Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to the
Views and Personal Photos on the Vikes from the Inaugural Hall of Fame fan.
Brought to you by Mr. Cheer or Die and the Vikes Geek, welcome to theWith most of their salary cap for 2006 spent, and with only a handful of modest starters likely to be available after the June salary cap cuts, the Minnesota Vikings are left to consider their options for obtaining through this year’s NFL entry draft the players that they yet need. The options appear to be three-fold. One option is to package picks for a modest gain in selection order. Another is to package many picks for a more substantial gain in selection order. The final option, of course, is to remain pat. And what the Vikings ultimately decide to do in the draft will—or should—come down to what returns the greatest value.
Vikings’ Current Needs
Entering free agency, the Vikings were in the market for a safety, middle linebacker, backup quarterback, running back, offensive guard, and offensive tackle. Despite the loss of wide receiver Nate Burleson, the Vikings believe that they are set at wide receiver with Koren Robinson moving to number one receiver, Travis Taylor to number two, and Marcus Robinson, Troy Williamson, and probably some discount salary cap casualty veteran, draftee, or free agent battling for the number three position.
The Vikings concluded the primary free agency period having addressed most of their off-season needs. The biggest signing, Steve Hutchinson, not only solidified the left side of the offensive line but also allowed the Vikings to spend less money for a second-tier free agent running back, Chester Taylor—a player who figures to out-perform anything which the Vikings have referred to as a running back in the past four seasons.
Strengthening the left side of the offensive line was critical not only because it allowed the Vikings to pursue a more modestly priced free-agent running back, but also because it allows the Vikings to run the West Coast offense—an offense that tends left to right—with some degree of efficiency. And it also means that the Vikings will be a little less concerned about having a 37-year-old starting quarterback in Brad Johnson backed up by a highly questionable backup in Mike McMahon, since Johnson will have his blind side covered by Bryant McKinnie, Hutchinson, and Matt Birk.
With the addition of Tank Williams at safety, the Vikings’ additions leave them in better position than they were in at the end of last season. But the Vikings have one glaring hole on their roster that they have not fully addressed in free agency. And that hole could come back to haunt the team if the team is unable to fill it through the draft.
Remaining Needs
At the outset of free agency, the Vikings signed former San Diego Charger linebacker Ben Leber. Leber arrived in Minnesota with two positives and two negatives. The positives for Leber are that he is young and has shown promise of significant upside. The negatives are that he is coming off of an injury in 2005 and has yet to reach his potential in a league notorious for making final calls on players early in their careers.
Then there is the added difficulty that Leber not only has not played middle linebacker in the NFL, but also that the Vikings reportedly will not ask Leber to play that role this year. All of which leaves the Vikings either better off at outside linebacker with no clear middle linebacker for 2006 or about where they were at the end of 2005—with no middle linebacker and some decent players on the edges. And as the Vikings can attest, that won’t get it done in the NFL.
Middle Linebacker
The Vikings’ coaches currently are suggesting that Dontarrious Thomas and E.J. Henderson are the prime candidates to fill the middle linebacker role in 2006. What remains unclear, however, is what evidence exists that either Henderson or Thomas is capable of playing middle linebacker. Henderson’s failure at middle linebacker in 2004 is outshone only by Thomas’ poor play just about anywhere he has played. And moving Henderson to middle linebacker not only augurs poorly for that position but also means transferring the Vikings’ best outside linebacker from 2005, thus portending the weakening of two positions with one change.
The Vikings’ front office is well aware of the Vikings’ linebacking deficiency—no matter the statements, as sparse as they are, out of Winter Park—as the Vikings are said to be making a pitch to move up in the draft to take Ohio State linebacker A.J. Hawk. As are most NFL teams, the Vikings are convinced that Hawk can be one of the few players to make a seamless transition from college linebacker to standout NFL middle linebacker.
The rub, of course, is that to obtain Hawk, the Vikings must do three things. First, they must make peace with sending a passel of picks to another team to move up in the draft. Second, they must find a team that is high enough in the draft to take Hawk that also is willing to trade down in the draft. Finally, they must convince themselves that Hawk is the right selection so high in the draft. And given the Vikings’ triangle of authority, that might be a daunting consensus to reach.
Up Next: Getting There from Here. Expectations for the Vikings’ various draft-day options.
"Who Should I Draft?" by Mr. Cheer Or Die
I am taking part in an all-blogger draft. It is just a little NFL Mock Draft consisting of fans who blog for their respective teams. I am representing the Vikings blog-o-sphere. The first four picks have been selected as of 11 am CST. What about the Vikes? Should I try and trade up? Trade Down? Stay pat?
Stayed tuned.
Posted by maasx003 at April 20, 2006 01:49 AMAJ Hawk, hmm? Well, I don't want the Vikings to give picks to Green Bay at #5, but if they go any lower than that they might miss Hawk. I don't see the Jets or Titans wanting to move all the way down to #17, and the Saints #2 pick will probably be very pricey. They would likely be OK with moving down since they seem to be looking at Mario Williams or D'Brickashaw Ferguson, but they'd have to move back up to, again, the #5 spot or so. Maybe Green Bay will end up getting picks in a 3-team deal.
