Minnesota Vikings
1. J.J. McCarthy, QB, Michigan
1. Dallas Turner, Edge, Alabama
4. Khyree Jackson, CB, Oregon
6. Walter Rouse, OT, Oklahoma
6. Will Reichard, K, Alabama
7. Michael Jurgens, G/C, Wake Forest
7. Levi Drake Rodriguez, DT, Texas A&M-Commerce
Of course, the Minnesota Vikings had one of my favorite drafts. I was on board with the Vikings trading a bunch to get where they needed to get to secure their quarterback of the future. They had plenty of draft capital to spend as they entered this draft with two #1s this year and a #1 next year. All three #1s were the keys to a new quarterback. The Vikings had to come out of the first round, the top of the first round, with that quarterback. I was to the point where I really didn’t care what it cost. I’ve spent too many decades watching the Vikings settle for a quarterback. Enough. Be agressive. Throughout the draft process, I had J.J. McCarthy and North Carolina’s Drake Maye as my 1a and 1b. I mostly leaned McCarthy but figured that the Vikings shot-callers preferred Maye. I assumed that they needed to get into the top-5 for either. The Vikings tried to get to #3 for Maye. When that failed, they waited for McCarthy. They were more brave than I would’ve been. It turned out to be a brilliant strategy as the Vikings were able to select McCarthy after an insurance trade-up from #11 to #10. It was brilliant as they were able to get their quarterback without giving up their second #1 this year and their #1 next year. Never in my most optimistic pre-draft dreams did I see the Vikings getting their quarterback and an impact defensive player in the first round. There was no way that defensive player could be Alabama edge Dallas Turner. He was a top-10 player and arguably the top defensive player in this draft. The Vikings added two foundational players in the first round. Sitting out Day 2 was rough. I spent that evening thinking about Day 1. Day 3 brought another potential defensive starter in Oregon corner Khyree Jackson. After a slow start to his college career, his best football is ahead of him. His 6’4” length is his super power. Oklahoma offensive tackle Walter Rouse and Wake Forest G/C Michael Jurgens provide offensive line depth and potentially more. One of the Vikings most glaring holes is interior offensive line. Rouse projects as the team’s swing tackle. Perhaps, he can bump inside. More likely, Jurgens emerges as a sleeper candidate for playing time. The Vikings really need someone to emerge at left guard. The Vikings, and all Vikings fans, hope that Will Reichard ends the team’s long-runnning kicking woes. Then there’s Levi Drake Rodriguez. Along with interior offensive line, defensive line is big need. I expected the Vikings to select a defensive lineman earlier than the seventh round. Rodriguez might be the most interesting player to come out of this draft. He’s a live-wire in an interview. He looks like a live-wire on the field. The energy he brings is infectious. It’s fairly easy to see McCarthy, Turner, Jackson, and Reichard making an early and significant impact. I can easily see the possibility of Rodriguez putting this draft class over the top.
The other favorite team drafts
Arizona Cardinals
1. Marvin Harrison Jr., WR, Ohio State
1. Darius Robinson, DL, Missouri
2. Max Melton, CB, Rutgers
3. Trey Benson, RB, Florida State
3. Isaiah Adams, OT, Illinois
3. Tip Reiman, TE, Illinois
3. Elijah Jones, CB, Boston College
4. Dadrion Taylor-Demerson, S, Texas Tech
5. Xavier Thomas, Edge, Clemson
5. Christian Jones, OT, Texas
6. Tejhaun Palmer, WR, UAB
7. Jaden Davis, CB, Miami
It’s easy to like the Arizona Cardinals draft as Marvin Harrison Jr. and Darius Robinson were two of my favorites. It didn’t end with those two. Max Melton, Trey Benson, and Elijah Jones, and Xavier Thomas emerged as favorites after learning more about them.
Cincinnati Bengals
1. Amarius Mims, OT, Georgia
2. Kris Jenkins, DT, Michigan
3. Jermaine Burton, WR, Alabama
3. McKinley Jackson, DT, Texas A&M
4. Erick All, TE, Iowa
5. Josh Newton, CB, TCU
6. Tanner McLachlan, TE, Arizona
6. Cedric Johnson, Edge, Mississippi
7. Daijahn Anthony, S, Mississippi
7. Matt Lee, C, Miami
The Cincinnati Bengals sure like their offensive tackles on the huge side. Amarius Mims makes a tremendously beefy group even more beefy. Kris Jenkins is a favorite. I really wanted him in Minnesota. Jermaine Burton, McKinley Jackson, Erick All, Josh Newton, Cedric Johnson all intrigued me during the long pre-draft process.
Detroit Lions
1. Terrion Arnold, CB, Alabama
2. Ennis Rakestraw, CB, Missouri
4. Giovanni Manu, OT, British Columbia
4. Sione Vaki, S, Utah
6. Mekhi Wingo, DT, LSU
6. Christian Mahogany, G, Boston College
I hate including the Detroit Lions on this list but I can’t deny what they did in this draft. Their secondary was a joke last year. They sure addressed that joke in this draft. Terrion Arnold and Ennis Rakestraw. Mekhi Wingo and Christian Mahogany were a couple players I would’ve liked to see in Minnesota.
Los Angeles Chargers
1. Joe Alt, OT, Notre Dame
2. Ladd McConkey, WR, Georgia
3. Junior Colson, LB, Michigan
4. Justin Eboigbe, DT, Alabama
5. Tarheeb Still, CB, Maryland
5. Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame
6. Kimani Vidal, RB, Troy
7. Brenden Rice, WR, USC
7. Cornelius Johnson, WR
Joe Alt, Ladd McConkey, Junior Colson, and Justin Eboigbe all project as early contributors, if not starters. I really liked later picks Cam Hart and Kimani Vidal. And the Chargers added Jerry Rice’s kid.
Los Angeles Rams
1. Jared Verse, Edge, Florida State
2. Braden Fiske, DT, Florida State
3. Blake Corum, RB, Michigan
3. Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
5. Brennan Jackson, Edge, Washington State
6. Tyler Davis, DT, Clemson
6. Joshua Karty, K, Stanford
6. Jordan Whittington, WR, Texas
6. Beaux Limmer, C, Arkansas
7. KT Leveston, G, Kansas State
The Los Angeles Rams finally returned to the first round. Despite not having a first round pick for so many years, I feel like I’ve often liked their drafts. From Jared Verse to KT Leveston, the Rams added 10 players with intriguing potential.
Pittsburgh Steelers
1. Troy Fautanu, OL, Washington
2. Zach Frazier, C, West Virginia
3. Roman Wilson, WR, Michigan
4. Mason McCormick, G, South Dakota State
6. Logan Lee, DT, Iowa
6. Ryan Watts, CB, Texas
The Pittsburgh Steelers attacked their offensive line situation much like the Lions attacked their cornerback situation. Troy Fautanu, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick will soon be starting for the Steelers. Now, they just need a quarterback.
No comments:
Post a Comment