With The 14th Pick, Your Minnesota Vikings Select...

I keep reading a lot about Cousins and the 49ers, which I personally don't get, nor do I see it.  They have a ton of pending FA's that will need contracts, Trent Williams as well as their defensive backfield, Richard Sherman most notably.  Unless Cousins is willing to restructure his contract $$$'s, it won't happen.  They also want a younger more agile QB, Cousins doesn't fit that mold.


In thinking about our serviceable players that could possibly get traded, Hunter, Cook, Smith come to mind and all could fetch a good bounty in return.  

If a trade is NOT made, Rick and Zimm will literally have to hit this draft out of the park and will need a minimum of 4 starters out of it.

I can see Barr getting released if he won't renegotiate his contract, but I don't think Wilson is a suitable replacement.

I'm hoping Rudy stays on, but I don't blame him at all for wanting to move on if his role isn't significantly changed this season.  He has the talent to be a top 10 TE, no reason he shouldn't be used that way.  

Harris will be gone, too high priced to sign.

I just don't see Cousins getting moved and I see Zimmer making heavy moves to solidify his defense, too much ego involved for him.  


If I'm the Vikes, I'd make these moves, and I'm positive I'll get slaughtered for this, but...

1. I'd trade Dalvin Cook, he'll fetch 2 1st rounders at a minimum, perhaps one in this draft and the other in 2022.  "Dime a Dozen" I always say, and no doubt his production, if he were to match what he did, would be missed.  But I'm sure they could figure it out. With the skill set we have in the WR's/TE's, we should be a pass first team anyway.  Use the x-tra draft pick to get a Ol or a RB, would love to see Najee in purple!   The Vikes failed with AP, they had a chance to change the dynamic of this team by trading Peterson after his 2,000+ yard season, don't make the same mistake here.

2. I'd trade Hunter, more of an anomaly because of him missing this past season. I don't think he's worth being the highest paid at his position. But I love me some Shaq Barrett, who I doubt Tampa will tag again for $19 Million.   Go hard after him and pay that man his money.  Should be able to garner 2 1st rounders for him.  Go get that kid from Miami!

3. The DL needs some attitude, I propose going after Suh, his contract is up in Tampa, pay that man his money!



Slam away boys and girls, but this is what I would do.

This is subject to change based on Pro Day testing #'s, but here is my take on the OL prospects that have been seen in Mock drafts in the 1st/2nd rounds and whether they are a scheme fit for the Vikings outside-zone blocking scheme or not:

Fit for Outside Zone Scheme:

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - top OL prospect in Draft; pretty much any team would take him regardless of scheme. Vikings won't have a shot
Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern - can play all 5 OL positions but with a bit smaller arms/frame he's generally considered the top interior player. Vikings would love to have him if he drops to #14 which is looking more and more unlikely.
Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - big guy/frame w/ long arms and very good athleticism; reminds me of some of the top OT's taken in Round 1 in 2020. If Reiff is traded/released he could be a top target. 
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, USC - played RT and LT at USC but many feel his best fit in NFL is OG. Great mover and great fit for our scheme. I should note that like our interior players though, Vera-Tucker has a problem w/ power - he was taken to school by Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux who is considered a Rd 1 talent in the 2022 Draft. 
Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan - solid strength and athleticism and considered a very good NFL OT (either side), but he's very young w/ only 15 college starts. He will need time to develop. 
Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - basically this year's Brian O'Neill / Ezra Cleveland OT; solid body with room to fill out and has great athleticism/movement ability but will need seasoning in pass protection. Like O'Neill/Cleveland, he's more of a "shield blocker" that will shield DE's away from pressure with movement vs. straight up overpower them. Probably needs an offseason in NFL weight-training program (like O'Neill and Cleveland did) to get his power-level up there.
Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio St - was once considered the top interior OL player in this draft w/ power and athleticism, but injuries and some tape review have him falling to at least the 2nd Rd. He's also not versatile - OG only (I don't believe he's ever taken a snap from C, either). 
Walker Little, OT, Stanford - future LT in the making and solid athleticism makes him a fit for any scheme (solid football IQ, as well), but injury flags surround his history. If he returns to his 2018/2019 form, he could be a steal in the late 2nd or 3rd round for someone. 