If the Vikings find themselves sitting at #2 (or, good grief, #1 because you know the Texans might not take Bush since they have little need at RB...) I'm not so sure that AJ Hawk is the pick. In fact, I'm pretty sure he's NOT. That would be the time to look at Bush, Lienart, or some defensive super-stud.
Looks like the Vikes may have to package picks to Green Bay for a shot at AJ Hawk, who I don't see falling past #5. Maybe MN will wait and see if that happens and then trade up to the 49ers (who wouldn't give that pick to Denver for anything) or #7 or #8. I'd rather MN not trade picks to Detroit, although I don't know why not. They never draft wisely anyhow.
What's wrong with staying put and going for Ernie Sims?
Also, out of the "3 options" you mentioned, you neglected to point out that Minnesota could trade down and end up with SIX picks in the top 95. In such a deep draft, I can see those picks bearing much fruit in a few years.
Posted by: Peter at April 20, 2006 09:16 AMWhat do you think of the Shaub rumblings VG?
I think it makes much more sense to get him. a relatively proven commodotity than to trade up for one of the big three qb's. If they can get him for a couple 2nds or a swap of firsts and a second I would do it in a nanosecond.
Posted by: J. Lichty at April 20, 2006 10:00 AMPeter,
You've identified the conundrum. If the Vikings trade up high enough to get Hawk, they likely will have moved high enough to take Leinart, Young, or Bush. That might be too tempting for the Vikings to pass up. The problem, of course, is that the Vikings need an immediate starter at linebacker but not at quarterback and probably not at running back (though I'm fine with taking Bush if he's available). Another problem is that, if the Vikings want a quarterback out of this draft or any draft, they probably will have to settle for a quarterback that is not yet ready to play in the NFL. And that makes taking a quarterback in this year's draft more appealing than it might otherwise be given Brad Johnson's age. The Vikings could wait and see who's available in the later rounds of this year's draft, but it is tough to get too excited about any QBs after Leinart and Young. Guys like Jacobs might pan out in the NFL, but there is as much of a probability--if not more--that they will not.
I'll address the trading down option somewhat in the next column, but I'm not a fan of that approach. Barring a stupendous blunder, the Vikings are nearly certain of obtaining an immediate starter if they merely stand pat. The same cannot be said of the players likely to be available in the second round. More picks is only better if the talent runs through those picks. But NFL-caliber talent significantly drops as the first round draws to a close. I'd have to get a player and picks in exchange for my first-round pick this year to make it worth the trade. And that player probably would have to be a middle linebacker.
VG
Posted by: vg at April 20, 2006 11:10 AMLichty,
I'm not sold on Schaub, though I'd certainly take him over McMahon. Schaub looks promising but he doesn't have much of a resume at this point. If the Vikings can obtain Schaub for a second-round pick, I'd support the move--assuming that the Vikings are not in a position to pick Leinart or Young in the draft (and that the Vikings also find a middle linebacker in the draft).
Leinart and Young both look legitimate. That Young performed so poorly on the Wunderlick is a bit disconcerting, given how simple the questions tend to be on the exam. Whatever the cause of his poor score on the test, however, it did not appear to affect him in college ball. What that says about his ability to learn an NFL playbook is anyone's guess. But it might say something about his ability to deal with the numerous competing pressures of the NFL. It's at least enough of a concern to give one pause.
Posted by: vg at April 20, 2006 11:26 AMthis is how I'd play it:
Make a move for Vince Young, because he is the best talent in the draft hands down!
Try trading down with Oakland, SF, Buffalo, Arizona to get Vince.
If it doesn't work out like that, go for the Schaub trade.
I believe a QB should be taken 1st round one way or another, and I think Cutler is iffy.
2nd round check out Cedric Griffin as a DB!!
(Yes I'm from Austin).
Posted by: Colin at April 20, 2006 12:42 PMI'm not a big fan of trading in either direction. However if we trade I think it needs to be for a starting MLB. Schaub for a second I would do, nothing more.
Posted by: Lonnie at April 20, 2006 05:38 PMSchaub is a free agent next year. Johnson is good for at least one more year. So any move up this year would likely be for a top LB. I've suggested trading a 2nd and 3rd for a 1st round pick NEXT YEAR, to combine with their currently allocated first round pick, to move up to get the best QB next year, whether that is Quinn or someone else.
I prefer the Vikes sit where they are with the remaining 1st, 2nd, and 3rd (after trading the extra 2nd and 3rd), to select a LB, G, and DB, however those choices fall in line, but preferably in that order.
Every year the Vikings need to sign a tier one linebacker and every year the Vikings settle for guys on the cusp of an early end to a dissapointing career.
I'm in the camp that says they should do whatever it takes to get AJ Hawk short of trading a bunch of picks to the Packers. If you have to trade up to #2 to get him, then do it. Only player I would take over Hawk in this draft is Bush.
Posted by: Elder at April 23, 2006 12:37 PM