, respectively. It should surprise no one if they add a kicker or a punter in the draft. Despite having both in this mock I doubt that they spend two picks on part-time players in the real draft. They worked out Arizona State kicker Zane Gonzalez but it would probably take a second day pick to get him. I don't see that happening. In the real draft I could see the Vikings selecting a punter in rounds 5-7 and adding a kicker after the draft. I would love to see the Vikings have a player by the name of Younghoe Koo on the roster.
This could be the first of a few Vikings mock over the next month.
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