Not a Fit for Outside Zone Scheme:

Alex Leatherwood, OT/OG, Alabama - considered a 1st Rd prospect heading into 2020 season, but was exposed a bit during season and definitely during Senior Bowl week. Should move inside to OG to start and is not a lateral mover and has issues w/ power, too. Alabama relies more on 5-star functional strength OL recruits and they generally don't run a bunch of wide-zone running plays - they generally have better players and just line-up and run right at you with man/gap/power blocks. 
Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame - very solid/functional OT prospect who does most things well, but nothing at an "elite" level - your standard ND OT prospect. He's not a great mover/puller so he'll fit better w/ man/power/gap schemes.
Trey Smith, OT/OG, Tennessee - played OT in college but w/ his power he's more of an OG in NFL. Not a good lateral mover and has medical red flags. 
Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma St - "country strong" OT with a heavy top and not much of a puller/mover laterally. A favorite to land w/ Pittsburgh at end of Rd 1
Jackson Carman, OT/OG, Clemson - solid OT for Clemson but was exposed a bit during latter part of season and doesn't move well which may mean he has to kick inside in NFL. 
Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma - probably the top C prospect; short arms but plays w/ great leverage due to wrestling background. Great Jr/Sr season tape and Oklahoma team leader (great tape during Cotton Bowl where he stones Flordia's DT Slaton the entire game; Slaton is considered a mid-Rd DT/NT). Problem is that he doesn't move well and his tape when he's asked to pull in-space is not good. 
Landon Dickerson, C Alabama - team leader on the 'Bama OL which is great considered he was a transfer from FSU - when you come in and are crowned the leader on that OL after just 1 season, that's saying something. Like Leatherwood, 'Bama doesn't ask their OL to pull/move laterally on wide-zone runs - they just punch you in the mouth and he probably has the most medical red flags of any early Rd OL prospect. 
Ben Cleveland, OG, Georgia - very nasty mauler on Georgia's OL and his play strength is his calling card (you'll see sites praise his weight-lifting abilities). Like Alabama's OL, Georgia doesn't ask their OL to move much in-space as they are generally bigger than their counterparts (5-star "hogs") and Cleveland has limited athleticism. 
Josh Myers, C, Ohio St - probably more of a 3r Rd prospect behind Humphrey/Dickerson; he's a wide-bodied and solid C and has "Ok" lateral movement but lacks short-area quickness (ie, can't reach over to pick up a blitzer or stunting DE very well on a reach block), so he's probably a better fit for inside-zone schemes vs wide/outside/stretch runs that the Vikings use in Kubiak's offense. 

This is subject to change based on Pro Day testing #'s, but here is my take on the OL prospects that have been seen in Mock drafts in the 1st/2nd rounds and whether they are a scheme fit for the Vikings outside-zone blocking scheme or not:

Fit for Outside Zone Scheme:

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon - top OL prospect in Draft; pretty much any team would take him regardless of scheme. Vikings won't have a shot
Rashawn Slater, OL, Northwestern - can play all 5 OL positions but with a bit smaller arms/frame he's generally considered the top interior player. Vikings would love to have him if he drops to #14 which is looking more and more unlikely.
Christian Darrisaw, OT, Virginia Tech - big guy/frame w/ long arms and very good athleticism; reminds me of some of the top OT's taken in Round 1 in 2020. If Reiff is traded/released he could be a top target. 
Alijah Vera-Tucker, OT/OG, USC - played RT and LT at USC but many feel his best fit in NFL is OG. Great mover and great fit for our scheme. I should note that like our interior players though, Vera-Tucker has a problem w/ power - he was taken to school by Oregon DE Kayvon Thibodeaux who is considered a Rd 1 talent in the 2022 Draft. 
Jalen Mayfield, OT, Michigan - solid strength and athleticism and considered a very good NFL OT (either side), but he's very young w/ only 15 college starts. He will need time to develop. 
Samuel Cosmi, OT, Texas - basically this year's Brian O'Neill / Ezra Cleveland OT; solid body with room to fill out and has great athleticism/movement ability but will need seasoning in pass protection. Like O'Neill/Cleveland, he's more of a "shield blocker" that will shield DE's away from pressure with movement vs. straight up overpower them. Probably needs an offseason in NFL weight-training program (like O'Neill and Cleveland did) to get his power-level up there.
Wyatt Davis, OG, Ohio St - was once considered the top interior OL player in this draft w/ power and athleticism, but injuries and some tape review have him falling to at least the 2nd Rd. He's also not versatile - OG only (I don't believe he's ever taken a snap from C, either). 
Dillon Radunz, OT, North Dakota St - LT for Rd 1 prospect Trey Lance, he proved he belonged by having a very good Senior Bowl week in January vs NFL-level competition. Like Texas' Cosmi, he needs to add a bit more weight to fill out his frame (thus, a season in an NFL weight-training program will do him wonders) but he's a great run blocker and decent "shield" pass-blocker that should get better. Some websites (like TheDraftNetwork) consider him a power/gap-only blocker, but I disagree - I think he has very good athleticism to play in a wide zone and showed that at the Senior Bowl. The Pro Day testing #'s will be big for him. I should also note that he also transitioned inside to OG during the latter part of Senior Bowl practices and impressed scouts from what I read, and that only increases his chances for early round selection since most teams - like the Vikings - like versatilty along the OL.
Walker Little, OT, Stanford - future LT in the making and solid athleticism makes him a fit for any scheme (solid football IQ, as well), but injury flags surround his history. If he returns to his 2018/2019 form, he could be a steal in the late 2nd or 3rd round for someone. 

