Vikings roster is looking good already
We have had a good discussion about the team needs for this draft this week. The leading vote receipient is Cornerback with Guard right behind. Oddly, Defensive Tackle is third in votes which reveals that the fans that visit this site really do believe in drafting for “need”. This is how the team drafted Garrett Bradbury over Jeffrey Simmons. There was much rejoicing from a majority of folks here.
The strength of this draft is at Defensive Tackle, Running Back, and Edge but I think Edge is only early in the draft. Some players like Shemar Stewart and Jordan Burch are classified by some boards as Edge when they really are more like 5 techniques IMHO. I think that the Eagles showed the league what you need to do to be able to beat them and that is win up front. The Vikings added some good pieces to both lines in free agency but the work is not done and the longevity of those signings cannot be guaranteed. It would be wise to plan for the future due to the age of some of these signings (Kelly and Hargrave in particular) and the salaries.
I do not think Cornerback is very strong this year and I think the signings in free agency reflect how the team feels too. There has been some rumor about the Vikings possibly adding Asante Samuel Jr after the draft when it wont affect the compensatory picks which is smart. If they get him then they do not need to draft a cornerback early. They paid Murphy Jr like a CB1 and Rodgers like a CB2. They really like Blackmon and picked up Jeff Okudah too. They gave Okudah a 2.35M salary which all of it is guaranteed which indicates he is making the team. Plus, if you trust Flores, then you should trust his instincts on Okudah. Okudah could end up being the best signing in free agency if Flores can utilize him better than his other defensive coordinators AND he can stay healthy. I always love players that are playing for a new contract.
I think the obvious move will be a trade down from the first round. It is nice to say just get the best player you can but the team needs more players to help improve the depth IMO. The first round trade down gets better picks in return. As for what position they should take, I think it all starts upfront. I could see a guard early since the Defensive Tackle class is deeper.
The positions most and least valued over the past decade have been Quarterback, Edge Rusher, Wide Receiver, Cornerback, Offensive Tackle, Defensive Tackle, Running Back, Inside Linebacker, Offensive Guard, Tight End, Safety, and Center. The Vikings have drafted a Quarterback JJ McCarthy), Edge Rusher (Dallas Turner), and Wide Receiver (Jordan Addison) in the first round of last two drafts. They have Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill at the Offensive Tackle positions. If you subscribe to this theory then the first pick would come down to Cornerback or Defensive Tackle.
The Vikings had top 30 visits with Jordan Addison and Dallas Turner the last two years and ended up drafting them in the first round. The top 30 visit list should provide insight into the teams direction with the first pick. They have met with Ashton Jeanty, Grey Zabel, Donovan Jackson, Jonah Savaiinaea, Matthew Hairston, Shavon Revel, Trey Amos, and Derrick Harmon.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Joe Flacco to the Browns, leaving backup QB options very thin for the Vikings
Joe Flacco has reportedly signed with the Cleveland Browns, putting to rest any ideas the Minnesota Vikings might’ve had about signing him as a veteran backup to J.J. McCarthy.
Where does that leave Minnesota in its pursuit of a backup quarterback?
The cupboard is getting bare. The best available free agents are Ryan Tannehill, Drew Lock, Carson Wentz, Desmond Ridder, Easton Stick, C.J. Beathard, Teddy Bridgewater, Josh Johnson, Mike White, Jeff Driskel, and Tyler Huntley.
Maybe Brett Rypien is the plan? He’s on the Vikings roster, knows the playbook and the Vikings have spoke glowingly of him. That said, if McCarthy gets injured and the season rests on the shoulders of Rypien — rather than an established veteran — Minnesota probably isn’t winning many games.
On Friday, we saw the backup quarterback pool dwindle significantly with the Cleveland Browns re-signing Joe Flacco and the Seattle Seahawks signing Drew Lock after he spent a season with the New York Giants. It wasn’t much of a surprise from the Browns with Deshaun Watson likely to miss the entire season, but it was the Seahawks who surprised us.
Lock going back to Seattle is a surprise, especially since they chose to move on from him after the 2023 season. Now, Lock did have a path to getting on the field in New York, which he did. It also speaks to what the regime thinks of the current backup quarterback Sam Howell.
