With the 12th pick, your Minnesota Vikings select...

Yeah, the personnel-on-field decisions of the Zimmer regime were so weird, just frustratingly stupid.   Right down to his big f.u. to everyone in the last couple games.

Can't remember his name but I seem to recall a center being drafted after Bradbury in the same draft that ended up being one of the better centers in the league. McCoy of the Saints, maybe...?

SO many wasted O-line picks during the Spielman era.

Maybe after a trade down to the late teens or 20. And only if they stay in a 4-3. But yeah, I'd be all for this.

Outside of Hutchison and Thibodeaux, I don't think there's any other DL prospect I would take at #12.

But if we trade down in the 1st Rd to acquire more Day 2 draft picks, and get into the late teens/20's (like we did in 2021), and if we move to more of a 3-4 base Front 7 approach, that does open the possibilities for some more DL prospects which aren't quite Top 15 material, IMO.

Later Rd 1 DL possibilities:

- Jordan Davis, NT, Georgia: would be a solid NT in a 3-4; I do have concerns about the amt of downs he would play as he was not a 3-down DT at Georgia; Tomlinson would be the starting NT and Davis could be reserve for 1 yr and take over starting duties in 2023. If you want to wait until Rd 2, UConn's Travis Jones is a possibility here. 

- George Karlaftis, DE, Purdue: I'm probably in the minority with this because many see Karlaftis is a 4-3 DE, but I don't think he has the bend/elite speed off the edge to play 4-3 and it more suited to a 5T/DE position in a 3-4. He might be a slightly small for a 3-4 5T/DE (who you generally want closer to the 300 lb mark), but Karlaftis could utilize his power and his moves are more suited to winning inside vs outside. The only reason people are mocking him in the Top 15 as a great 4-3 EDGE is due to his appearance on the Feldman's 2021 Freaks List (a list compiled by Athletic write Bruce Feldman on highly athletic college players), but the only problem is that his so-called "freakish" athleticism does not show up on tape at all.

- DeMarvin Leal, DL, Texas A&M: many draft sites have him as a 3T in a 4-3, but I've already broken him down in the Draft subforum and I rarely see him be a Chris Jones type of disruptive 3T. He's a very good athlete (former 5-star recruit) and played all over the DL at Texas A&M, but I think his strength is more run defense and pursuing the ball vs penetrating 3T. He has a very solid/athletic 6'4" 290 lb frame that he uses to get off blocks, pursue and tackle whoever has the ball. He's not "bendy" enough for a 4-3 DE or 3-4 OLB, but I think he'd be perfect as an everydown DE in a 3-4 - handling his guy 1-on-1, getting off the block and making a play.

- Jermaine Johnson, DE, Florida St: I differ somewhat from FSUVike as I think Johnson can play not only as a 4-3 EDGE, but also as a 3-4 OLB - he really does have DL flexibility there. He pretty much has everything you want in a DE player: athleticism, length/height, "bend" ability to get around, arsenal of moves, and he's strong in run-defense, as well. Honestly, I think there's an argument to be made that Johnson is the 3rd best DE prospect behind Hutchinson and Thibodeaux as he's more of a plug-play Week 1 player than Ojabo and Karlaftis. He's also from Minneapolis.

If we stay with a 4-3 base defense, outside of Hutchison and Thibodeaux, the only other DL players I'm considering in Rd 1 are the previously-mentioned Jermaine Johnson as a 4-3 EDGE and then DeVonte Wyatt, DT, Georgia if we trade down in the 20's - Wyatt is definitely a 4-3 3T as his best moves are shooting gaps and penetrating the backfield. He doesn't have the length to play as a 3-4 DE, but I do think he'd be a heck of a penetrating 3T and the only reason I consider him in Rd 1 is that I don't think he'll make it to Rd 2 after the week he had in Mobile. Ojabo is simply too raw of an EDGE prospect for us to take in Rd 1 and no way am I taking Karlaftis as a 4-3 DE or Leal as a 3T (not as much of a penetrator as Wyatt is). 

Hey Uncle, or others perhaps, you seem to follow college ball much more than I do. This Karlaftis I’ve seen mocked to us a few times now. When I look him up I see a 4.5 sack Purdue DE. What am I missing?

I agree this is a draft I’d love to have more second round picks via trade of picks/players. I feel like that’s the round/level of player we’re missing on the roster.

Was listening to a podcast with a nfl scout on yesterday he said this draft is really deep on dlineman where you should be able to get starters for 2022 going through the end of round 2 there. As of right now my preference would probably be take a cb in round 1 (makes me sick how many first round picks we’ve burned on cb over the last 5 to 6 years) and then round 2 dline.

I hope they stay away from Stingley and Karlaftis as well.  They both might end up being good but they have 'project' written on them.    While I'd be happy with Gardner I'm kinda hoping they get that middle of the field freak if there is one.  I feel like there's some depth at CB up to about where we pick in the 2nd.  But after that it seems to drop off pretty quick.    I also agree that the edge depth drops pretty quick after the top 2.  

What's your take on Lloyd?