Not a Fit for Outside Zone Scheme:

Alex Leatherwood, OT/OG, Alabama - considered a 1st Rd prospect heading into 2020 season, but was exposed a bit during season and definitely during Senior Bowl week. Should move inside to OG to start and is not a lateral mover and has issues w/ power, too. Alabama relies more on 5-star functional strength OL recruits and they generally don't run a bunch of wide-zone running plays - they generally have better players and just line-up and run right at you with man/gap/power blocks. 
Liam Eichenberg, OT, Notre Dame - very solid/functional OT prospect who does most things well, but nothing at an "elite" level - your standard ND OT prospect. He's not a great mover/puller so he'll fit better w/ man/power/gap schemes.
Trey Smith, OT/OG, Tennessee - played OT in college but w/ his power he's more of an OG in NFL. Not a good lateral mover and has medical red flags. 
Teven Jenkins, OT, Oklahoma St - "country strong" OT with a heavy top and not much of a puller/mover laterally. A favorite to land w/ Pittsburgh at end of Rd 1
Jackson Carman, OT/OG, Clemson - solid OT for Clemson but was exposed a bit during latter part of season and doesn't move well which may mean he has to kick inside in NFL. 
Creed Humphrey, C, Oklahoma - probably the top C prospect; short arms but plays w/ great leverage due to wrestling background. Great Jr/Sr season tape and Oklahoma team leader (great tape during Cotton Bowl where he stones Flordia's DT Slaton the entire game; Slaton is considered a mid-Rd DT/NT). Problem is that he doesn't move well and his tape when he's asked to pull in-space is not good. 
Landon Dickerson, C Alabama - team leader on the 'Bama OL which is great considered he was a transfer from FSU - when you come in and are crowned the leader on that OL after just 1 season, that's saying something. Like Leatherwood, 'Bama doesn't ask their OL to pull/move laterally on wide-zone runs - they just punch you in the mouth and he probably has the most medical red flags of any early Rd OL prospect. 
Ben Cleveland, OG, Georgia - very nasty mauler on Georgia's OL and his play strength is his calling card (you'll see sites praise his weight-lifting abilities). Like Alabama's OL, Georgia doesn't ask their OL to move much in-space as they are generally bigger than their counterparts (5-star "hogs") and Cleveland has limited athleticism. 
Josh Myers, C, Ohio St - probably more of a 3r Rd prospect behind Humphrey/Dickerson; he's a wide-bodied and solid C and has "Ok" lateral movement but lacks short-area quickness (ie, can't reach over to pick up a blitzer or stunting DE very well on a reach block), so he's probably a better fit for inside-zone schemes vs wide/outside/stretch runs that the Vikings use in Kubiak's offense. 

I'm seeing a lot of mocks having Micah Parsons falling into our range, and was wondering what everyone here thought of him potentially at 14? With Barr and Wilson probably gone this off season, as much as I'd like to focus on the lines, it'd be hard for me to pass up the value there. I think he's an elite LB talent, and would be an ideal replacement for Barr's role.

I'm seeing a lot of mocks having Micah Parsons falling into our range, and was wondering what everyone here thought of him potentially at 14? With Barr and Wilson probably gone this off season, as much as I'd like to focus on the lines, it'd be hard for me to pass up the value there. I think he's an elite LB talent, and would be an ideal replacement for Barr's role.

The NFL has recently trended to "smaller" LB's flying around all over the place making plays...Roquan Smith (Bears), Patrick Queen (Ravens) and Devin White (Bucs) are all in that 6'0", 230-240 lb range and they all have provided solid value to their teams and could arguably be considered their defensive leaders. They fly sideline to sideline and just do whatever is necessary and make plays, and Micah Parsons is another one in that mold, albeit bigger (6'2" and closer to 240 lbs) and possibly faster.

As much as I'd love to get in on the recent trend of 1st Rd difference-making LB's, I question if Zimmer would be interested in him, even if Barr and Wilson both play elsewhere in 2021+. While Parsons has great athleticism, he's more of a downhill, aggressive run-defender and less of a coverage LB, and LB's in Barr's role in Zimmer's defense are asked to provide coverage. Plus, Parsons also provides pass-rushing ability as a blitzer and off the edge, but we all know how little Zimmer has utilized Barr in that role. 

Bottom line: I think most wouldn't mind the pick at all, but I question the fit in Zimmer's defense.