With Lock back in the fold and Howell not having any guaranteed money left on his contract, he could end up either being traded with a pick swap on day three or just released. The Vikings could show interest in Howell with his gunslinger mentality, something that head coach Kevin O’Connell could harness. He could be the Vikings’ next Nick Mullens.
5 backup quarterback options for Vikings after Joe Flacco signs with Browns
Vikings predicted to place $15 million starter on trade block
More moves could be coming on the defensive line, now just two weeks out from the 2025 NFL Draft. The Vikings have a new Big Three up front in Jonathan Allen, Harrison Phillips and Javon Hargrave, but it would be smart business to get younger at that position, as all three of those guys are entering the back nine of their careers.
If Minnesota selects an early-round defensive tackle in this month’s draft — Oregon’s Derrick Harmon has been a popular projection — Ralph Vacchiano of FOX Sports predicts the Vikings will place Phillips on the trade block with an eye on infusing some young talent into the mix. Here was his take on the hypothetical move:
The Vikings signed both DT Jonathan Allen (three years, $51 million) and DT Javon Hargrave (two years, $30 million) this offseason, which surely reduces Phillips’ role in their defense. They might not be inclined to trade him, given the age of their two new additions and the fact that Phillips is in the first year of a smaller, two-year extension. But if they draft or find a possible replacement, the 29-year-old Phillips might be worth dangling on the market. He’s a strong run-stuffer who hasn’t missed a game in the past three years. — Vacchiano
Lunchbreak: ‘The Beast’ Unleashed & Paired with Mock Draft; Day 3 Fits
The Athletic on Wednesday dropped the 2025 version of Brugler’s comprehensive draft guide, which contains 401 scouting reports, rankings for more than 2,600 players and almost 300,000 – yes – words.
Even better, this iteration of “The Beast” has a savvy, updated digital look that’s objectively easy to peruse and jumps to sections such as Brugler’s big board, specific positions and needs for each team.
For starters, here’s what “The Beast” says about Minnesota: General Manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah needs a productive draft. His 2022 class bore little fruit. Minnesota’s roster remains older. The Vikings don’t take as many elite testers as they used to. It’s now more about scheme fit, aptitude and mindset.
That latter point, especially, seems like a spot-on assessment and mirrors the organizational goal to acquire and develop players who are smart, tough and love football – basically, the leadership’s MO.
Brugler outlined these positions as the biggest needs for the Vikings: DT, G, CB and RB.
Yore Mock
Trades
Trade Partner: Jacksonville Jaguars
Sent: Round 1 Pick 24
Received: Round 2 Pick 4, Round 3 Pick 6, Round 7 Pick 5
…
Trade Partner: Miami Dolphins
Sent: Round 5 Pick 1, Round 7 Pick 5
Received: Round 4 Pick 33, Round 7 Pick 15
…
Trade Partner: Philadelphia Eagles
Sent: Round 3 Pick 6, Future Round 4 Pick
Received: Round 2 Pick 32, Round 5 Pick 30
…
36: R2 P4 S Malaki Starks – Georgia 6’0.07” 197
64: R2 P32 G Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona 6’4.1” 324
97: R3 P33 DL Ty Robinson – Nebraska 6’5.1” 288
Photo by Ric Tapia/Getty Images
135: R4 P33 WR Dont’e Thornton – Tennessee 6’4.5” 205
168: R5 P30 RB Brashard Smith – SMU 5’9.7” 194
Photo by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photos/Getty Images
187: R6 P11 DL J.J. Pegues – Ole Miss 6’2.4” 309
231: R7 P15 CB Bilhal Kone – Western Michigan 6’1.2” 190
UDFA
QB Seth Henigan – Memphis
RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt – Arizona
WR Monaray Baldwin – Baylor
TE Thomas Fidone II – Nebraska
C Joe Huber – Wisconsin
DL Warren Brinson – Georgia
EDGE Ethan Downs – Oklahoma
LB Eugene Asante – Auburn
CB Korie Black – Oklahoma State
S Malik Verdon – Iowa State
P Kai Kroeger – South Carolina
Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:
- No discussion of politics or religion
- No feeding of the trolls
- Leave the gender hatred at the door
- Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
- Speaking of which, if discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
- No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer
- If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
- While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm