VikeManDan's Pre-Combine Mock

[VikeManDan]

A quick mock before the combine gets under way next week. I feel it is fairly realistic, and feel it would provide help to both sides of the ball. I will not get into FA, or re-signings. Below is my one-point that doesn’t involve the draft. Feel free to comment positive/negative doesn’t matter. This is my second one, ever, but I do enjoy reading them and making them.
***Harvin is kept
Round 1(23): Xavier Rhodes CB Florida State
I like Rhodes, I know some of you will not like the selection here. Gives another corner opposite Cook could make for a solid duo for the future.
Round 2 (52): Da’Rick Rodgers WR Tennessee
A high-risk, high-reward pick. Really all that needs to be said. Rodgers is a gamer.
Round 3 (83): Bacarri Rambo S Georgia
Another gamer is Rambo, I like him and think he could pair and play well with Smith. Our back 4 is set for a long time.
Round 4:
(99) Gerald Hodges LB Penn State
Hodges comes from Linebacker U, and led them in tackles the past two seasons. Don’t know a ton about him, without digging, but have seen him in some mocks before.
(117) Alvin Bailey OG Arkansas
Our guard help comes later than I had hoped. I have heard he has the ability to pull and isn’t too bad at it. Provides competition at the guard spot.
Round 5 (148): Kwame Geathers DT Georgia
Geathers comes from a solid NFL pedigree. I’m hoping with some tutelage from K .Williams will help him to become a professional. He is a very large man.
Round 6 (???): Tyrann Mathieu CB LSU
Allows us to get rid of Sherels, who offers nothing on defense, and pick up someone who can be groomed as a slot/dime corner and Winfield’s replacement. I know I took Rhodes in the first but I am curious to see what this kid can do in the league.
Round 7:
(197) Michael Williams TE Alabama
A big guy, who would be allowed to learn and could step in once Carlson leaves. I really do like Ellison, so it would be interesting to see what happens.
(213) Corneilius Washington DE Georgia
Washington is simply a developmental pick wouldn’t be surprised if he didn’t make the team. Just reaching for a 7th rounder here. Unlikely as he had a DUI arrest in 2011.

[Eric dunn]

Rhodes' stock is on the down side right now, but a good combine could change that. I like him, but im just not sure id take him over a top DT or WR.

I do like Rogers as well, but with his off field problems i have a hard time seeing the Vikings take him here. If he's there in the 3rd, then id say we consider it a little stronger.

I personally like the picks in rounds 3-7. But i just think DT is a higher priority, so ideally we'd take one before round 5.


BTW i just made a mock, go give me some insight.
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Lil Uno on sig

[VikeManDan]

Rhodes, IMO, will be the 2nd CB drafted. I thought about our needs at DT in the first but didn't want to pull the trigger. Rodgers could fall to the 3rd, maybe we trade down in the 2nd and grab him later, but I don't project/do trades. Waiting that long to take a DT is a concern but it is just what I went with.

[Eric dunn]

I do like Rhodes, like i said. I think he and Cook would be great together.

But when you look at it, we have invested early draft picks on CBs 3 of the last 4 drafts. (Cook, Robinson, Asher) And we have yet to bring youth to our interior Dline, other than a few late rounders.
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Lil Uno on sig

[vikingsrule]

[VikeManDan]

Waiting to take a DT that late was a concern of mine. I am a believer that to disrupt a good passer you need a good pass RUSH. Otherwise he will pick you apart. I will have to re-consider after the combine.

[vikingsrule]

[VikeManDan]

That is a good point VR, I knew there was a reason I put it off. Somehow forgot about Ballard. Thanks!

[VikeManDan]

[Eric dunn]

[vikingsrule]

[Eric dunn]

[vikingsrule]

If Williams is returning to the Vikings for 2-3 years, you have to assume he will be making $5-6M. If his play regressing is a concern, why not just release him then? I guess that is my take, if were drafting a DT early it should be to replace Williams. If Williams is still on the roster for 2-3 years at $5M, you cant really replace him since he will still be around.

Teams usually dont spend 1st or 2nd rd picks on 2-3 year starting projects. That is essentially what any DT drafted will be behind Williams. Unless you're advocating drafting a one technique player to start, but then again, that player will see roughly 30 snaps per game at most.

I simply see too many starting positions (60 snaps plus) that need to be filled. Like at WR, LB, S, and OG.

Further, any rookie DT can be assumed to be a project since they usually are. If MN is drafting a project player who wont see the field much, why not use a 3rd rd pick at most.

I like the depth of this class in the mid rounds, and the free agency pool is pretty good too. I guess I would rather sign a free agent DT with upside and not even look to drafting one. Assuming Williams, Guion, Evans and Ballard all return in 2013, the team essentially has one spot open. Seeing as we need an immediate improvement at the position, I think it would be more worthwhile to just sign a stout run defender in free agency who can give the team roughly 30 snaps per game.


And I definitely agree with you on DT being a greater need than CB for round one or round two. Just like OG, I dont think DT is a need that needs to be stressed early in the draft.
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[vikesnewcoach11]

No need to go CB so early. We have bigger needs on this team. We got josh Robinson in the 3rd last year and he got a good amount of playing time and came up big at points. We could wait until the 2nd-4th.
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Adopt-A-Viking

#41 Mistral Raymond- SS

Tackles: 0 INT's: 0 FF: 0 SACKS: 0

[rpmwr19]

If corner is BPA I wouldn't doubt we take one. That being said, corners aren't highly valued within our system so the grade our staff gives them may not be as high as another position.
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Adopt a Viking - Erin Henderson
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